NU 611
Clinical Decision Making
Final Exams Review (Qns & Ans)
2025
1. Which of the following best describes the process of clinical
decision-making in nursing practice?
A) Identifying patient desires first
B) Making assumptions based on past experiences
C) Systematic collection and analysis of patient information
D) Deferring decisions to senior healthcare professionals
ANS: C
Rationale: Clinical decision-making involves the systematic
collection and analysis of patient data to provide individualized
care.
©2025
,2. When prioritizing patient care, which patient should be
assessed first?
A) A stable post-operative patient
B) A patient experiencing a severe allergic reaction
C) A patient requesting pain medication
D) A patient with a chronic condition in the stable phase
ANS: B
Rationale: The patient experiencing a severe allergic reaction is
in potential immediate life-threatening danger and needs urgent
assessment.
3. Which cognitive error in clinical decision-making is
characterized by focusing on readily available information rather
than all available data?
A) Anchoring
B) Availability heuristic
C) Overconfidence bias
D) Confirmation bias
ANS: B
Rationale: Availability heuristic involves making decisions
based on recent or familiar information rather than a
comprehensive evaluation.
©2025
,4. EBP in clinical decision-making primarily relies on which of
the following?
A) Traditional practices
B) Clinical intuition
C) Best research evidence, clinical expertise, patient preferences
D) Leadership influence
ANS: C
Rationale: EBP integrates best research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences to inform decision-making.
5. Which phase of the nursing process is directly involved in
clinical decision-making?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) All of the above
ANS: D
Rationale: Clinical decision-making occurs throughout the
nursing process, including assessment, diagnosis, and planning.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
©2025
, 6. The use of ________ enables nurses to measure outcomes
systematically and make evidence-based decisions.
ANS: Standardized assessment tools
Rationale: Standardized assessment tools provide measured,
reliable data to inform the decision-making process.
7. An algorithm used in clinical settings to guide the decision-
making process is referred to as a ________.
ANS: Clinical pathway
Rationale: Clinical pathways are tools designed to guide
evidence-based healthcare decisions.
8. The term ________ refers to the inclusion of patient
preferences and values in clinical decision-making.
ANS: Patient-centered care
Rationale: Patient-centered care emphasizes respecting and
integrating patient preferences in clinical decisions.
9. Before making a clinical decision, a nurse should integrate
knowledge from pathophysiology and ________.
ANS: Pharmacology
©2025
Clinical Decision Making
Final Exams Review (Qns & Ans)
2025
1. Which of the following best describes the process of clinical
decision-making in nursing practice?
A) Identifying patient desires first
B) Making assumptions based on past experiences
C) Systematic collection and analysis of patient information
D) Deferring decisions to senior healthcare professionals
ANS: C
Rationale: Clinical decision-making involves the systematic
collection and analysis of patient data to provide individualized
care.
©2025
,2. When prioritizing patient care, which patient should be
assessed first?
A) A stable post-operative patient
B) A patient experiencing a severe allergic reaction
C) A patient requesting pain medication
D) A patient with a chronic condition in the stable phase
ANS: B
Rationale: The patient experiencing a severe allergic reaction is
in potential immediate life-threatening danger and needs urgent
assessment.
3. Which cognitive error in clinical decision-making is
characterized by focusing on readily available information rather
than all available data?
A) Anchoring
B) Availability heuristic
C) Overconfidence bias
D) Confirmation bias
ANS: B
Rationale: Availability heuristic involves making decisions
based on recent or familiar information rather than a
comprehensive evaluation.
©2025
,4. EBP in clinical decision-making primarily relies on which of
the following?
A) Traditional practices
B) Clinical intuition
C) Best research evidence, clinical expertise, patient preferences
D) Leadership influence
ANS: C
Rationale: EBP integrates best research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences to inform decision-making.
5. Which phase of the nursing process is directly involved in
clinical decision-making?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) All of the above
ANS: D
Rationale: Clinical decision-making occurs throughout the
nursing process, including assessment, diagnosis, and planning.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
©2025
, 6. The use of ________ enables nurses to measure outcomes
systematically and make evidence-based decisions.
ANS: Standardized assessment tools
Rationale: Standardized assessment tools provide measured,
reliable data to inform the decision-making process.
7. An algorithm used in clinical settings to guide the decision-
making process is referred to as a ________.
ANS: Clinical pathway
Rationale: Clinical pathways are tools designed to guide
evidence-based healthcare decisions.
8. The term ________ refers to the inclusion of patient
preferences and values in clinical decision-making.
ANS: Patient-centered care
Rationale: Patient-centered care emphasizes respecting and
integrating patient preferences in clinical decisions.
9. Before making a clinical decision, a nurse should integrate
knowledge from pathophysiology and ________.
ANS: Pharmacology
©2025
