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Critical thinking in nursing education: Literature review
Author(s) -
RN Elaine Simpson,
RN Mary Courtney
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-172x.2002.00340.x
Subject(s) - critical thinking , coping (psychology) , nursing , nursing practice , health care , psychology , medicine , pedagogy , psychotherapist , political science , law
The need for critical thinking in nursing has been accentuated in response to the rapidly changing health‐care environment. Nurses must think critically to provide effective care while coping with the expansion in role associated with the complexities of current health‐care systems. This literature review will present a history of inquiry into critical thinking and research to support the conclusion that critical thinking is necessary not only in the clinical practice setting, but also as an integral component of nursing‐education programmes to promote the development of nurses’ critical‐thinking abilities. The aims of this paper are to: (i) review the literature on critical thinking; (ii) examine the dimensions of critical thinking; (iii) investigate the various critical thinking strategies for their appropriateness to enhance critical thinking in nurses; and (iv) examine issues relating to the evaluation of critical‐thinking skills in nursing.