A nurse is using assessment data gathered about a patient and combining critical thinking to develop a nursing diagnosis. What is the nurse doing?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Diagnostic reasoning. Diagnostic reasoning involves using assessment data and critical thinking skills to develop a nursing diagnosis. This process includes analyzing and interpreting data to make clinical judgments about the patient's health status. A: Assigning clinical cues is incorrect because this refers to identifying and documenting specific observations or findings during the assessment process, not the process of developing a nursing diagnosis. B: Defining characteristics is incorrect because this refers to the specific symptoms or manifestations used to support a nursing diagnosis, not the overall process of diagnostic reasoning. D: Diagnostic labeling is incorrect because this refers to assigning a formal name to the nursing diagnosis, not the process of critically analyzing assessment data to develop it.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Diagnostic reasoning. This involves analyzing assessment data, utilizing critical thinking skills to identify patient problems, and formulating nursing diagnoses. Diagnostic reasoning is the process of synthesizing information to make clinical judgments and determine appropriate interventions. A: Assigning clinical cues - Incorrect. This refers to identifying observable signs or symptoms, not the process of developing a nursing diagnosis. B: Defining characteristics - Incorrect. This term is often used to describe the symptoms or manifestations associated with a nursing diagnosis, not the process of deriving the diagnosis. D: Diagnostic labeling - Incorrect. This is the final step in the nursing diagnosis process where the nurse assigns a label to the identified patient problem, not the process of critical thinking and data analysis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because performing a physical examination is the method nurses use to establish a patient's database. This involves directly assessing the patient's physical condition, gathering data on their health status, and identifying any abnormalities or concerns. Reviewing literature (A) is important but not a direct method of collecting patient data. Checking orders for tests (B) is part of data collection but not the initial step. Ordering medications (D) is a treatment action, not data collection.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Diagnostic reasoning. The nurse is utilizing assessment data to analyze and interpret the information to develop a nursing diagnosis. This involves critical thinking skills to make conclusions and create a plan of care. A: Assigning clinical cues - This choice is incorrect as it refers to identifying objective and subjective data during assessment, not the process of analyzing and synthesizing data to form a diagnosis. B: Defining characteristics - This choice is incorrect as it typically refers to the specific manifestations or symptoms associated with a particular nursing diagnosis, not the process of diagnosing itself. D: Diagnostic labeling - This choice is incorrect as it refers to the final step in the nursing diagnosis process where the nurse assigns a label to the identified problem, not the overall process of diagnostic reasoning.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Performing a physical examination. This method allows the nurse to collect objective data directly from the patient, which is crucial in establishing a comprehensive patient database. By assessing the patient's physical condition, the nurse can gather vital information such as vital signs, overall health status, and potential areas of concern. Reviewing literature (A) and checking orders for tests (B) may provide additional insights but are not direct data collection methods. Ordering medications (D) is a treatment intervention, not a data collection method.