Breakthroughs in Nursing: Clinical Reasoning and Decision-Making

Dear Colleagues,

Clinical reasoning is a crucial component of nursing practice, directly impacting patient outcomes and the quality of care. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advancements, methodologies, and practical applications of clinical reasoning in nursing. We invite research articles, case studies, and reviews that address various aspects of clinical reasoning, including but not limited to diagnostic accuracy, critical thinking skills, the integration of evidence-based practice, and the use of simulation and technology in training. By examining diverse clinical settings and patient populations, this issue seeks to highlight innovative approaches and educational strategies that enhance nurses' decision-making abilities. Contributions that discuss the challenges and solutions in teaching clinical reasoning, as well as those that offer insights into interprofessional collaboration and its impact on clinical outcomes, are particularly welcome. This Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for educators, practitioners, and policymakers aiming to improve clinical reasoning skills and, ultimately, patient care quality in nursing.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our upcoming Special Issue, "Breakthroughs in Nursing: Clinical Reasoning and Decision-Making". This issue aims to gather cutting-edge research, insightful case studies, and comprehensive reviews that delve into the various dimensions of clinical reasoning and decision-making in nursing. This Special Issue aligns with Nursing Reports' commitment to advancing nursing practice through evidence-based research and education, covering clinical practice and healthcare policy to ensure broad relevance across nursing science.

In this Special Issue, we welcome a variety of article types, including original research articles and reviews. We encourage submissions that cover, but are not limited to, the following themes:

1. Diagnostic Accuracy:
• Studies on methods and strategies to improve diagnostic accuracy in nursing practice.
• Analysis of factors influencing diagnostic decision-making.
2. Critical Thinking Skills:
• Research on the development and assessment of critical thinking skills in nursing education and practice.
• Innovative teaching methods to enhance critical thinking abilities.
3. Integration of Evidence-Based Practice:
• Implementation and impact of evidence-based practice on clinical reasoning.
• Case studies demonstrating the successful integration of evidence into clinical decision-making.
4. Use of Simulation and Technology in Training:
• Role of simulation-based learning in improving clinical reasoning skills.
• Advances in technology and their application in nursing education and practice.
5. Innovative Approaches and Educational Strategies:
• Novel educational interventions aimed at enhancing clinical reasoning.
• Evaluation of educational programs and their effectiveness in fostering clinical reasoning.
6. Challenges and Solutions in Teaching Clinical Reasoning:
• Exploration of barriers to teaching clinical reasoning in nursing education.
• Effective strategies and solutions to overcome these challenges.
7. Interprofessional Collaboration:
• Impact of interprofessional teamwork on clinical reasoning and patient outcomes.
• Case studies and research on collaborative approaches to clinical decision-making.
8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Clinical Reasoning:
• The role of AI in enhancing clinical reasoning and decision-making in nursing.
• Research on AI-driven tools and technologies that support clinical reasoning.
• Case studies and reviews on the integration of AI in clinical practice and nursing education.

We look forward to receiving insightful contributions to this Special Issue. Your research and insights will be fundamental in advancing the field of clinical reasoning in nursing, ultimately leading to improved patient care and outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Márcia Pestana-Santos
Guest Editor

Dr. Lara Daniela Matos Cunha
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nursing Reports is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• clinical reasoning
• clinical decision-making
• clinical judgment
• critical thinking
• evidence-based nursing