Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Thrid Edition: Model and Guidelines

(^20) Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice: Model and Guidelines, Third Edition
Reflection, a key cognitive mechanism in critical thinking, enables nurses to
create and clarify the meaning of a particular experience (Forneris & Peden-
McAlpine, 2007). Reflection in the context of nursing practice “is viewed as a
process of transforming unconscious types of knowledge and practices into con-
scious, explicit, and logically articulated knowledge and practice that allows for
transparent and justifiable clinical decision-making” (Mantzoukas, 2007, p. 7).
Judgment reflects the act of judging or deciding. People have good judgment
when they decide on the basis of understanding and good sense. Forming an
opinion or a belief, deciding, or acting on a decision is done on the basis of im-
plicit or explicit judgments. To cultivate the ability to think critically, nurses have
to develop the habit of judging because of reason, evidence, logic, and good sense
(http://www.criticalthinking.org).

Box 2.1 Definitions of Critical Thinking, Reasoning, Reflection, and Judgment

Concept Definition

Critical thinking Ability to make inferences explicit, along with

the assumptions or premises on which those

inferences are based

Reasoning Drawing conclusions or inferences from

observations, facts, or hypotheses

Reflection Ability to create and clarify the meaning of a

particular experience

Judgment Act of judging or deciding on the basis of

reason, evidence, logic, and good sense