BSNC 1030: Lesson Plan
Introduction
How do you make the decision to go to a concert, to take a trip, to buy a piece of clothing? In this module we
explore the ways you make personal decisions in your life and then use this as a basis to explore decision making
models and frameworks and apply these to a nursing context. The focus will be on Tanner’s clinical judgement
model and the nursing process.
The Big Ideas for this Session
#note
Clinical decision making is important because as nurses you will be making life saving decisions on a daily basis
when caring for clients. Understanding how you make decisions is an important first step in building your capacity
to organize vast amounts of information accurately and access that information quickly. Decision making models
and frameworks are important tools that will help you organize and access important information quickly to help
you make life saving decisions when caring for your clients.
/note
Competencies and Learning Outcomes
#outcomes
Competencies
By the end of this session, students should be building towards meeting the following competencies:
 Draws on knowledge from nursing and other sciences, humanities, research, ethics, spirituality, relational
practice and critical inquiry in the practice of nursing care.
 Applies principles of critical inquiry and relational practice to conduct client-focused assessments that
emphasize client input and the determinants of health.
 Utilizes a decision making model to guide nursing care planning and delivery.
Outcomes
At the end of this session, you should be able to:
1. Describe your current approaches for making decisions.
2. Describe the steps of the clinical judgment model.
3. Compare the steps of the clinical judgement model with your current approaches for making decisions.
4. Describe the steps in the nursing process.
5. Compare the steps of the nursing process with your current approaches for making decisions.
6. Explain the similarities and differences between the clinical judgment model and the nursing process.
7. Review other clinical decision making models/frameworks.
/outcomes
Your Learning Journey through this Session
Reading
#reading
In preparation for your face-to-face class please read:
 Giddens, J. F. (2017). Concepts for nursing practice. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Chapter 40: Clinical Judgement
 Tanner, C. A. (2006). Thinking like a Nurse. Journal of Nursing Education, 45(6), 204-211.
 Seaback, W. W. (2013). Nursing process: Concepts and applications (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Delmar.
Here are some strategies to help guide your reading:
BSNC 1030: Lesson Plan
1. Please summarize, in two to three sentences, your understanding of the elements of noticing,
interpreting, responding and reflecting of the clinical judgement model.
2. Please summarize, in two to three sentences, your understanding of the elements of assessment;
evidence and validation; intervention and rationale for the problem of the nursing process.
When you have answered these questions, please bring your answers with you to class.
/reading
Personal Reflection
#reflection
Personal reflection is an important part of learning. As such, this is a voluntary activity. You may include the
answers to these questions in your e-portfolio.
Clinical Judgment model:
Noticing: In thinking back to the incident from the group discussion (booking a plane ticket) what did you
notice about the steps involved in making that decision?
Interpreting: What was your understanding of the situation (booking a plane ticket)? What elements
helped you form an understanding of the situation?
Responding: How did you respond to the situation (e.g., booking a plane ticket)?
Reflecting: What factors influenced your response? Were there alternative responses? What do you think
would have been the outcome of the situation if you had chosen an alternative response?
Nursing process:
#image
File: BSNC_Nursing Process.png
/image
Assessment: In thinking back to the incident from the group discussion what was your initial assessment of
this situation (booking a plane ticket)? What were the key elements of this situation?
BSNC 1030: Lesson Plan
Evidence and validation: What evidence did you ascertain to validate your assessment of the situation
(booking a plane ticket)?
Intervention: What action did you take based on your assessment, evidence and validation of that
evidence? Why did you think this was the best action?
Evaluation: What was the impact of your action on the situation (booking a plane ticket)? Were there
alternative actions that you could have taken? What would have been the outcome of the situation if you
had chosen an alternative response?
/reflection