NCSBN Clinical Judgment and Decision Making 3

Question 1

Which NGN item type requires the nurse to select multiple assessment findings that require immediate follow-up from a list of patient data?

Accepted Answer

Highlight item

Answer

Highlight items ask test-takers to identify (highlight) relevant clinical findings within a passage or chart, directly assessing the Recognize Cues skill.

Question 2

A nurse uses the Bow-tie NGN item format. The center of the bow-tie represents which element of clinical judgment?

Accepted Answer

The most likely client condition

Answer

In the Bow-tie item, the center node represents the nurse's determination of the most likely client condition, connecting assessment findings on one side to interventions on the other.

Question 3

An experienced nurse quickly recognizes a patient's deteriorating status and acts before vital signs confirm the change. This is BEST explained by which concept?

Accepted Answer

Intuition developed through pattern recognition from clinical experience

Answer

Expert nurses develop pattern recognition through experience, enabling rapid clinical judgment that anticipates deterioration before all objective data are available.

Question 4

Which action demonstrates POOR clinical judgment when a patient's condition changes unexpectedly?

Accepted Answer

Continuing the original care plan without reassessment

Answer

Continuing the original care plan without reassessing after an unexpected change fails to apply clinical judgment and may delay recognition of a serious complication.

Question 5

A nurse is caring for a patient with newly ordered furosemide. Using clinical judgment, which assessment finding would MOST concern the nurse before administration?

Accepted Answer

Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L

Answer

Furosemide promotes potassium excretion; a pre-existing low potassium of 3.0 mEq/L increases the risk of hypokalemia and dangerous cardiac arrhythmias if the drug is given.

NCSBN - National Council of State Boards of Nursing Practice Test

NCSBN - National Council of State Boards of Nursing Practice Test

NCSBN Clinical Judgment and Decision Making 3