Decision Making Theory in Nursing Practice - PDF

DECISION MAKING
THEORY IN NURSING
PRACTICE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Cognitive continuum theory........................................................................................................1
Expected Utility theory...............................................................................................................3
Social Judgement theory.............................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Decision making theories in nursing practices plays n crucial role for the practitioner is
determining the best way to treat patients. Every patient in health care organisation is from
different cultural background, beliefs and values. The differences in service users make difficult
of nurses to mange equal care practices for all. Further, the report will outline three different
theories that is cognitive continuum, expected utility and social judgement theories which
support decision making of nurses. Thus, to make discussion effective one theory will apply to
decision making in nursing practice in preparation for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
MAIN BODY
Cognitive continuum theory
Cognitive continuum theory is proposed by Hammond, because according to this scholar
cognition is the best practice which can support inclusion service of nurses. The author found out
this theory to overcome the limitation of intuitive humanist model and systematic-positivist. In
accordance to this theory, it is important for the nurses to make effective clinical and cognitive
decision for healthcare practices. However, as per Cognitive continuum, it is important for the
practitioners to work collaboratively with health care teams in order to support modern health
care plans and procedure, The plan and policies of nursing are related to interpersonal working
because it helps in reducing medical errors which arise due to lack of knowledge and information
(Felder and Mayrhofer, 2017). The CCT theory of nursing practice is related to decision making
process of health practitioner which regards to human judgement. Further, the theory considered
as effective because it helps in focusing on both type of decision that is interpersonal health care
teams and individuals nurses. The theory is three dimensional which comprise, cognitive mode,
time to process and structure of task. Following theses elements of theory assist the partitioner in
making effective decision with regard to changes. Its offers and effective management plan to
nurse especially for the emergency cases which requires responsible and quick decision.
CCT theory is related to paradigm for clinical decision making and its related to
analytical process where two or more people groups group together for one clinical purpose. It
offers theoretical framework of make decision which helps in differentiating intuitive approaches
and analytical thinking. As per (Bombardini and Trebbi, 2012), it has been analysed that CCT
theory is known as effective decision making process because it is focused on team working. IT
states that clinical setting lacks familiarity which leads to miscommunication and communication
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gap. However, it assists the nurses in setting collaborative working which helps in overcoming
each other weakness. It is an effective plan because there are nurses who lack pharmacology
knowledge, quick decision making etc. which are assisted in cognitive approach of working.
Apart from interpersonal working, CCT approach is helpful for the individual nurses in
managing effective decision post-exposure prophylaxis because the theory supports inclusion
and helps the practitioner in deriving unique way of involving service users in order to deliver
safe and quality patient care services. The major advantage of implementing use of this theory is
in decision making of nurses where it helps in reducing medical and clinical errors (Kam,
Chismar and Thomas, 2014). Thus, from the analysis it can be said that the theory can be
effective for post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is an critical medication situation where nurses
needs to be focused on pharma knowledge and confide of individuals when dealing patients.
Moreover, it will be beneficial as it is related to interpersonal team working in health care
organisation. Hence, it is important for the person to develop knowledge over cognitive
continuum practises as it is related to enhancing one's knowledge over medical services which
are patient centred. Involving effectively with patient to which post-exposure prophylaxis is
being given is the most effective plan which is supported by cognitive approach of this theory.
For instance, if in case the team of 5 health practitioner are allotted work in team for
managing decision for the patient who has been exposed to HIV and within 72 hours he needs to
be given PEP, in this case the focus practitioner will be on protecting the person by collaborating
efforts like one will focus on knowledge constraints in order to manage preventive and cautious
measure. One person will be focused on time management and other three will focus on giving
treatment by motivating patients. The collaborative efforts of nurses demonstrate working and
decision making via Cognitive continuum theory
As per (The use of cognitive continuum theory and patient scenarios to explore nurse
prescribers' pharmacological knowledge and decision-making, 2008), article where the scholar
conducted interview for using CCT to explore decision making and pharmacological knowledge
of nurses. Nevertheless, the study denotes that majority of participants were unable to answer
question for the case studies and proposed scenario, Few individuals were very confident to their
solution to problems whereas there were respondents who stated that at the time of critical
decision making the individuals refer patient to general practitioner. Thus, from the study, it has
been evaluated that social and institutional factors plays an important role decision making of
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