title: Processes used by nurses to make decisions in the clinical practice setting.
abstract: A qualitative study was conducted to examine the processes nurses used to make decisions in actual practice settings. Nurse participants (n = 17) practicing in acute care settings were observed and interviewed to determine the covert cognitive processes that occurred while they were making decisions. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Two decision-making categories emerged: goal-directed process and rule-out process. The goal-directed process was used to reach a goal. The rule-out process involved the development and elimination of hypotheses until only one remained. This process was used to determine what problems existed, the cause of a problem, or the action needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Nursing 35294-1210, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003657:Decision Making; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D011340:Problem Solving