Clinical reasoning is a skill that is refined through time and practice by OT practitioners. The practitioner uses what he or she has learned and seen to clinically reason in order to answer questions and solve clinical dilemmas. Clinical reason also takes into account the feelings of clients. This involves keeping the well being of the client as a priority.
There are three elements of clinical reasoning: scientific, ethical, and artistic. The scientific element asks, "What are the possible things that could be done?" The ethical element asks, "What should be done?" Last, the artistic element uses creativity to help with the specific needs of the client.
Some types of clinical reasoning are scientific reasoning, diagnostic reasoning, procedural reasoning, narrative & interactive reasoning, pragmatic reasoning, ethical reasoning, and conditional reasoning. Scientific reasoning focuses on the facts. Diagnostic reasoning is the merging of the effects of the diagnosis to the clinical picture. Procedural reasoning helps with the order or pattern procedures should follow. Narrative and interactive reasoning is a reliance on storytelling and interaction to solve the problem. Pragmatic reasoning has to do with logistics like time, resources, insurance, and equipment. Ethical reasoning looks at what is right and wrong. Conditional reasoning examines the condition of the client and their situation in a holistic manner.
Various situations will call for various uses of these different reasoning styles. It is a crucial, learned skill that practitioners use to know what to do in "gray" situations.
Great post on a very important topic!
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