Chapters 2 & 4 Flashcards
What is the skill of learning to analyze and interpret data to solve a problem?
Critical Thinking
You have two patients to care for in the ICU on your shift. What skill will you use to determine how to prioritize their care?
Critical Thinking
What is the mental process used when analyzing all data of a clinical situation to make a decision?
Clinical reasoning
A nurse has worked on her unit for nearly a year. She has started to see repetitive outcomes related to care given to patients with similiar situations. This is an example of?
Clinical Judgement
It is time to pass BP meds to a pt for high blood pressure. What do you need to do first?
Check the current BP
A patient complains of nausea so you bring them an anti-nausea med you know causes dry mouth. When you pass the med you also bring a cup of water instead of waiting for the pt to ask later. This is an example of?
Clinical Judgement
Clinical reasoning over an expanse of time that happens repetitively and improves with practice is?
Clinical judgement
Clinical Judgement or not?
The nurse gathers equipment for the insertion of a Foley catheter, obtains a verbal consent from the client, and follows the agency’s procedure to complete the task.
Not - because the nurse is completing a task that follows a specific step-by-step procedure and thus does not require clinical judgment.
Clinical Judgement or not?
The nurse discovers abnormal findings when performing a physical assessment. She reviews the electronic health record, comparing the findings, and calls the healthcare provider with the contrasting information. The nurse practitioner then gives new medication orders.
Clinical Judgement
Clinical Judgement or not?
The student explores the client’s health record, reads the history and physical examination, and records the information on the nursing care plan.
Not - The process of data collection and recording does not require critical-thinking skills
Clinical Judgement or not?
The nurse recognizes that the client has crackles in the lower lung fields from an accumulation of fluid. He further explores the patient’s weight, intake and output, and medication list before documenting the findings.
Clinical Judgement - Further inquiry allows the nurse to determine the severity of the findings and whether additional intervention is necessary
Clinical Judgement or not?
The unlicensed assistive personnel reports to the nurse that the blood pressure for a client is very low. The nurse reports the information to the next shift.
Not - A critical-thinking nurse would question the results, reevaluate the findings, and confirm that the information is correct. If the findings are correct, the critical-thinking nurse would then determine next steps.
Clinical Judgement or not?
A nurse decides to place the intravenous catheter into the client’s left arm because he is right handed.
Clinical Judgement
Clinical Judgement or not?
The nurse delivers the first dose of a new blood pressure medicine that the client has not taken previously. She assesses the blood pressure before delivery of the medication and 1 hour afterward. Prior to the second dosage, the patient’s blood pressure is very low and the nurse decides to hold the medication.
Clinical Judgement
Clinical Judgement or not?
A client tells the nurse that the hospital food is “terrible.” The nurse asks what foods the client would prefer based on his cultural customs. She then contacts the dietary department to determine whether adjustments can be made. After the next meal, the nurse asks the client whether the food has improved.
Clinical Judgement - The nurse has identified a problem, assessed the client’s individual needs, made adjustments to care, and evaluated whether the changes were effective.
