A nurse enters the room of a critically ill child and has a sense that

A nurse enters the room of a critically ill child and has a sense that “something” isn’t right.

After performing an initial physical assessment and finding that the child is stable, the nurse continues to perform a check of all the lines and equipment in the room and finds that the last IV solution hung by the previous nurse was not the correct solution. This nurse was utilizing which method of problem solving?
1. Trial and error
2. Intuition
3. Judgment
4. Scientific method

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Trial and error is solving problems through a number of approaches until a solution is found.
Rationale 2: Intuition is the understanding or learning of things without the conscious use of reasoning. It is also known as sixth sense, hunch, instinct, feeling, or suspicion. Clinical experience allows the nurse to recognize cues and patterns and begin to reach correct conclusions using intuition. Finding no cause for concern in the physical assessment of the client, the nurse is not satisfied and continues to assess the client’s surroundings, finding the error.
Rationale 3: Judgment is not part of problem solving.
Rationale 4: The scientific method requires that the nurse evaluate potential solutions to a given problem in an organized, formal, and systematic approach.