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. Monitoring blood glucose is crucial for managing diabetes, as it directly affects the child's blood sugar levels and overall well-being. However, if the child’s blood glucose levels are stable and there are no immediate concerns or symptoms, this task, while important, may not be as urgent as assessing more critically ill clients.
B. While discharge instructions are important for ensuring proper care after leaving the hospital, this task generally does not require immediate attention compared to assessing a client with more acute or urgent needs. The adolescent is ready for discharge, indicating their condition is stable enough to prepare for leaving the unit.
C. Feeding a toddler who has both arms in casts is important for ensuring that the child is well-nourished and comfortable. However, this task can usually be managed by assistive personnel or done at a scheduled time without immediate urgency compared to more critical assessments.
D. An infant with pertussis (whooping cough) receiving oxygen via nasal cannula is in a potentially critical situation. Pertussis can cause significant respiratory distress, and the need for oxygen indicates the
infant’s respiratory function is compromised. Assessing this infant first is crucial to ensure that the oxygen therapy is effective and to monitor for any signs of deterioration in respiratory status.

A. De-escalation techniques are focused on managing agitated or aggressive behavior, not opioid use.
B. Hallucinations are often related to underlying medical or psychiatric conditions and require specific treatments. De-escalation techniques may help manage agitated behaviors associated with hallucinations but won't directly decrease them.
C. While de-escalation techniques often involve improved communication, it's a means to an end rather than a primary benefit.
D. This is the primary benefit of de-escalation techniques. By effectively calming agitated individuals, the need for physical restraints can be minimized, promoting patient safety and dignity.