ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that nurses have a decision-making role and that their practice includes a range of elements (e.g. information seeking, processing, knowledge, outcome). Although theoretical accounts draw these elements together, a unifying theory of decision making does not exist. During an evening shift on an understaffed 36-bed stroke rehabilitation ward the nurse in charge was commencing a drug round. The ward was short staffed and the three or four staff on duty on each shift (registered nurses and care assistants) were involved in physically demanding work. The investigation included discussions with the ward team about their care decisions and examination of their records. There are different claims about the origin of nurse decision-making enquiry. These have included the game theory, which dealt with decision making under uncertain conditions and has been linked to applications in economics and military planning.
