The experienced trauma nurse determines that the patient may have suffered a cervical spinal cord injury as the patient is unable to feel or move the arms or legs.Which term best describes the nurse's ability to make this conclusion?

A) Data collection
B) Clinical inference
C) Scientific method
D) Standardized criteria

Question

Bernadette Tubianosa · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : B, Explanation :  The nurse demonstrated clinical inference by using extensive experience to reach the conclusion that the patient had suffered a spinal cord injury.Clinical inference is the process of drawing conclusions from related pieces of evidence and previous experience with the evidence.An inference involves forming patterns of information from data before making a nursing diagnosis.The scientific method is one formal way (in this scenario the nurse did not use the formal approach)to approach a problem,plan a solution,test the solution,and come to a conclusion; it is usually used in research.Effective problem solving involves evaluating the solution over time to be sure that it is still effective and if a problem occurs you try different options.Data collection is a component of assessment in the nursing process.Standardized criteria do not assist the nurse to realize that the patient suffered a spinal cord injury.

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