One of the most important skills a nurse needs is clinical judgment. This is a skill that can be learned. Reflect on your own ability to critically think and the reading for this module.
When see yourself as a nurse and giving care, discuss what qualities and behaviors you possess that make you a person that would have good clinical judgment. What three strategies can you use to develop better clinical judgment? As a nurse, what areas of the nursing process do you think might be more challenging to you given the critical thinking and clinical judgment skills you have now?
Full Answer Section
Here are three strategies that I can use to develop better clinical judgment:
- Get more experience. The more experience I have, the more I will learn about different patients and different situations. This will help me to develop a better understanding of what to look for and how to make sound decisions.
- Seek feedback. I can ask my colleagues and mentors for feedback on my clinical judgment. This will help me to identify areas where I can improve and to learn from my mistakes.
- Stay up-to-date on the latest research. The field of medicine is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest research. This will help me to make informed decisions about patient care.
As a nurse, I think that the areas of the nursing process that might be more challenging for me given my current critical thinking and clinical judgment skills are:
- Diagnosis. This is the process of identifying the patient's health problem. It can be challenging to make a correct diagnosis, especially when the patient is presenting with a complex set of symptoms.
- Planning. This is the process of developing a plan of care for the patient. It can be challenging to develop a plan that is both effective and feasible.
- Evaluation. This is the process of assessing the patient's progress and making changes to the plan of care as needed. It can be challenging to accurately assess the patient's progress, especially when the patient is not responding to treatment as expected.
Despite these challenges, I am confident that I can develop the critical thinking and clinical judgment skills necessary to be a successful nurse. I am committed to lifelong learning and I am always looking for ways to improve my skills. I am also confident in my ability to work as part of a team and to collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care for my patients.