A client comes into the emergency department (ED) with a productive co

A client comes into the emergency department (ED) with a productive cough, audible coarse crackles, elevated temperature of 102.3°F, chills, and body aches.

The nurse identifies the problem as respiratory compromise. The nurse is using which of the following?
1. Deductive reasoning
2. Inductive reasoning
3. Socratic questioning
4. Critical analysis

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Deductive reasoning is reasoning from the general to the specific. The nurse starts with a framework and makes descriptive interpretations of the client’s condition in relation to the framework. Productive cough, crackles, fever, and chills all point to problems with respiratory status.
Rationale 2: Inductive reasoning would be making a generalization from a set of facts or observation. In this case, the nurse using inductive reasoning could presume that the client has bronchitis or a bacterial respiratory infection.
Rationale 3: Socratic questioning looks beneath the surface and asking questions to come to a conclusion about the situation that is not what is described in the stem.
Rationale 4: Critical analysis looks beneath the surface and asking questions to come to a conclusion about the situation.