Helping today's nursing professional acquire essential critical thinking skills for solving both common and more complex health problems, this innovative and insightful workbook contains 92 real-life cases which address all aspects of nursing care (i.e., assessment, analyzing data, planning care, evaluating benefits and possible consequences of care), and demonstrate the cognitive and affective components that influence critical thinking. KEY TOPICS: Contains an introduction to critical thinking, an historical overview of critical thinking, and an in-depth discussion on the affective and cognitive components of critical thinking. Uses critical thinking language throughout; bases all material on critical thinking theory; and fosters both attitude and cognitive critical thinking within each case. Organizes case studies by major nursing specialties--adult health, community and home-care, maternal-newborn, pediatrics, and mental health nursing--and presents many activities and questions within each case to stimulate critical thinking skills. Includes practice sessions, detailed chapter summaries, and a book/Internet link that provides regularly updated material. MARKET: For nurses specializing in adult health, community and home-care, maternal-newborn, pediatrics, and mental health.