Clinical Decision Cards

What can you do when your students have stable patients at clinical?

What if things go according to plan and their assignment is improving with no unforeseen complications?

When patients are stable, what can you add clinical judgment to the day?

CLINICAL DECISION CARDS

1. Students pick a card containing abnormal assessment findings or clinical red flags.

2. Using their assigned patient from that day, they imagine caring for them with this new information.

Medical Surgical Examples include:

• The patient complains of shortness of breath.
• The lab calls to report an INR of 3.1
• The doctor puts in discharge orders - prepare to teach

OB Examples include:

• Your c-section patient has an estimated blood loss of 850ml
• The ultrasonographer tells you that the biophysical profile is 4/8
• A 32-hour-old newborn is scheduled for discharge. They have a transcutaneous bilirubin of 21mg/dL.

3. Next, students create a care plan based on the abnormal assessment that includes their nursing interventions.

4. Upon completion, students have demonstrated clinical judgment and decision-making when presented with abnormal or unexpected findings.

📝 Purchase includes a digital download of a care planning template to use with this activity.