Critical Thinking Flashcards
7 cards from real ATI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Critical Thinking flashcards as text
Premature closure in clinical reasoning means:
Answer: Settling on a conclusion before fully analyzing the data
Premature closure is reaching a conclusion before complete analysis.
Which is the strongest example of evidence-based decision making?
Answer: Choosing an intervention supported by current research and patient values
Evidence-based practice combines research with patient values and clinical expertise.
When prioritizing care for multiple patients, the nurse should use:
Answer: Urgency and acuity of needs
Prioritization is based on urgency and acuity of patient needs.
A nurse asks 'What else could explain this?' before acting. This reflects:
Answer: Considering alternatives
Asking what else could explain findings shows consideration of alternatives.
Which best describes clinical judgment?
Answer: An interpretation and conclusion about a patient's needs leading to action
Clinical judgment interprets data and concludes on needs and actions.
A nurse validates a patient's reported symptom against objective findings to:
Answer: Ensure accuracy of the data
Validation confirms that data is accurate and consistent.
Which thinking error occurs when a nurse only seeks data supporting an initial guess?
Answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is seeking only data that confirms a prior belief.