A client who was in an accident is admitted to the hospital. Which decision-making approach by the nurse leader indicates the 'satisficing' approach?

The 'satisficing' approach refers to a decision-making strategy where a leader chooses an option that meets acceptable criteria rather than seeking the optimal solution. In the context of nursing, this often translates to taking immediate action to address a patient’s needs, especially in critical situations.

Providing preliminary care to the client exemplifies this approach since it denotes a focus on addressing immediate concerns while recognizing that further assessments or treatments can follow. In emergency or high-pressure scenarios, satisfying the most pressing needs—not necessarily the most comprehensive actions—reflects a pragmatic and effective use of resources and time.

The other options involve more in-depth assessments or deferring decisions, which reflect a more exhaustive decision-making process rather than the 'satisficing' approach. For instance, completing a full assessment before treatment aims for a comprehensive understanding, while consulting with the family or deferring decisions both signify reliance on others for guidance, indicating a more thorough or external decision-making strategy.