Question

The nurse observes a patient walking down the hall with a shuf-

fling gait. When the patient returns to bed, the nurse checks the strength in both of the patient's legs. The nurse applies the infor- mation gained to suspect that the patient has a mobility problem. This conclusion is an example of:
1. Cue.
2. Reflection.
3. Clinical inference.
4. Probing.

Answer 1

The nurse's assessment and conclusion based on observing the patient's walk and leg strength is known as clinical inference, a critical thinking skill used to make decisions in healthcare.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse observing the patient's shuffling gait and checking leg strength before concluding that the patient may have a mobility problem is an example of clinical inference. Clinical inference is the process of drawing conclusions from related pieces of evidence and previous experience with similar cases. It is a critical thinking skill often used by healthcare professionals to make decisions about patient care when not all information is explicitly stated.

Other examples of clinical inference might include a doctor diagnosing an illness based on symptoms and medical history, or a mechanic determining the cause of a car problem through symptoms relayed by the car owner and observation of the vehicle.

Throughout the practice of medicine, clinical inference is foundational for diagnostic processes and therapeutic approaches. It provides a necessary bridge between observation and action in patient care.