Critical thinking is formed when knowledge melds with experience. It is a foundational skill essential for the nursing profession, at all levels, especially with advanced degrees (Midilli & Altas, 2020). It is such an essential skill, that regulatory academic bodies in nursing, such as The National League for Nursing (NLN) and American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN) have made this a component for program evaluation (Zhang & Chen, 2021). It is the ability to decode, decipher and take action in various situations, even if the situation is a new experience. A nurse can draw on prior experience and knowledge to meet the needs of a patient by developing critical thinking skills. Developing critical thinking is an acquired skill that matures over time. This skill evolves and is honed, but has no definitive ending. It is an indispensable lifelong skill a nurse must develop and refine with time.
Considering its importance, as a DNP learner, critical thinking is a necessary skill. Working on the DPI, research needs to be analyzed, synthesized, and applied to a practice problem. Applying a new intervention to the practice problem requires the learner to critically examine the problem and potential solutions. Reviewing existing research and considering possible solutions is an example of how critical thinking can help a DNP student.
Quantitative data is used to analyze the effectiveness of the intervention during the DPI project. From economics to sociology, all areas of research rely on data to understand cause and effect. Quantitative data measures variables or the degree of change. With this measurement, the researchers know if the intervention was effective or not. For research to be accurate, critical thinking skills must be employed. The research question must be clear, concise and pose a logic solution for the problem, addressing the population to be studied and the reason for being studied (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2021). Secondly, data collecting must be true to the research problem and proposed intervention. For the research to be accurate, the researcher must be cautious about bias that can enter research. Lastly, part of critical thinking involves reflection (The Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2019). Reflecting on the data and research findings helps the writer to reach conclusions and enter into a discussion on findings.
References
Midilli, T. S. & Altas, G. (2020). The relationship between critical thinking disposition and problem solving skills in nurses. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 13 (3), 1890-1897.
The Foundation for Critical Thinking. (2019). Nursing and Health Care. Retrieved on March 11, 2022 from https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/nursing-and-health-care/801
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