Overconfidence: a concept analysis

Overconfidence has an effect on clinical practice and patient outcomes. The author utilizes Walker and Avant's procedure for conceptual analysis to give a systematic definition to overconfidence as it relates to decision-making in nursing. The characteristics that demonstrate the presence of overconfidence are: (a) failure to consider alternative perspectives, (b) failure to distinguish inferences from assertions, (c) favoring positive over negative information, (d) unwarranted certainty in the prediction of accuracy, and (e) control. An increased awareness of the existence of overconfidence can increase the reliability of nursing judgment.