Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of clinical decision making within the role of the Registered Nurse

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Aim:
The aim of this task is for you to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of clinical decision making within the role of the Registered Nurse. The clinical reasoning cycle (Levett-Jones, 2012) will be utilised to show the progression of your critical thinking process. Familiarisation with the clinical reasoning cycle will support you to provide quality care and will provide a foundation for your next essay in this course.
Task Description:
You are to write an essay which uses the clinical reasoning cycle (Levett-Jones, 2012) to present a case study of a clinical decision that you have been involved in. The clinical decision you select can be a decision that went well or one with a negative outcome. You only need to discuss one example of a clinical decision.
Examples of clinical decisions may include (but are not limited to):
• Responding to a change in the patients condition
• Care planning considering the patients present health status
• Reviewing planned patient interventions including medications
• Outcome from effective or ineffective communication
Instructions:
1) Explain the background situation, including current and related patient or case information and
other influencing factors related to the clinical decision.

2) Provide a clear description of the clinical decision making process incorporating the first seven of
the eight stages of the clinical reasoning cycle (Levett-Jones, 2012).
3) Explain the factors which influenced this clinical decision
4) Use literature where relevant to support the key points you make to demonstrate evidence based
practice.
Other elements:
• Always refer to the School of Nursing & Midwifery Writing and Referencing Guide for
formatting conventions and referencing guidelines
• Ensure that you use scholarly literature (digitised readings, research articles, relevant Government reports and text books) that has been published within the last 5 years.

• Provide a clear introduction, sound body and conclusion to your paper.

• You may use headings to organise your work if you wish.
• The use of first person can be utilised in your writing.
• Use academic language throughout.
• Refer to the marking guidelines when writing your assignment. This will assist you in calculating the weightings of the sections for your assignment
Assessment Type: Case Study Essay
Word Count: 1000 words
• State your word count (excluding your reference list) on the Assignment Coversheet.
Submission:
Your written assignment must be submitted as:
marks
1. INTRODUCTION
Describes the purpose of the essay and gives an indication of the key points of the case study
/10 mark
2. BACKGROUND TO THE CASE STUDY
Describes the background to the case study including current and related patient or case
information
/10 mark
3. DESCRIPTION OF CLINICAL DECISION
Succinctly describes the chosen decision identified from the clinical case study
/10 mark
4. CLINICAL REASONING CYCLE
Clearly analyses the factors influencing the clinical decision in relation to the first seven of the
eight stages of the clinical reasoning cycle
/40 mark
5. RESEARCH AND USE OF EVIDENCE
Identifies analyses and uses good quality evidence to support the outlined relevant points. Uses
at least 5 sources published in the last 5 years
/10 mark
6. ACADEMIC WRITING
Skilful use of language, grammar, sentence and paragraph construction to create a logical
discussion focused on the topic
/10 mark
7. CONCLUSION
Succinctly summarises main points of the case study
/10 mark