NS343: Your Analysis For This Module Is Based On A Paper-Based Patient Scenario: Clinical Judgment And Decision Making Assignment, DCU, Ireland

Your analysis for this module is based on a paper-based patient scenario (vignette) that you either receive or develop during the semester in class. You will be asked to ‘think aloud’ about a patient scenario and provide your judgments and decisions for this case (think-aloud protocol). Choose one (or more, max. 3) clinical judgment and decision-making topic/s from your think-aloud protocol, provide the theoretical background using relevant research and literature sources to these topics.

Then, analyze your answers from the think-aloud protocol relating to the chosen topics and theoretical background i.e. Why would you judge and decide like that? How did you come to this judgment and/or decision? What theoretical concepts/notions influenced your judgment and/or decision, and why?

Explore the alternatives such as different judgments and decisions, which could be suitable in this case within the analysis. Always provide your rationale/s. Reference to relevant research literature is to be made throughout the entire paper. The subject of the case analysis is you and your clinical judgments and decision-making with regards to the paper-based patient scenario.

Some examples as to the topics and underlying concepts, which you may want to explore are as follows:

1. Modes of engagement e.g. paternalistic, information-based, shared, or patient-centered decision making

2. use of clinical information in CJDM e.g. quantitative and qualitative ques/data, observation

3. decision-making models e.g. information processing, cognitive continuum theory, recognition-primed decision making, research-based model of clinical judgment in nursing

4. using one’s experience/intuition in CJDM,

5. organisational / environmental factors that influence CJDM e.g. authority, autonomy, the role of student nurses in CJDM, hierarchical structures, ethical sensitivity in decision making, uncertainty in judgment, and decision making

6. decision-making frameworks e.g. code of conduct, NMBI decision-making framework, computer-aided decision-making, assessment scores, and scales, wearable technologies

7. collaborative e.g. interdisciplinary or team-based decision-making, consensus-driven decision-making.