Use the “Case Study: Timothy Smith – Medical Surgical Unit” template to complete the assignment.

This case study has indirect care experience requirements. The “NRS-460 – Case Studies: Indirect Care Experience Hours” form, found in the Topic 1 Resources, will be used to document the indirect care experience hours completed in the case study. As progress is made on the case study, update this form indicating the date(s) each section is completed. This form will be submitted in Topic 5.

You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the past 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Assignment Guide

1. Download & Use the Template

Locate and download the “Case Study: Timothy Smith – Medical Surgical Unit” template from your course materials or LMS.
Work within the template: do not create your own document from scratch.
The template will contain sections such as:
- Patient background
- Nursing assessment
- Identification of nursing diagnoses
- Planning and interventions
- Evaluation of care
- Ethical and legal implications
- Indirect care experience reflection

2. Document Indirect Care Hours

Open the “NRS-460 – Case Studies: Indirect Care Experience Hours” form (Topic 1 Resource).
As you complete each section of the case study (such as Assessment, Planning, etc.), document the date and activity in the form.
This form must be submitted separately in Topic 5.

3. Research and Cite at Least 3 Recent Scholarly Sources

You need three evidence-based sources published within the past 5 years. Recommended types:

Peer-reviewed journal articles (CINAHL, PubMed, or Medline)
Clinical guidelines (e.g., CDC, WHO, NIH)
Nursing texts or updated care protocols

Topics to research might include:

Post-surgical care in the medical-surgical unit
Nursing interventions for pain, infection prevention, or mobility
Discharge planning and patient education strategies
Ethical/legal implications of indirect care

Be sure to include APA-formatted in-text citations and a reference list at the end of the document (APA 7th ed.).

4. Tips for Each Section of the Template

Assessment: Use clinical reasoning to evaluate vital signs, pain level, lab results, and post-op status.
Nursing Diagnoses: Use NANDA-I format (e.g., “Acute Pain related to tissue injury as evidenced by patient rating pain 8/10”).
Planning and Interventions: SMART goals and nursing actions. Support your choices with research.
Evaluation: Assess patient outcomes—was the goal met or not? What would you modify?
Ethical/Legal: Reflect on documentation, patient advocacy, and interdisciplinary communication.
Indirect Care Experience: Highlight how this case involved nursing responsibilities not at the bedside (e.g., chart review, interdisciplinary care planning, protocol research).

5. Final Checklist Before Submission

Completed all sections of the Timothy Smith case study template
Documented dates/activities on the indirect care experience hours form
Cited at least three scholarly sources (APA formatted)
Proofread for grammar, clarity, and academic tone
Reviewed the rubric to ensure all criteria are met

Would you like help locating scholarly articles, generating nursing diagnoses, or developing SMART goals for Timothy Smith’s case?

The post Case Study: Timothy Smith – Medical Surgical Unit appeared first on Skilled Papers.