Clinical Decision Making

CLINICAL DECISION MAKING WITHIN THE NURSING PROCESS AMONG
UTAH NURSES

By Jan C. Call

A thesis submitted to the faculty of The University of Utah in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science

College of Nursing The University of Utah December 1995

Copyright C Jan C. Call1995

All Rights Reserved

THE UNIVERSITY OF

UTAH GRADUATE SCHOOL

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE APPROVAL

of a thesis submitted by

Jan C. Call

This thesis has been read by each member of the following supervisory committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory.

Ci13ir.Bet�ghan-Cole

THE

UNIVERSITY OF

UTAH GRADUATE SCHOOL

FINAL READING APPROVAL

'Beth VaughaIl:Qle
Cl1air, Supervisory Conuniltee

" '" '

Apprcved for the Major Department ', "

� '16- {2��-.�A?
..

0 '

Linda

ChairlDean

K. Amos

Approved for the Graduate Council

Ann W. Hart
Dean ofTIle Graduate School

ABSTRACT

Differences have been noted in various studies regarding the way nurses utilize the nursing process and the way they make decisions. This study was part ofa larger, international research project originating in Finland. This portion of the study used an exploratory descriptive design examining relationships between education and experience among Utah nurses ' and decisions made within the nursing process. Participants for this study included 167 Registered Nurses from three Utah hospitals, two local public health departments and two long-tenn care facilities. The participants, who have various levels of nursing education and years of experience, were asked to complete a 56-item questionnaire. The instrument focused on a systematic versus an intuitive approach to clinical decision making. The findings showed Utah nurses employ a systematic approach to decision making while utilizing the nursing process. The sample size, although small, provides a good foundation for a follow-up study.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

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