An exploratory study into a methodology for the examination of decision making by nurses in the clinical area.

This study was undertaken to explore decision making in the clinical area and why it is that some nurses make seemingly irrational decisions. In the past simulations and decision frames have been used by psychologists and clinician researchers to examine decision making, although none of these methods were reported to have been used in the clinical area. In the study 11 subjects were observed in the clinical area for 2 hours each and a total of 18 decisions were made by these subjects. Each observation was followed by an interview in which the decisions were further explored and three simulations and four decision framed questions were also employed as comparative tools. The subjects were also asked about their decision making strategies. The method of using observation to collect data was effective and the effect of experience was highlighted as one of the main factors influencing decision making. The other methods proved useful as tools to examine particular aspects of decision making. The effect of experience on decision making has wide reaching effects on future nurse education, as well as having professional implications in the area of autonomy, accountability and responsibility. Further research in this area is then recommended.