NU452 TEST 1 GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION
Decision making - ANSWER · the thought process of selecting a logical
choice from the available options
o complex, cognitive process often defined as choosing a particular course of
action
o therefore doubt is present in all actions and choice is made to eliminate
uncertainty not the underlining problem
prescriptive - ANSWER decisions that are made by policies and procedures -
know what options are and can easily make decisions
- Ex. person decided to handle a conflict when it occurred but did not
attempt to identify the real problem causing the conflict
· This may be done d/t lack of energy time or resources
Sometimes this is ok in circumstances where the situation/problem will no
longer be of concern so the energy and time are not needed to correct the
issue
- Ex. Nursing supervisor notices that a nurse has been absent over past
several months and is informed they will be moving to a different state
Problem solving - ANSWER · part of decision making and is a systematic
process that focuses on analyzing a difficult situation
o Always includes a decision-making process
,o Interchangeable with decision-making - BUT difference:
decision making is the last step in the problem-solving process but, can
§
make a decision without full analysis of problem solving which attempts to
identify the root problem in situations
o requires much time and energy to identify the real problem
*Critical thinking* - ANSWER - reflective thinking
· - the mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying,
analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or
conclusion
o r/t evaluation and has a broader scope than decision making and problem
solving and commonly more complex
o involves reflecting on the meaning of statements, examining the offered
evidence and reasoning, and forming judgments about facts
*components of critical thinking* - ANSWER Insight, Intuition, Empathy,
willingness to take action
(IIEW)
Clinical reasoning - ANSWER · collaborative and reflective process that
involves content-specific knowledge, engagement of the patient and family
in understanding the clinical problem, and incorporation of critical contextual
factors that lead to deliberative decision making and sound clinical judgment
o When nurses integrate and apply different types of knowledge to weigh
evidence, critically think about arguments, and reflect on the process used to
arrive at a diagnosis
,o Uses both knowledge and experience
Things that help improve decision making and problem solving - ANSWER ·
Case studies, simulation, and problem-based learning (PBL)
Characteristics of a successful Decision Makers - ANSWER self-aware
courageous
sensitive
energetic
creative
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: Self-aware - ANSWER ·
decreases confusion; people who understand their personal beliefs and
feelings will have a conscious awareness of the values on which their
decisions are based
o must be honest with themselves about their choices and their preferences
for those choices
o also must take some risks - all decisions have element of risk and most
decisions involve consequences and accountability
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: courageous - ANSWER
particularly important and involves the willingness to take risks
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: sensitive - ANSWER Good
decision makers seem to have some sort of antenna that makes them
particularly sensitive to situations and others
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: energetic - ANSWER People
must have the energy and desire to make things happen
, - action-orientated
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: creative - ANSWER ·
Successful decision makers tend to be creative thinkers. They develop new
ways to solve problems
- innovative
seven Steps to the The *Traditional Problem-Solving Process* - ANSWER o 1)
Identify the problem.
o 2)Gather data to identify the causes and consequences of the problem.
o 3) Explore alternative solutions.
o 4) Evaluate each alternative.
o 5) Select appropriate solution.
o 6) Implement solution.
o 7) Evaluate results.
*Traditional Problem-Solving Process weaknesses* - ANSWER o Time for
proper implementation à less effective if time constraints*** takes a lot of
time
o lack of an initial objective-setting step à may before sidetracked
· Used to address the weakness of the traditional problem-solving process
--> added a objective-setting step - ANSWER *Managerial (rational)
Decision-Making Model*
Six steps of *Managerial (rational) Decision-Making Model* - ANSWER o 1)
Determine the decision and the desired outcome (set objectives).
COMPLETE SOLUTION
Decision making - ANSWER · the thought process of selecting a logical
choice from the available options
o complex, cognitive process often defined as choosing a particular course of
action
o therefore doubt is present in all actions and choice is made to eliminate
uncertainty not the underlining problem
prescriptive - ANSWER decisions that are made by policies and procedures -
know what options are and can easily make decisions
- Ex. person decided to handle a conflict when it occurred but did not
attempt to identify the real problem causing the conflict
· This may be done d/t lack of energy time or resources
Sometimes this is ok in circumstances where the situation/problem will no
longer be of concern so the energy and time are not needed to correct the
issue
- Ex. Nursing supervisor notices that a nurse has been absent over past
several months and is informed they will be moving to a different state
Problem solving - ANSWER · part of decision making and is a systematic
process that focuses on analyzing a difficult situation
o Always includes a decision-making process
,o Interchangeable with decision-making - BUT difference:
decision making is the last step in the problem-solving process but, can
§
make a decision without full analysis of problem solving which attempts to
identify the root problem in situations
o requires much time and energy to identify the real problem
*Critical thinking* - ANSWER - reflective thinking
· - the mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying,
analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or
conclusion
o r/t evaluation and has a broader scope than decision making and problem
solving and commonly more complex
o involves reflecting on the meaning of statements, examining the offered
evidence and reasoning, and forming judgments about facts
*components of critical thinking* - ANSWER Insight, Intuition, Empathy,
willingness to take action
(IIEW)
Clinical reasoning - ANSWER · collaborative and reflective process that
involves content-specific knowledge, engagement of the patient and family
in understanding the clinical problem, and incorporation of critical contextual
factors that lead to deliberative decision making and sound clinical judgment
o When nurses integrate and apply different types of knowledge to weigh
evidence, critically think about arguments, and reflect on the process used to
arrive at a diagnosis
,o Uses both knowledge and experience
Things that help improve decision making and problem solving - ANSWER ·
Case studies, simulation, and problem-based learning (PBL)
Characteristics of a successful Decision Makers - ANSWER self-aware
courageous
sensitive
energetic
creative
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: Self-aware - ANSWER ·
decreases confusion; people who understand their personal beliefs and
feelings will have a conscious awareness of the values on which their
decisions are based
o must be honest with themselves about their choices and their preferences
for those choices
o also must take some risks - all decisions have element of risk and most
decisions involve consequences and accountability
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: courageous - ANSWER
particularly important and involves the willingness to take risks
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: sensitive - ANSWER Good
decision makers seem to have some sort of antenna that makes them
particularly sensitive to situations and others
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: energetic - ANSWER People
must have the energy and desire to make things happen
, - action-orientated
Characteristics of a Successful Decision Makers: creative - ANSWER ·
Successful decision makers tend to be creative thinkers. They develop new
ways to solve problems
- innovative
seven Steps to the The *Traditional Problem-Solving Process* - ANSWER o 1)
Identify the problem.
o 2)Gather data to identify the causes and consequences of the problem.
o 3) Explore alternative solutions.
o 4) Evaluate each alternative.
o 5) Select appropriate solution.
o 6) Implement solution.
o 7) Evaluate results.
*Traditional Problem-Solving Process weaknesses* - ANSWER o Time for
proper implementation à less effective if time constraints*** takes a lot of
time
o lack of an initial objective-setting step à may before sidetracked
· Used to address the weakness of the traditional problem-solving process
--> added a objective-setting step - ANSWER *Managerial (rational)
Decision-Making Model*
Six steps of *Managerial (rational) Decision-Making Model* - ANSWER o 1)
Determine the decision and the desired outcome (set objectives).
