NUR1 209: Pathophysiology for Nursing

Assessment 2 — Applied Disease Mechanisms Case Analysis

This assessment evaluates the student’s ability to apply foundational pathophysiology concepts to real clinical scenarios. Emphasis is placed on causal reasoning, mechanism-based explanation, and accurate use of biomedical language appropriate to pre-licensure nursing practice.

Pathophysiology underpins safe clinical judgment. This assessment mirrors contemporary nursing education expectations by requiring students to move beyond memorization and demonstrate mechanistic understanding of disease processes relevant to patient care.

Assessment Overview

Students will analyze a provided patient case and explain the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the patient’s signs, symptoms, and diagnostic findings. The focus is on biological cause-and-effect, not treatment planning.

Assessment Type

• Written case study analysis
• Individual submission
• 1,200–1,500 words

Weighting

30% of total course grade

Case Scenario

A detailed patient case will be provided by the instructor. The case will involve a common disorder affecting one major body system (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, renal, or neurological).

The scenario will include:

• Patient demographics and health history
• Presenting symptoms
• Relevant laboratory and diagnostic findings
• Identified or suspected medical diagnosis

Task Instructions

Using the supplied case, write a structured analysis that addresses the following components:

1. Disease Overview

   Briefly describe the identified condition, including its classification and relevance to nursing practice.

2. Etiology and Risk Factors

   Explain the primary causes and contributing risk factors evident in the case. Link each factor to known biological mechanisms.

3. Pathophysiological Mechanisms

   Provide a clear, step-by-step explanation of how the disease develops at the cellular, tissue, and organ-system levels. Emphasize sequence, progression, and interdependence of processes.

4. Clinical Manifestations

   Explain why the patient is experiencing each major sign and symptom. Each manifestation must be explicitly linked to an underlying pathophysiological change.

5. Diagnostic Findings

   Interpret abnormal laboratory or diagnostic results by explaining what physiological disruption they reflect.

6. Implications for Nursing Practice

   Discuss how understanding the disease mechanism supports accurate assessment, monitoring, and early recognition of deterioration.

Academic and Writing Requirements

• Use formal academic English
• Write in the third person
• Support all explanations with current scholarly evidence
• Use in-text citations in Harvard style
• Include a reference list with a minimum of five sources

Sources must be peer-reviewed and published between 2019 and 2025.

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Submission Guidelines

• Submit via the learning management system
• Word count excludes references
• Late submissions follow institutional policy

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Assessment Rubric

1. Pathophysiological Accuracy (40%)

• Clear, correct explanation of disease mechanisms
• Logical sequencing of biological processes
• Accurate use of terminology

2. Application to Case Data (25%)

• Direct linkage between theory and patient findings
• Appropriate interpretation of symptoms and diagnostics

3. Evidence Integration (20%)

• Use of current, credible scholarly sources
• Evidence supports explanations, not just descriptions

4. Structure and Clarity (15%)

• Logical organization
• Clear paragraph development
• Consistent academic tone

This NUR1 209 pathophysiology case study aligns with nursing curriculum standards emphasizing mechanism-based reasoning and applied clinical understanding. The assessment reflects current trends in undergraduate nursing education focused on safe, evidence-informed clinical judgment.

Peer-Reviewed References

• McCance, K.L. & Huether, S.E. (2023) Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. 9th edn. St. Louis: Elsevier. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/books/9780323792680
• Hammer, G.D. & McPhee, S.J. (2022) Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine. 9th edn. New York: McGraw-Hill. Available at: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com
• Hall, J.E. & Hall, M.E. (2021) Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th edn. Philadelphia: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2019-0-01988-5
• Copstead, L.C. & Banasik, J.L. (2024) Pathophysiology. 7th edn. St. Louis: Elsevier. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/books/9780323825098
• Giddens, J.F. (2020) ‘A survey of physical assessment techniques performed by RNs’, Journal of Nursing Education, 59(1), pp. 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20191223-02