Intuition in clinical decision-making: a psychological penumbra

Abstract

Intuition has traceable cognitive and physiological bases that help us understand how we use it as a basis for making complex clinical decisions. Experts, especially those working in acute and palliative care, where there are difficult ethical as well as clinical patients situations, can benefit from using intuitive ideas to arrive at complex decisions.

Clinical intuition in the nursing process and decision‐making—A mixed‐studies review

“…A gut feeling is the receipt of signs of improvement or worsening of a patient's condition as perceived by nurses and is the recognition of the patient's “falling out of the pattern, patient's intuition and nurse's intuition” (Pyles & Stern, , p. 50). Nurses’ gut feelings are often associated with concepts such as having a “sixth sense” or a “hunch” (Benner & Tanner, ; Nyatanga & de Vocht, ; Pearson, ). General practitioners rely on gut feelings as a diagnostic instrument, and experiencing encounters with patients helps to develop those gut feelings (Stolper et al., ).…”

An Integrative Review of Expert Nursing Practice

“…The qualities of nursing expertise are elusive (Jasper, 1994). Yet the literature reflects increasing clarity about the characteristics and behaviors of expert nurses (Field, 2004; Hardy, Titchen, Manley, & McCormack, 2006; Nyatanga & deVocht, 2008). The purpose of this integrative review is to summarize research illustrating the characteristics of expert nursing practice in a variety of nursing specialty settings.…”

Developing the advanced nursing practice role in non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer surveillance in Ireland

“…The incorporation of EBP in clinical decision‐making is in alignment with the ethos of the Advanced Practice Standards Requirements and educating nurses in the skills required to engage in EBP is advocated . As the experience of the ANP develops, the role of intuition may also contribute to complex clinical decision‐making …”

“…30,31 As the experience of the ANP develops, the role of intuition may also contribute to complex clinical decision-making. 32 The following section critically examines the domain of "improv-…”