Opinion Piece

A Need for Evolution in Thinking

Karen Schmaltz


As leaders and practitioners, we find ourselves in new complex and continuously evolving realities in healthcare. This became more apparent during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the ensuing syndemic, and continues with significant real-world challenges with impacts on health such as with the climate change emergency.

We have heard from healthcare leaders around the globe that we cannot continue to think and act the same expecting new and different results in this new world. Nor can we continue to develop the same leadership skills and competencies we did in the past and expect new successes - less frustration - less failure in healthcare delivery and in meeting the needs or our communities.1

So, how should we move forward?

At Ability Boost Learning Lab we propose that perhaps, our ways of thinking and the skills needed to develop those ways of thinking must also evolve for us to find success. 

As a result, we have worked to develop our ways of thinking and are dedicated to helping others do the same by providing courses on various thinking topics in a series. The goal of our Thinking Series is 3-fold, 

1

Endeavors to provide you with information, skills and resources to grow and expand your 'ways of thinking' and practicing that will ultimately help you function at a higher level and feel successful in your role as a healthcare leader and practitioner.

2

Endeavors to promote an expanded understanding of the healthcare environment that will lead to effective, reasonable, achievable reform and transformation initiatives.

3

Endeavors to build evidence and create new knowledge in nursing and nursing leadership practice through the exploration of expanding thinking skills and abilities, and 'ways of thinking' on practice.

Recognizing nurses' critical thinking skills

We feel that it is important to recognize that as nurses, we are trained in and very skilled in critical thinking. Through our thinking series we will expand on your exceptional 
critical thinking skills and add different ways of thinking that will promote new interpretations of your environment which will inform your decisions and actions moving forward.

We hope you join us on this journey of expanding ways of thinking and look forward to learning about the impact this development has on your practice. Your input and stories will help us develop this concept further and will inform future learning opportunities.