Holistic Approach To Critical Thinking

This more comprehensive, holistic approach is called critical thinking. Nurses must be able to engage in critical thinking to handle the onslaught of continuous procedural and technological changes. Critical thinking has become such a key component in learning that the National League for Nursing requires that graduates be able to demonstrate critical thinking.

• Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgement. The subject is complex; several different definitions exist, which generally include the rational, skeptical, and unbiased analysis or evaluation of factual evidence. Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem-solving abilities as well as a commitment to overcome native egocentrism and sociocentrism.

• Holistic thinking or systems thinking, refers to a way of thinking in which a person can see the big picture. They can see patterns and concepts that umbrella the details, which may be missed by people who think more analytically. The interconnectedness of all things is apparent to the holistic thinker.

• Holistic critical thinking in nursing emerges as a possibility to enable nurses to work in a diverse and/or adverse sce-nario the holistic approach comprises the participation of individuals in their totality, that is, brain and spirit, body and mind, reason and emotion are part of a dynamic and interconnected whole, present in the process of caring for and with others human beings(3).