critical analysis essay in nursing

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Academic writing: using literature to demonstrate critical analysis, kathleen duffy senior lecturer, school of nursing, midwifery and community health, glasgow caledonian university, glasgow, elizabeth hastie senior lecturer, school of nursing, midwifery and community health, glasgow caledonian university, glasgow, jacqueline mccallum senior lecturer, school of nursing, midwifery and community health, glasgow caledonian university, glasgow, valerie ness lecturer, school of nursing, midwifery and community health, glasgow caledonian university, glasgow, lesley price lecturer, school of nursing, midwifery and community health, glasgow caledonian university, glasgow.

When writing at degree level, nurses need to demonstrate an understanding of evidence by summarising its key elements and comparing and contrasting authors’ views. Critical analysis is an important nursing skill in writing and in practice. With the advent of an all-degree profession, understanding how to develop this skill is crucial. This article examines how students can develop critical analysis skills to write at undergraduate degree level. It highlights some of the common errors when writing at this academic level and provides advice on how to avoid such mistakes.

Nursing Standard . 23, 47, 35-40. doi: 10.7748/ns2009.07.23.47.35.c7201

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This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Critical appraisal - Education: methods - Literature and writing - Student nurses - Study skills

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29 July 2009 / Vol 23 issue 47

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Critical practice in nursing care: analysis, action and reflexivity

Affiliation.

• 1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College, Dublin. [email protected]
• PMID: 16786927
• DOI: 10.7748/ns2006.06.20.39.49.c4172

This article examines critical practice and its underlying principles: analysis, action and reflexivity. Critical analysis involves the examination of knowledge that underpins practice. Critical action requires nurses to assess their skills and identify potential gaps in need of professional development. Critical reflexivity is personal analysis that involves challenging personal beliefs and assumptions to improve professional and personal practice. Incorporating these aspects into nursing can benefit nursing practice.

Publication types

• Attitude of Health Personnel*
• Clinical Competence*
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Health Policy
• Individuality
• Interprofessional Relations
• Negotiating
• Nurse's Role* / psychology
• Nursing Process / organization & administration*
• Nursing Research
• Nursing Theory
• Power, Psychological
• Self Efficacy
• Self-Assessment

How to Write a Nursing Reflective Essay (Guide for Nurse Students)

If you are a nursing or medicine student, you are aware that you will come across or have already come across assignments requiring you to write a nursing reflection essay. At first, such a task always appears challenging, but given the understanding of the steps, things flat out, and you can write reflective essays and get better grades.

Reflective practice is highly encouraged in nursing. Reflection entails making sense of situations, events, actions, and phenomena in the workplace.

As a nursing student, you will be asked to write a reflective essay on your clinical placement, practicum, shadowing experience, shadow health DCE activities, personal nursing philosophy, why you want to become a nurse, nursing program, ethical dilemma, knowledge, skills, and abilities, systems, and processes.

The easiest way to complete the reflective essay assignment is by first determining what reflective writing entails, its significance, its steps, and some of the best tips that form the core of this ultimate guide.

Basics of Reflective Writing in Nursing

Reflective writing is an analytical writing practice where the writer describes a real or imaginary event, scene, phenomenon, occurrence, or memory, including their takeaway. It entails the critical analysis of an experience, including recording how it has impacted you and what you intend to do with the new knowledge or how to act when such an occurrence recurs.

As you document the encounter, you can use first-person pronouns and write subjectively and objectively. This means that you can decide to either use personal experiences alone or support these experiences using citations from scholarly sources.

When writing a reflective essay in nursing, you must recount the events and give critical detail of how the events shaped your knowledge acquisition. Reflection helps nursing students develop skills in self-directed learning, which is directly associated with high motivation and improved quality of care .

In most cases, reflection occurs on what went well and what went wrong. It could be a successful operation, a thank you note from a patient, a patient who regained their health faster, or a new nursing care plan that worked. However, it can also be about adverse events such as death, postoperative complications, death of an infant at birth, dissatisfied patient, medical error, or a failed procedure.

As a nursing student, when you learn to reflect on situations, you grow to become a professional nurse who diligently does their noble duty.

When writing a reflective essay, you begin by setting the scene (explaining what, where, how, and who-the situation), detailing how you felt (emotional state), why it happened (making sense of the situation), critical review and development of insights, a note on what was learned, and strategies to address future recurrence.

Your professor may ask you to write a nursing reflective paper about various topics in your course or your experience working in a group, how you solved a problem, a healthcare issue, or clinical practice. Consider the following example of a reflective statement in nursing; in my clinical practices, I realized I focused more on the technical aspects but failed to explain what it was doing to improve their health. I would like to understand more about listening to patience and their concerns to better care for them.

As you will notice later, these reflective stages are structured into different reflective models and frameworks that we will explore in-depth. So, with the understanding of what comprises reflective writing and its importance in nursing, let's now get solid on the structure.

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Structure of a Reflective Essay in Nursing

A reflective essay is an analytical writing piece describing and evaluating encounters or experiences. When asked to write one, you should know that an excellent reflective essay consists of different parts, just like a typical academic essay. It comprises the cover or title page, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusions, and a references page.

The title page contains information about the assignment. If you are writing the reflective essay in APA, include these on the title page:

• Title of the reflective essay
• Course code and name
• Instructors name
• Name of your institution
• Date of submission

When writing in Harvard format, the title or the cover page will consist of the following:

• Title of the essay in title case and the page number (upper right margin),
• Title of the essay in CAPS,
• Name of class or course,
• Name of the instructor,
• Name of your school,
• City and state where your school is located and,
• The date of submission.

Introduction

The introduction begins with an attention grabber or a hook sentence to attract readers' attention. It should then explain the essay's purpose and signpost the ideas that will come later in the essay. The introduction also has a thesis statement at the end of the paragraph- the last sentence. The thesis is concise, clear, and relatable and should reflect your position.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of a reflective essay can be three or more, depending on the length of the essay. Essentially, the body comprises 80% of the total word count.

The first paragraph is where you describe the situation, including the events, why they occurred, how they occurred, and those involved.

The second paragraph entails your personal feelings or reaction to the situation and how it made you feel.

The third paragraph can include making sense of the situation. You have to think about why things happened the way they did. You should also critically review and develop insights based on the situation. Finally, think of the factors that could have influenced the situation.

The next paragraph should explain how the event or situation will change your practice, approach, decisions, perspective, or perception. This is where you evaluate the experience by detailing the knowledge and skills you took from the experience.

The last body paragraph should entail a critical reflection on the learning opportunities. First, describe the situation and what it made you learn. Next, elaborate on how you intend to make yourself better poised to address such situations.

Mostly, you should structure the body of your essay as per the preferred nursing reflective model.

After everything else falls into place, you need to summarize the information you presented in the essay. Then, finally, restate your thesis and have a call to action to bring a sense of closure to your readers.

Steps for Writing a Nursing Reflection Essay � The Guide

When assigned to write a reflective essay for your nursing class, here are the surefire steps to get you to success.

Read the instructions

The first step after receiving an assignment is to begin reading the instructions. as you read, note what your instructor or professor expects in the paper you will submit for marking.

Reading instructions helps you to get informed on the scope of the paper, word count, number of references and pages, and the formatting style to use.

Besides, you also get to plan your paper with the deadline highlighted in the instructions.

You need to get a conducive environment where you can start writing.

The first step of writing is to brainstorm about situations during your clinical hours when you were shadowing a Nurse Practitioner or one you have read about.

Assess whether the situation or scenario you have thought, encountered, or chosen can help you write a reflective essay that meets the requirements.

Research and Plan

After choosing a scenario, the next step is researching the best reflective model.

You can use your class text, the instructions, the college library, course readings, and online nursing journals to get articles and resources with information about specific reflective models.

Select the best reflective model and take notes on the steps it entails.

As you research, write down notes on how to address your paper based on your selected framework or model of reflection . Additionally, research nursing journal articles with information you can use when critically analyzing a situation.

Plan how you will handle the paper as well. For instance, as you research, develop a thesis statement that grounds your entire paper, then draft an outline on how to develop the thesis.

Write an Outline

Outlining is a crucial aspect of writing. It helps you envision how you will meet the objective of writing a reflective essay. As an essential part of the essay writing process, outlining helps create a good flow of ideas and can come in handy in helping you overcome writer's block. Your outline should comprise the following:

• The hook or attention grabber
• Thesis statement
• Main points of each body paragraph (topic sentence, evidence, examples, illustrations, etc.)
• Conclusion (restated thesis and call-to-action)

With the outline done, you should take a break and resume writing your first draft of the nursing reflection essay. Writing with an outline helps avoid mistakes and also helps you write faster.

Describe the Experience

Once you have identified the relevant experience, begin describing it chronologically.

Describe the experience that prompted you to consider nursing your ideal career goal. Think of this experience's key elements, such as the setting, patient demographics, and significant events that impacted you.

Show how these events changed your perspective on life. Ensure you are as descriptive as possible to paint a clear picture for readers.

Consider the following questions to come up with a good description:

• What happened?
• Was there someone involved? If yes, what part did they play?
• Where did the event take place?
• What actions did you take?

Set the context of this experience by giving relevant background information. Ensure you are objective and pay attention to the facts.

Provide a Reflection

Talk about your feelings and thoughts concerning the particular experience you went through. You have to be honest and open up about your initial expectations and challenges you faced at each stage of the experience. The following questions can help you come up with a good reflection:

• What was I trying to achieve?
• What prompted me to act the way I did?
• Are there any consequences for my actions? If yes, what are they?
• How did I feel about this event as it was happening?
• How did those around me react to it?
• How do I know how those around me felt about it?

Analyze the Experience

Description of an experience is essential, but so is analysis. You have to move beyond the surface and give a critical analysis of your experience.

State your actions, and your overall experience will give insights into your experience. Think of how the experience has impacted your actions, feelings, and thoughts.

Give an Evaluation

Evaluate the skills and knowledge you got from the experience. Show how you can apply these skills and knowledge in your nursing practice. Also, state the actions and interventions you took during the nursing experience.

State whether you achieved the desired outcome and if there are any specific areas that you need to improve on.

Talk about how you built or improved skills like communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.

As you evaluate the experience, identify what you believe to be your strengths and weaknesses in the nursing experience. What have you learned from the experience? State the areas where you excelled and what abilities contributed to your success.

Talk about how those you were with during the clinical experience complimented you. Similarly, acknowledge your weaknesses.

What kind of mistakes did you make, and how did you improve them? Talk about the tasks that drain you most during the experience.

Illustrate Learning

Demonstrate elements of deeper thought and reflection levels. This is a great point to include nursing theories in your reflection essay to support analysis of your experience.

Relate your experiences to the theoretical frameworks you were taught in class. This is effective learning and will demonstrate your ability to apply knowledge to real-life nursing situations.

Doing this will also show that you can effectively deduce different things from observations made during the reflection process.

Ensure you also demonstrate a change in perspective, as this will prove that you learned something from the experience.

Write Your Conclusion

Conclude by summarizing your points and highlighting the lessons learned.

The lessons you reached as part of your reflection should support your overall conclusion.

Also, restate your thesis statement.

Come Up with an Action Plan

Now that you have learned from your reflection develop an action plan for future nursing practice.

This part should contain all the details you have learned and actions needed to improve when faced with a similar situation. Consider the following questions:

• What would I change if faced with a similar situation?
• How can I develop the necessary skills needed to face this situation?
• How can I act differently in a similar situation?  

Ensure you identify areas to improve and set realistic goals to enhance your nursing skills. Discuss how you intend to seek additional education, training, or mentorship to address your shortcomings.

Finally, end the essay with a happy note so readers know you learned something from the experiences.

Proofread, Edit, and Polish

After doing your first draft, take a break to relax and get out of the writing mood - it helps you to become objective.

You can then resume reading out loud to yourself, make necessary tweaks, and ensure that every part you include meets the rubric requirements.

Edit for grammar, punctuation, tenses, voice, spelling, and use of language. You should also proofread the essay to adhere to the style, organization, and presentation requirements.

Ensure that all the in-text citations are accounted for in the reference list and are up-to-date. You are good to go when you have an essay that meets all the instructions.

Finally, you can submit the paper for grading.

Writing is not everyone's cup of tea. For that reason, you can hire a nursing reflection essay writer from our website to assist you in crafting a top-grade paper. In addition, we have nursing writers whose forte is writing various nursing papers.

Choosing the suitable Reflective Model or Framework

As you can see above, many reflective models are used for your reflective essay. We have not exhaustively listed and expounded on all of them. Other reflective models and frameworks you can also consider when writing a reflective essay in nursing include:

• Bouds Reflective Model
• Brookfield Reflective Model
• Pender's Health Promotion Model
• Roper Logan and Tierney Model
• Driscoll Reflective Model
• The Johari window model

Note that most nursing instructors will often suggest the models they prefer for you to use in your essay.

For example, in most nursing reflective essays. Whichever the case, readily available information expands on each model to make it easier to write a reflection essay on a specific aspect of nursing education or practice.

Read the assignment rubric and instructions to understand the specific model. If it is unclear, ask for clarification from your instructor early enough.

Tips for Writing a Good Nursing Reflective Essay

As you try to figure out how to write a nursing reflective essay, keep the following tips in mind.

Choose the Right Topic

If the instructions from your professors involve choosing a topic for the reflective essay, you must select one that is meaningful to you.

This will ensure you can easily write and easily develop relevant elements about the topic. Therefore, take time to pick a topic that you find interesting.

As you write, ensure you stay on topic, whether sharing a one-off event or a recurrent story.

Use the Right Tone

A reflective essay is more personal, unlike other types of academic essays. This means you don't need a strict or formal tone.

Since this is about your experiences, use personal pronouns such as I and Me.

Be Vulnerable

You must be extremely vulnerable to learn how to write a reflective essay in nursing.

Be open about your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about something you went through that sparked an interest in nursing.

It's okay to share mistakes or things you did wrong that eventually led you to this career path.

Choose the Right Focus

A reflection essay is all about narrating your experience during the nursing experience.

While including other people in your experience is okay, please let them not be the center of your reflection.

This is your essay, so you should be the focus of attention.

Keep it Brief

A good nursing reflection essay should be between 300 and 800 consciously written words. Because of this length, you must only write relevant information about your reflection. Refrain from lengthy reflections, as they make it difficult to pass your points across.

Convey Your Information Wisely

Even though a nursing reflection essay is about your personal experiences, it doesn't mean you should reveal everything about yourself. Ask yourself whether something is appropriate before including it in your paper.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Reflection Essay in Nursing

A good reflection essay involves reflecting on your nursing studies and practices throughout school and career to demonstrate your competence. For this reason, there are certain mistakes you should be aware of when writing an essay.

Not including a Personal Story

Like food tastes bland without salt, so does a reflection essay without a personal story. At the center of a reflection essay is You. This means the essay should focus on your personal story that led you to want a nursing career. A lot of times, students miss out on this instead of talking about their story. You need more than just the personal qualities you think will be a great fit for the nursing program; you must also share a story that shows how well you contributed to nursing care.

Failing to Share Your Experience

You will lose points when you fail to include nursing-related experiences in your reflection essay. Mentioning that you want to be a nurse is great, but failing to show specific events that led to the desire will cost you a great point.

Plagiarizing Your Essay

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense because it is considered taking other people's ideas and using them as your own without crediting the author. So, provide relevant citations and references for any ideas that aren't your own. Also, an AI will not write your essay as a human writer would. 

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Sample of a Nursing Reflective Essay 

The following is a sample of a nursing Reflective essay using Gibb's Model of Reflection. Use this sample to guide you when writing your own.

Introduction  Communication is an important element in healthcare practice as it determines patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. This essay will focus on reflecting on an experience I went through with a 40-year-old diabetic patient who also had a foot infected with an ulcer. When I approached the patient to sign the consent form, I noticed that he wasn't happy because of the news given to him about his health. I concluded that there must be a communication dilemma. I will reflect on the experience using Gibb's Model of Reflection. Using this model, I will identify and discuss the actions taken to resolve the issue. Description  This incident happened a few months ago when I was working as a wound nurse in a Methodist hospital in my hometown. I was part of a care team handling the case of a 40-year-old male patient with diabetes and an infected diabetic foot ulcer. After careful examination, a team comprising various specialists concluded that his leg needed amputation below the knee. After making this decision, the team left, and I was asked to give the patient a consent form to sign. When I came back from retrieving the form, I noticed the patient looked sorrowful because of the news given to him. Feelings  As soon as I saw the patient, I knew what he was going through. He perceived the situation to be irreparable, but I wasn't sure whether to console the patient or not. I was powerless and couldn't imagine what he was going through. At the same time, I was startled that the team left without showing any compassion. They could have handled the situation more delicately. I, on the other hand, could have relayed the information better. I wasn't sure whether my approach would be acceptable or appropriate. Evaluation  I always go back to that particular situation and wonder whether I could have acted better. The situation helped me better understand the importance of good communication in patient care, particularly in therapeutic care. Before the incident, I didn't acknowledge the role of nurses play in caring for patient's emotional needs. I realized nurses must show compassion and console patients in their low moments.  Analysis  Most healthcare professionals do not know how to deliver bad news to patients. They find the process extremely challenging and always feel psychologically unprepared. This has a negative impact on patients and could lead to bad health outcomes. Furthermore, how information is relayed could impact a patient's adherence to treatment. Because of these effects, multiple protocols and approaches were developed to help with communicating bad news to patients. One of the approaches that was proposed is emotion-centered. This proposes that a healthcare provider acknowledges how sad the patient is and builds a professional relationship based on empathy and sympathy. Action Plan I now understand the essence of communicating bad news with compassion. The experience allowed me to look closely at different aspects of my professional development that needed more improvement. Thus, I plan to be more empathetic and speak up in support of patient's emotional and psychological well-being, especially when presented with traumatic news about their health. Additionally, I now understand I am not powerless when dealing with a sorrowful patient. I believe I have learned from my experience, and I'm not able to communicate well with patients any more. Conclusion  The experience allowed me to value good communication in nursing and the need to incorporate it into daily nurse-patient interaction. Nurses must learn how to deliver bad news and manage patient's sorrow. This has been and will continue to be my biggest priority in patient care. References Street Jr, R. L., Makoul, G., Arora, N. K., & Epstein, R. M. (2009). How does communication heal? Pathways linking clinician–patient communication to health outcomes. Patient education and counselling, 74(3), 295-301. Buckman, R. (1992). Breaking bad news: why is it still so difficult? BMJ: British Medical Journal, 304(6842), 886. Ptacek, J. T., & Eberhardt, T. L. (1996). Breaking bad news: a review of the literature. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 276(6), 496-502.

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Critical Thinking: The Development of an Essential Skill for Nursing Students

Ioanna v. papathanasiou.

1 Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Greece

Christos F. Kleisiaris

2 Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece

Evangelos C. Fradelos

3 State Mental Hospital of Attica “Daphne”, Greece

Katerina Kakou

Lambrini kourkouta.

4 Nursing Department, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece

Critical thinking is defined as the mental process of actively and skillfully perception, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of collected information through observation, experience and communication that leads to a decision for action. In nursing education there is frequent reference to critical thinking and to the significance that it has in daily clinical nursing practice. Nursing clinical instructors know that students face difficulties in making decisions related to clinical practice. The main critical thinking skills in which nursing students should be exercised during their studies are critical analysis, introductory and concluding justification, valid conclusion, distinguish of facts and opinions, evaluation the credibility of information sources, clarification of concepts and recognition of conditions. Specific behaviors are essentials for enhancing critical thinking. Nursing students in order to learn and apply critical thinking should develop independence of thought, fairness, perspicacity in personal and social level, humility, spiritual courage, integrity, perseverance, self-confidence, interest for research and curiosity. Critical thinking is an essential process for the safe, efficient and skillful nursing practice. The nursing education programs should adopt attitudes that promote critical thinking and mobilize the skills of critical reasoning.

1. INTRODUCTION

Critical thinking is applied by nurses in the process of solving problems of patients and decision-making process with creativity to enhance the effect. It is an essential process for a safe, efficient and skillful nursing intervention. Critical thinking according to Scriven and Paul is the mental active process and subtle perception, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information collected or derived from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or the communication leading to conviction for action ( 1 ).

So, nurses must adopt positions that promote critical thinking and refine skills of critical reasoning in order a meaningful assessment of both the previous and the new information and decisions taken daily on hospitalization and use of limited resources, forces you to think and act in cases where there are neither clear answers nor specific procedures and where opposing forces transform decision making in a complex process ( 2 ).

Critical thinking applies to nurses as they have diverse multifaceted knowledge to handle the various situations encountered during their shifts still face constant changes in an environment with constant stress of changing conditions and make important decisions using critical thinking to collect and interpret information that are necessary for making a decision ( 3 ).

Critical thinking, combined with creativity, refine the result as nurses can find specific solutions to specific problems with creativity taking place where traditional interventions are not effective. Even with creativity, nurses generate new ideas quickly, get flexible and natural, create original solutions to problems, act independently and with confidence, even under pressure, and demonstrate originality ( 4 ).

The aim of the study is to present the basic skills of critical thinking, to highlight critical thinking as a essential skill for nursing education and a fundamental skill for decision making in nursing practice. Moreover to indicate the positive effect and relation that critical thinking has on professional outcomes.

2. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Nurses in their efforts to implement critical thinking should develop some methods as well as cognitive skills required in analysis, problem solving and decision making ( 5 ). These skills include critical analysis, introductory and concluding justification, valid conclusion, distinguishing facts and opinions to assess the credibility of sources of information, clarification of concepts, and recognition conditions ( 6 , 7 ).

Critical analysis is applied to a set of questions that relate to the event or concept for the determination of important information and ideas and discarding the unnecessary ones. It is, thus, a set of criteria to rationalize an idea where one must know all the questions but to use the appropriate one in this case ( 8 ).

The Socratic Method, where the question and the answer are sought, is a technique in which one can investigate below the surface, recognize and examine the condition, look for the consequences, investigate the multiple data views and distinguish between what one knows and what he simply believes. This method should be implemented by nurses at the end of their shifts, when reviewing patient history and progress, planning the nursing plan or discussing the treatment of a patient with colleagues ( 9 ).

The Inference and Concluding justification are two other critical thinking skills, where the justification for inductive generalizations formed from a set of data and observations, which when considered together, specific pieces of information constitute a special interpretation ( 10 ). In contrast, the justification is deduced from the general to the specific. According to this, nurse starts from a conceptual framework–for example, the prioritization of needs by Maslow or a context–evident and gives descriptive interpretation of the patient’s condition with respect to this framework. So, the nurse who uses drawing needs categorizes information and defines the problem of the patient based on eradication, nutrition or need protection.

In critical thinking, the nurses still distinguish claims based on facts, conclusions, judgments and opinions. The assessment of the reliability of information is an important stage of critical thinking, where the nurse needs to confirm the accuracy of this information by checking other evidence and informants ( 10 ).

The concepts are ideas and opinions that represent objects in the real world and the importance of them. Each person has developed its own concepts, where they are nested by others, either based on personal experience or study or other activities. For a clear understanding of the situation of the patient, the nurse and the patient should be in agreement with the importance of concepts.

People also live under certain assumptions. Many believe that people generally have a generous nature, while others believe that it is a human tendency to act in its own interest. The nurse must believe that life should be considered as invaluable regardless of the condition of the patient, with the patient often believing that quality of life is more important than duration. Nurse and patient, realizing that they can make choices based on these assumptions, can work together for a common acceptable nursing plan ( 11 ).

3. CRITICAL THINKING ENHANCEMENT BEHAVIORS

The person applying critical thinking works to develop the following attitudes and characteristics independence of thought, fairness, insight into the personal and public level, humble intellect and postpone the crisis, spiritual courage, integrity, perseverance, self-confidence, research interest considerations not only behind the feelings and emotions but also behind the thoughts and curiosity ( 12 ).

Independence of Thought

Individuals who apply critical thinking as they mature acquire knowledge and experiences and examine their beliefs under new evidence. The nurses do not remain to what they were taught in school, but are “open-minded” in terms of different intervention methods technical skills.

Impartiality

Those who apply critical thinking are independent in different ways, based on evidence and not panic or personal and group biases. The nurse takes into account the views of both the younger and older family members.

Perspicacity into Personal and Social Factors

Those who are using critical thinking and accept the possibility that their personal prejudices, social pressures and habits could affect their judgment greatly. So, they try to actively interpret their prejudices whenever they think and decide.

Humble Cerebration and Deferral Crisis

Humble intellect means to have someone aware of the limits of his own knowledge. So, those who apply critical thinking are willing to admit they do not know something and believe that what we all consider rectum cannot always be true, because new evidence may emerge.

Spiritual Courage

The values and beliefs are not always obtained by rationality, meaning opinions that have been researched and proven that are supported by reasons and information. The courage should be true to their new ground in situations where social penalties for incompatibility are strict. In many cases the nurses who supported an attitude according to which if investigations are proved wrong, they are canceled.

Use of critical thinking to mentally intact individuals question their knowledge and beliefs quickly and thoroughly and cause the knowledge of others so that they are willing to admit and appreciate inconsistencies of both their own beliefs and the beliefs of the others.

Perseverance

The perseverance shown by nurses in exploring effective solutions for patient problems and nursing each determination helps to clarify concepts and to distinguish related issues despite the difficulties and failures. Using critical thinking they resist the temptation to find a quick and simple answer to avoid uncomfortable situations such as confusion and frustration.

Confidence in the Justification

According to critical thinking through well motivated reasoning leads to reliable conclusions. Using critical thinking nurses develop both the inductive and the deductive reasoning. The nurse gaining more experience of mental process and improvement, does not hesitate to disagree and be troubled thereby acting as a role model to colleagues, inspiring them to develop critical thinking.

Interesting Thoughts and Feelings for Research

Nurses need to recognize, examine and inspect or modify the emotions involved with critical thinking. So, if they feel anger, guilt and frustration for some event in their work, they should follow some steps: To restrict the operations for a while to avoid hasty conclusions and impulsive decisions, discuss negative feelings with a trusted, consume some of the energy produced by emotion, for example, doing calisthenics or walking, ponder over the situation and determine whether the emotional response is appropriate. After intense feelings abate, the nurse will be able to proceed objectively to necessary conclusions and to take the necessary decisions.

The internal debate, that has constantly in mind that the use of critical thinking is full of questions. So, a research nurse calculates traditions but does not hesitate to challenge them if you do not confirm their validity and reliability.

4. IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL THINKING IN NURSING PRACTICE

In their shifts nurses act effectively without using critical thinking as many decisions are mainly based on habit and have a minimum reflection. Thus, higher critical thinking skills are put into operation, when some new ideas or needs are displayed to take a decision beyond routine. The nursing process is a systematic, rational method of planning and providing specialized nursing ( 13 ). The steps of the nursing process are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation. The health care is setting the priorities of the day to apply critical thinking ( 14 ). Each nurse seeks awareness of reasoning as he/she applies the criteria and considerations and as thinking evolves ( 15 ).

Problem Solving

Problem solving helps to acquire knowledge as nurse obtains information explaining the nature of the problem and recommends possible solutions which evaluate and select the application of the best without rejecting them in a possible appeal of the original. Also, it approaches issues when solving problems that are often used is the empirical method, intuition, research process and the scientific method modified ( 16 ).

Experiential Method

This method is mainly used in home care nursing interventions where they cannot function properly because of the tools and equipment that are incomplete ( 17 ).

Intuition is the perception and understanding of concepts without the conscious use of reasoning. As a problem solving approach, as it is considered by many, is a form of guessing and therefore is characterized as an inappropriate basis for nursing decisions. But others see it as important and legitimate aspect of the crisis gained through knowledge and experience. The clinical experience allows the practitioner to recognize items and standards and approach the right conclusions. Many nurses are sensing the evolution of the patient’s condition which helps them to act sooner although the limited information. Despite the fact that the intuitive method of solving problems is recognized as part of nursing practice, it is not recommended for beginners or students because the cognitive level and the clinical experience is incomplete and does not allow a valid decision ( 16 ).

Research Process / Scientifically Modified Method

The research method is a worded, rational and systematic approach to problem solving. Health professionals working in uncontrolled situations need to implement a modified approach of the scientific method of problem solving. With critical thinking being important in all processes of problem solving, the nurse considers all possible solutions and decides on the choice of the most appropriate solution for each case ( 18 ).

The Decision

The decision is the selection of appropriate actions to fulfill the desired objective through critical thinking. Decisions should be taken when several exclusive options are available or when there is a choice of action or not. The nurse when facing multiple needs of patients, should set priorities and decide the order in which they help their patients. They should therefore: a) examine the advantages and disadvantages of each option, b) implement prioritization needs by Maslow, c) assess what actions can be delegated to others, and d) use any framework implementation priorities. Even nurses make decisions about their personal and professional lives. The successive stages of decision making are the Recognition of Objective or Purpose, Definition of criteria, Calculation Criteria, Exploration of Alternative Solutions, Consideration of Alternative Solutions, Design, Implementation, Evaluation result ( 16 ).

The contribution of critical thinking in decision making

Acquiring critical thinking and opinion is a question of practice. Critical thinking is not a phenomenon and we should all try to achieve some level of critical thinking to solve problems and make decisions successfully ( 19 - 21 ).

It is vital that the alteration of growing research or application of the Socratic Method or other technique since nurses revise the evaluation criteria of thinking and apply their own reasoning. So when they have knowledge of their own reasoning-as they apply critical thinking-they can detect syllogistic errors ( 22 – 26 ).

5. CONCLUSION

In responsible positions nurses should be especially aware of the climate of thought that is implemented and actively create an environment that stimulates and encourages diversity of opinion and research ideas ( 27 ). The nurses will also be applied to investigate the views of people from different cultures, religions, social and economic levels, family structures and different ages. Managing nurses should encourage colleagues to scrutinize the data prior to draw conclusions and to avoid “group thinking” which tends to vary without thinking of the will of the group. Critical thinking is an essential process for the safe, efficient and skillful nursing practice. The nursing education programs should adopt attitudes that promote critical thinking and mobilize the skills of critical reasoning.

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How to Write a Critical Analysis Nursing Essay – Everything You Need to Know

How to Write a Critical Analysis Nursing Essay

Learn how to write a critical analysis nursing essay in this comprehensive guide. We’ll take you through every step, from understanding the question to crafting a powerful conclusion.

How do you write a critical analysis nursing essay?

Embarking on the journey of writing a critical analysis nursing essay? You’ve come to the right place! This all-encompassing guide will provide you with all the tools you need to craft a thought-provoking and quality essay. We’ll explore the step-by-step process, the dos and don’ts, and the key elements that make up a stellar critical analysis essay in the nursing field.

Part 1: Understanding the Task

Understanding the task at hand forms the bedrock of a successful essay. It may appear elementary, but it’s a step that’s often overlooked in the rush to start writing. However, ignoring this crucial phase can lead you down the wrong path, making it more difficult to produce a high-quality essay that meets the criteria.

Deciphering the Essay Question

When confronted with an essay question, it’s tempting to dive headfirst into writing without fully comprehending what the question is asking. But, like trying to solve a puzzle without seeing the full picture, you might find yourself lost in a maze of confusion. Thus, it’s essential to take a step back and decipher the essay question thoroughly.

First and foremost, what’s the central theme the question is addressing? Is it a broad area in nursing, such as patient care or public health? Or perhaps it’s a specific issue like managing pandemic outbreaks in a healthcare setting or ethical considerations in end-of-life care? Understanding the overall topic will give you a sense of the breadth and depth of your essay.

Next, it’s crucial to identify the key terms in the question. These are often action words or directives like ‘ analyze ,’ ‘ compare ,’ ‘ evaluate ,’ ‘ discuss, ‘ etc. They instruct you on what you need to do with the topic. For instance, if the directive is ‘ analyze ,’ you’re required to break down the topic into its components and examine them in detail. ‘ Compare ,’ on the other hand, means identifying similarities and differences between different aspects of the topic.

Don’t forget to look for limitations or specifications in the question. These could be a particular patient demographic, a specific geographical area, a certain timeframe, and so on. They further narrow down your focus and specify the context in which you should analyze the topic.

Understanding the essay question is a bit like being a detective. You need to scrutinize every word, look for clues, and piece them together to get a clear picture of what’s expected of you. It’s only with this clear understanding that you can proceed to the next steps with confidence.

Critical Analysis: What Does it Mean?

In the field of nursing, you’ll often come across the term ‘critical analysis.’ But what exactly does it mean, and how does it apply to your nursing essay?

At its core, critical analysis involves dissecting a topic, examining its various components, and evaluating them based on evidence. It’s more than just summarizing or describing the topic; it requires a deep, thoughtful examination and an informed judgement.

When conducting a critical analysis, you need to consider the following elements:

• Understanding: Do you understand all aspects of the topic? Can you explain it in your own words?
• Analysis: Can you break down the topic into its constituent parts and explain how they relate to each other?
• Interpretation: Can you explain the meaning or significance of the topic?
• Evaluation: Can you assess the merit of the topic based on evidence? Can you provide a reasoned judgement?
• Reflection: Can you consider the implications of your analysis? Can you suggest future directions for research or practice?

Critical analysis is not about finding fault or criticizing for the sake of it. It’s about engaging in a rigorous, thoughtful examination of the topic, considering different perspectives, and making an informed judgment.

Critical analysis in academic writing could involve demonstrating your understanding of the reading or evidence, showcasing your reasoning and conclusions from your reading or reflections, and contemplating questions such as ‘ why ,’ ‘ what if ,’ and ‘ so what .’

The Importance of a Nursing Perspective

The nursing profession is a unique discipline with its own set of knowledge, skills, and values. When writing your nursing essay, you’re not just asked to analyze a topic. You’re asked to analyze it from a nursing perspective. You also need to know the nursing essay definition.

What does this mean?

Professional nursing is fundamentally about providing care. It’s about promoting health, risk management, preventing illness, and caring for sick, disabled, and dying people. As such, when you analyze a topic in your essay, you need to consider how it relates to patient care. How does it affect the patient’s health and well-being? What are the implications for nursing practice?

In addition, nursing is grounded in decisions based on the best available scientific evidence. So, when you’re conducting a critical analysis, you should look for and evaluate the evidence supporting aspects of the topic in your nursing course.

Moreover, nursing is an empathetic profession. Registered nurses don’t just provide physical care to patients; they also provide emotional support. They strive to understand the patients’ health and wellbeing, feelings, and experiences and provide nursing care that’s tailored to the patient’s needs. In your essay, consider the emotional and psychological aspects of nursing on the suitable topic and how they impact issues within the healthcare section.

Taking a nursing perspective means looking at the specific topic through the lens of healthcare professionals. It requires you to integrate your nursing knowledge, skills, and values into your analysis and to consider choosing a topic in the context of patient care, evidence-based practice, and empathetic home care.

Understanding the Grading Criteria

In the academic world, it’s not enough just to write a nursing essay. You need to write a professional essay that meets specific grading criteria. Understanding these criteria can guide your writing process and help you produce an essay that scores high marks.

The grading criteria for a critical analysis essay typically involve the following:

• Understanding of the topic: This assesses your comprehension of the topic. Do you understand all its aspects? Can you explain it in your own words?
• Critical analysis: This evaluates your ability to analyze the topic. Can you break it down into its components? Can you examine them in detail? Can you make an informed judgement based on evidence?
• Use of evidence: This looks at how well you use evidence to support your analysis. Do you use high-quality, reliable sources? Do you interpret the evidence correctly? Do you cite your sources properly?
• Structure and organization: This examines the structure of your essay. Is your essay well-organized? Does it have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion? Do your ideas flow logically from one to the next?
• Writing quality: This assesses the quality of your writing. Is your writing clear and concise? Is it grammatically correct? Do you use appropriate vocabulary?

Understanding the grading criteria can provide a roadmap for your essay. It can guide your research, analysis, writing, and revision processes, helping you produce an essay that ticks all the boxes.

Setting a Plan

Once you’ve understood the task, it’s time to create a plan. Planning is like setting a roadmap for your essay. It provides a clear direction and helps you stay focused and organized.

First, schedule your time. Writing a high-quality essay isn’t something that can be done in a single sitting. It requires time for research, analysis, writing, and revision. Determine how much time you can allocate to each of these stages, and stick to your schedule as closely as possible.

Next, create a nursing essay outline. This is like a skeleton of your essay. It gives a nursing essay structure to your ideas and helps you organize them in a logical way. Start with the main sections of your essay – introduction, body, and conclusion. Then, break down each section into smaller parts, like having a thesis statement. For the body of your essay, identify the main points you want to analyze and the evidence you’ll use to support your analysis.

Lastly, gather your resources. Identify the sources you’ll need for your research and where you can find them. These could be books, journal articles, online resources, and more. Make sure your sources are reliable and relevant to your topic.

A well-thought-out plan can streamline your writing process and make it more efficient. It can prevent you from veering off course, getting overwhelmed, or missing important points. So, before you start writing, take some time to plan your essay.

With a solid understanding of the task and a clear plan in hand, you’re now ready to delve into the heart of your essay – the research and analysis. Stay tuned for the next part of our guide, where we’ll explore how to research your topic and conduct a critical analysis.

Part 2: Conducting Research and Analysis

This part of the process is where the rubber meets the road. You’ve understood the task, you’ve planned your essay, and now it’s time to delve into the heart of the matter: researching your topic and conducting a critical analysis. This is where you’ll gather the information and evidence you need to support your analysis and draw your essay conclusions.

Researching Your Topic

Before you can analyze a topic, you first need to have an understanding of nursing. And that requires research. Research is like detective work. It involves seeking out information, examining evidence, and piecing together a picture of the topic.

Start by reviewing the basic information about your topic. This might involve reading textbook chapters, lecture notes, or other foundational sources. Aim to get a clear, comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Next, delve deeper into the topic by reading scholarly articles, research studies, and expert opinions. These sources provide more detailed, nuanced information and insights about the topic. They also provide evidence that you can use to support your analysis.

As you conduct your research, be critical. Don’t just accept information at face value. Consider an authoritative source of the information, the evidence supporting it, and the methodology used to obtain it. Question the assumptions, interpretations, and conclusions. This critical approach will serve you well when you move on to the analysis phase.

Analyzing Your Topic

Now that you’ve gathered information and evidence about your topic, it’s time to analyze it. Remember, analysis involves breaking down the topic into its components, examining them in detail, and making reasoned judgments that are evidence-based.

Start by identifying the key aspects or components of the topic. What are the main ideas, issues, or arguments? How do they relate to each other?

Next, examine each aspect in detail. What evidence supports it? What are its strengths and weaknesses? What are its implications for nursing programs?

Then, make a reasoned judgement. Based on the evidence, what conclusions can you draw? What is your assessment of the topic? Remember, this should be an informed judgement, based on evidence, not just a personal opinion.

Finally, reflect upon your analysis. What are the implications of your conclusions? How might they affect your future practice? What future research or actions might they suggest?

Using Evidence Effectively

In a critical analysis essay, evidence is your best friend. It supports your analysis, adds credibility to your arguments, and shows that you’ve done your homework.

But using evidence effectively is not just about throwing in a bunch of facts or quotes. It requires careful selection, interpretation, and presentation of the evidence.

First, select high-quality, relevant evidence. This might include research findings, expert opinions, case studies, etc. The quality of your evidence can make or break your essay, so choose wisely.

Next, interpret the evidence. What does it mean? How does it relate to your analysis? Explain the evidence in your own words and relate it to your points rather than just presenting it without context.

Finally, present the evidence in a clear, concise way. Use it to support your points, but don’t let it overshadow your own analysis. Remember, the evidence is there to support your analysis, not to replace it.

Recognizing and Addressing Biases

One of the challenges of critical analysis is dealing with biases. Biases can creep into your research, your analysis, and even the evidence you use. Recognizing and addressing these biases is crucial for a fair, balanced analysis.

First, be aware of your own biases. We all have biases, and they can subtly influence our research and analysis. Try to identify any preconceived notions or beliefs you have about the topic and set them aside. Approach your analysis with an open mind, ready to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Second, be aware of biases in your sources. Not all sources are created equal. Some may have biases due to the authors’ affiliations, funding sources, or personal beliefs. Evaluate your sources critically, considering their credibility, reliability, and potential biases.

Finally, address any biases you find. This might involve using a variety of sources to get a balanced view, questioning the assumptions and interpretations in your sources, or acknowledging the limitations of your sources.

Reflecting on Your Analysis

The final step in your essay writing analysis is reflection. Reflection involves stepping back from your analysis and considering it in a broader context. It’s about asking, “So what?”

What are the implications of your conclusions? How might they affect nursing practice? What future research or actions might they suggest? These are the kinds of questions you should ask in your reflection.

Reflection is also about learning. It’s about recognizing what you’ve learned from the analysis, what you found challenging, and what you might do differently next time. It’s about growing as a writer, thinker, and nurse.

Research and analysis are at the heart of a critical analysis essay. By thoroughly researching your topic, critically analyzing it, using evidence effectively, recognizing and addressing biases, and reflecting on your analysis, you can develop a deep, nuanced understanding of your topic and present a compelling, evidence-based argument.

Stay tuned for the next part of our guide, where we’ll delve into the writing process, from drafting your essay to revising and polishing it.

Part 3: Writing Your Essay

Now that we’ve researched our topic and conducted a thorough analysis, it’s time to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and begin the process of nursing essay writing. This section will walk you through the process of drafting your essay, revising it, and then polishing it for final submission. Remember, writing is a process, and it’s okay to write a rough first draft; revisions are where the magic happens!

Drafting Your Essay

As you embark on the writing journey, remember the essay outline you created during your planning phase. This will serve as the roadmap for your essay, guiding you through each section and ensuring you stay on track.

Start with the introduction . The introductory paragraph is where you’ll set the stage for your analysis. Provide some background information on your topic, state your thesis or main argument, and give a brief overview of how you’ll support this argument in the body of your essay.

The body of your essay is where you’ll present your critical analysis. Each separate paragraph should focus on one main point or aspect of your analysis. Start the paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states the main point. Then, provide evidence to support this point and explain how this evidence supports your analysis. Remember to stay focused on your analysis and avoid going off on tangents.

Finally, wrap up your essay with a conclusion . This is where you’ll summarize your main points and restate your thesis in light of the evidence and analysis you’ve presented. You can also discuss the implications of your analysis and suggest positive or negative areas for future research.

Revising Your Essay

Once you’ve written your first draft, it’s time to revise. Revising is not just about fixing typos and grammar mistakes. It’s about improving the content, organization, and clarity of your essay.

Start by reviewing your essay as a whole. Does it flow logically? Does each paragraph contribute to your argument? Are there any points that are unclear or unsupported? Make note of any issues and then go back and address them.

Next, review each section of your essay. In the introduction, check that you’ve provided sufficient background and clearly stated your thesis and argument. In the body, check that each paragraph focuses on one main point, provides evidence to support this point, and explains the evidence. In the conclusion, check that you’ve summarized your points, restated your thesis, and discussed implications and future research.

Finally, review your essay at the sentence level. Check for clarity, coherence, and conciseness. Make sure each sentence contributes to your point and flows logically from the previous sentence.

Polishing Your Essay

The final step in the writing process is polishing your essay. This involves fine-tuning your language, fixing typos and grammar mistakes, and ensuring your essay is formatted correctly.

Start by checking your language. Is it clear and precise? Have you used appropriate academic language and tone? Have you varied your sentence structure to maintain reader interest? Are there any words or phrases that could be simplified or clarified?

Next, proofread your essay for typos and grammar mistakes. These can distract from your analysis and make your essay difficult to read. Don’t rely solely on spell-checkers; they can miss errors, especially with homonyms (words that sound the same but have different meanings).

Finally, check your formatting. Follow the required citation style for your references. Ensure your essay is double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and a readable 12-point font. Include your name, the date, and any other required information on the title page or header.

Writing a critical analysis nursing essay is a multi-step process involving planning, research, and analysis, and writing and revising. By following this guide, you can navigate this process successfully and produce a compelling, well-reasoned essay that demonstrates your understanding, critical thinking skills, and professional insights.

Stay tuned for the final part of our guide, where we’ll delve into some tips and tricks for acing your critical analysis essay, as well as how to handle feedback and use it to improve your future essays.

Part 4: Perfecting Your Essay

Writing your essay is not just about putting pen to paper. It’s also about perfecting your essay through careful revision, addressing feedback, and developing strategies to improve your future essays. In this section, we’ll delve into some tips and tricks for acing your essay, how to handle feedback and ways to continually improve your writing skills.

Tips and Tricks for Acing Your Essay

Writing an essay is a skill, and like any skill, it can be improved with practice and the right strategies. Here are some tips and tricks to help start a nursing essay topic:

• Be critical: Remember, a critical analysis is not just a summary. It involves questioning, evaluating, and interpreting. Don’t just accept information at face value; question it, probe it, and make your own interpretations.
• Be clear and concise: Clarity and conciseness are key in academic writing. Make sure your points are clear, your arguments are logical, and your writing is concise. Organize your thoughts and avoid jargon and overly complex language.
• Be thorough: Don’t skimp on your research or your analysis. Be thorough in both, providing a wide range of evidence and deep, nuanced analysis.
• Be reflective: Always take the time to reflect on your analysis, your writing, and your learning. Reflection helps you understand the significance of your analysis, improves your writing skills, and enhances your learning.

Handling Feedback

Feedback is a valuable tool for improving your writing. It provides an outside perspective on your essay and can highlight areas for improvement that you might have overlooked.

When you receive feedback, start by reading it thoroughly. Try to understand the perspective of the person providing the feedback. What are they seeing that you’re not?

Next, consider the feedback. Do you agree with it? Does it make sense? How can you use it to improve your essay?

Then, implement the feedback. Make revisions to your essay based on the feedback. This might involve clarifying points, strengthening your argument, fixing errors, or improving your writing style.

Finally, reflect on the feedback. What have you learned from it? How can you use it to improve your future essays?

Continual Improvement

Writing is a lifelong skill, and there’s always room for improvement. Here are some strategies for continually improving your writing skills:

• Practice: The more you write, the better you get. Practice writing regularly, whether it’s essays, journal entries, or emails.
• Read: Reading is one of the best ways to improve your writing. It exposes you to different writing styles, expands your vocabulary, and helps you understand how effective writing is structured.
• Seek feedback: Don’t be afraid to seek feedback on your writing. Whether it’s from a teacher, a peer, or a writing center, feedback can provide valuable insights into your writing.
• Reflect: Take the time to reflect on your writing. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What do you want to improve?

Writing a critical analysis essay can be a challenging but rewarding task. It requires research, analysis, critical thinking, and careful writing and revision. However, by following this guide and applying these strategies, you can write a compelling, insightful essay that demonstrates your understanding, critical thinking skills, and professional insights.

This brings us to the end of our process on “How to Write a Critical Analysis Nursing Essay.” We hope you found it helpful and informative. Remember, writing is a journey, and every essay you write is a step along that journey. So keep writing, keep learning, and keep improving. Happy writing!

Final Thoughts: How to Write a Critical Analysis Nursing Essay

In this guide, we’ve provided a comprehensive roadmap on how to write a critical analysis nursing essay. From understanding what a critical analysis essay is to conducting thorough research, crafting an insightful analysis, writing and revising your essay, and continually improving your writing skills, we’ve covered all the bases. We hope that this guide serves as a valuable resource for you as you embark on your nursing academic journey. Remember, the key to a great essay is in the planning, so take your time, be thorough, and don’t forget to engage deeply with your subject matter. Good luck!

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide on “How to Write a Critical Analysis Nursing Essay”. We hope this guide has been informative and useful for you. Don’t hesitate to revisit it as often as you need, and remember – practice makes perfect. If you need assistance with writing, our nursing essay writing experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may need including argumentative essays, leadership essays, and reflective essays. Happy writing! 

FAQs on Critical Analysis Nursing Essay Writing

How do i understand the essay question better, what does it mean to take a nursing perspective in a critical analysis essay, what are the grading criteria for a critical analysis nursing essay, how should i plan my critical analysis nursing essay, how do i research my topic for a critical analysis nursing essay, how do i analyze my topic for a critical analysis nursing essay, how do i use evidence effectively in a critical analysis nursing essay, how do i recognize and address biases in a critical analysis nursing essay, what is the purpose of reflection in a critical analysis nursing essay, how do i draft my critical analysis nursing essay, how do i revise my critical analysis nursing essay, how do i polish my critical analysis nursing essay, what are some tips and tricks for acing a critical analysis nursing essay, how do i handle feedback on my critical analysis essay, how can i continually improve my writing skills.

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Academic writing: using literature to demonstrate critical analysis

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• academic writing
• critical analysis
• nursing education

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• http://nursingstandard.rcnpublishing.co.uk/

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• Nursing Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
• Nurses Medicine & Life Sciences 87%
• Students Medicine & Life Sciences 84%

T1 - Academic writing: using literature to demonstrate critical analysis

AU - Duffy, Kathleen

AU - Hastie, Elizabeth

AU - McCallum, Jacqueline

AU - Ness, Val

AU - Price, Lesley

N1 - PDF available to download from publisher's website

PY - 2009/7

Y1 - 2009/7

N2 - When writing at degree level, nurses need to demonstrate an understanding of evidence by summarising its key elements and comparing and contrasting authors’ views. Critical analysis is an important nursing skill in writing and in practice. With the advent of an all-degree profession, understanding how to develop this skill is crucial. This article examines how students can develop critical analysis skills to write at undergraduate degree level.

AB - When writing at degree level, nurses need to demonstrate an understanding of evidence by summarising its key elements and comparing and contrasting authors’ views. Critical analysis is an important nursing skill in writing and in practice. With the advent of an all-degree profession, understanding how to develop this skill is crucial. This article examines how students can develop critical analysis skills to write at undergraduate degree level.

KW - academic writing

KW - literature

KW - critical analysis

KW - nursing education

M3 - Article

SN - 2047-9018

JO - Nursing Standard

JF - Nursing Standard

What Is a Critical Analysis Essay: Definition

Have you ever had to read a book or watch a movie for school and then write an essay about it? Well, a critical analysis essay is a type of essay where you do just that! So, when wondering what is a critical analysis essay, know that it's a fancy way of saying that you're going to take a closer look at something and analyze it.

So, let's say you're assigned to read a novel for your literature class. A critical analysis essay would require you to examine the characters, plot, themes, and writing style of the book. You would need to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses and provide your own thoughts and opinions on the text.

Similarly, if you're tasked with writing a critical analysis essay on a scientific article, you would need to analyze the methodology, results, and conclusions presented in the article and evaluate its significance and potential impact on the field.

The key to a successful critical analysis essay is to approach the subject matter with an open mind and a willingness to engage with it on a deeper level. By doing so, you can gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the subject matter and develop your own informed opinions and perspectives. Considering this, we bet you want to learn how to write critical analysis essay easily and efficiently, so keep on reading to find out more!

Meanwhile, if you'd rather have your own sample critical analysis essay crafted by professionals from our custom writings , contact us to buy essays online .

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Critical Analysis Essay Topics by Category

If you're looking for an interesting and thought-provoking topic for your critical analysis essay, you've come to the right place! Critical analysis essays can cover many subjects and topics, with endless possibilities. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of critical analysis essay topics by category. We've got you covered whether you're interested in literature, science, social issues, or something else. So, grab a notebook and pen, and get ready to dive deep into your chosen topic. In the following sections, we will provide you with various good critical analysis paper topics to choose from, each with its unique angle and approach.

Critical Analysis Essay Topics on Mass Media

From television and radio to social media and advertising, mass media is everywhere, shaping our perceptions of the world around us. As a result, it's no surprise that critical analysis essays on mass media are a popular choice for students and scholars alike. To help you get started, here are ten critical essay example topics on mass media:

• The Influence of Viral Memes on Pop Culture: An In-Depth Analysis.
• The Portrayal of Mental Health in Television: Examining Stigmatization and Advocacy.
• The Power of Satirical News Shows: Analyzing the Impact of Political Commentary.
• Mass Media and Consumer Behavior: Investigating Advertising and Persuasion Techniques.
• The Ethics of Deepfake Technology: Implications for Trust and Authenticity in Media.
• Media Framing and Public Perception: A Critical Analysis of News Coverage.
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Discourse and Activism.
• Fake News in the Digital Age: Identifying Disinformation and Its Effects.
• The Representation of Gender and Diversity in Hollywood Films: A Critical Examination.
• Media Ownership and Its Impact on Journalism and News Reporting: A Comprehensive Study.

Critical Analysis Essay Topics on Sports

Sports are a ubiquitous aspect of our culture, and they have the power to unite and inspire people from all walks of life. Whether you're an athlete, a fan, or just someone who appreciates the beauty of competition, there's no denying the significance of sports in our society. If you're looking for an engaging and thought-provoking topic for your critical analysis essay, sports offer a wealth of possibilities:

• The Role of Sports in Diplomacy: Examining International Relations Through Athletic Events.
• Sports and Identity: How Athletic Success Shapes National and Cultural Pride.
• The Business of Sports: Analyzing the Economics and Commercialization of Athletics.
• Athlete Activism: Exploring the Impact of Athletes' Social and Political Engagement.
• Sports Fandom and Online Communities: The Impact of Social Media on Fan Engagement.
• The Representation of Athletes in the Media: Gender, Race, and Stereotypes.
• The Psychology of Sports: Exploring Mental Toughness, Motivation, and Peak Performance.
• The Evolution of Sports Equipment and Technology: From Innovation to Regulation.
• The Legacy of Sports Legends: Analyzing Their Impact Beyond Athletic Achievement.
• Sports and Social Change: How Athletic Movements Shape Societal Attitudes and Policies.

Critical Analysis Essay Topics on Literature and Arts

Literature and arts can inspire, challenge, and transform our perceptions of the world around us. From classic novels to contemporary art, the realm of literature and arts offers many possibilities for critical analysis essays. Here are ten original critic essay example topics on literature and arts:

• The Use of Symbolism in Contemporary Poetry: Analyzing Hidden Meanings and Significance.
• The Intersection of Art and Identity: How Self-Expression Shapes Artists' Works.
• The Role of Nonlinear Narrative in Postmodern Novels: Techniques and Interpretation.
• The Influence of Jazz on African American Literature: A Comparative Study.
• The Complexity of Visual Storytelling: Graphic Novels and Their Narrative Power.
• The Art of Literary Translation: Challenges, Impact, and Interpretation.
• The Evolution of Music Videos: From Promotional Tools to a Unique Art Form.
• The Literary Techniques of Magical Realism: Exploring Reality and Fantasy.
• The Impact of Visual Arts in Advertising: Analyzing the Connection Between Art and Commerce.
• Art in Times of Crisis: How Artists Respond to Societal and Political Challenges.

Critical Analysis Essay Topics on Culture

Culture is a dynamic and multifaceted aspect of our society, encompassing everything from language and religion to art and music. As a result, there are countless possibilities for critical analysis essays on culture. Whether you're interested in exploring the complexities of globalization or delving into the nuances of cultural identity, there's a wealth of topics to choose from:

• The Influence of K-Pop on Global Youth Culture: A Comparative Study.
• Cultural Significance of Street Art in Urban Spaces: Beyond Vandalism.
• The Role of Mythology in Shaping Indigenous Cultures and Belief Systems.
• Nollywood: Analyzing the Cultural Impact of Nigerian Cinema on the African Diaspora.
• The Language of Hip-Hop Lyrics: A Semiotic Analysis of Cultural Expression.
• Digital Nomads and Cultural Adaptation: Examining the Subculture of Remote Work.
• The Cultural Significance of Tattooing Among Indigenous Tribes in Oceania.
• The Art of Culinary Fusion: Analyzing Cross-Cultural Food Trends and Innovation.
• The Impact of Cultural Festivals on Local Identity and Economy.
• The Influence of Internet Memes on Language and Cultural Evolution.

How to Write a Critical Analysis: Easy Steps

When wondering how to write a critical analysis essay, remember that it can be a challenging but rewarding process. Crafting a critical analysis example requires a careful and thoughtful examination of a text or artwork to assess its strengths and weaknesses and broader implications. The key to success is to approach the task in a systematic and organized manner, breaking it down into two distinct steps: critical reading and critical writing. Here are some tips for each step of the process to help you write a critical essay.

Step 1: Critical Reading

Here are some tips for critical reading that can help you with your critical analysis paper:

• Read actively : Don't just read the text passively, but actively engage with it by highlighting or underlining important points, taking notes, and asking questions.
• Identify the author's main argument: Figure out what the author is trying to say and what evidence they use to support their argument.
• Evaluate the evidence: Determine whether the evidence is reliable, relevant, and sufficient to support the author's argument.
• Analyze the author's tone and style: Consider the author's tone and style and how it affects the reader's interpretation of the text.
• Identify assumptions: Identify any underlying assumptions the author makes and consider whether they are valid or questionable.
• Consider alternative perspectives: Consider alternative perspectives or interpretations of the text and consider how they might affect the author's argument.
• Assess the author's credibility : Evaluate the author's credibility by considering their expertise, biases, and motivations.
• Consider the context: Consider the historical, social, cultural, and political context in which the text was written and how it affects its meaning.
• Pay attention to language: Pay attention to the author's language, including metaphors, symbolism, and other literary devices.
• Synthesize your analysis: Use your analysis of the text to develop a well-supported argument in your critical analysis essay.

Step 2: Critical Analysis Writing

Here are some tips for critical analysis writing, with examples:

• Start with a strong thesis statement: A strong critical analysis thesis is the foundation of any critical analysis essay. It should clearly state your argument or interpretation of the text. You can also consult us on how to write a thesis statement . Meanwhile, here is a clear example:
• Weak thesis statement: 'The author of this article is wrong.'
• Strong thesis statement: 'In this article, the author's argument fails to consider the socio-economic factors that contributed to the issue, rendering their analysis incomplete.'
• Use evidence to support your argument: Use evidence from the text to support your thesis statement, and make sure to explain how the evidence supports your argument. For example:
• Weak argument: 'The author of this article is biased.'
• Strong argument: 'The author's use of emotional language and selective evidence suggests a bias towards one particular viewpoint, as they fail to consider counterarguments and present a balanced analysis.'
• Analyze the evidence : Analyze the evidence you use by considering its relevance, reliability, and sufficiency. For example:
• Weak analysis: 'The author mentions statistics in their argument.'
• Strong analysis: 'The author uses statistics to support their argument, but it is important to note that these statistics are outdated and do not take into account recent developments in the field.'
• Use quotes and paraphrases effectively: Use quotes and paraphrases to support your argument and properly cite your sources. For example:
• Weak use of quotes: 'The author said, 'This is important.'
• Strong use of quotes: 'As the author points out, 'This issue is of utmost importance in shaping our understanding of the problem' (p. 25).'
• Use clear and concise language: Use clear and concise language to make your argument easy to understand, and avoid jargon or overly complicated language. For example:
• Weak language: 'The author's rhetorical devices obfuscate the issue.'
• Strong language: 'The author's use of rhetorical devices such as metaphor and hyperbole obscures the key issues at play.'
• Address counterarguments: Address potential counterarguments to your argument and explain why your interpretation is more convincing. For example:
• Weak argument: 'The author is wrong because they did not consider X.'
• Strong argument: 'While the author's analysis is thorough, it overlooks the role of X in shaping the issue. However, by considering this factor, a more nuanced understanding of the problem emerges.'
• Consider the audience: Consider your audience during your writing process. Your language and tone should be appropriate for your audience and should reflect the level of knowledge they have about the topic. For example:
• Weak language: 'As any knowledgeable reader can see, the author's argument is flawed.'
• Strong language: 'Through a critical analysis of the author's argument, it becomes clear that there are gaps in their analysis that require further consideration.'

Master the art of critical analysis with EssayPro . Our team is ready to guide you in dissecting texts, theories, or artworks with depth and sophistication. Let us help you deliver a critical analysis essay that showcases your analytical prowess.

Creating a Detailed Critical Analysis Essay Outline

Creating a detailed outline is essential when writing a critical analysis essay. It helps you organize your thoughts and arguments, ensuring your essay flows logically and coherently. Here is a detailed critical analysis outline from our dissertation writers :

I. Introduction

A. Background information about the text and its author

B. Brief summary of the text

C. Thesis statement that clearly states your argument

II. Analysis of the Text

A. Overview of the text's main themes and ideas

B. Examination of the author's writing style and techniques

C. Analysis of the text's structure and organization

III. Evaluation of the Text

A. Evaluation of the author's argument and evidence

B. Analysis of the author's use of language and rhetorical strategies

C. Assessment of the text's effectiveness and relevance to the topic

IV. Discussion of the Context

A. Exploration of the historical, cultural, and social context of the text

B. Examination of the text's influence on its audience and society

C. Analysis of the text's significance and relevance to the present day

V. Counter Arguments and Responses

A. Identification of potential counterarguments to your argument

B. Refutation of counterarguments and defense of your position

C. Acknowledgement of the limitations and weaknesses of your argument

VI. Conclusion

A. Recap of your argument and main points

B. Evaluation of the text's significance and relevance

C. Final thoughts and recommendations for further research or analysis.

This outline can be adjusted to fit the specific requirements of your essay. Still, it should give you a solid foundation for creating a detailed and well-organized critical analysis essay.

Useful Techniques Used in Literary Criticism

There are several techniques used in literary criticism to analyze and evaluate a work of literature. Here are some of the most common techniques:

• Close reading: This technique involves carefully analyzing a text to identify its literary devices, themes, and meanings.
• Historical and cultural context: This technique involves examining the historical and cultural context of a work of literature to understand the social, political, and cultural influences that shaped it.
• Structural analysis: This technique involves analyzing the structure of a text, including its plot, characters, and narrative techniques, to identify patterns and themes.
• Formalism: This technique focuses on the literary elements of a text, such as its language, imagery, and symbolism, to analyze its meaning and significance.
• Psychological analysis: This technique examines the psychological and emotional aspects of a text, including the motivations and desires of its characters, to understand the deeper meanings and themes.
• Feminist and gender analysis: This technique focuses on the representation of gender and sexuality in a text, including how gender roles and stereotypes are reinforced or challenged.
• Marxist and social analysis: This technique examines the social and economic structures portrayed in a text, including issues of class, power, and inequality.

By using these and other techniques, literary critics can offer insightful and nuanced analyses of works of literature, helping readers to understand and appreciate the complexity and richness of the texts.

Sample Critical Analysis Essay

Now that you know how to write a critical analysis, take a look at the critical analysis essay sample provided by our research paper writers and better understand this kind of paper!

Final Words

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If you need help with any of the STEPS ABOVE

Feel free to use EssayPro Outline Help

What Type Of Language Should Be Used In A Critical Analysis Essay?

How to write a critical analysis essay, what is a critical analysis essay, related articles.

Nursing Case Study Jessica’s Suicide

This essay about a nursing case study investigates the tragic suicide of Jessica, a young patient with a history of severe depression and anxiety. It critically examines the factors contributing to her death, emphasizing the need for vigilant mental health care and responsive adjustments in treatment based on a patient’s changing emotional state. The analysis points out failures in communication within the healthcare team and inadequate family involvement, suggesting that better informed support networks could prevent similar crises. The essay advocates for integrated care approaches, including psychological, psychiatric, and social support, to enhance patient-centered care and potentially save lives. This reflective analysis underscores the importance of training and awareness in healthcare settings to better manage and support patients experiencing mental health challenges.

How it works

Suicide is a critical public health issue that necessitates comprehensive understanding and sensitive intervention, particularly within the healthcare setting. This analysis delves into a poignant nursing case study centered around Jessica, a young patient who tragically ended her life. By examining Jessica’s case, we aim to shed light on the complex interplay of mental health challenges and the healthcare strategies that could potentially mitigate such devastating outcomes.

Jessica, a 24-year-old female, had been battling severe depression and anxiety for several years.

Her medical history reveals multiple previous attempts at suicide, each coinciding with periods of extreme emotional distress. Jessica’s situation underscores a critical aspect of mental health care: the necessity for vigilant, ongoing assessments and interventions tailored to individual patient histories and circumstances.

Upon her last admission to the hospital, Jessica appeared particularly withdrawn and despondent. Nursing notes indicated that she expressed feelings of hopelessness and a decreased interest in engaging with both staff and her own family members. Despite these clear warning signs, the response from the healthcare team was not sufficiently tailored to her acute need for intensive psychological support. This case points to the first significant lesson: the importance of responsive care adjustments based on a patient’s evolving emotional and psychological state.

One pivotal factor in Jessica’s care was the communication between her nurses and the broader psychiatric team. Effective communication in healthcare settings is crucial and can often be the deciding factor in preventing a crisis. For Jessica, the lapse in conveying critical information about her worsening depressive state and potential suicidal ideation might have contributed to the lack of timely interventions. Therefore, enhancing communication protocols within hospital settings could serve as a preventive measure, ensuring that all team members are aware of a patient’s current mental health status and are acting accordingly.

Additionally, Jessica’s case highlights the role of family involvement in managing mental health crises. It appears that her family was not fully aware of the gravity of her condition nor the potential for imminent risk. Increasing family engagement and education about mental health conditions could bridge this gap, providing a support system that is more attuned and responsive to the patient’s needs.

In addressing these issues, healthcare providers can learn from Jessica’s case to better manage similar situations. Implementing routine and more detailed psychological evaluations can help identify at-risk individuals before a crisis occurs. Training for nursing staff in recognizing the subtleties of mental health deterioration and the importance of assertive communication can also be crucial.

Furthermore, integrating multidisciplinary approaches that include psychological, psychiatric, and social support can create a more holistic care model. Such integration ensures that patients like Jessica receive not only medical treatment but also comprehensive psychosocial support, potentially alleviating the sense of isolation and despair that can lead to suicide.

Finally, healthcare institutions must foster an environment where mental health care is prioritized and where all staff members are equipped with the necessary tools and training to effectively intervene. This requires ongoing education and awareness programs that emphasize the complexities of mental health issues and the critical role of tailored, patient-centered care.

Jessica’s tragic outcome serves as a somber reminder of what might happen when systemic and individual care components fail to adequately align with the needs of those at risk. Through this case study, we learn the invaluable lessons of vigilance, communication, and an integrated approach to mental health within the nursing profession. It is only through such committed efforts that we can hope to prevent such losses in the future and better support our patients through their most challenging times.

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Nursing Case Study Jessica's Suicide. (2024, Apr 14). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/nursing-case-study-jessicas-suicide/

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Nursing Case Study Jessica's Suicide . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/nursing-case-study-jessicas-suicide/ [Accessed: 18 Apr. 2024]

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"Nursing Case Study Jessica's Suicide," PapersOwl.com , 14-Apr-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/nursing-case-study-jessicas-suicide/. [Accessed: 18-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Nursing Case Study Jessica's Suicide . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/nursing-case-study-jessicas-suicide/ [Accessed: 18-Apr-2024]

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