Validate and verify is the number one critical thinking tool out of the 20 studied in the nuclear power industry.
Validate
An internal check (internal smoke detector). Does this situation or the information that has been given to me make sense with what I know to be true or right?
- Does this make sense to me?
- Is it right, based on what I know?
- Is this what I expected?
- Does this information “fit-in” with my past experience or other information I may have at this time?
Verify
An external check of the information with an independent and credible source to corroborate my thinking.
When to Verify?
- In every high-risk situation
- When your internal smoke detector goes off
- When there is a change in the patient condition or plan of care
Here is an example of Validate & Verify
A Finance Associate is reviewing budget inputs from different departments and notices one manager’s numbers seem off from the previous year’s submission (internal smoke detector goes off). It seems strange because she knows that this particular unit has not lost any FTEs from the previous year. The Finance Associate then reaches out to the unit’s manager to verify her thinking and correct the budget numbers.