Nursing Students' Perceptions of Nursing Diagnoses and Clinical Decision-Making

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate nursing students' perceptions regarding nursing diagnoses and clinical decision-making skills level and to examine how these perceptions differ according to which nursing model was followed. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted. The study was carried out in one nursing department in Istanbul province and one nursing high school in Canakkale province, Turkey. A total sample of 257 students participated. A Structured Information Form, Perception of Nursing Diagnoses Survey and Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale were used to collect data. Results: 77.1% of the participants were women, with an average age of 19.09, and their average grade from the Fundamentals of Nursing course was 74.23 +/- 9.41. The total of the PND score for the ADLs group was 2.45 +/- 0.55, in the FHP group it was 2.31 +/- 0.27. This difference in the incidence of value was not significant. The total of the CDMNS score means of the ADLs group was 147.44 +/- 12.95, and the mean of the FHP group was 154.3 +/- 12.29. A statistically significant difference was detected between the groups for the CDMNS score (p = 0.00). Conclusion: From the results, it can be concluded that the use of nursing diagnoses is positively perceived by nursing students and their clinical decision-making perceptions are in the process of development. Nursing models that are used in nursing education may affect clinical decision making.