Final answer:
Nurses use critical thinking to evaluate whether patient care goals have been met, which includes assessing observations, outcomes, and planning next steps. They work collaboratively with the healthcare team, reviewing preoperative checklists and discussing patient care concerns to ensure quality outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decision to determine if short-term and long-term goals have been achieved by the nurse is made through critical thinking. This process involves evaluating patient outcomes against predefined objectives and employing clinical judgment to assess whether goals have been met. The nurse utilizes a combination of observations, outcomes, and next steps to make informed decisions regarding patient care.
Communication plays a crucial role in the healthcare environment between different professionals, such as surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia staff. During a preoperative checklist, for instance, each team member reviews aloud key concerns to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive approach to patient recovery and care.
Moreover, critical thinking is essential when navigating conflicts in research findings, as healthcare professionals may encounter studies with differing conclusions on practices such as technology use. Thus, educational leaders and healthcare professionals must apply problem-solution reasoning strategies to tackle complex challenges, such as managing wait times, addressing mental health issues, and optimizing staff-to-student ratios within healthcare education.