GLOSSARY OF TERMSNURS2194CLINICAL REASONING

ANALYSESeparate into componentsBreaking down of whole into it’s

parts (deductive reasoning)

CLINICAL REASONINGProcess of collecting cuesInformation processingUnderstanding of patient problem

or situationPlan/implement interventionsEvaluate outcomesReflect/learn from process

CUESIdentifiable physiological and

psychosocial changes experienced by the patient

Perceived through history or assessment

Understood in relation to a specific body of knowledge and philosophical beliefs

Also include the context of care

DATAPieces of information about

health status

DISCRIMINATEUse good judgementNote/observe differences

accurately

EVALUATEMake judgement about

value/worth of something

“FAILURE TO RESCUE”Mortality of patients who

experience hospital acquired complication

GOALDesired outcome and a guidepost

to the selection of nursing interventions

IATROGENIC INJURYUnintended/unnecessary

harm/suffering arising from any aspect of healthcare management

INCONSISTENCYSomething that contradicts

something else or that is not in keeping with it

Not regular or predictable

INFERMake deductions or form opinions

that follow logically by interpreting subjective and objective data

To consider alternatives and consequences

INTERPRETAnalyse data and come to an

understandingExplain/tell meaning ofPresent in understandable terms

MATCHInformation/cues that correspond

to each other or cluster together logically

OUTCOMEMeasurable change in client’s

status in response to nursing care

PREDICTEnvisage/foresee something that

may happen

RECALLRemember/recollect a past

situation or piece of knowledge

REFLECTIONCritical review of practice with a

view to: Refinement Improvement Change

Process of looking back and careful consideration of an experience

To explore the impact of what one did and the impact on self and others

RELATEConnect or linkDiscover relationships or patternsCluster cues together and

identify relationships between them

“RESCUE”Ability to recognise failing

patients and intervene properly

SIMULATIONAttempt to replicate, in varying

degrees, a clinical situation, in order to teach or assess nursing skills and knowledge

SYNTHESISPutting together of parts into a

new whole (inductive reasoning)Previous and new knowledge

leads to new whole