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Judgment: the nurse's key to knowledge.
1School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167.
Summary
Nursing judgment is crucial for patient care, moving from opinion to knowledge. Understanding how nurses make judgments is key to advancing the profession and ensuring patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Science
- Clinical Judgment
- Philosophy of Nursing
Background:
- Nursing has increasingly prioritized the study of clinical judgment.
- Key questions include the nature, formation, and significance of nursing judgment.
- Historical and literary examples are used to explore these concepts.
Observation:
- The abstract examines the concept of judgment within the nursing profession.
- It references ancient Greek philosophy and literature to illustrate reasoning.
- Three specific nurse characters from literature are analyzed for their judgment processes.
Findings:
- Nursing judgment is essential for patient well-being and trust.
- Nurses are viewed as essential 'knowers' in healthcare.
- The development of judgment is a move from uncertainty toward certainty and knowledge.
Implications:
- Elevating nursing judgment is critical for professional advancement.
- Nurses must transition from subjective opinion to objective knowledge.
- Clinical judgment is presented as the pathway to nursing expertise.