Crisis Decision Making in Coronary Care: A Replication Study

Abstract

Do nurses in critical care environments make rapid decisions in crisis situations? A replication study of 24 coronary care nurses, based on an original study of 50 intensive care nurses, indicates that many nursing decisions are made for critically ill patients. An examination of these decisions can assist in the development of nursing prescriptions for patients with specific problems. This information can foster development of nursing knowledge with regard to patient situations. This study replicated a study that explored nursing decision making in critical care areas (Baumann & Bourbonnais, 1981). The convenience sample consisted of 24 registered nurses in one coronary care unit. The study was exploratory in design, and utilized a semistructured interview to analyze the nurses' decision making. The two major components of the interview were the examination of a cardiac patient case study, and the identification of individual patient care situations in which a crisis was prominent and rapid nursing decision making was required. A demographic data questionnaire examined age, critical care and other nursing experience, and the formal and continuing education of the subjects.