Clinical Judgment and Prioritizing Care in Nursing

Assessment

Assess the objective and subjective data that pertains to the client.

Analysis

Determine the client problems.

Planning

Create a plan to address client problems.

Implementation

Take action to provide care as outlined in planning.

Evaluation

Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions provided and document the client's response.

Data collection

Collect subjective and objective data about the client and report changes to the RN.

What is critical thinking?

The skill of analyzing and interpreting data to solve problems.

What is the goal of critical thinking?

To achieve a desired outcome.

What is clinical reasoning?

The mental process used to analyze all data in a clinical situation to make a decision.

Clinical Judgment

Clinical reasoning across an expanse of time that happens repetitively and improves with practice.

Priority Setting

Defined as the delivery of nursing care based on the urgency or importance of client needs.

What is the structure of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Illustrated as a pyramid with five levels

What is the range of levels in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

From basic needs at the base to self-fulfillment at the peak

What does the ABCDE method stand for?

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure

What is the ABCDE method used for?

Establishing priorities for an individual or group of clients in a clinical crisis

The CURE Hierarchy

An acronym (critical, urgent, routine, and extras) to prioritize client care.

What is triage?

Assigning priority based on a quick initial assessment

What does the acuity level in triage indicate?

Wait time for screening and treatment

What is resource allocation?

The process of assigning a portion of a service.

What is priority setting in resource allocation?

Deciding how resources will be distributed in caring for clients.

Emergency Severity Index (ESI)

A 5-level triage system designating urgency, used in the United States.

Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS)

A 5-level triage system categorizing clients into emergent versus urgent care needs.

5 level triage system

designates level 1 as the most urgent category with clients experiencing a life-threatening illness and level 5 as the least urgent category with clients being stable and suffering from nonemergency ailments