Refining Diagnostic Reasoning and Avoiding Cognitive Errors in Acutely Ill Patients

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Developing the differential diagnosis is challenging for the novice to expert advance practice nurses. The benefits and risk of specific diagnostic reasoning skill such as heuristics, pattern recognition, or algorithms in establishing a patient’s diagnosis will be explored. Case studies will be used to to challenge the participant to develop a differential diagnosis and implement a plan of care. As each case is concluded a cognitive analysis is performed to assess for cognitive errors.

Objectives

Analyze the skill set required by a practitioner to make a judgment based on a patient’s presentation on the diagnosis and management.
Examine the elements, needed to develop a differential diagnosis for a patient based upon their symptomology.
Identify the benefits and risks of applying specific diagnostic reasoning skills in establishing a patient’s diagnosis.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity. Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.