Clinical Decision Making Among Fourth-Year Nursing Students: An Interpretive Study

Abstract

This study investigated how fourth-year nursing students learned clinical decision making. Seventeen fourth-year nursing students between ages 21 and 37, who were completing their last semester of a baccalaureate nursing program, were interviewed. A research team using a modified seven-step process developed by Diekelmann and Allen analyzed the data. Five themes or essential components associated with learning clinical decision making were identified, including gaining confidence in their skills, building relationships with staff, connecting with patients, gaining comfort in self as a nurse, and understanding the clinical picture.