Think Like a Nurse: The Caputi Method for Learning Clinical Judgment (USA Version)

Book Synopsis: NEW UPDATED VERSION ~ Think Like a Nurse: The Caputi Method for Learning Clinical Judgment

OVER 150 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES adopted the first edition of Think Like a Nurse: A Handbook as a required student textbook. These adoptions demonstrate a need for this clinical judgment framework and have motivated the author, Dr. Linda Caputi, to expand the Caputi Method for Learning Clinical Judgment. The overwhelming support from educational institutions is evidence that students must learn a clinical judgment framework as the basis for thinking in nursing today. Older methods of evaluating student thinking that relied solely on students correctly answering questions with the assumption that if they answer correctly, they are able to use clinical judgment, is fatally flawed. Students must learn a framework that is used to focus their thinking, stay mindful, and guide them to make sound clinical decisions.

Thoughts From Faculty Currently Using the Caputi Method

• “I began using the Caputi Method for teaching clinical judgment in the fall of 2020 and will use it until I die (or retire whichever comes first). Love it!”
  – Dr. Kristi Jo Wilson
  Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Michigan—Flint School of Nursing
• “Pittsburgh Technical College has adopted the Caputi Clinical Judgment Framework throughout the curriculum. Working with Dr. Caputi to understand the thinking process and how students think has made our faculty stronger in helping students understand concepts much faster. Her analogies to real life situations assist students in building their confidence to critically think. Her framework makes sense and is easy to understand so faculty can teach it without difficulty. Thank you, Dr. Caputi!”
  – Kaitlin Cobourne
  MSN Ed., Academic Chair, School of Nursing

Think Like a Nurse: A Handbook was initially introduced and used in the United States. Early in 2021 representatives from Georgian College’s new Honours BScN program requested a Canadian version of the book. Lesley MacMaster of Georgian College adapted the book for nursing students across Canada. At the start of that work, Ms. MacMaster obtained reviews of the first edition. Two nurse leaders in Canada graciously agreed to review the book. Their comments provide further support for the Caputi method and for a Canadian version of Think Like a Nurse: The Caputi Method for Learning Clinical Judgment.

• “I cheer on the thinking behind this very helpful text, which I believe will prove very valuable to nursing students in Canada.Since we write the NCLEX here now too, I think making those links (as you do) is important.”
  – Michael J. Villeneuve, MSc BScN RN FAAN
  Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Nurses Association
• “Great contribution to support student learning for practice.”
  – Patricia Bradley MEd, PhD, RN, CCNE
  Professor Emerita, York University, School of Nursing
  Toronto, Ontario

With Think Like a Nurse: The Caputi Method for Learning Clinical Judgment, students in the United States and now in Canada are learning how to think like a nurse for the end goal of becoming a self-directed thinker who makes good decisions to improve patient outcomes. For more information, Linda’s Nursing Education Blog, teaching tools, and complimentary webinars, please visit Dr. Caputi’s website at: https://LindaCaputi.com