Divergent thinking, a critical-thinking skill, is the ability to ...

[rachel9]

Divergent thinking, a critical-thinking skill, is the ability to weigh the importance of information. The nurse should sort out the data that are relevant from data that are irrelevant for the patient. Abnormal data are usually considered relevant; normal
 
  1. Diagnostic reasoning
  2. Communication techniques
  3. Identified outcome criteria
  4. Established priorities

Question 2

The nurse is reviewing data collected from a patient during an assessment. Which activity demonstrates that the nurse is using divergent thinking when analyzing this data?
 
  1. The nurse identifies abnormal data for further analyzing.
  2. The nurse focuses on normal data to rule out health problems.
  3. The nurse discriminates between facts and guesses.
  4. The nurse thinks about the information to determine solutions.

[Bsand8]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1

Making a diagnosis is a complex process, and the nurse uses diagnostic reasoning to choose nursing diagnoses that best define the individual patient's health problems. Diagnostic reasoning is a form of clinical judgment used to make decisions about which label, or diagnosis, best describes the patterns of data. Steps in the process include identifying significant cues, clustering the cues and identifying gaps, drawing conclusions about the present health status, and determining etiologies and categorizing problems. Communication techniques would be needed when conducting the patient assessment. Identification of outcome criteria is a part of the planning phase of the nursing process. Priorities are established during the implementation phase of the nursing process.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1

Divergent thinking, a critical-thinking skill, is the ability to weigh the importance of information. The nurse should sort out the data that are relevant from data that are irrelevant for the patient. Abnormal data are usually considered relevant; normal data are helpful but may not change the care to provide to the patient. Discriminating between facts and guesses describes the critical-thinking skill of reasoning. Thinking about the information to determine solutions describes the critical-thinking skill of reflection.