Clinical Reasoning Cycle for Nursing Professionals

Clinical Reasoning Cycle is the process that provides the nursing professionals with ability so that they can determine patient outcomes. Read about the steps involved in the cycle and how it helps in determining patient outcomes.

Running head: CLINICAL REASONING CYCLE
CLINICAL REASONING CYCLE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1CLINICAL REASONING CYCLE
Review
Clinical Reasoning Cycle is the process that provides the nursing professionals with
ability so that they can determine patient outcomes (Alfaro-LeFevre 2012). On the second day of
care process for Mrs. K, I took the charge of healthcare process and while collecting the
handover, I came to know that patient complained about cough and headache. The patient was
admitted to the healthcare facility after a mechanical fall that injured her left leg knee and she
was provided with non-operative physiotherapy related intervention in this healthcare facility.
Her medical history did not included any sign of allergy, and never been admitted to hospitals.
Further, after some time patient again complaint of muscle, ache, headache, shivering, sore
throat, fatigue and vomiting. This influenced me to think that the patient is suffering from flu as
all the symptoms indicated towards this disease.
Gather
Gathering information is an important step in clinical reasoning cycle as it helps the
nursing professionals to think critically in every situation and then make decisions so that it can
enhance the healthcare process and its effectiveness (D’Souza et al. 2013). After the patient
complaint of these symptoms, her vital signs were collected, and body temperature was noted
which was 39.5 degree Celsius, indicating mild fever. On the other hand, rest of the assessment
reports such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate were normal. Further, the patient also
vomited 150 ml of watery vomit which indicated towards the symptoms of flu. This assessment
process was appropriate as the symptoms mentioned by the patients and noted in the course
indicated clearly towards the presence of flu.

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Recall
This is an important step of clinical reasoning cycle as in this phase, nursing
professionals consider all the past medical history of the patient, the handover sheet, current
medication or treatment intervention received by the patient, result of the assessment or
investigation and the current vital signs of the patient condition (Salminen et al. 2014). In case of
Mrs. K, she was admitted to the hospital after her left knee injury and her movements were
confined with axial crutch. The healthcare facility also provided her with non-operative
physiotherapy intervention and hence, the vital signs of the patient were crucial as it could
indicate towards the presence of any allergic reaction or flu, as mentioned by McFarlin et al.
(2013). As per the research of Nantz et al. (2012), evidences suggest that despite the fact that
patient did not had any allergic reaction in her past, her symptoms and signs may indicate
towards the presence of allergy due to hospital acquired infection. Further, research of
Tappenden et al. (2013) also indicated that this could be an indication of unhealthy environment
around the patient or unhealthy diet due to which patient developed such symptoms.
Processing information
This critical aspect of clinical reasoning cycle is the core step of the entire reasoning
cycle (Alfaro-LeFevre 2012). This step helps to process the data and then based on its
pathophysiological and pharmacological symptoms, provides different interventions, and
provides outcome of each intervention (D’Souza et al. 2013). This step is inclusive of several
aspects such as identifying the problem, establishing goals, taking proper action to comply with
the goal and then evaluation the result of those actions (Salminen et al. 2014). In this care
process of Mrs. K, the current health situation of patient and her symptoms indicated towards the
presence of flu or mild allergic reaction in her body. As per the guidelines provided on the

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symptoms of cold, flu and allergy, it was mentioned that assessment of these three is difficult by
observing their symptoms as they all affect the respiratory system of the patient and increases the
body temperature however allergies affects the patient and symptoms last for 6 weeks, whereas,
the symptoms for flu or cold last for 2 weeks only. On the other hand research of McFarlin et al.
(2013) also mentioned that if any sensitive person stays in hospital for 2 to 3 days, he/she cam
develop allergic reaction. Therefore, from these evidences collected from research it could be
said that Mrs, K is suffering for flu or has developed allergic reaction due to her hospital stay.
However, researches also indicates that with allergic reaction, patient develops, sinus infection,
sneezing, restlessness and these symptoms were absent in the case study of Mrs. K (Nantz et al.
2012). Besides this, to understand and infer the presence of influenza virus responsible for flu,
the influenza diagnostic test will be carried out so that appropriate interventions could be applied
in the care process of Mrs. K. Hence, I would infer that patient has developed the symptoms of
flu and further treatment should focus on prevention and cure of her flu related complication.
Besides this, my priority will be assessing her vital signs and depending on that establishing
goals and apply interventions to achieve them so that health and wellbeing could be imparted in
the care process (Tappenden et al. 2013).
Predict
If the flu condition of Mrs. K is left untreated, as per the research of Fedson (2013), it
could increase the patient’s bodily complications by decreasing the strength and ability to move.
Mrs. K has her left knee injured and the severe flu conditions can increase her complications by
increasing her body temperature, and increasing inflammation, thereby making the patient prone
to allergic reactions (Lee and Ison 2012). Further, if the actions for flu were not taken, the patient
can develop chronic lung disease, blood disorder, heart disease, asthma, epilepsy and other

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physiological diseases (Fedson 2013). Hence, it is important to take proper action against this
health condition of the patient so that the health of the patients could be improved and the focus
of the healthcare could be shifted to her physiotherapy intervention for knee injury (Lee and Ison
2012).
Two nursing problems identified
Two nursing problems which were identified from abovementioned patient information
are associated to her flu condition and her diet and nutritional condition due to which she
developed flu including vomiting.
Goals, actions taken and rationale
To overcome her flu condition, the primary goal will be providing her with intervention
and the preventing the future risk of developing flu. As the patient is suffering from injury,
elevated temperature fatigue and muscle pain could decrease her strength and she could become
prone to severe allergic of infectious diseases. Therefore, as per Lee and Ison (2012), it is
important for the healthcare professionals to treat flu and associated symptoms on a priority basis
while working with injured individuals, children and older adults. Therefore, Mrs. K will be
provided with influenza vaccines so that the risk of influenza could be avoided.
On the other hand, her nursing intervention will include changes in her diet and
nutritional preferences. It is evident from the research of Tappenden et al. (2013), that diet and
nutritional preferences has the ability to make patient’s immune system weaker and develops
several infections such as cold and flu. Therefore, in this case, Mrs. K will be provided with
healthy and nutritious food so that she could be provided with strength to be able to overcome

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such physiological condition. Further it will help her to successfully complete her physiological
sessions as well.
Evaluation and outcomes
In this clinical reasoning cycle, Mrs. K presented symptoms of Flu while her hospital stay
due to her left knee injury and her symptoms indicated towards mild to severe flu. The actions
taken to overcome her flu condition and make her diet and nutritional condition improved will be
evaluated after collecting patient data few weeks after implementation of interventions. This is
an important step as it helps to understand, whether the intervention applied are helpful in
improving patient condition or further change would be required (Doenges and Moorhouse
2012).

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References
Alfaro-LeFevre, R., 2012. Applying nursing process: the foundation for clinical reasoning.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
D’Souza, M.S., Venkatesaperumal, R., Radhakrishnan, J. and Balachandran, S., 2013.
Engagement in clinical learning environment among nursing students: Role of nurse
educators. Open Journal of nursing, 3(01), p.25.
Doenges, M.E. and Moorhouse, M.F., 2012. Application of nursing process and nursing
diagnosis: an interactive text for diagnostic reasoning. FA Davis.
Fedson, D.S., 2013. How will physicians respond to the next influenza pandemic?. Clinical
infectious diseases, 58(2), pp.233-237.
Lee, N. and Ison, M.G., 2012. Diagnosis, management and outcomes of adults hospitalized with
influenza. Antiviral therapy, 17(1), p.143.
McFarlin, B.K., Carpenter, K.C., Davidson, T. and McFarlin, M.A., 2013. Baker's yeast beta
glucan supplementation increases salivary IgA and decreases cold/flu symptomatic days after
intense exercise. Journal of dietary supplements, 10(3), pp.171-183.
Nantz, M.P., Rowe, C.A., Muller, C.E., Creasy, R.A., Stanilka, J.M. and Percival, S.S., 2012.
Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces
the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition
intervention. Clinical nutrition, 31(3), pp.337-344.

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Salminen, H., Zary, N., Björklund, K., Toth-Pal, E. and Leanderson, C., 2014. Virtual patients in
primary care: developing a reusable model that fosters reflective practice and clinical
reasoning. Journal of medical Internet research, 16(1).
Tappenden, K.A., Quatrara, B., Parkhurst, M.L., Malone, A.M., Fanjiang, G. and Ziegler, T.R.,
2013. Critical role of nutrition in improving quality of care: an interdisciplinary call to action to
address adult hospital malnutrition. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 37(4), pp.482-
497.