Critical thinking and accuracy of nurses' diagnoses. Part I: risk of low accuracy diagnoses and new views of critical thinking

Pensamiento crítico y precisión de los diagnósticos de enfermería. I Parte: riesgo de diagnósticos de baja precisión y nuevas perspectivas del pensamiento crítico

Pensamento crítico e acurácia dos diagnósticos de enfermagem. Parte I: risco de diagnósticos de baixa acurácia e novas visões do pensamento crítico

Interpretations of patient data are complex and diverse, contributing to a risk of low accuracy nursing diagnoses. This risk is confirmed in research findings that accuracy of nurses' diagnoses varied widely from high to low. Highly accurate diagnoses are essential, however, to guide nursing interventions for the achievement of positive health outcomes. Development of critical thinking abilities is likely to improve accuracy of nurses' diagnoses. Newer views of critical thinking serve as a basis for critical thinking in nursing. Seven cognitive skills and ten habits of mind are identified as dimensions of critical thinking for use in the diagnostic process.

Critical Thinking; Nursing Diagnosis; Accuracy