Decision making. Stability of clinical decisions

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Clinical Decision-Making
• Healthcare Quality

Background:

• Clinical decision-making is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Understanding factors influencing decision stability is essential for improving nursing practice.
• Previous research has not fully explored the stability of clinical decisions among medical-surgical nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the stability of clinical decisions made by medical-surgical nurses.
• To identify factors associated with stable clinical decision-making in nursing.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing nursing education and practice.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 101 medical-surgical nurses was conducted.
• The stability of their clinical decisions was assessed.
• Data were analyzed to identify relationships with demographic and educational factors.

Main Results:

• Slightly over 50% of nurses demonstrated stable clinical decisions.
• Decision stability was significantly related to the hospital setting.
• The country where nurses received their education also influenced decision stability.

Conclusions:

• A portion of medical-surgical nurses exhibit stable clinical decision-making.
• Hospital environment and educational background are key factors influencing decision stability.
• Recommendations are proposed for nursing education and practice to foster more consistent clinical judgments.