Community-based application of the clinical judgment measurement model in nursing education

Background and objective: With the implementation of the NexGen question approach for NCLEX, nursing educators have utilized simulation, case studies, and reflection to assist students in learning to apply clinical judgment to various clinical situations. Very little has been done at a community level. This case report demonstrates how using a community-based service-learning project can help senior nursing students in their community health rotation apply the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) approach in a real-world situation. The objective of this case report was to demonstrate community-based service-learning projects can increase students’ application of clinical judgment in real-world settings using the CJMM as a guide.
Methods: Students were assigned a zip code to assess through observing resources, needs, and people, speaking with formal and informal key informants, and government web sourced demographic, biostatistical, and epidemiological data, identify areas of need, prioritize an area to address based on personnel, time, and financial resources, develop and implement an intervention, and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
Results: Students successfully demonstrated application of the CJMM to a community-based service-learning project. Students reported an increased confidence in using the CJMM in future clinical situations.
Conclusions: A community-based service-learning project can be used to teach students how to apply clinical judgment using the CJMM as a guide.