[Structural Equation Modeling on Clinical Decision Making Ability of Nurses]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Clinical decision-making is a critical nursing skill.
• Existing models often lack comprehensive testing.
• Cognitive Continuum theory offers a framework for understanding decision-making processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and validate a hypothetical model of nurses' clinical decision-making ability.
• To integrate the Decision Making Process model and Cognitive Continuum theory.
• To identify key factors influencing clinical decision-making in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 323 nurses across 11 hospitals in South Korea (June-August 2017).
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) used to test the hypothetical model.
• Goodness-of-fit indices indicated a well-fitting model.

Main Results:

• The final model demonstrated good fit (e.g., GFI=.87, CFI=.90).
• Six of ten hypothesized paths were supported.
• Analytical competency (direct effect) and task complexity (direct/indirect effect) were significant predictors.
• Experience, autonomy, and work environment showed indirect effects.
• Analytical competency strongly predicted clinical decision-making ability (66.0% variance explained).

Conclusions:

• Nurses' clinical decision-making ability is multifactorial, with analytical competency being a primary driver.
• Strategies to enhance nursing decision-making should focus on improving analytical skills.
• Organizational support, including work environment and education, is crucial for developing nursing competency.