Workshop B: Clinical Judgement: Implications for Readiness to Practice

Wednesday, September 23  |  8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Clinical judgment is widely recognized as a core competency for safe nursing practice and is increasingly emphasized in nursing curricula and licensing examinations. However, emerging evidence indicates that focusing predominantly on clinical judgment may not fully prepare new graduates for the complex realities of practice. Despite considerable efforts to develop and assess clinical judgment during prelicensure education, gaps persist between academic preparation and the practical demands faced by newly licensed nurses, contributing to concerns about readiness to practice. Surveys of practice partners reveal discrepancies between expected and observed clinical judgment competencies among new graduate nurses, with negative implications for patient outcomes and clinical performance. Research further suggests that deficits in clinical judgment reflect broader educational challenges, including inconsistent use of structured models, variable faculty development, and limited opportunities for learners to engage in complex, real-world clinical experiences. Moreover, practice readiness encompasses not only cognitive decision-making but also situational awareness, prioritization, interprofessional communication, and workflow management—domains that extend beyond traditional clinical judgment frameworks.

Presenter: 

Dodie Serafini, MSN, PhD, RN, CNE | National League for Nursing