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Decision-making task complexity: model development and initial testing.

Preparing skilled decision-makers requires an understanding of the decision-making tasks nurses face. This article presents the development and initial testing of a model of decision-making task complexity in nursing. The Decision-Making Task Complexity Model has its roots in Newell and Simon's (1972) Information Processing Theory. The Model includes two components, content and context, along with five characteristics in each component. The content component of the model was initially tested using a single sample repeated measures design. Case study examples of a weaning task in critical care were developed to include all combinations of the four independent variables: irrelevance, ambiguity, conflict, and change. Forty-one registered critical care nurses rated each case study example on a scale from 1 (least complex) to 7 (most complex). Results indicated that when conflict was manipulated the ratings were consistently higher. Implications for nursing education and the development of decision-making skills are described.