Nursing 200: Critical Thinking for the Registered Nurse (Winter 2021)

Week 3: Pre-Class Assignment

*Pre-class assignments are expected to be completed and uploaded to CAMS

prior to class. * As always, be prepared to discuss your homework in class.

Thinking Skill:

Identifying Signs and Symptoms

An ability to identify signs and symptoms indicating a situation is different,
changed, and not of a normal state. For example, there are signs that may indicate food
in the refrigerator is no longer fresh. Nurses learn about signs and symptoms of
diseases, side effects of drugs, and a host of other factors that indicate a situation
differs from normal functioning or what is expected in a situation.

Describe in your own words what this thinking skill means.

Write a paragraph (three or more sentences) explaining at least one example of

how you have used this thinking skill in your everyday life.

Page 1 of 2
 Nursing 200: Critical Thinking for the Registered Nurse (Winter 2021)
Week 3: Pre-Class Assignment

Thinking Skill:

Gathering Complete and Accurate Data

When assessing any situation it is important to gather complete and accurate
data. Gathering complete and accurate data is fundamental to critical thinking. Data are
collected from all sources available to the nurse. The data are then used as the basis
for identifying issues, problems, and concerns; solving problems; and making decisions.
It is important that data collection is complete and accurate.

Describe in your own words what this thinking skill means.

Write a paragraph (three or more sentences) explaining for example, how you will
use this thinking skill in an actual patient situation as an RN.

Page 2 of 2