Question

A charge nurse is evaluating the performance of a staff nurse. Which activity best demonstrates expert thinking, rather than novice thinking?

a)The nurse focuses on own actions.
b)The nurse follows clear-cut rules.
c) The nurse considers options before acting.
d) The nurse relies on step-by-step procedures.

Answer 1

Considering options before acting best demonstrates expert thinking in nursing, as it shows the ability to apply critical thinking and cognitive skills, characteristics of an expert nurse.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question revolves around differentiating expert thinking from novice thinking in the nursing profession. Expert thinking encompasses a deep understanding of concepts beyond just following procedures, thus an expert nurse would demonstrate advanced cognitive skills and critical thinking in their practice. The activities that reflect such skills, in this case, would most likely be seen in the scenario where the nurse is considering options before acting. This is because experts often have a good sense of the answer before a detailed analysis and use this to identify possible mistakes and force a closer look. As opposed to novice nurses, who might rely more on clear-cut rules and step-by-step procedures without necessarily understanding the underlying principles or taking into account the context of the situation.