Which process may include the use of intuition in decision-making?

Clinical judgment is a process that involves integrating evidence, knowledge, experience, and intuition to make informed decisions in patient care. Intuition plays a significant role in clinical judgment as it allows nurses to draw on their subconscious understanding of patients’ conditions based on previous experiences and observations. This intuitive aspect enables nurses to make quick and effective decisions in complex or ambiguous situations, often when time is of the essence.

In clinical practice, while data and evidence are vital, the ability to assess a patient’s condition and make judgments also incorporates an intuitive sense of what might be happening with a patient. For example, a nurse might feel that something is off with a patient’s condition before all the data is available, prompting them to take a closer look or act preemptively. This blending of intuition with clinical knowledge leads to improved patient outcomes and more nuanced care, highlighting the importance of both rational and intuitive facets in nursing.

Other processes, like critical thinking and ethical decision-making, certainly involve analytical reasoning and systematic approaches rather than intuition. While patient assessment incorporates skills and knowledge to gather data, it is primarily a structured process rather than one driven by intuitive insights. Thus, clinical judgment stands out as the most relevant answer regarding the role of intuition in decision-making.