Clinical Reasoning Cycle for Chronic Kidney Disease Case Study

Assessment 1

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Consider the patient.....................................................................................................................3
Collect cues..................................................................................................................................4
Process information......................................................................................................................4
Identify the problem.....................................................................................................................5
Establish goals..............................................................................................................................5
Take action...................................................................................................................................6
Evaluate........................................................................................................................................6
Reflect on process........................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
Nurse who has efficient clinical reasoning skills are observed to have positive effect on the
health outcomes of the patient. Alternatively, nurse who has weak clinical reasoning skills
frequently lack to identify impending patient worsening which may lead to “failure-to-rescue”
(LeMone, et al., 2011). Clinical reasoning cycle signifies the clinical judgements and clinical
decision-making that are abstracted as a sequential and rational process involving eight different
and significant stages (Levett-Jones T. , 2013). As per the NSW Health Incident Management
in the NSW Public Health System 2007, chief three causes of negative patient consequences are
lack of proper diagnosis, lack of institution of suitable treatment, and unsuitable handling of
complications. It must be noticed that all these reasons are linked with weak clinical reasoning
skills. So, it is essential that importance of clinical reasoning skills must be identified and
acknowledged in nursing field. This assignment will use a case study of a 51 year old George to
establish the significance and merits of the clinical reasoning cycle.
Consider the patient- George is diagnosed with stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
with macro albuminuria secondary to diabetes nephropathy during his annual health checkup.
George’s kidneys functioning have been worsening slowly. He also has hypertension, has gained
weight and has elevated levels of cholesterol. He is in prescription of perindopril and
lercanidipine, furosemide, atorvastatin, metformin, sodium bicarbonate, and vitamin D. He has
been living with his wife and their three children at their own home. George does not remember
the names of his prescribed medicines and he is also not sure about the continuity and benefit of
these medicines.