2．Critical Thinking and Nursing Process

　The assertion that critical thinking is a central phenomenon in nursing practice implies that critical thinking is fundamental to nursing process. It facilitates nursing process by focusing awareness of the nursing care context and clarifying nursing care decisions. An examination of two models of critical thinking in nursing demonstrates how cognitive abilities, attitudes and standards influence each phase of nursing process. Research on the relationship of critical thinking to nursing judgment, however, suggests that critical thinking alone is not sufficient to produce valid nursing judgments. Specific conditions, such as support for intellectual integrity and certain characteristics of the clinician, must be present in order for critical thinking to be utilized in a clinical situation.