Approaching clinical decision making in nursing practice with interactive multimedia and case-based reasoning

This paper describes the conceptual design, development and formative evaluation of a self-paced multimedia learning resource that is intended to facilitate clinical decision making in nursing practice with case-based reasoning. With the help of a contrived situation, the resource attempts to simulate the complexities of life in a typical hospital ward, which places graduating nurses in the role of problem-solvers. Problem solving in the simulation is based on a rich repertoire of cases and stories that have been extracted from the experiences of expert practitioners. This case-based reasoning architecture reflects a model of learning where graduating nurses are coached in the development of decision-making skills within the context of a contrived but an authentic problem. Formative evaluation of this multimedia resource using structured and open-ended question types has been carried out with individual and small groups of practicing nurses. Their general impressions of this resource, and especially its approach to learning, have been positive. More extensive evaluation of the resource is currently in progress