LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING Is judging by experience Is judging by logical

progression
INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC Idea-->observations-- Observation-->analysis--
>conclusion >theory
LOGIC
• It originated from the word “logos” – to reason INDUCTIVE REASONING EXAMPLES
• Refers to the science that studies the principles of “correct
reasoning” • Jane is having fever because of a urinary infection. Milos is
• A product of clear reasoning or thinking also having fever due to a tonsillar infection. Conclusion:
• It involves the drawing of inferences. Infections cause fever.
• Elizabeth is feeling dizzy because she skipped breakfast.
LOGIC AS A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCIPLINE Ronaldo complains of dizziness since he did not yet take his
• Philosophy is based on reasoning lunch. Conclusion: Hunger or skipping meals can make
• Logic is the study of what makes a sound argument or people dizzy.
judgment (and also studies the kind of mistakes one makes in • My neighbor goes to the hospital because he is ill. I was
the process of reasoning) admitted in the hospital 3 years back when I was ill.
• Studying logic makes one a better philosopher and a Conclusion: Ill people go to the hospital.
reasonable thinker
DEDUCTIVE REASONING EXAMPLES
THE LOGICAL PERSON • Vaccines are used to protect people from common
A logical thinker … illnesses. Jane is fully vaccinated. Conclusion: Jane is
• observes protected from common illnesses.
• analyzes • Persons with diabetes have consistently high blood sugar
• draws conclusions (based on acquired input or levels. Elizabeth is diagnosed with diabetes. Conclusion:
data) Elizabeth’s blood sugar is high.
• Is able to justify his/her strategies, actions and decisions • Antibiotics are given to patients with infection. Alexander is
based on the facts gathered given an antibiotic. Conclusion: Alexander has an infection.

• Logic is better than emotion. EXERCISES

• When one thinks critically and uses “reason” to objectively State whether the following examples use INDUCTIVE or
think about a decision, the better the decision be in most DEDUCTIVE LOGIC.
instances
1. Most patients with acute appendicitis complain of right
IMPORTANCE OF LOGIC IN DAILY LIFE lower quadrant pain (RLQ). Rachelle complaints of RLQ pain.
She must have an acute appendicitis. (D)
• Logic shapes every choice we make in daily life. 2. A 6-year old child drank milk tea and developed diarrhea.
• Logical thinking enables people to learn and make decisions Jason, 5 years old, drank milk tea is admitted due to diarrhea.
affecting their lives. Milk tea causes diarrhea in young children. (I)
• It helps people separate truth from falsehood and 3. Paracetamol is usually given to patients with fever. John
unreasonable beliefs. has a temperature of 38.50C. He will be given Paracetamol.
• It helps in problem-solving and decision-making. (D)
• It helps people come up with new ideas. 4. Women beginning age 50 are usually menopaused. Maria
• It helps achieve goals. is 52 years old. She is menopaused. (D)
5. Amy, Susie, Tessy, Liza, Nadine and Kathe are adolescents
REASONING who take iron supplements because they are anemic. Most
• It is the ability to draw logical conclusions based on female adolescents area anemic. (I)
evidences or stated assumptions.
• It is helpful in evaluating situations, selecting problem- LOGICAL THIKING AND THE NURSE
solving strategies, drawing logical conclusions, developing
and describing and applying the solutions.  Logical thinking is necessary for good problemsolving
and decision-making by nurses.
TYPES OF REASONING
 Nurses constantly gather information from clients, co-
• Inductive reasoning takes specific examples to make a workers, etc… and they have to evaluate these in order
general rule. to take the necessary purposeful actions to help resolve
• Deductive reasoning takes general rule and uses it to make client and work-related problems.
a more specific example.
 Nurses work with many and different individuals – they
INDUCTIVE DEDUCTIVE should be able to communicate effectively.
From specific to general From general to specific
Use patterns, trends, or Uses facts or general
observations principles
 Nurses help diagnose and treat client conditions, with - A young child has high fever and suddenly develops
the use of logic, they are capable of effecting quality and convulsion...he begins shaking and froths from the mouth.
safe health care.
Nurses make important decisions.
Study guide The decisions nurses make are vital for her own and others’
1. What is logic? survival.
2. Who is a logical person?
3. How does logic and logical thinking help us go through Example:
our daily lives? - With the increase in census from 5 to 10 to 25, how will the
4. What is deductive versus inductive logic? Which one is nurses provide care to all of patients?
better? Why?
5. Based on what you read about the nature of logic, in - What will the nurse do in the event a
what instances or conditions
young patient suddenly develops convulsion?
6. do you think is it helpful for the professional nurse?
- What will the nurse do when she finds out after drug
calculation that the doctor ordered a very high dose for the
CRITICAL THINKING IN NURSING
patient?
CRITICAL THINKING
SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING
⚫…it is a discipline-specific, reflective reasoning process that
Critical Analysis – application of a set of questions to a
guides a nurse in generating, implementing, and evaluating
particular situation or idea to determine essential
approaches for dealing with client care and professional
information
concerns(National League for Nursing, 2000)
⚫it is essential to safe, competent, skillful nursing
Socratic Questioning – a technique to look beneath the
Practice
surface and differentiate what one knows from what one
merely believes
a pattern of thinking based on
 Knowledge
Inductive Reasoning – thinking from specific to general
 Experience
 abilities to conceptualize and analyze relationships
Deductive Reasoning – thinking from general to specific
uses DIRECTED thinking which has a goal and is purposeful
ATTITUDES that foster CRITICAL THINKING
involves
Independence – thinking for one’s self and it involves
 organizing information
considering a wide range of ideas, learning from them and
 picking out relevant information
making one’s judgment
 relating and making associations
 making judgments
Fair-mindedness – assessing all viewpoints with the same
standards and not basing judgment on personal or group
Why is critical thinking IMPORTANT ?
bias or prejudice
Nurses use knowledge from other subjects and fields.
Insight into Egocentricity – awareness of the possibility that
Integrating basic knowledge to medical and nursing sciences
personal biases, social pressures and customs can unduly
requires making interdisciplinary connections.
affect one’s thinking and these are put in mind before
making any decision/s
example:
- Nurses use their knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology to
Intellectual Humility – awareness of the limits of one’s own
identify the location of pain.
knowledge
- Nurses make use of basic arithmetic functions to do drug
⚫Critical thinkers are willing to admit what they do
calculations.
not know.
- Nurses use a great deal of communication skills to interact
⚫They are willing to seek new information and
with patients and members of the health team.
rethink conclusions in light of new knowledge.

Nurses deal with change in stressful environments.

Intellectual Courage to Challenge Status Quo and Rituals –
Nurses work in a rapidly changing environment that requires
courage and willingness to consider and examine fairly one’s
constant alertness, vigilance and adaptability.
own ideas recognizing the fact that beliefs are sometimes
false or misleading
example:
- At the beginning of the shift, there are only 5
Integrity – applying the same rigorous standards of proving
patients...after 2 hours, it increased to 10...by the end of the
one’s own knowledge as they apply to the beliefs and
day, a total of 25 are under the nurses’ care.
knowledge of others
Perseverance – having the determination to clarify concepts, - a situation or condition that can be resolved in a
sort out related issues and find effective solutions variety or multiple ways

Confidence – cultivating an attitude of belief that well-

reasoned thinking will lead to trustworthy conclusions
⚫agree to disagree

Curiosity – the mind is full of questions and is not afraid to

examine traditions (status quo) to make sure these are still
valid

BARRIERS TO DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING

⚫Drone Mentality– not paying attention to what is going
around one’s self; inability to respond to new circumstances PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS

⚫Social Conditioning – causes unwanted assumptions and ⚫DEFINING the PROBLEM – establishing its existence and
stereotyping; shy away from challenges because it is easy naming the problem EX: What is the issue, concern or gap?”
and convenient failure to think “outside of the box”
⚫ANALYZING the PROBLEM – looking into the problems
⚫Personal biases – prevent being fair, inquisitive and fair- details, who are involved, how did it happen, etc… EX: asking
minded prevent individuals from using experiences,reasoning who, what, where, when, why and how?
and common sense to make informed decisions - performing root-cause analysis

⚫ Schedule (time) pressures – the need to learn many ⚫ESTABLISHING CRITERIA – this entails setting clear
things in a short (often limited) period of time failure to objectives on what needs to be achieved to eliminate the
prioritize which to learn first and foremost; prevent problem/s
individuals from using experiences, reasoning and common - It is helpful to break down complex problems into
sense to make informed decisions chunks or smaller, workable and feasible aspects for
its resolution
⚫Arrogance and intolerance – stems from a closed-mindset
 individuals often react thoughtlessly and recklessly - The purpose of selection criteria is to assist in
 block creativity and hinders acceptance of making objective decisions about the most suitable
responsibility/accountability for thoughts/actions candidates for a position. Well thought out and
constructed selection criteria can make selection
⚫Fear – prevents a person from confronting evidence or decisions transparent and justifiable.
facts that forces re-evaluation of opinions and point of views
- The decision criteria should be measurable and
should be within scope of the problem trying to be
DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING resolved
⚫Self-assessment – reflection (in knowing and in action)
⚫GENERATING or CONSIDERATING as many SOLUTIONS or
⚫Tolerating ambiguity and dissonance – openness to ALTERNATIVES –attempts are made to come up witH
different viewpoints and suspending immediate judgment different possible ideas or solutions so that the best will be
chosen
⚫Seeking situations where good thinking is practiced – - generated solutions may be short, intermediate or
conferences, clinical or educational setting that support long term in nature
creativity and open thinking
⚫DECIDING on the BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION/S – weighing
⚫Creating environments that support critical thinking – the pros and cons of each solution, determining the
conducive atmosphere that encourages differences of consequences and impacts EX: choosing those that are low
opinion and their fair examination cost but high impact

⚫IMPLEMENTING the CHOSEN SOLUTION (or

strategy) – putting into action the selected alternative
PROBLEM SOLVING IN NURSING
⚫EVALAUATING the SOLUTION – judging the consequences,
PROBLEM SOLVING impact and outcomes
it is the process of identifying, clarifying and explaining a
situation in need of solution/s ⚫REVISING the SOLUTION or the PLAN – continue re-
planning and strategizing until problem gets resolved
PROBLEM – is a situation that needs to be dealt with
SKILLS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

METHODS OF PROBLEM SOLVING

Trial and error – “try and try until you succeed”

Intuitive problem-solving – use of “gut feeling” and guessing
Experimentation – based on knowledge and research
Scientific method- logical and systematic approach

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

⚫ In nursing…
...critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-
making go hand in hand

…decision-making is the process of choosing a

particular and best action to meet a desired goal or
problem

…they are integrated in the application of the

NURSING PROCESS which nurses use to identify and
solve patient’s problems and needs