Dear Respondents, Greetings!

We, the Research Group E-19, are currently conducting a research study entitled Factors Affecting Clinical Decision Making in Emergency Room Triage Area among Level IV Student Nurses The objective of this study is to determine the different factors affecting the clinical decision-making of level IV nursing students, and correlate it with their clinical performance (clinical decision- making) in the Emergency Department specific to triage area. This study will then bridge the gap of the previous studies as to the factors affecting the clinical decision-making of the Level IV Nursing Students of UERMMMCI in the Emergency Department- Triage Area. Furthermore, we would like to ask for your time and cooperation. This would only take between 30 -40 minutes to complete. We will need your honest assessment and answers on the following items that lead to our study. Please do not leave any item unanswered. Your replies will remain confidential. In reporting the data, only grouped information will be used and no individual subject will be identified. Thank you very much! May you have a good day and God bless! ........................................................................................................................................................... . Please put a check mark () on the corresponding statements. _____ I understand that the researchers will hold all information and data collected securely and in confidence and that all efforts will be made to ensure that I cannot be identified as a participant in the study (except as might be required by law) and I give permission for the researchers to hold relevant personal data _____ I decline to take part in the above study.

______________________________ Name

___________________________ Signature

__________ Date

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Date: _______________________ Age: _________ Number of days of exposure in the Emergencry Room: a.) Number of Hours of exposure: __________ b.) Number of Days of exposure: __________

QUESTIONNAIRE For the following items, please show the extent of your agreement or disagreement by checking the following: SA = Strongly Agree A = Agree U = Undecided D = Disagree SD = Strongly Disagree I. Knowledge QUESTIONS SA 1. My use of intuition or 'gut feeling' results in my best decisions about patient care. 2. The theory related to problem solving and decision making that I learned in the nursing program influences me as I make decisions about patient care. 3. My clinical nursing experiences thus far have not assisted me in developing decision-making skills. 4. In this setting I was able to use my unique ideas as I participated in patient care when the nursing staff on the unit encouraged students to make decisions regarding patient care.. 5. My most successful approach to decision making is to carefully examine the data and analyze the options before determining a course of action. 6. I often use intuition when making decisions about patient care. 7. I use the nursing process (assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation) when making decisions regarding patient care. 8. I have the necessary skills to make sound decisions about patient care. 9. I best solve problems or make decisions by analyzing all the information available to me before forming conclusions 10. I am able to apply the theory taught in class in the emergency room. A U D SD

II. Length of Exposure QUESTIONS SA 1. The experience of developing and writing out nursing care plans does not influence my ability to make decisions about patient care. 2. The best predictor of "sound" decision making is clinical nursing experience. 3. My previous life experiences have strengthened my ability to make sound decisions about patient care. 4. Students with previous health related work experience make better decisions about patient care than those who don't have this experience. III. Student Instructor Relationship QUESTIONS SA 1. The nursing staff in my latest clinical rotation discouraged me from making my own decisions about patient care. 2. The clinical instructor in my most recent clinical experience encouraged me to independently arrive at decisions regarding patient care. 3. My observations of nursing staff in the practice of patient care including triaging influences me greatly as I make decisions about patient care. 4. I consider what my instructor would say when I think about possible choices I could make in patient care. 5. In my latest clinical rotation, the nursing staff on the unit encouraged students to make decisions regarding patient care. 6. I find myself deciding to perform skills the way staff nurses do, even though they are different than the way I learned them in the nursing program. 7. The clinical instructor in my most recent clinical experience was a positive role-model in decision-making regarding patient care. 8. I was provided with sufficient opportunities to make independent decisions about patient care in order to develop decision-making skills. 9. My relationship with the clinical instructor in my most recent clinical experience negatively affected my attempts at decision making about patient care. 10. I am often prevented from carrying out my decisions about patient care because nursing staff on the unit tell me to do something different. IV. Environment QUESTIONS SA 1. When I work in the clinical setting, I feel I am well accepted and a valued member of the team. 2. When I am caring for a patient. I feel I am responsible for making the decisions about their care. 3. The stress I feel in the clinical setting, affects my ability to make sound decisions about patient care. A U D SD A U D SD A U D SD

4. The fact that I am evaluated in the clinical setting influences the decisions I make about patient care. 5. The routines in the clinical setting discourage students from making independent decisions about patient care. 6. Doctors orders and hospital rules prevent me from making important decisions about patient care. 7. I am able to get adequate support in the emergency room which helps you apply the theory to practice. 8. I am able to cope with the workload inside the emergency room.

What can you do as a student to improve your clinical performance particularly in clinical decisionmaking? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

What can your clinical instructors do to provide additional assistance, to help improve clinical decision-making skills? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________