Nurse Clinical Decision-Making in Head Injury Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v17i02.005Abstract
Background: A head injury is a critical emergency that requires fast and appropriate treatment to prevent disability and death. Management of head injury patients is closely related to nurses’ clinical decision-making. This study aims to explore nurses' experiences in clinical decision -making when managing head injury patients in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: This study employed a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach to explore in-depth the experiences of nurses in Waluyo Jati Hospital, East Java, Indonesia. Data were collected from nine nurses selected using purposive sampling, based on inclusion criteria: (1) a minimum education level of a Diploma in Nursing, (2) possessing a minimum of five years of clinical experience in the emergency department, and (3) having completed key emergency care certifications. The number of participants was determined based on data saturation, which was reached when the eighth and ninth interviews produced no new themes. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured in-depth interviews lasting 30–40 minutes each. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to identify emerging patterns and themes. Triangulation was done through the use of multiple data sources, including interview transcripts, field notes, and the researcher's reflection journal. Results: The study identified three core themes: (1) Clinical Decision-Making Model as an expert nurse for head injury patients, (2) Factors influencing clinical decision-making by nurses, and (3) Nurse Clinical Decision-Making Implications. Conclusion: Nurses' clinical decision-making has a critical role for head injury patients in emergency departments, where time and precision can mean the difference between life and death.
Keywords:
Clinical Decision Making, Nurses, Head Injury, Phenomenology, Emergency DepartmentDownloads
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