2803NRS Acute Nursing Practice: Assessment 2 – Case Study Essay

Assessment Overview

This assessment task requires you to analyze a provided clinical case study of a patient experiencing an acute health condition. You will apply principles of acute nursing practice, including assessment, prioritization, evidence-based interventions, and person-centered care. The essay demonstrates your ability to integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical reasoning in managing acute medical or surgical presentations.

Griffith University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery designed this task to align with current standards for registered nurses in Australia, emphasizing safe and competent care in acute settings. Similar assessments in acute nursing courses focus on building skills for real-world hospital environments.

Task Instructions

Select or use the provided case study scenario (a common acute presentation such as pneumonia, acute exacerbation of COPD, or post-surgical complications). Write a structured essay that addresses the following:

1. Perform a comprehensive nursing assessment of the patient, identifying primary survey findings and potential deterioration risks using tools like ABCDE or early warning scores.
2. Prioritize two key nursing problems based on the case, providing rationale supported by pathophysiology.
3. Develop evidence-based nursing interventions for each priority problem, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
4. Discuss interprofessional collaboration, patient safety considerations, and cultural safety in care delivery.
5. Evaluate potential outcomes and reflect on the role of the registered nurse in acute care.

Support your discussion with current scholarly literature. Use Harvard referencing style as per Griffith University guidelines.

Word Count and Formatting

1500 words (±10%, excluding reference list and title page).

• Font: Arial or Calibri, 12-point.
• Line spacing: 1.5 or double.
• Margins: 2.54 cm on all sides.
• Include a title page with student ID, course code, word count, and title.
• Submit via Learning@Griffith Turnitin link by the due date (typically Week 8 or as specified in the course profile).

Marking Criteria (Rubric Summary)

Weighting: 40% of overall course grade.

Griffith University nursing students often encounter case study essays in acute care courses to prepare for clinical placements and registration. This format mirrors real acute nursing challenges, promoting skills in rapid assessment and intervention essential for Australian hospital settings.

Acute nursing practice assessments like this one help build competence in managing deteriorating patients, aligning with NMBA standards and improving graduate readiness for high-acuity environments.

References

• Levett-Jones, T. (ed.) 2018, Clinical reasoning: learning to think like a nurse, 2nd edn, Pearson Australia, Melbourne. (Book, no DOI)
• Bloomer, M.J., Ranse, K., Butler, A. and Brooks, L. 2021, ‘Supporting family caregivers in acute care: a scoping review’, Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol. 30, no. 15-16, pp. 2239-2252. doi:10.1111/jocn.15712
• Osborne, S., Harrison, G., O’Malia, A. and Barnett, A.G. 2022, ‘Acute care patients’ and family members’ perceptions of involvement in care: a scoping review’, Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 78, no. 8, pp. 2365-2380. doi:10.1111/jan.15247
• Considine, J., Curtis, K., Shaban, R.Z. and Fry, M. 2023, ‘Effectiveness of nurse-initiated interventions on patient outcomes in the emergency department: a systematic review’, Emergency Medicine Australasia, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 181-192. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.14108
• Gluyas, H. and Morrison, P. 2020, ‘Human factors in acute care: understanding error and promoting safety’, Journal of Perioperative Nursing, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 23-28. doi:10.26550/2209-1092.1105