When caring for Patient X, the first way I demonstrated critical thinking while providing care to her was in response to her elevated respiratory rate and shortness of breath. During my evaluation I demonstrate critical thinking by understanding that an elevated respiratory rate and increased shortness of breath puts Patient X at risk for respiratory arrest and acid-base imbalances (Lewis, Heitkemper, Dirksen, O'Brien, 2014). In response to this finding I stopped my assessment and asked myself how can I decrease his breathing rate? Based on my knowledge of the medications she ordered, I gave Patient Situations such as this that require judgment about the timing and selection of the most appropriate medications explicitly indicate a nurse's ability to demonstrate critical thinking and clinical judgment in direct relation to the patient's health status (Eisenhaur, Hurley & Dolan, 2007). I arrived at this decision based on my empirical knowledge of the pharmacology of both Atrovent and Ventolin, as well as my knowledge of the respiratory system. I chose to give her both of these medications in response to her breathing difficulty.