What it means
In the clinical judgment model used by the NCLEX, the first step is to recognize cues: pick out from everything in a client's situation the findings that matter. Some cues are relevant and need action; others are normal or beside the point. Cues can be objective (a heart rate of 128) or subjective (the client says, "I feel like something bad is going to happen").
For the nurse
Compare each cue with the normal range and with the client's own baseline, and look for cues that point the same way.
At a glance
| Also written | cues |
|---|
Related terms
assess
To gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.
clinical judgment
The way a nurse notices, makes sense of and acts on information about a client to decide on the best care.
trend
The direction a set of findings moves over time, such as a value that keeps rising or falling.
nonverbal
Without words: communicated through facial expression, body language, touch, tone of voice or silence.