Integration of clinical judgment in the nursing curriculum: challenges and perspectives.

The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study design was to better understand the influence of the nursing curriculum on clinical judgment development in baccalaureate nursing students and the capacity to provide safe nursing practice in health care settings. A sample of 20 preceptors for new graduate nurses were selected from three hospitals in Lebanon, and curriculum documents of three nursing programs provided data to determine the influence of curriculum on clinical judgment development. The preceptors' responses and curriculum data were triangulated, resulting in identification of strengths and weaknesses in the development of the clinical judgment ability of nursing students. The findings provide specific information regarding the influence of the nursing curriculum on the development of clinical judgment abilities, as well as implications for integration of new graduates into professional nursing practice. Strategies are described that can be used globally as baccalaureate nursing programs embrace and strengthen the partnership with service.