Premium
Sound clinical judgment in nursing: A concept analysis
Author(s) -
Manetti Wendy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
nursing forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.618
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1744-6198
pISSN - 0029-6473
DOI - 10.1111/nuf.12303
Subject(s) - clarity , clinical judgment , cinahl , psychology , nursing literature , health care , medline , nursing , clinical decision making , medical education , medicine , alternative medicine , family medicine , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , political science , psychological intervention , law , economics , medical physics , economic growth
Objective The intent of this concept analysis is to offer a clear understanding of the definition, defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of sound clinical judgment pertaining to nursing practice. Background Sound clinical judgment is essential in nursing because decisions made influence patient outcomes. Design This concept analysis guided by Walker and Avant’s framework, dissects the concept to promote clarity and consensus. Data Source CINAHL, ProQuest for Nursing and Allied Health, ERIC, and Health Source/Nursing Academic Edition databases were searched using the keyword clinical judgment. Review Methods Articles in peer reviewed, scholarly journals written in English were considered from 1984 to 2017. Results The author concluded that decision‐making is a surrogate term for clinical judgment. The attributes, antecedents, and consequences are discussed and supported by evidence. Cases illustrate the essence of the concept. Conclusions Clinical judgment is an ambiguous term that is synonymous with the term decision‐making. It results from critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Using these findings, educators and administrators can use valid and reliable methods to identify the presence, foster the development, and measure the existence of clinical judgment in novice nurses with an ultimate goal to improve patient care.