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Critical Thinking in Nursing Case Studies Across the Curriculum

By: Dr. Carol J. Green

Course Outline

Critical thinking skills are essential in today’s nursing environment. Are you prepared?

Become acquainted with critical thinking skills and attitudes — and practice them – as you analyze the case studies in Critical Thinking in Nursing: Case Studies Across the Curriculum.

  • The workbook is designed for self-directed study of critical thinking and can also be used for in-class assignments
  • Activities are based on adult health, community, maternal-newborn, pediatric, and mental health nursing real-life scenarios.
  • Each case study is accompanied by 4-6 questions that encourage you to apply your critical thinking skills.

“As knowledge workers, nurses must be prepared to think as well as ‘do’ for patients. Use these realistic cases to sharpen your critical thinking skills before you apply them in clinical practice. Dr. Green’s carefully crafted questions will help you think critically about a variety of patient-care situations you may encounter as a nurse.”
– Judith Wilkinson, Ph.D., ARNP, RNC 
Author of Nursing Process: A Critical Thinking Approach and Nursing Diagnosis & Intervention Pocket Guide

About the Authors

Dr. Carol J. Green is a frequent speaker to nursing faculty and practitioners on the subject of critical thinking. She is currently on the nursing faculty of Johnson County Community College in Kansas, where she teaches critical care and perioperative clinical nursing, renal, immunology, and critical care didactic nursing. She is the author of several publications and computer programs, including the Student Study Guide and Instructor’s Manual for Phipps’s Medical-Surgical Nursing (Mosby) and Case Studies on Multiple Sclerosis (Health Sciences Consortium). Dr. Green is a Commander in the United States Navy Nurse Corps, Reserve.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

  1. Discuss the work of Adelaide Nutting.
  2. Describe the work of Louise McManas in 1953.
  3. Define critical thinking attitudes.
  4. Compare intellectual humility and intellectual courage.
  5. Compare intellectual integrity and intellectual perseverance.
  6. Compare faith in reason and intellectual sense of justice.
  7. Define divergent thinking.
  8. Compare inductive and deductive reasoning.
  9. Compare reflection and creativity.
  10. Define clarification and basic support.
  11. Discuss the findings and recommendations of an abdominal aortic aneurism.
  12. Describe the findings of the blood work for the client in acute pulmonary edema.
  13. Discuss the symptoms of the client with adenocarcinoma of the colon.
  14. Describe the use of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.
  15. Discuss the glucose levels of the client with complicated diabetes mellitus.
  16. Define exophthalmos and photophobia.
  17. Discuss the symptoms required for a pacemaker.
  18. Discuss symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
  19. Describe interventions for the neurogenic bladder of a quadriplegic client.
  20. Discuss the CD 4 T cell count of the client with AIDS.
  21. State the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the 67-year-old woman.
  22. Describe the sigmoid colostomy.
  23. State which vital sign should be monitored prior to taking Lanoxin in the client with congestive heart failure.
  24. Describe decubitus prevention and care.
  25. Discuss the blood glucose levels for the 72-year-old retired teacher.
  26. Describe the basic anatomy of the left lung regarding the client receiving palliative care.
  27. State how tuberculosis is diagnosed.
  28. Discuss Apgar scores as discussed in Early Postpartum: Vaginal Birth.
  29. State if the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels for the client with an ectopic pregnancy are normal.
  30. Discuss the usual size of an infant when the mother has elevated blood sugars from gestational diabetes.
  31. Describe how skin turgor is checked in the client with hyperemesis gravidarum.
  32. Describe normal fontanelles in a 4-day-old-infant, whose mother has postpartum depression.
  33. Discuss positioning of an infant with gastroesophageal reflux disease during feedings.
  34. State how Hirschprung’s disease was diagnosed 48 hours after birth in the now 3-year- old boy.
  35. Describe an iron-rich diet for an 8-month-old with iron deficiency anemia.
  36. State the significance of a bulging tympanic membrane in an infant with otitis media.
  37. Describe the peak and trough monitoring with blood tests when a 15-year-old client is receiving Vancomycin.
  38. State the weight in pounds for the infant at birth, now in respiratory distress.
  39. State the vitamin which enhances iron absorption for the client with septic osteomyelitis.
  40. State what the nurse should observe for postoperatively in the 8-year-old child after a tonsillectomy.
  41. State a common complication of third-degree burns.
  42. Describe the Glasgow Coma Scale.
  43. List safety precautions required when physically restraining an adolescent client with anger issues.
  44. Define lanugo, seen on the client with anorexia nervosa.
  45. Describe the excuses for behavior regarding the client with antisocial personality disorder.
  46. Discuss discharge planning for the client with anxiety and panic attacks.
  47. Describe the abnormal laboratory work for the client with delusional behavior.
  48. Describe the diet required for the client with depression taking phenelzine sulfate (Nardil).
  49. Discuss the use of fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) for the client with depression and suicidal ideation.
  50. Discuss the comments from the staff regarding care of the long-term client.
  51. Discuss the importance of taking clozapine (Clozaril) on a regular basis.
  52. Discuss the daughter’s behavior when caring for her 89-year-old mother.
  53. State what should be said when you enter a person’s home and see a gun lying on the
  54. State safety checks to be done when a client is in four-point restraints.
  55. Define tardive dyskinesia and state what age group is likely to develop these symptoms.

Course Contents

1. Adult Health Nursing

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Acute Pulmonary Edema
  • Adenocarcinoma of the Colon
  • Atrial Dysrhythmia: Rapid Heart Rate
  • Bleeding Esophageal Varices
  • Breast Cancer
  • Complicated Diabetes Mellitus
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Fluid Retention of Unknown Etiology
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Living with a Cardiac Pacemaker
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Renal Calculi
  • Respiratory Compromise Following Hip Surgery
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

2. Community and Home Care Nursing

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Central Line Care
  • Choosing to Die
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Colostomy
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Decubitus Ulcer
  • Fecal Impaction
  • Health Screening
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Infected Foot Wound
  • Medication Error
  • Neighborhood Assessment
  • Palliative Care
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Tuberculosis
  • Urinary Tract Infection

3. Maternal Newborn Nursing

  • Adolescent Mother and Attachment Issues
  • Cesarean Birth and Recovery
  • Early Postpartal Hematoma
  • Ectopic Pregnancy
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • HELLP Syndrome
  • Hyperemesis Gravidarum
  • Induction of Labor
  • Multiple Births
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Primigravida Labor
  • Puerperal Eclampsia
  • Teenage Pregnancy and Premature Labor
  • Uterine Tear
  • Vaginal Birth after Cesarean

4. Nursing Care of Children

  • Acute Glomerulonephritis
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in Premature Infants
  • Cultural Differences and Breast Feeding
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
  • Heroin and cocaine Addiction
  • Hirschsprung’s Disease
  • Immunizations
  • Iron Deficiency Anemia
  • Osteoseptic Arthritis
  • Otitis Media
  • Pneumonia and Asthma
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Surgical Preparation
  • Third-Degree Burns
  • Traumatic Closed Brain Injury

5. Mental Health Nursing

  • Adolescent Client
  • Adolescent Depression
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder
  • Anxiety and Panic Attacks
  • Delusional Behavior
  • Depression
  • Depression and Suicidal Ideation
  • Eating Disorder: Anorexia
  • Involuntary Hospital Admission
  • Long-Term Care
  • Paranoid Schizophrenia
  • Patient-Care Giver Conflict
  • Potentially Dangerous Home Health Visit
  • Restrained Patient
  • Schizophrenia