Describing How Scenario Topic, Situation Urgency and Complexity Level Impacts Simulation Observers’ Clinical Judgment: A Secondary Analysis

Rogers, Beth A.

Item

Describing How Scenario Topic, Situation Urgency and Complexity Level Impacts Simulation Observers’ Clinical Judgment: A Secondary Analysis

Rogers, Beth A.

Publisher

Sage

Date

2025-04-01

Abstract

Nurses use clinical judgment (CJ) in nearly every nursing task to make safe patient care decisions (Dickison et al., 2019). CJ, a complex cognitive skill, involves thinking through patient care situations to notice salient cues, interpret meaning, respond appropriately, and reflect on clinical decisions (Klenke-Borgmann et al., 2020; Tanner, 2006). However, novice nurses demonstrate inadequate CJ (Kavanagh & Sharpnack, 2021). Consequently, newly graduated nurses have trouble applying theoretical knowledge, which negatively impacts their clinical judgment and leads to medication errors (Murray et al., 2020) as well as unsafe hospital conditions (Chaboyer et al., 2021; Jessee, 2021; Treacy & Caroline Stayt, 2019). Nurse educators must find ways to improve learners’ CJ to meet essential nursing education requirements (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021).