title: Line of reasoning as a representation of nurses' clinical decision making.
abstract: Line of reasoning (LOR) is offered as an alternative representation of clinical decision making for studies using protocol analysis. A LOR is defined as an argument or set of arguments leading to a conclusion. Because LOR combines both knowledge and cognitive processes, it provides a more complete representation of how a person uses knowledge to make a decision in a particular situation than do other representations. Operationalization of LOR in the form of templates and narratives enhances systematic data interpretation and coding. The use of LOR as a representation is illustrated in a study of critical care nurses' clinical decision making, specifically the determination of a patient's readiness to wean from mechanical ventilation.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN 55106-5000, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corcoran-Perry
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003071:Cognition; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008128:Logic; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000451:nursing; D014939:Work of Breathing