Critical thinking: incorporation into the paramedic curriculum

The purpose of this paper is to present approaches to foster critical thinking skills within the context of the current paramedic curriculum. It reviews some of the definitions and concepts of critical thinking from selected adult education and nursing literature in an attempt to formulate a workable definition as it applies to paramedics. From that definition, elements are identified and incorporated to form a teaching model for use in presenting the curriculum content. Some sample teaching strategies based on revised objectives of the airway/ventilation section also are included.