Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What is a major purpose of critical thinking in nursing practice?

1. Improving patient comfort

2. Making conjectures about patient care

3. Enhancing decision-making based on evidence

4. Building emotional relationships with patients

The correct answer is: Enhancing decision-making based on evidence

Enhancing decision-making based on evidence is a major purpose of critical thinking in nursing practice. Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information, which allows nurses to make informed decisions that are grounded in the best available evidence. This process is essential for developing effective care plans, prioritizing patient interventions, and assessing outcomes. By utilizing critical thinking skills, nurses can synthesize data from various sources, consider the context of each patient’s unique circumstances, and apply clinical guidelines or research findings to enhance patient care. In nursing, effective decision-making is crucial because it directly impacts patient safety and quality of care. Evidence-based practice, which is supported by critical thinking, promotes the delivery of care that is proven to be effective, thereby improving patient outcomes. This reflective practice ensures that nurses are not just relying on intuition or past experiences, but are actively engaging with current research and evidence to inform their clinical judgment. The other options, while valuable to nursing practice, do not encapsulate the primary function of critical thinking as thoroughly. Improving patient comfort and building emotional relationships are important aspects of nursing but are more focused on the interpersonal side of care. Making conjectures about patient care does not align with the factual and evidence-based approach that critical thinking embodies. Therefore, the essence of critical thinking