Clinical Judgment is the process of integrating evidence-based practice, critical-thought, the Nursing Process, knowledge, skills, and attitudes, as well as application of theory to practice in order to promote safe, quality care to clients in all settings.
Keeping that in mind, answer the following scenario:
You are the Charge Nurse in a large Urban Emergency Department (ED). You nursing staff include:
- RN with 12 years of Trauma ED experience
- New RN with 6 months ED experience
- RN from the Medical Surgical floor with 8 years of experience
The following patients are in the ED, which patient will you give to each of the nurses and why?
- A 76-year-old client who was involved in a motor vehicle accident and has hematuria.
- A 38-year-old client with kidney stones complaining of severe pain.
- A 24-year-old diabetic client with an acute urinary tract infection who will require discharge teaching.
- An 80-year-old client that has not had a bowel movement for 4 days.
Requirements: .doc file
250 words, one reference.
Answer preview
Professional care and evidence-based practice in the emergency department (ED) is crucial. Due to the diverse issues that registered nurses handle in the ED, the charge nurse needs to evaluate the different working experiences that the nursing staff have.  This ensures that the patients receive the right care and attention from the nurses. As Benner, Hughes, and Sutphen (2008) emphasize, critical thinking plays an essential role in enabling the nurses to make the right clinical judgment in enhancing patient safety. Hence, as the charge nurse in a large Urban ED, it would be crucial for the registered nurse with 12 years of Trauma ED expertise to handle the 76-year-old patient involved in a car accident and has hematuria. This nurse can provide appropriate trauma counseling and stabilize this patient’s health condition by preventing secondary complications.
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