Clinical Decision Making Study Set- Questions and Correct Answers

define Clinical Decision Making A process nurses use in the clinical setting to evaluate and select the best actions to meet desired goals -used by nurses when choices are available, even when they evaluate a situation and decide not to act What must a nurse evaluate to make priate decisions for each patient? Each patients needs and preferences as well as time-constraining activities (1) improve when the nurse uses critical thinking. Patient outcomes Deductive Reasoning? Example? Nurse works from the "top down" by starting with general idea, observations, or principles and analyzing them to develop specific precautions. Example: based on prior knowledge, the nurse knows that older adults have increased susceptibility to infection Inductive Reasoning? Involves working from the "bottom up." The nurse observed specific behaviors or symptoms and develops a general conclusion by putting significant, specific cues together Clinical Reasoning? Use of careful reasoning in the clinical setting to improve patient care, is a learned skill that novice nurses must practice. Requires critical thinking in the ability to reflect on previous situations and decisions and evaluate their effectiveness Differentiating Types of Statements Facts, Inferences, Judgements, Opinions Facts: description and example? Description: can be verified through investigation Example: blood pressure is affected by blood volume Inferences: description and example? Descriptions: Conclusions drawn from fax; going beyond facts to make a statement about something not currently known Example: if blood volume is decreased (in hemorrhagic shock), the blood pressure will drop Judgements: description and example? Description: evaluation of facts or information that reflect values or other criteria; a type of opinion Example: it is harmful to the patient's health of the blood pressure drops too low