7 Clinical Reasoning and Care Planning Free Online FlashCards

What are the six connected steps of the nursing process?

The six steps are assessment, diagnosis or problem identification, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

What is a subjective assessment finding?

Subjective findings are what the patient reports, such as pain or dizziness.

What context helps nurses interpret an assessment finding?

Consider baseline, history, medications, preferences, and context; a single finding rarely tells the whole story.

In clinical judgment, what does recognizing cues mean?

Recognize cues means identifying relevant findings and changes in the patient’s condition.

What does analyzing cues involve?

Analyze cues means connecting findings and considering what they may indicate.

What does prioritizing hypotheses mean in clinical judgment?

Prioritize hypotheses means deciding which possible problem is most urgent or likely.

What happens when a nurse generates solutions?

Generate solutions means identifying appropriate goals and possible interventions.

What guides a nurse’s actions during care?

Take action means carrying out safe, timely actions within the nurse’s role and applicable orders or protocols; collaborate or escalate when needed.

How should nurses use the ABC framework when prioritizing care?

ABCs can help identify urgent threats, but they are a guide—not a substitute for clinical judgment or local emergency procedures.

Which usually needs attention first: new deterioration or a stable long-term concern?

A new sign of deterioration generally takes priority over a stable long-term concern because delaying care may increase harm.

How does a nursing diagnosis differ from a medical diagnosis?

A nursing diagnosis identifies a patient’s response or care need to guide nursing care; it is not the same as a medical diagnosis.

What qualities should a planned patient outcome have?

Outcomes should be patient-centered and observable, so the nurse can determine whether the intended change occurred.