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Article: Common sense--a key component of decision making.
- Article from:
- AORN Journal
- Article date:
- December 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In the absence of applicable research findings and other valid or reliable sources of information, common sense should prevail as the foundation for decision making. Most of us assume that we use our common sense when we make decisions, but common sense is not a given. As the French philosopher Voltaire wrote, "Common sense is not so common."(1)
What exactly is common sense? Defined, common sense is the use of sound judgment. Many people argue that common sense exists independently of knowledge or training and is essentially an intuitive process. Common sense has often been described as good sense, horse sense, and sound sense. It is frequently characterized by ...