What does clinical judgment primarily involve?

Clinical judgment primarily involves critically thinking and making decisions about patient care. This process integrates assessment data, patient preferences, and evidence-based practice to make informed decisions that will promote the best outcomes for patients. It requires the clinician to interpret information from various sources, such as physical assessments, diagnostics, and patient histories, and synthesize this information to develop tailored interventions.

While creating patient care plans is an important aspect of nursing, it is a part of the broader process of clinical judgment. The creation of these plans relies heavily on the clinician's ability to assess and interpret patient needs effectively. Understanding hospital policies can provide context and guidelines for practice, but it does not directly engage the clinician's judgment in patient care. Documenting patient history is essential for tracking and reference but does not encompass the decision-making and analytical processes involved in clinical judgment. Thus, the ability to think critically and make decisions in the context of patient care is the core of clinical judgment.