27.1: Introduction
The steps of the nursing process provide direction for nurses when making patient care decisions. Each decision affects the patient’s health status because safe and effective decisions made by nurses enhance patient outcomes (Nibbelink & Brewer, 2018). Clinical judgment is an essential part of safe and effective decision making in nursing practice (Tanner, 2006). The process of clinical judgment is cognitive and is the integrated thinking performed by nurses when making patient care decisions (Lasater, 2007). This chapter focuses on how to use clinical judgment when providing nursing care for gynecologic and obstetric patients. The unfolding case study offers opportunities for practice of clinical judgment and NCLEX-style questions.