A Descriptive Analysis of Inexperienced Clinical Nurses' Line-Of-Reasoning in Decision Making

2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 11672330
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 基礎・地域看護学
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science (2000-2001); Hiroshima University (1999)
• Principal Investigator: NOJIMA Yoshiko Shiga University of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (30100655)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAWAI Nobue Shiga University of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Research associate, 医学部, 助手 (30303788) ; FURUTA Mariko Shiga University of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Research associate, 医学部, 助手 (80314144)
• Project Period (FY): 1999 – 2001
• Keywords: Decision Making / Novice nurse / Talk aloud / Line-Of-Reasoning

Research Abstract

[Objective] With experience, persons develop expertise in their ability to perform required mental tasks with the few number of cues. Is there a relationship between years of clinical experience and the cognitive processes used in decision making? The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between clinical experience and Line-Of-Reasoning (Argument, Triggering cues, Domain concept, Intermediate conclusion, Intermediate action, and Conclusion) which relate to clinical decision making among one year clinical experience (one year group) , two years of clinical experience (two years group) , and three years of clinical experience (three years group).
[Methodology] A think aloud method was used to collect verbal data using three written cases developed by the investigators. The subjects were recruited through recommendation of the nursing administrator of a university hospital. The subjects' verbalizations were audio taped and transcribed for Protocol Analysis.
[Results] Results of ANOVA demonstrated statistically significant difference for the years of clinical experience in Argument (F (2, 84) = 4.14, p < .05), Triggering cues (F (2,84) = 7.8, p < .0l), Domain concept (F (2, 84) = 6.37, p <.01), and Intermediate conclusion (F (2, 84) = 6.05, p. < .01). The one year group had the highest mean score for Argument but had the lowest mean score for Conclusion.
[Conclusion] Findings from this study indicate that the development of ability to use of Line-Of-Reasoning in decision making during the first three years of clinical experience is not related to number of years of clinical experience.