Decision Making, Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: The Shared Decision-Making Process
Today, there is growing recognition concerning the importance of shared decision-making for the nursing profession, but the process is challenging for multiple reasons, including most especially heightened emotions, uncertainties about the appropriate course of action and more. To determine how to overcome these constraints, the purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature to define the shared decision-making process and its importance for professional nurses in achieving optimal clinical outcomes. Following this review, the paper provides a summary of the findings that emerged from the research in the conclusion.
Review and Discussion
As the term connotes, the shared decision-making process seeks to actively involve all of the stakeholders in a given healthcare scenario. Not surprisingly, the value of shared decision-making has long been recognized by healthcare providers, but the process was originally designed to promote a therapeutic rapport that facilitated patient-centered communications between physicians and their patients. In this regard, Inagaki et al. (2023) report that, Shared decision-making is a model that emphasizes patient participation and was initially developed for the patient-physician relationship. A broader concept of shared decision-making has been proposed given the involvement of multiple individuals in the patients decision-making process in complex real-world situations (p. 2). Given the centrality of respecting patient autonomy in promoting patient-centered care, this expansion of the shared decision-making process represented an important step.
Nevertheless, despite nearly a half century of efforts to implement this type of shared decision making in healthcare settings, there remains a lack of this process in far too many instances. For instance, a study by Pieterse et al. (2023) found that shared decision making typically involves a number of core competencies, including self-awareness of personal knowledge limitations as well as mindful messaging with patients, and impartiality with respect to patient preferences. Embodying virtues like humility, adaptability, transparency, equity, self-control, inquisitiveness, empathy, discernment, ingenuity and fortitude can empower practitioners to actively participate and...
…Like giving their first injection, however, nurses can overcome the foregoing and other challenges to an appropriate shared decision-making process through various avenues that focus on effective patient communications, collaboration, and patient engagement such as mentors, workshops and professional development opportunities (Browne et al., 2019).
Conclusion
The research showed that engaging patients through shared decision-making promotes patient autonomy in treatment selection based on personal needs, preferences and values, enabling individually tailored care that is aligned with the fundamental tenets of patient-centered practice. The research also showed that collaborative deliberation around medical options also strengthens patient trust, rapport and consequent adherence to treatment regimens while augmenting patient knowledge, further empowering individual autonomy in managing health decisions. Finally, the research was consistent in showing that nurses can strengthen their ability to engage in shared decision-making through various avenues, thereby ultimately improving patient outcomes and satisfaction levels. It is important to note, however, that continuous self-reflection and a commitment to ongoing learning are key elements in enhancing these essential nursing…
