Please write a paragraph in response to the following post.

The disciplined, intellectual process of applying skillful reasoning as a guide to belief or action is defined as critical thinking (Norris & Ellis, 1989). The ability to think in a systematic and logical manner, with an openness to question and reflect on the reasoning process used to ensure safe nursing practice and quality care, is defined as critical thinking in nursing (The Foundation for Critical Thinking [TFCT], 2008). This is critical because, as nurses, we must be aware of and consider all of the potential consequences of our patients’ disease processes. For example, suppose we’re caring for a patient who hasn’t had a bowel movement in several days. We can’t just sit around waiting for him to have a bowel movement. We must consider whether he is displaying symptoms of a bowel obstruction. Or how much food has he consumed? What are his vital signs, and how might they be influencing anything, and so on?

We use critical thinking as nurses to care for our patients and to be proactive in preventing certain negative side effects or events from occurring. The better critical thinker you are, in my opinion, the better nurse you will be. This has a direct impact on patient outcomes because the patient will be better cared for if their nurse anticipates potential problems and is prepared with a solution or prevents effects or symptoms from occurring in the first place.

EBP is defined as “the integration of clinical expertise, the most recent research, and the patient’s preference for care” (Grand Canyon University, 2018). Essentially, it entails nurses using the most recent scientific research and outcomes to help guide their patient care. EBP has a direct relationship with patient outcomes because it saves lives when used correctly. EBP has been shown to be effective in research, so why not use it to our advantage when caring for our patients?