Wang, Yue. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-120). / Abstract and some appendixes also in Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER 1: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2: --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Clinical decision making in nursing --- p.4 / Definition of clinical decision making --- p.4 / How nurses make clinical decisions --- p.6 / The analytical model --- p.7 / The intuitive model --- p.10 / Cognitive continumm theory --- p.13 / Factors influencing clincial decision making --- p.17 / Knowledge --- p.18 / Clinical experience --- p.19 / Internal factors --- p.21 / External factors --- p.23 / Autonomy in nurses' clinical decision making --- p.27 / Clinical decision making among Chinese nurses --- p.31 / Summary of literature review --- p.35 / Chapter CHAPTER 3: --- METHODOLOGY / Aims and objectives of the study --- p.37 / Research design --- p.37 / Setting and sample --- p.39 / The setting --- p.39 / The informants --- p.40 / Data collection procedures --- p.42 / Interview guide --- p.42 / Data collection method --- p.43 / Data analysis --- p.45 / Data preparation --- p.45 / Content analysis --- p.46 / Rigour of data --- p.47 / Validity --- p.48 / Reliability --- p.49 / Pilot study --- p.50 / Ethical consideration --- p.50 / Chapter CHAPTER 4: --- FINDING AND DISCUSSION / Introduction --- p.53 / Socio-demographic characteristics of informants --- p.53 / Categories identified from content analysis --- p.54 / Understanding of clinical decision making --- p.55 / Understanding about patien´tةs health condition --- p.56 / Making nursing judgment --- p.57 / Taking intervention --- p.58 / Problem solving --- p.59 / A participatory process --- p.60 / Involving the patient --- p.61 / Role of the family --- p.62 / Involvement of other staff --- p.63 / Autonomy in clinical decision making --- p.65 / Depending on doctoŕةs instruction --- p.66 / Making judgment about doctoŕةs order --- p.68 / Making decisions independently in emergency --- p.69 / Making decisions within scope of nursing practice --- p.70 / Attributes required in clinical decision making --- p.75 / Effective communication skill --- p.75 / Use of critical thinking --- p.76 / Role of knowledge in clinical decision making --- p.78 / Facilitating nurses to solve patien´tةs health problems --- p.78 / Facilitating nurses to make efficient and accurate judgment --- p.79 / Contributions of clinical experiences to clinical decision making --- p.80 / Using clinical experiences to identify patients' problems --- p.81 / Use of previous clinical experiences in clinical decision for intervention --- p.82 / Helping nurses solve patien´tةs problems effectively --- p.83 / Making judgment efficiently and effectively --- p.84 / Workplace environment --- p.86 / Workload --- p.86 / Workplace atmosphere --- p.87 / Similarities and differences of concept of clinical decision making between clinical nurses and nurse educators --- p.88 / Intuition --- p.89 / Making decisions based on evidence --- p.91 / Teamwork spirit --- p.93 / Nurséةs attitude to drug administration --- p.94 / Chinese tradition of respecting older people --- p.95 / Chapter CHAPTER 5: --- CONCLUSION / Study limitations --- p.100 / Sampling method --- p.100 / Use of interview --- p.101 / Issue of data saturation --- p.102 / Recommendation for further research --- p.103 / Implications for practice --- p.104 / Conclusion --- p.106 / REFERENCES --- p.108 / APPENDICES --- p.121