Definition Of Nursing Intuition

I believe that nursing intuition is a valid aspect of the nursing profession. I also believe that the coincidence of occurrence increases with experience. Sometimes, something does not feel right or look right, and the nurse is unable to positively identify what is causing the issue. The situation just feels questionable.

I was working in the emergency room(ER) as triage nurse, and when I went to the waiting room to call for a 22-year old female, who signed in for cough, something did not look like a 22-year old who signed in because of a cough. Her toddler was sitting beside her, trying to talk to her, but she was not paying much attention to him. Granted, some people choose to not respond to small children at times, because of the million

I escorted her to a room, and helped her change into a gown. I understand that a 22-year old is capable of changing her own clothes, but I wanted to spend more time with her for further investigation. Auscultation of the lungs revealed bilateral clear and equal breath sounds, and heart tones were audible and regular. No peripheral edema was noted upon examination of her lower extremities, and she denied a history of similar symptoms or any medical issues in the past. Again, my nursing experience was challenged. Everything looked great, except this feeling remained that something was wrong. ER was busy that day, so I put in on order for a chest x-ray, and then told the doctor why she wanted to be seen. I told him that I ordered an x-ray, but something was not right about her skin color, not jaundiced, swallow, or cyanotic just not right, and I asked for basic lab work. The doctor felt lab work was not needed at that time, and I did not push the issue. I just thought to myself, “maybe he is right, and I have worked too many days in a row”. When the patient returned from the x-ray department, I met her at the room. I asked how