A lesson in clinical reasoning for the pharmacy preceptor

In this article, the pharmacy preceptor is introduced to the core components of the clinical reasoning process. Teaching strategies based on script theory and experiential educational theory are described to aid the pharmacy preceptor in facilitating the development of clinical reasoning in novice practitioners.

The development of clinical reasoning skills is essential for all healthcare providers. Clinical reasoning involves the integration of analytic and nonanalytic reasoning while minimizing the occurrence of cognitive error or bias. Such skills are needed to make diagnoses, formulate treatment plans, and solve clinical problems relating to all facets of healthcare. Teaching strategies by which to facilitate the development of clinical reasoning in physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers have been described. To date, the topic of clinical reasoning has not been adequately addressed in the pharmacy education or practice literature.

Clinical reasoning is fundamental to clinical pharmacy practice. Instruction and modeling of this process by preceptors facilitate the development of advanced practitioners.