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LM Prsentation

The document discusses various types of decisions faced by nurses and nurse managers, including routine, adaptive, and innovative decisions, each suited for different problem complexities. It emphasizes the importance of problem-solving methods and the distinction between decision making and problem solving, noting that decision making can occur without thorough problem analysis. Additionally, it highlights the role of critical thinking in evaluating situations and making informed decisions.

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7 views4 pages

LM Prsentation

The document discusses various types of decisions faced by nurses and nurse managers, including routine, adaptive, and innovative decisions, each suited for different problem complexities. It emphasizes the importance of problem-solving methods and the distinction between decision making and problem solving, noting that decision making can occur without thorough problem analysis. Additionally, it highlights the role of critical thinking in evaluating situations and making informed decisions.

Uploaded by

sadiqafridi8900
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Types of Decisions

The types of problems nurses and nurse managers encounter and the decisions they must make

vary widely and determine the problem-solving or decision-making methods they should use.

Relatively well defined, common problems can usually be solved with routine decisions, often

using established rules, policies, and procedures. For instance, when a nurse makes a medication

error, the manager’s actions are guided by policy and the report form. Routine decisions are

more often made by first-level managers than by top administrators.

Adaptive decisions are necessary when both problems and alternative solutions are somewhat

unusual and only partially understood. Often they are modifications of other well-known

problems and solutions. Managers must make innovative decisions when problems are unusual

and unclear and when creative, novel solutions are necessary

Problem solving

People use problem solving when they perceive a gap between an existing state (what is going

on) and a desired state (what should be going on). How one perceives the situation influences

how the problem is identified or solved. Therefore, perceptions need to be clarified before

problem solving can occur. Problem-Solving Methods A variety of methods can be used to solve

problems. People with little management experience tend to use the trial-and-error method,

applying one solution after another until the problem is solved or appears to be improving. These

managers often cite lack of experience and of time and resources to search for alternative

solutions. In a step-down unit with an increasing incidence of medication errors, Max, the nurse
manager, uses various strategies to decrease errors, such as asking nurses to use calculators,

having the charge nurse check medications, and posting dosage and medication charts in the unit.

After a few months, by which time none of the methods has worked, it occurs to Max that

perhaps making nurses responsible for their actions would be more effective. Max develops a

point system for medication errors: When nurses accumulate a certain amount of points, they are

required to take a medication test; repeated failure of the test may eventually lead to termination.

Max’s solution is effective and a low level of medication errors is restored. As the above

example shows, a trial-and-error process can be time-consuming and may even be detrimental.

Although some learning can occur during the process, the nurse manager risks being perceived

as a poor problem solver who has wasted time and money on ineffective solutions
Decision making is a complex, cognitive process often defined as choosing a particular course of

action. BusinessDictionary.com (2016, para. 1) defines decision making as “the thought process

of selecting a logical choice from the available options.” This implies that doubt exists about

several courses of action and that a choice is made to eliminate uncertainty. Problem solving is

part of decision making and is a systematic process that focuses on analyzing a difficult situation.

Problem solving always includes a decision-making step. Many educators use the terms problem

solving and decision making synonymously, but there is a small yet important difference

between the two. Although decision making is the last step in the problem-solving process, it is

possible for decision making to occur without the full analysis required in problem solving.

Because problem solving attempts to identify the root problem in situations, much time and

energy are spent on identifying the real problem. Decision making, on the other hand, is usually

triggered by a problem but is often handled in a way that does not focus on eliminating the

underlying problem. For example, if a person decided to handle a conflict when it occurred but

did not attempt to identify the real problem causing the conflict, only decision-making skills

would be used. The decision maker might later choose to address the real cause of the conflict or

might decide to do nothing at all about the problem. The decision has been made not to problem

solve. This alternative may be selected because of a lack of energy, time, or resources to solve

the real problem. In some situations, this is an appropriate decision. For example, assume that a

nursing supervisor has a staff nurse who has been absent a great deal over the last 3 months.

Normally, the supervisor would feel compelled to intervene. However, the supervisor has

reliable information that the nurse will be resigning soon to return to school in another state.

Because the problem will soon no longer exist, the supervisor decides that the time and energy
needed to correct the problem are not warranted. Critical thinking, sometimes referred to as

reflective thinking, is related to evaluation and has a broader scope than decision making and

problem solving. Dictionary.com (2016) defines critical thinking as “the mental process of

actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating

information to reach an answer or conclusion” (para. 1). Critical thinking also involves reflecting

on the meaning of statements, examining the offered evidence and reasoning, and forming

judgments about facts.

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