BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical decision-making is fundamental for professional nurses, which establishes professional identity. Given the importance of clinical decision-making for perioperative nurses, this study aimed to investigate nurses’ experience and their clinical decision-making skill in operating theatre based on Benner's novice to expert model.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in 186 perioperative nurses working in university hospitals in Tabriz, Iran, 2014. The data were collected using a demographic form and the Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS) (Jenkins, 1985), and then were analyzed. This tool includes 40 items and four sub-scales of 1) search for alternatives or options, 2) canvassing of objectives and values, 3) evaluation and reevaluation of consequences, and 4) search for information and unbiased assimilation of new information. The highest and lowest possible scores are 40 and 200, with higher scores showing higher clinical decision-making skill.

FINDINGS: Mean of clinical decision-making total score was 102.3±15.3, with the highest mean (35.3±6.2) belonging to the second sub-scale (canvassing of objectives and values). There was a significant direct correlation between clinical decision-making and age (r=0.67, p<0.004) and working experience in operating room (r=0.77, p=0.7). However, there was no correlation between clinical decision-making and working experience in other departments (r=0, p=0.7).

CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that as clinical experience of perioperative nurses increases, their decision-making skill improves. Thus, Benner's novice to expert model is confirmed.