Summary:
Never before have RTs experienced such significant changes. Each day brings new challenges, from adapting to health information technology to juggling multiple priorities for several patients. Having sound critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills makes the difference between keeping patients safe and putting them in harm’s way. This module addresses the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for critical thinking (CT) and clinical reasoning (CR). It reviews results from key studies and gives strategies for developing the thinking skills needed.
CT and CR are often used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference between them. CR is a specific term that usually refers to assessment and management of patient problems at the point of care. CT is a broad term that includes CR and refers to important thinking that needs to happen to assess and manage any situation.
Objectives:
The goal of this continuing education program is to help respiratory therapists (RTs) improve their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. After you study the information presented here, you will be able to —
- Describe critical thinking and clinical reasoning in the context of your practice.
- Identify characteristics and skills that demonstrate critical thinking.
- Use specific strategies to improve your critical thinking and clinical reasoning abilities.
Approval Information
This CE course is approved for respiratory therapists from 1/12/2012 to 1/12/2014.
This program has been approved for 1 contact hour of Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care, 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063. AARC Sponsor ID: 9514012. This is a non-traditional course.
If you are a respiratory therapist, remember to give us your AARC member number when filling out your license number information.
Gannett Education is also approved by the Florida Board of Respiratory Care (provider #FBN 50-1489).