Critical Thinking in the Emergency Department, Second Edition: Skills to Assess, Analyze, and Act

Give your nurses the confidence and skills they need to think independently and display high levels of clinical judgment. Critical Thinking in the Emergency Department is filled with resources and assessment tools, usable by both new and experienced nurses, to build a culture of critical thinking directed toward the best interests of the patient.

This must-have book will help you:

• Explain the principles of critical thinking
• Provide strategies for coaching new graduates
• Discuss creating and teaching critical thinking classes, from orientation to ongoing nurse development
• Discuss the important role played by preceptors during orientation of new employees and give strategies for encouraging critical thinking skills

• Introduction: Critical Thinking in the Emergency Department 
• Chapter 1: Defining Critical Thinking 
• Chapter 2: New Graduate Nurses and Critical Thinking 
• Chapter 3: The Critical Thinking Classroom 
• Chapter 4: Orientation: Bringing Critical Thinking to the Clinical Environment 
• Chapter 5: Nursing Practice That Promotes and Motivates Critical Thinking 
• Chapter 6: Novice to Expert: Setting Realistic Expectations for Critical Thinking 
• Chapter 7: Applying Critical Thinking to Nursing Documentation 
• Chapter 8: Relating Critical Thinking to Its Higher Purpose 

Appendix: Additional Tools 

• Unfolding teaching scenarios for emergency nurses 
• Emergency department teachable moments 
• Sample agenda 
• Instructor worksheet—connecting words to spark critical thinking 
• Student worksheet—connecting words to spark critical thinking 
• Worksheet—relationship to critical thinking 
• Worksheet—vital signs 
• Worksheet—red flag alerts