2025 Volume 45 Pages 900-915
Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively review literature on clinical judgment among new graduate nurses and clarify their experiences and expected competencies in clinical judgment.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR. Literature searches were performed using databases, such as PubMed and CINAHL, targeting studies on clinical judgment among new graduate nurses in general hospital wards.
Results: Fifteen studies were included in the analysis. Four categories of clinical judgment experiences were identified: [Clinical judgment for patient-expressed responses], [Clinical judgment in nursing care implementation], [Clinical judgment for safety protection], and [Information gathering and reporting for clinical judgment]. Expected competencies included patient information gathering, needs assessment, and appropriate intervention selection, although expectation levels varied by organizational position and roles.
Conclusions: This review clarified experiences and expected competencies of clinical judgment among new graduate nurses, providing insights for realistic and progressive educational program design. Future research requires detailed investigation of developmental stages through multifaceted approaches and development of specific indicators according to these developmental stages.
