A short paper on critical thinking. (unedited)

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

     The concept of critical thinking and problem solving are very important to the healthcare field. Both are prized and highly regarded in general but for the sake of clarity there must be a distinguishing between the two.

     Critical thinking is the process is the overall analytical mindset in which one looks at all areas of a situation. This is the way of perceiving and understanding the “big picture”. This is much more than learning about objects, positions, and systems in and of themselves but learning and understanding the way in which they interact and connect to each other on various levels. It is this understanding that allows for one to react to new and unique situations without knowledge of the specific situation beforehand. With this mindset one can find the parameters and source of problems and work toward problem solving.

     With Problem solving there is a problem that has been identified through Critical Thinking. So it goes without say that Problem solving is subordinate to Critical Thinking. But the continuation of critical thinking in the aim of correcting or solving a specific problem is Problem Solving.

This process of both Critical Thinking and Problem Solving together is highly valued in healthcare and more specifically Radiology Technology. Due to the nature of Human anatomy and physiology, the intricate levels of biological and chemical organization must be routinely considered and comprehended in order to provide the most accurate and positive care possible.

Personally, the practice of using critical thinking has been taught to me since an early age. I have been very analytical in my life for some time now. I feel like I am constantly using It to understand my world or to define aspect of it. My time I spent working at the Ministries of Jesus clinic was filled with my Critical Thinking. If I had patient files that needed to get looked over by the nurses I would have to learn how to figure which was important and/or urgent before interrupting their (sometimes hectically busy) work. This level of thinking and problem solving was honesty not required or expected of a volunteer in Records. But it is this mindset/discipline that made me much more than a Volunteer in Records to the nurses that ran the medical side of the clinic. They consistently gave me more complex and technical tasks as they would try to lighten their own workloads to be more effective in what they needed to do. If I didn’t know how to something they gave me to do they assumed I would learn and figure out how to do it effectively and thoroughly.

I am excited to expand my use of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving into more of the Medical world and in Radiology Technology.