Stages Of Clinical Reasoning Cycle

Question 1

1st stage

Answer 1

Collect cues/information

Review current info like handover reports, pt charts, results and previous nursing/medical assessments already done.
Gather new info with new pt assessment etc
Recall knowledge as applicable pertaining to physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, therapeutics, culture, context of care, ethics, law.

Question 2

2nd Stage

Answer 2

Process information

Interpret the information gathered to understand signs and symptoms, determining normal and abnormal for pt

Discriminate by sorting relevant and irrelevant info. Recognise inconsistencies. Narrow info to pertinent and important. Check for gaps in cues.

Relate - discover relationships in cues, what can be grouped together, are there any patterns.

Infer by making deductions or informed opinions that follow logically from interpretation of subjective and objective cues.

Match the current situation/patient to past patients

Predict an outcome

Question 3

3rd Stage

Answer 3

Identify problems/issues

Take facts and inferences to make a definitive diagnosis of the patient’s problem

Question 4

4th Stage

Answer 4

Establish goal/s

Describe what you want to happen, desired outcome and timeframe

Question 5

5th Stage

Answer 5

Take action

Select course of action from alternatives available

Question 6

6th Stage

Answer 6

Evaluate outcomes

Effectiveness of outcomes and actions, I.e. has the situation improved now

Question 7

7th Stage

Answer 7

Reflect on process and new learning

Contemplate what you have learnt from the process and what you could have done differently.

Question 8

8th Stage

Answer 8

Consider the patient situation

Describe or list facts, context, objects or people.