A case study is a great way for students to learn about the practical applications of theoretical knowledge. For patient-facing roles like nursing, understanding how nursing practices and concepts apply to the real world is a crucial part of the educational process. So, how do you analyse a case study in a nursing assignment?
The first step is to understand how the case study relates to the subject matter and then accordingly plan the appropriate response moving forward. As a student of UK universities, you will be required to incorporate the NMC code and NICE guidelines in your analysis. So, let’s take a closer look into how the actual analysis of a case study is done in nursing studies and the best practices that will help you score highly on your assignments.
The 8 Steps of Analysing a Case Study in Nursing Assignments for UK Universities
1. Study The Case
Familiarising yourself with the basic information and the dilemma on hand of the case is the basic firsthand rule when you start analysing any case study. The key is to ensure you understand the problem on hand properly. Misunderstanding the questions can lead to the wrong line of questioning and research down the line. So, make sure you get your basics right in the first step itself.
2. Categorise & Tabulate Information
The first step of your analysis would be to categorise and tabulate the patient information of the presented case. Make sure you jot down the patient information accurately, including their name, age, medical history, medical symptoms presented, diagnostic tests ordered by doctors, diagnosis offered, and treatment plan. Once you have all this information presented clearly in front of you, it becomes easier to see what could’ve been done better or what went wrong in the first place. Clearly mentioning this information also helps your teachers get up to speed with the case quickly when they’re tabulating your assignment.
3. Choose Your Answer Strategy
Your analysis of a case study has to come from an existing model of nursing decision-making. This is crucial as it grounds your analysis and ensures that you’re using your theoretical knowledge to appropriate practical cases. You can base your analysis on common nursing theories such as Orem’s self-care model, Peplau’s interpersonal theory, or Roy’s adaptation model. The adaptation theory you use will influence your overall analysis, so choose carefully and make sure it supports your hypothesis.
4. Develop Your Answer Following Nursing Guidelines
As a student of UK universities, you will need to ensure your analysis is in line with NMC guidelines, which are the Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines. The best way to move forward is to use the ADPIE model, which aligns with NMC guidelines. As per the model, you have to make an assessment of the clinical and patient-submitted data, diagnose the potential and actual nursing problems using NANDA-I classifications, plan Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for improved patient outcomes, implement interventions with evidence-based practice, and lastly assess the effectiveness of the modifications.
5. Add Proof of Evidence-Based Medical Practices
As mentioned in the previous point, you have to add evidence-based medical practices to support your interventions. This is where you have to follow the NICE guidelines, which are UK-specific and also ensure you’re up-to-date about the current healthcare policies and best practices. Making your interventions align with these policies will improve your scoring and is an important thing you must follow to get the best grades from your nursing assignments at UK universities.
6. Ensure Legal and Ethical Considerations Are Made
Healthcare, and especially nursing, has to consider ethical and legal considerations. Following the NMC guidelines will do you good enough to keep you safe from any problems in this regard. However, in some cases, you may also need to consider the GDPR guidelines for informed consent and autonomy. When your analysis follows ethical and legal considerations, it will be better for you to ensure the analysis is accurate and scored highly by teachers.
7. Offer Critical Analysis of The Case
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle. This is what you will need to follow as a student of a UK university to offer a critical analysis of the case. This can include recommendations on how nursing care could be improved, along with alternative considerations and their potential outcomes. This critical analysis is an important part of the case study analysis, so make sure you work well on this section.
8. Conclude Your Arguments
When you are concluding the analysis, make sure you give a reference to the key findings of your analysis and also make general recommendations, interventions, and patient outcomes.
Conclusion
This is how you analyse a case study in a nursing assignment for UK universities. With all the steps mentioned, you will have no problems developing a solid case study analysis now. In any case, if you have problems with the task at hand, feel free to reach out to our experts at Digi Assignment Help. We can offer highly specialised assignment writing services that can help you complete your assignments on time and get the best grades on them.
