Regan-Kubinski M J
School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 1991 Oct;5(5):262-70. doi: 10.1016/0883-9417(91)90024-y.
This study addressed judgment processes in psychiatric nursing by analyzing reported use of clinical cues cited as being relevant in the process of making a nursing judgment. Using an exploratory, qualitative approach, data were collected by interviewing 15 subjects who provided 36 in-depth interviews upon completion of an intake interview. Comparative content analysis was used to determine the underlying structure in subject reports. A model depicting judgment processes is presented and discussed. Results suggest that although judgments were highly context-dependent, all subjects assessed data labeled as universals in the psychiatric nursing assessment: suicidality, depression, drug and alcohol use, and patient functional abilities. Similarities among subjects were noted in that presenting behaviors were most salient, a categorization process occurs within the judgment process, and patients are included in the judgment process. Finally, nursing judgments uncovered an action orientation rather than a labeling function.
