Nursing Clinical Judgment and Decision Making CH 15

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary outcome of critical thinking and decision making in a clinical setting?

Accurate documentation of patient records

Effective communication with patients

Development of treatment plans

Observed outcome of clinical judgment (correct)

What is the main difference between professional nurses and technicians or assistive personnel?

Clinical decision making (correct)

Level of education

Years of experience

Specialization in a particular area of healthcare

What is a crucial factor in developing sound clinical judgment?

Experience and knowledge (correct)

Objective data about the situation

Patient's family dynamics

Standard approaches to patient care

What is an important aspect of clinical judgment in understanding patient problems?

Knowing the patient's typical pattern of responses Signup and view all the answers

What influences clinical judgments in a healthcare setting?

Context of clinical situations and culture of patient care settings Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of clinical judgment in nursing?

Using a variety of reasoning approaches Signup and view all the answers

What is a common challenge in clinical decision making when first meeting a patient?

Not having a clear picture of the patient's needs Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential aspect of clinical judgment in delivering safe patient care?

Engaging with patients about their concerns Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of critical thinking in nursing?

To make decisions that produce desired patient outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the scientific method?

Identify the problem Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of solving a problem in one situation for a nurse?

It adds to the nurse's experience in practice Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between intuitive and analytic thinking?

Intuitive thinking is triggered for well-structured and familiar decision tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the nursing process?

To apply critical thinking in nursing practice for making clinical decisions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a solution?

It is an action that is consistently effective Signup and view all the answers

What is the last step in the scientific method?

Evaluate results of the test or study Signup and view all the answers

What is decision making in the context of problem solving?

A process of moving back and forth when considering all criteria Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of models in nursing?

To explain complex concepts Signup and view all the answers

What is critical thinking in nursing?

The ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to question and reflect on the reasoning process Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of diagnostic reasoning in nursing?

To understand the nature of a problem and the patient's response Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a basic critical thinker?

Trusting experts and not thinking outside of the box Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of evidence-based knowledge in nursing?

It makes nurses better informed critical thinkers Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of clinical learning experiences in nursing?

To acquire decision-making skills and clinical judgment Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of effective clinical decision making?

Improving a patient's health or maintaining wellness Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a complex critical thinker?

Trusting their own decisions and weighing options Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of nursing skills in nursing practice?

To perform hands-on procedures and physical examination techniques Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of diagnostic reasoning in nursing?

Making an accurate diagnosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a nurse at the commitment level of critical thinking?

Anticipating when to make choices without assistance from others Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of valuing all patient experiences in nursing?

It enables nurses to identify patterns and typical outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary influence on clinical decision making in a critical thinking environment?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which critical thinking attitude involves being open to different perspectives and interventions?

Open-mindedness Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of reflection in clinical judgment?

It improves the accuracy of diagnostic conclusions Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of regularly meeting with colleagues to discuss work experiences?

It helps to validate decisions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a concept map in patient care?

To visualize patient problems and interventions Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential aspect of critical thinking in clinical practice?

Challenging assumptions Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of reflective reasoning in clinical practice?

To improve the accuracy of diagnostic conclusions Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the critical thinking attitude of fairness?

Listening to both sides of a discussion Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of keeping a written record of clinical experiences in a personal journal?

It allows for reflection and improvement of practice Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of critical thinking in clinical practice?

To improve patient outcomes through effective decision making Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Clinical Judgment

Defined as the observed outcome of critical thinking and decision making
Involves making a conclusion about a patient's needs or health problems, leading to action or avoidance of action
Uses nursing knowledge, experience, and critical thinking to observe, assess, and prioritize patient concerns, and generate evidence-based solutions

Clinical Decision Making

Separates professional nurses from technicians or other assistive personnel (AP)
Requires the use of judgment in investigating and analyzing clinical problems, and applying scientific and nursing knowledge to choose the best course of action
Influenced by a nurse's experience and knowledge, rather than objective data

Factors Influencing Clinical Judgment

Experience and knowledge
Context of clinical situations
Culture of patient care settings
Reasoning approaches, such as problem-solving and reflection

Critical Thinking in Nursing

Defined as the ability to think systematically and logically, with openness to question and reflect on the reasoning process
Aim is to focus on important issues and make decisions that produce desired patient outcomes
Involves the ability to think creatively, seek new knowledge, and act quickly when events change

The Nursing Process

Described by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as the framework used to apply critical thinking in nursing practice
Includes six steps: assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
Involves the interaction of six cognitive skills: recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize problems/diagnoses, generate solutions, take actions, and evaluate outcomes

Problem-Solving Approaches

Scientific method: a systematic, ordered approach to gather data and solve problems
Intuition: a problem-solving approach that relies on one's inner sense
Diagnostic reasoning: a form of decision making that involves understanding and thinking through clinical problems, gathering information, analyzing clues, and making an accurate diagnosis

Critical Thinking Competencies

Ability to perform nursing skills proficiently
Ability to think critically and make accurate clinical judgments
Ability to read and apply research-based literature to maintain current knowledge of nursing science and theory

Environmental Factors Influencing Clinical Decision Making

Task complexity
Time pressure
Work setting
Interruptions

Critical Thinking Attitudes

Confidence: willingness to disagree and be troubled
Thinking independently: examining beliefs under new evidence and being open-minded
Fairness: listening to both sides of a discussion and assuming responsibility
Responsibility and authority: asking for help when uncertain and following standards of practice
Risk taking: questioning orders and recommending alternative approaches
Discipline: being thorough and managing time effectively
Perseverance: being cautious of easy answers and finding solutions
Creativity: looking for different approaches
Curiosity: always asking why
Integrity: recognizing when opinions conflict with those of patients
Humility: recognizing when more information is needed to make a decision

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Description

Test your understanding of clinical judgment and decision making in nursing, including the definition, importance, and application of these critical thinking skills.