What is Problem-Solving in Nursing? (With Examples, Importance, & Tips to Improve)

Written By: Darby FaubionDarby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Darby lives in Louisiana and loves exploring the state’s rich culture and history. Darby has a passion for caring for veterans and a special interest in those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. In her quest to make a difference for veterans, she founded a non-profit called “Operation Battle Buddy.” Read Full Bio »» RN, BSN, MBA

Whether you have been a nurse for many years or you are just beginning your nursing career, chances are, you know that problem-solving skills are essential to your success. With all the skills you are expected to develop and hone as a nurse, you may wonder, “Exactly what is problem solving in nursing?” or “Why is it so important?”

In this article, I will share some insight into problem-solving in nursing from my experience as a nurse. I will also tell you why I believe problem-solving skills are important and share some tips on how to improve your problem-solving skills.

What Exactly is Problem-Solving in Nursing?

Problem-solving in nursing is the act of utilizing critical thinking and decision-making skills to identify, analyze, and address problems or challenges encountered by nurses in the healthcare setting. Problem-solving in nursing can be related to specific patient needs or may be related to staff issues. Either way, it is an important skill for all nurses to develop, as unresolved problems can lead to negative consequences for nurses and poor patient outcomes.

5 Reasons Why Problem-Solving is Important in Nursing

Problem-solving in nursing is essential for promoting good team dynamics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and positive patient outcomes. The following are five of the top reasons why learning to implement problem-solving skills is so important.

Reason #1: Good Problem-Solving Skills Reflect Effective Clinical Judgement and Critical Thinking Skills

The ability to quickly assess and appropriately address a variety of problems is essential in nursing. Problem-solving in nursing is the vital foundation that makes up a nurse’s clinical judgment and critical thinking skills. Having a strong problem-solving skillset is pertinent to possessing the ability and means to provide safe, quality care to a variety of patients. Nurses must rely on their clinical judgment and critical thinking skills to accurately assess a patient’s condition, prioritize interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of those interventions. Problem-solving allows nurses to analyze the situation and select the best evidence-based practices according to the desired outcome.

Whether I was working in a clinical role as a bedside nurse or in management, I learned the importance of demonstrating good problem-solving skills. My patients and team needed me to be an example of how to use good clinical judgment and critical thinking to solve problems. Learning to utilize problem-solving skills is essential if you want to be a competent nurse.

Reason #2: Improved Patient Outcomes

By utilizing strong problem-solving skills, you can quickly assess patients and intervene when problems arise. A timely response increases the chances of improved patient outcomes and overall satisfaction with the quality of care that is being received.

The entire premise of nursing is based on our ability and willingness to alleviate or solve the problems that patients face. This is why nurses must have a strong foundation in the techniques and strategies that are essential to problem-solving in nursing. After all, because we spend more time with patients than most other members of the healthcare team, we are often the first to recognize that there is an issue with a patient.

Reason #3: Problem-Solving Skills Are Essential for Interdisciplinary Collaboration

As a nurse, you will work with a variety of team members from all different fields. Your interdisciplinary team may include nurse practitioners, physicians, case managers, physical/occupational therapists, dieticians, radiology technicians, and lab techs. It is pertinent that you can contribute to the team's overall common goal of providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Problem-solving skills are essential to interdisciplinary collaboration, as team members can draw from one another's unique experiences and insight to identify and address individual patient problems. Your problem-solving skills will play a huge part in your collaborative role as a nurse.

As nurses, we typically spend the most direct time with patients. Therefore, we often notice changes in patients before other team members. When I worked in critical care, our team had morning rounds, which was a time when members of the interdisciplinary team would discuss the cases of each patient in the unit. Having good problem-solving skills in nursing helped us prepare and contribute to collaborative efforts aimed at improving our patients’ outcomes.

Reason #4: Problem-Solving Skills Help Promote Preventative Care Measures

The process of problem-solving does not always begin when an actual problem occurs. Along with identifying problems as they arise, nurses must also be able to assess and identify potential risks and put appropriate preventative measures in place. The ability to do so is the foundation of problem-solving in nursing. You are just working in reverse, so to speak.

For example, as a nurse, you may assess a patient and find that they are at high risk for experiencing a fall. Based on your assessment, you will use your problem-solving skills to identify ways to reduce the patient’s risk and implement the appropriate fall prevention interventions. By using your problem-solving skills to correctly assess risk potential, you can help mitigate injuries and avoid poor patient outcomes.

Many healthcare facilities have a set standard of screening tools to help identify patient risks. For instance, when working in the ICU, it was standard procedure for us to assess each patient for risks of falls and pressure ulcers due to the typical acuity of their conditions. Whether you have designated screening tools or must use your own judgment, developing and honing good problem-solving skills can be vital in promoting preventative care measures.

Reason #5: Fosters Opportunities for Improvement

Nurses are problem solvers by nature! More often than not, you may have tried to find a solution to a problem before making anyone else aware of it. Also, nurses are usually the first ones to alert management about recurring or unresolved problems. With problem solvers like nurses on the team, managers are kept in the loop on the issues that affect the delivery of patient care.

The cycle of identifying problems, attempting to solve them, and reporting issues to management, when applicable, creates opportunities that foster growth and improvement. There is always room for improvement, especially in the ever-evolving world of healthcare, which is one reason having good problem-solving skills is crucial in nursing.

5 Steps to Effective Problem-Solving in Nursing

As a nurse, you rely on the fundamentals of the nursing process that you learned in nursing school to effectively identify and address problems. By using the nursing process as a roadmap, you have the five most effective steps to problem-solving in nursing. In the following steps, I will show you how to apply the steps of the nursing process to help you solve problems in nursing. The more you utilize these steps and continue to develop and hone your problem-solving skills, the more this will feel like second nature to you.

Step #1: Gather Information (Assessment)

The first step is to fully assess the situation and collect as much information as possible. You may gather information from patient assessments, your observations, or from a review of the patient’s medical records. Take the time to ask the appropriate questions and gain as much information as possible related to the problem. The more thorough your assessment, the more equipped you will be to address the problem. Utilize critical thinking to help you brainstorm ideas for resolutions as you gather information.

Step #2: Identify the Problem (Diagnosis)

Once you collect all the pertinent information, it is time to analyze that information and clearly define the problem at hand. Identifying the problem also encompasses defining any underlying causes or obstacles that may be contributing to the issue. To promote effective problem-solving in nursing, you want to really drill down to the root cause of the issue. This increases the likelihood that your intervention(s) will result in the desired resolution of the problem.

Step #3: Collaborate with Your Team (Planning)

Identifying a problem is not enough in nursing. Now, it is time to create a plan to help resolve the issue. Even if you have an idea that you may feel offers a good solution, it is good to collaborate with your team. In some situations, you may need to reach outside the nursing team and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Remember, we are all on the same team with the common goal of providing high-quality, patient-centered care! By the way, this step of problem-solving in nursing is a great time to utilize outside resources if needed. For example, look for credible research findings and evidence-based practices for guidance and inspiration!

Step #4: Putting Your Plan Into Action (Implementation)

Once your plan is defined and everyone knows their role in helping to resolve the problem, it is time to put it into action. Depending on the problem and the types of interventions you need, you may be able to implement the interventions on your own. Then again, the problem may be something that requires teamwork to get things done. Remember, if your intervention involves the patient directly, always be sure to explain what you are doing and why it’s important. No one likes to be left in the dark!

Step #5: Decide if Your Plan Was Effective (Evaluation)

The fifth step in problem-solving in nursing is to evaluate whether your plan was effective or not. You want to know if the patient responded positively to the intervention or if there were negative consequences. Was the defined problem fully resolved, or did more issues pop up? From this step, you will either have completed the problem-solving process, or you'll need to revisit one of the previous steps. If your intervention was unsuccessful, then you may need to go back to the planning step and brainstorm more. If a whole new set of problems arises, then you may need to start back at step one to assess the new issues and begin formulating a plan to address them.

What are the Most Common Examples of Problem-Solving in Nursing?

(The following are the 8 most common examples of problem-solving in nursing.)

Example #1: What to Do When a Medication Error Occurs

Problem:

In the United States, the FDA receives more than 100,000 reports of actual or suspected medication errors each year. Additionally, between 7,000 and 9,000 people die as a result of medication errors annually.

If you suspect a medication error has occurred, it is crucial to take immediate action. For example, if you suspect that a patient has received an incorrect dose of a medication due to a miscommunication within the interdisciplinary team, part of problem-solving in nursing requires you to reach out to the ordering physician to verify and confirm the order. If you verify a medication occurred, you must then follow steps to address the problem.

How to Solve:

The nurse must first assess the patient's condition and document any noted side effects or changes in the patient's condition. The ordering physician must be made aware of the medication error, and orders for any applicable interventions must be obtained. The mediation error should be reported to management and the pharmacy, according to the facility's guidelines, to help prevent any future errors from occurring.

Example #2: Delegating Tasks When Shifts are Short-Staffed

Problem:

A common problem nurses face is dealing with low nurse-patient ratios. There is not only a nationwide shortage of nurses, but when you throw in regular sick calls or other reasons for nurses missing work, it can leave staff in a bind, especially if the patient census is high.

How to Solve:

As a registered nurse, one of the most important ways to use problem-solving skills is to learn how to properly delegate tasks. Delegation is the act of transferring accountability for a job or task to a qualified team member. Delegation is more than simply assigning tasks, as you must assume that the person to whom you delegate the task has the authority, knowledge, and experience to carry out the assigned tasks in a safe, effective manner. Delegating tasks is an important part of problem-solving in nursing because without doing so effectively, patient safety and outcomes could be negatively impacted.

Example #3: Resolving Conflicts Between Team Members

Problem:

Even the best nurses have days when emotions run amuck, or frustration seems to be higher than normal. When this happens, it is not uncommon for conflict to occur within the nursing team. No matter the cause, it is essential that conflicts be resolved as soon as possible so that quality of care and patient outcomes are not negatively impacted.

As a nurse manager, I have often been the mediator between nurses on my team or nurses and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Although mediating conflicts may not be your idea of the best way to spend your day, whether you work as part of a nursing team or have a leadership role, conflict resolution is often a big part of problem-solving in nursing.

How to Solve:

The reason for the conflict, who is involved, and the possible impact on patients and the work environment all play a part in how you must handle conflicts. The first step is to determine the source or cause of the conflict. If you have had a disagreement with a coworker, try to resolve the issue amicably between you. If the situation seems to have gotten out of hand or if multiple people are involved or affected, talking to a team leader or nurse manager may be the best solution. Even nurse leaders need help from time to time. So, if you find that there are conflicts within your team and you need help resolving them, reach out to your director of nursing for insight and direction.

Example #4: Dealing with Communication Barriers/Lack of Communication

Problem:

A common challenge nurses face is dealing with patients who either have a communication barrier or those who simply do not wish to communicate at all. Some patients avoid communicating because they feel embarrassed or afraid. Other patients have communication barriers that prevent them from effectively communicating. Either way, nurses are often faced with the challenge of finding ways to get patients to open up and talk. After all, the best source from which to gather information about a patient is the patient himself.

How to Solve:

No matter the reason for your patient’s lack of communication, effective problem-solving in nursing requires us to find ways to break through communication barriers. The first step is to determine the cause of the issue. For example, if your patient has a communication barrier, such as speaking a different language, a translator could help facilitate communication between you and your patient.

On the other hand, if your patient avoids communication for other reasons, such as embarrassment, fear of retaliation from a spouse or someone else, you can begin the process of breaking down the barrier by providing privacy so you can talk to your patient one on one, making them feel safe. Practice active listening and ask open-ended questions to encourage your patient’s input.

I remember working in the emergency room one night and a female patient arrived who was disheveled and had a bruised face and busted lip. A man accompanied her to the hospital. She was reluctant to talk to me or answer questions with him in the room. I politely told the gentleman that I needed to ask him to step out into the waiting room so I could help the patient change into an exam gown and the physician could perform an assessment. As soon as the man left and the patient felt safe, she revealed he had physically assaulted her. Authorities were notified and he was taken into police custody, and we were able to care for her without her being afraid.

Example #5: Lack of Essential Supplies

Problem:

One of the most frustrating things I have experienced in nursing is trying to provide patient care and not having enough supplies to feel I could perform my job safely or effectively. Granted, no good healthcare facility or employer purposefully allows the stock of essential supplies to get low. However, some circumstances may lead to short supplies.

For instance, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in full force, hospitals and other healthcare facilities seemed to scramble for some of the most essential supplies like masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment. The problem was so severe that the World Health Organization issued a news release urging the healthcare industry and government to increase the manufacturing of PPE to meet the global demand!

How to Solve:

I understand the frustration that comes when nurses need supplies that are not readily available. Although it is every nurse's responsibility to use appropriate supplies when providing patient care, where you work, and your job title may dictate your authority to order or distribute supplies.

If you are a nurse manager or work in any other leadership capacity, you can advocate for your patients and team by working with upper management to ensure enough resources are allocated to assist staff with providing patient care. If you work in a clinical role, pay attention to each patient's needs and prioritize care, including the use of personal protective equipment and other supplies, based on patient needs. While no one can eliminate every challenge associated with a lack of supplies by working together and avoiding waste, this is another way to promote problem-solving in nursing.

Example #6: Prioritizing Care to Facilitate Time Management

Problem:

If you work in a clinical nursing role, chances are, there will be days when it seems every patient needs something from you at once. There have literally been days when I felt there were not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needed to be done. The problem with having several patients with varying degrees of needs is that if you do not know how to prioritize tasks and manage time, you could risk rushing through work, performing a task incorrectly, or missing an assignment altogether. Any of these issues can lead to negative consequences for your patients, your organization, and for you as a nurse.

How to Solve:

One of the best ways to demonstrate problem-solving in nursing is to learn how to prioritize patient care so you can effectively manage time. To implement proper prioritization and time management skills, you must know and practice good assessment skills so you can determine which patients are in need of the most immediate care. Once you assess your patients, you can prioritize care based on your patient's individual needs. When appropriate, you can delegate tasks to staff capable of providing safe, competent care.

Example #7: Preventing Ethical Dilemmas from Hindering Patient Care

Problem:

As a nurse, there will be times when your belief about whether something is right or wrong or in the best interest of your patient becomes a dilemma. The thing about ethical dilemmas is that there is not always a clear right or wrong. Typically, ethical dilemmas in nursing are the result of a conflict between different options for action, which could be correct but represent different values, principles, or beliefs. Even the best nurses face ethical dilemmas and must find ways to solve the problems at hand so that quality patient care can continue. Problem-solving in nursing often means we must set aside our personal beliefs or desires and listen to what the patient says and chooses for their care.

For instance, when I worked in hospice, I often had patients, or their loved ones, ask my opinion about whether continuing hospice care was appropriate or if they should seek alternative, life-saving measures. As a nurse, mother, and friend, everything in me wants me to exhaust every effort to extend someone's life when possible. However, working in hospice, I had to acknowledge that our services were for terminally ill patients who were not seeking life-saving measures for their terminal diagnosis. Had I encouraged my patients to seek alternative measures, their choices may have caused them to be ineligible for continued hospice care, which could have led to them not receiving some of the things they needed.

How to Solve:

Sometimes, the hardest part about nursing is setting aside personal feelings and doing what is best for the patient, especially if we feel we could make better decisions for them than what they choose. However, when faced with ethical dilemmas, the best thing to do is to remain objective, act within your scope of practice, and be supportive of your patient's wishes.

Example #8: Finding Ways to Reduce Risks to Patient Safety

Problem:

One of the most important responsibilities of nurses of all levels is to promote patient safety. Providing safe care involves several aspects, from administering the correct medication and dose to the right patient, monitoring for changes in the patient's status, and removing or reducing factors that pose risks to patient safety. When patient safety is compromised, it is everyone's problem and should be addressed as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

How to Solve:

Problem-solving in nursing is essential to reducing patient safety risks. The first step in resolving the problem is to identify the problem. From there, you can determine possible causes and solutions.

For instance, when I worked at a long-term care facility, there was a period of time when patient falls and injuries seemed to increase, especially at night. Naturally, the first thing to come to mind was to question if there were enough staff on the night shift to cover the number of clients in the facility. Once we determined that the staff-to-resident ratio was adequate to provide safe care, we looked at other possible causes. After taking a closer look at incident reports and talking to staff, it was realized that most falls that occurred on the night shift were among patients who were physically fragile, many of whom had some type of dementia. Being physically weak increases the chance of falls and injuries. Having dementia increases the likelihood of forgetting to call for assistance to get out of bed.

Once the risk factors were identified, our team worked with the administration, advocating for bed alarms to be installed on the beds of high-risk patients. After the alarms were installed, we saw a decrease in the number of falls and injuries during the night shift.

Bonus! 7 Tips to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills in Nursing

Learning problem-solving in nursing is essential for your success. The following are a few tips to help improve your problem-solving skills.

Tip #1: Enhance your Clinical Knowledge by Becoming a Lifelong Learner

One of the best ways you can improve your problem-solving skills in nursing is to dedicate yourself to lifelong learning. No matter what level of education you have achieved up to this point, there is always something new to learn. By embracing opportunities to learn about new treatments, care strategies, or new breakthroughs in medical care, you can contribute a wealth of knowledge to your team and help solve problems.

Tip #2: Practice Effective Communication

Effective communication is one of the most useful skills to possess when it comes to problem-solving in nursing! Be intentional about the way you communicate with patients, their families, and your team members. Sometimes, what seems like the most challenging problem can be easily resolved if you simply take the time to listen to what others say and consider their feelings. Knowing the components of good communication, such as having a clear message, being patient, being receptive, and demonstrating non-confrontational body language, can help promote effective communication.

Tip #3: Encourage Creative Thinking and Team Participation

One of my all-time favorite nursing supervisors was named Ms. Shriver. She was an older nurse who seemed to never get in much of a fuss about anything. Something I always liked about her is that she made every member of our nursing team feel like our thoughts and ideas were important. Whenever we had a problem in the unit, Ms. Shriver would call a team meeting and ask everyone to "put on our thinking caps" and find a way to fix the issues.

I understand that not all problems in nursing are solved by sitting in a team meeting. However, my experience has taught me that when team members are encouraged to get involved and when they are made to feel as though their thoughts and ideas mean something, it is much easier to work together. So, whether you are a nurse leader, manager, or a member of the clinical team, be the cheerleader who gets others involved and makes others feel like what they do is important and watch what a difference it makes when it comes to problem-solving in nursing!

Tip #4: Be Open-Minded

If there is anything I have learned through my years in nursing, it is that the nurses who are best at solving problems are the ones who are open-minded. Granted, there may be times when you have more experience than someone else, or you feel your ideas for a resolution are more likely to bring success, but what is the harm in being open-minded and giving others a chance to contribute? When you are open-minded and willing to take others' knowledge and experiences into consideration, you create an atmosphere conducive to building trust and strengthening your team. Even if you make the final decision about how to handle a problem, being open-minded can have a long-lasting impact on your team dynamics.

Tip #5: Utilize Your Critical Thinking Skills

One of the most important skills you can develop as a nurse is critical thinking. Critical thinking is the process nurses use to solve problems, influence patient outcomes, and promote safe, effective patient care. When you utilize critical thinking, you learn to anticipate possible changes in your patient and prepare to intervene and contribute to decision-making that promotes positive patient and organizational outcomes. Utilizing critical thinking skills involves being flexible, impartial, and an independent thinker. It is characterized by demonstrating professional intuition, perseverance, and integrity.

Tip #6: Use Evidence-Based Practices to Guide Decision-Making

Evidence-based practice in nursing involves providing quality care based on current knowledge and research instead of relying only on advice from peers, personal beliefs, or traditional methods of accomplishing things. Because evidence-based practices are based on proven research and data, utilizing an evidence-based approach can be helpful when you try to implement problem-solving in nursing.

When I teach classes about using evidence-based practices for decision-making and problem-solving, I typically use some of the simplest examples to get my point across. There are many nursing interventions that we use daily that are evidence-based and when implemented properly, help reduce or resolve patient problems. For example, we implement handwashing protocol because evidence has shown that frequent, proper handwashing techniques help prevent the spread of infection. Also, if you have a patient who has issues with poor circulation and is immobile or bedbound, to solve problems associated with those issues, you should implement measures to protect and maintain good skin integrity.

Tip #7: Set a Good Example for Other Nurses to Follow

Another tip to help improve problem-solving in nursing is to lead by example. You do not have to have the title of director, manager, or leader to be a good example. Even so, whatever your position, make ethical, patient-centered decisions and demonstrate professionalism at all times. Be open to receiving feedback from your peers and embrace new ideas that could lead to better patient, organizational, or professional outcomes. Finally, appreciate the individual strengths of your colleagues and work collaboratively with them to promote a good work environment where problems can be addressed in a civil manner.

My Final Thoughts

No matter what your title or level of education, one of the most important skills you can develop as a nurse is problem-solving in nursing. Patients, their loved ones, and team members expect us to face problems and find solutions that promote the best outcomes for our patients.

In this article, we discussed the question, “What is problem-solving in nursing?” You learned why problem-solving in nursing is important, steps to follow to help you solve problems, and tips to improve your problem-solving skills. By adopting an attitude dedicated to lifelong learning and a willingness to work for the good of the patients you serve, you can learn to implement problem-solving skills that positively impact patient, team, organizational, and professional outcomes.

List Of Sources Used For This Article

1. “How Can You Improve Your Risk Management Skills Through Problem-Solving?” (linkedin.com)
2. “Nursing Process” (National Library of Medicine)
3. “Medication Dispensing Errors and Prevention” (National Library of Medicine)
4. “What is Conflict Resolution in Nursing? (with Examples, Stages, Types, & Importance)” (nursingprocess.org)
5. “Shortage of Personal Protective Equipment Endangering Health Workers Worldwide” (World Health Organization)
6. “20 Common Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing + How to Deal with Them” (nursingprocess.org)
7. “Understanding Communication in Nursing (with Examples, Importance, & How to Improve)” (nursingprocess.org)
8. “What is Critical Thinking in Nursing? (with Examples, Importance, & How to Improve)” (nursingprocess.org)