A nurse manager is planning a presentation for staff nurses on improving critical thinking skills. Which of the following critical thinking skills should the nurse manager include in the presentation?

(Select All that Apply.)

A. Assessment involves collecting and analyzing data about the client's health status, including their medical history, physical examination findings, and any other relevant information. This step is crucial for understanding the client's current condition and needs, but it precedes goal setting.
B. Evaluation is the step where the nurse determines whether the goals and outcomes established in the planning phase have been achieved. It involves assessing the effectiveness of interventions and making adjustments as needed. Evaluation occurs after goals have been set and interventions have been implemented, so it is not the step where goals are initially formulated.
C. Implementation involves carrying out the interventions and actions planned to achieve the goals established for the client. This step follows the formulation of goals and involves executing the planned care. While critical to achieving positive outcomes, implementation does not include the initial formulation of goals.
D. Planning is the step of the nursing process where the nurse formulates goals and develops a plan of care based on the assessment data. This includes setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to guide the care provided and achieve positive client outcomes. Planning is where goals are established to address the client’s identified needs and guide subsequent interventions.

A. The role of the AP includes tasks like recording the amount of fluids the client consumes and produces (urine, emesis, etc.), but it does not require specialized nursing knowledge.
B. Postmortem care involves preparing the body after death for the family or transfer to the morgue. This task can be performed by an AP.
C. While this task can be delegated to both LPNs and APs, it is often considered a basic task that can be assigned to the AP to free up the LPN for more complex patient care responsibilities.
D. Inserting an NG tube is a skill that LPNs are trained to perform, and it is within their scope of practice in many states and healthcare settings, provided they have received the appropriate training and certification.