KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING
DEFINITIONS OF CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION,
AND NURSING INTERVENTIONS
CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking is a reasoning process involving skills of knowledge, acquisition, comprehension, application,
analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Analysis is the examination of the whole in relation to constituent parts while
synthesis is the combining of component parts to form a coherent whole. Analysis includes skills of comparing,
contrasting, examining, categorizing, and critiquing data. In synthesizing, one collects, organizes, formulates, and
arranges data into a meaningful whole. Evaluation includes skills of appraising, judging, measuring, and revising. The
critical thinking process necessitates an attitude of inquiry that includes objective reflection in the evaluation of ideas
or viewpoints, while recognizing that application of critical thinking is guided by personal and professional values and
norms. Critical thinking encourages new and innovative ways of approaching situations in one's personal and
professional life. The process is central to the development of the discipline, the practice of nursing in client care
situations and in facilitation of the goals of the profession.
COMMUNICATION
Communication is an art and a science central to the discipline and profession of nursing. It is a dynamic process
that finds expression in oral and written and nonverbal forms. Information technology greatly influences the
communication process today. The communication process is essential to the interpersonal process. Both are
circular processes that include the interaction between senders and receivers interacting individually or as a member
of a group. Both sender and receiver have human characteristics including biological, psychological, social, and
spiritual dimensions. The culture, values, beliefs, and perceptions of the sender and the receiver influence
communication. A message is encoded, transmitted through a variety of modes, and received and decoded with
feedback being provided. Communication occurs within an environmental context that must be considered when
interpreting the message.
Nonverbal
communication includes body language, facial expression, voice tone
and quality, allocation of personal space, touch and personal
expression such as style of dress, silence, and active listening.
Verbal and written communication find expression through the use of
words in formal and informal ways. Communication is used for such
purposes as self-expression and persuasion, dissemination of knowledge
and information and documentation. Communication and the interpersonal
process applied to nursing is central to expansion of the discipline,
provision of client care (i.e. nurse/client interaction,
collaboration, coordination, teaching-learning, referral,
consultation, advocacy, counseling), and facilitating the goals of the
profession.
THERAPEUTIC
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
Therapeutic nursing interventions are nursing actions that
facilitate individuals, families, groups and communities in attaining,
maintaining, or regaining optimal health. These interventions are
guided by the nursing process and include both interpersonal and
psychomotor skills. Collaboration with clients and other members of
the health team to enhance health is essential in the implementation
of therapeutic nursing interventions. In planning nursing
interventions, consideration is given to the culture, lifestyle,
values, and beliefs of the client. Nursing interventions include care
giving, education, advocacy, counseling, referral, and consultation.
These definitions of
critical thinking, communication, and therapeutic nursing
interventions are integrated throughout the philosophy and conceptual
framework of the Kent State University College of Nursing and provide
the rationale for the designed learning experiences within the
curriculum. Expected outcomes are identified in the level and terminal
behaviors of the program.
Approved by faculty May
18, 1993