Clinical Judgment and Reasoning in Nursing Practice

Running head: CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND REASONING 1
Clinical Judgment and Reasoning
Name
Institution

CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND REASONING 2
Clinical Judgment and Reasoning
Introduction
The nursing practice requires that all nurses are able to display the qualities of sound
judgment and good decision-making skills. This is so because critical thinking and clinical
judgment form the fundamental basis of the nursing practice. Clinical judgment is believed to be
affected by the context in which a situation occurs in addition to the culture of the nursing unit. It
follows the steps of observation, reasoning that may involve knowledge and experience, critical
thinking, and finally making the judgment (Alfaro-LeFevre, 2015). I can, therefore, define
clinical judgment and reasoning as an enlightened opinion taken by the nurse after observations
and the reflection and analysis of these observations. In this essay, therefore, I will make a self-
reflection about my learning sessions throughout the semester.
Learning Outcomes
The subject learning outcomes included integrated clinical performance, cooperation,
clinical judgment, and leadership. By the end of the semester, I was supposed to develop skills in
integrated clinical performance. This would ensure that clinical performance is desegregated to
ensure that everyone regardless of their race is taken care of. As a result, a culture of excellence
in patient experience, patient safety, and quality of care is improved. I was also required to
develop cooperative skills by the end of the semester. These skills would help me in cooperating
with health practitioners from other departments and ensure that patients receive quality care
thus ensuring patient safety. Skills of cooperation would also help in case I wanted to persuade a
patient to cooperate with the clinical procedures to guarantee quality care. Another subject
learning outcome that was necessary was the skill of clinical judgment that would ensure that

CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND REASONING 3
every clinical decision I make is well thought of and safe. Finally, I was supposed to develop
leadership skills. This is because when a time to make a critical decision about the health of a
patient comes, then one has to show leadership qualities and make the informed decision
carefully.
I understood that all these learning outcomes were very important in the nursing practice
and from the beginning of the semester; I strived to realize these learning outcomes. I responded
best by having my personal learning outcomes. I wanted to use clinical judgment and reasoning
to provide safe and quality care that would promote the health of patients, their families,
community, and society at large. This would thus enable me to make decisions and reach clinical
judgments as health situations of individuals change (Cappelletti, Engel & Prentice, 2014). As a
result, I would make improvements in the care of patients, their families, the community and
society.
Achievements
There are some proofs and pieces of evidence showing that I achieved both the subject
and my personal learning outcomes. Firstly, through integrated clinical performance, I was able
to implement the principle of patient focus. According to studies, meeting the needs of the
patients rather than the providers is a very strong justification for an integrated delivery system.
Any organization or health practitioner that fails to place the patient at the center of the care
delivery rarely sees any success. I was thus able to receive good success with some of the
patients I cared for during my learning and this also helped to build trust with them.
Additionally, due to my great clinical judgment qualities that I was able to build throughout the
semester, all my colleagues respected me and in their eyes, I was a leader. In most cases, my
opinions on several decision-making situations were always needed. This showed that they