Critical thinking clinical reasoning and clinical judgment

Each represents an important set of processes leading the nurse to sound, evidence-based practice. Critical thinking is the cognitive processes used for analyzing knowledge. Clinical reasoning is the cognitive and metacognitive processes used for analyzing knowledge relative to a clinical situation or specific patient.

The terms critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment are interrelated concepts. Each represents an impor- tant set of processes leading the nurse to sound, evidence- based practice.

Critical thinking can occur in any situation in which a nurse finds themselves, whether that situation is of a clinical nature or not. Clinical reasoning, however, occurs specifically within the clinical context and, as Alfaro-LeFevre has concluded, relies upon critical thinking as a component of its success.

Simply put, critical thinking is the act of deliberately analyzing information so that you can make better judgements and decisions. It involves using things like logic, reasoning, and creativity, to draw conclusions and generally understand things better.