Critical Thinking In The Nursing Profession Analysis

Critical Thinking in the Nursing Profession "Critical Thinking at Triage: Ask the Question," is the title of the first article I reviewed regarding using critical thinking in the nursing profession. Currently, I work at a local hospital in the Emergency Department. So, triaging patients is something I do on a regular basis. The author, Diane Gurney, writes about how the triage nurse must use critical thinking skills when triaging patients. From my personal experience, it is not uncommon for the beds in the Emergency Department to be completely full. This means that after being triaged that some patients may have to wait in the waiting area before coming back to a room. The article states that "asking discriminating questions can be key in determining the problem and ultimately, the patient's priority when direct bedding is unavailable" (Gurney, 2015, p. 362). Basically, ask the patient different questions regarding the complaint to help make a conclusion on what might be going on with the patient. The nurse should think about the worst possibilities that may occur.

The first scenario was easier due to all the patients having different complaints. Each patient is questioned and visually assessed. The patient with chest pain took priority over the other complaints. However, the patients in the second scenario all had the same complaint of abdominal pain. Obviously, the patients would require further questioning and visual assessments by the nurse to identify the priority patient. After visual assessment of the patients, one of them is noted to having a pulsating mass in the abdominal area which could possibly indicate an abdominal aneurysm. This patient would take priority over the other patients that may be constipated or presenting with cholecystitis. As a triage nurse, it is imperative to use critical thinking skills to make the best clinical analysis and decide patient