Your patient drunk 150 mL of Ice Tea. How many ounces is this?

A. Assessing changes in body temperature. The RN is responsible for assessing trends in temperature and identifying potential clinical implications (e.g., infection, sepsis, or medication reactions).

B. Being aware of the usual values for the patient. While knowing baseline values is important, this is not solely an RN responsibility. Nursing assistants and other healthcare providers also note baseline values.

C. Obtaining temperature measurements at ordered frequency. This task can be delegated to a nursing assistant or licensed practical nurse (LPN), as it is a routine task that does not require assessment.

D. Using an appropriate route and device. While the RN ensures correct procedures are followed, this specific task can also be performed by trained assistive personnel. The RN focuses on interpretation and intervention.

A. Explaining to the patient that self-reporting of severe pain is not consistent with the minor procedure that was performed. Pain is subjective and should always be believed and assessed rather than dismissed based on procedure type. This does not demonstrate critical thinking.

B. Asking the patient what pain-relief methods, pharmacological and nonpharmacological, have worked best in the past. This approach assesses the patient’s individual experience and applies personalized care, which is a hallmark of critical thinking.

C. Administering pain-relief medication according to what was given last shift. Pain levels fluctuate, and medication effectiveness must be reassessed each time. Simply repeating the previous shift’s orders does not involve critical thinking.

D. Offering pain-relief medications based on the provider’s orders. While following orders is necessary, critical thinking involves assessing the patient’s pain level and determining the most appropriate intervention rather than blindly administering medication.