NUR 768: Building a Repertoire of Decision Making Skills

BUILDING A REPERTOIRE OF DECISION MAKING SKILLS

This course presents concepts, models and theories related to clinical decision making. A combination of large group lectures by experts and small group tutorials will be used. The course will provide learners with a combination of theoretical knowledge and practice based skills, including clinical reasoning, judgement and critical thinking. Active learning is an expectation, with evaluation focusing on the application of knowledge to the clinical situation. Both the content and the processes (learning situations and outcomes) will help achieve the program goals of graduating independent and inter-dependent critical thinkers and decision makers. The content will help learners acquire, critique, and apply knowledge about decision making theories and practices; the activities and assignments will require the student to explore select aspects of decision making in depth. They also will help the students acquire the ability to turn decisions into actions. Assignments will require the student to think conceptually and analytically. They will be expected to critically appraise and synthesize information, and present synopses clearly and concisely.

Course Purpose

Method of Presentation of Course Material

The course will use a combination of large group lectures and small group seminars. The large group lectures will be provided by experts from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. They will be invited because of their expertise in an aspect of decision making germaine to the course objectives. The principles of self-directed learning and active involvement of the learners will guide the small group seminars. Students will be expected to present clinical scenarios that exemplify the decision making theories or models addressed in the large group lecture. Selected concepts, models or theories are to be critiqued, and explored in-depth. Students are expected to assist their peers through the application of a selected decision making/communication skill.

Evaluation

There will be four evaluation components:

1. Seminar Facilitation- application of a clinical decision making concept, theory or skill ( 20%)
2. Short Paper - synthesis and critical appraisal of literature in relation to a selected decision making concept, theory or skill (25%)
3. Long Paper - identification of a decision making dilemma, and in-depth exploration of that dilemma using multiple decision making concepts or theories (40%)
4. Participation (15%)