Nurses’ clinical decision-making models in the care of older adults: A cross-sectional study

Clinical decision-making is referred to as a correct judgment based on knowledge and cognitive skills. It has an effective role in providing safe and effective nursing care. Often these decision-making skills are based on critical thinking and evidence-based practice. Therefore, due to the importance of the present issue, this study aimed to assess the nurses’ clinical decision-making models in the care of older adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۸۴ nurses working in the teaching hospitals of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۲۱. Data was collected by the standard questionnaire of clinical decision-making model. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to evaluate the relationship between clinical decision making and study variables. Also, Mann–Whitney U test was used to evaluate the difference between clinical decision making and study variables. The mean age and work experience of the participants were ۳۲.۲ (SD=۱.۵) and ۹.۱ (SD=۱.۷) years, respectively. The mean score of clinical decision-making among the nurses was ۷۰.۷۴ (SD=۴.۵۴). Most of the clinical decision-making models in nurses were found to be intuitive (۷۵.۵%). There was not a significant relationship between clinical decision-making model and the variables of age (P=۰.۴۷), work experience (P=۰.۱۶), and average working hours per month (P=۰.۹۳). Also, there was not a significant difference between the decision-making model and the variables of gender (P=۰.۶) and marital status (P=۰.۵۴). Considering the high level of clinical decision-making, it can be argued that correct decision-making makes the patient’s recovery faster and reduces the length of hospital stay. The advantages of correct decision-making include reducing treatment costs and lowering environmental stress and contamination with hospital infections.

Keywords:

Clinical decision-making , Nurses , Nursing , Aged , Elderly