GUIDELINE FOR CASE STUDY: Grand Nursing Theories Based on Human Needs
Purpose: The intent of this assignment is to help students nursing theory integrate nursing theory
into clinical practice.
Guidelines: Each student will read the case study, analyze, and answer the following questions.
Use relevant journal articles to support your answers. Copy and paste case study scenario on
your paper.
Case Study
Mr. Juan Duran is a 60-year-old patient who has been coming to the Diabetes Clinic at the VA
for a few months. One day, the Clinic Director, Jim Carlson, finds him wandering the hallway,
appearing somewhat dazed, with a bag of supplies for blood glucose testing and insulin
administration. Mr. Duran tells him that he has been instructed to start insulin for his diabetes but
doesn’t know how. He doesn’t recall receiving any appointment or instructions. Mr. Carlson
finds the Diabetes Nurse Educator, Jenny O’Connell, and asks her to fit Mr. Duran in for an
unscheduled appointment.
Jenny O’Connell starts the appointment with a thorough assessment of Mr. Duran. In addition to
the physical assessment, she covers psycho-social-spiritual issues. She discovers that Mr. Duran
has had diabetes for about 10 years and, recently, his blood glucose levels and HgbA1c cannot be
controlled with oral medications and exercise. The physician wants to start him on insulin. Here
are notes that she took from her assessment:
• Sixty-year-old Mexican American patient. He is exceedingly polite and respectful of health
care personnel (and does not like to interrupt or ask too many questions). He has been in the
United States more than 50 years; he is a Navy veteran.
• Married; lives with wife in a comfortable apartment in Chula Vista, CA.
• Duran speaks fluent English, but his wife’s English is limited. They speak Spanish at home.
• Because Mr. Duran has limited vision, his wife has to administer the insulin.
• Had one (single) daughter, who was found murdered in the apartment parking lot less than 2
weeks ago, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Duran to care for her child.
• Duran seems befuddled by the insulin and syringes and is stoic when he talks about the loss
of his daughter.
1. Review the situation
2. Select one of the nursing models/theories from this chapter that will help Jenny in assessing
Mr. Duran and planning for his care. Discuss why that particular model was selected.
3. Based on the model selected, what additional information would Jenny want to
collect/assess?
4. Based on the model selected, how would Jenny initiate a plan of care (education) for Mr.
Duran?
5. Do you think that Jenny would assess and plan differently for Mr. Duran’s care if she used
a different model (than the one your group selected) for Mr. Duran? Why or why not.
Case Study Poor Novice Competent Proficient
0 3 4 5
Knowledge of topic or subject Does not
demonstrate
knowledge of
the
topic/subject by
addressing each
question.
Displays basic
knowledge of
subject/topic,
does not expand
ides or provide
new ideas. Only
addresses 3 of
question
completely.
Presents
new
information,
provides
opportunity
for further
analysis,
and /or
suggests
some
practical
application.
Addresses 4
of the
questions
points.
Presents
new ideas,
reflects
critical
thinking,
and/or
shows
practical
application
by
thoroughly
addressing
all
questions.
Criteria Poor Novice Competent Proficient
0 3 4 5
Research
• Utilized a minimum of 3
current professional references
to support ideas.
Lacks research
and /or
consistent
argument.
Lack of
citations,
improper
citations or
inappropriate
use of research.
Provides
citations but
over use of
direct
quotes
rather than
supporting
original
thought.
Provides
proper
citations,
applies
concept
from
research to
support
discussion,
and uses
research as a
tool not as a
replacement
for original
thinking.
Grammar
• Free of grammatical and
spelling errors.
Cannot make
sense of
content due to
grammar or
errors.
Numerous
errors of
structure and
grammar
Somewhat
confusing
structure,
grammar,
and spelling
detracts
Readable,
good
structure,
grammar,
few spelling
errors.
from
message
Topical and original
• Presentation was logically
organized
Not original
and does not
meet
assignment
criteria.
Just meets
assignment
criteria and /or
lacks cohesion
among ideas.
Only one of
the
following:
meets all
assignment
criteria or
clear
evidence of
original
thought.
Meet all
assignment
criteria and
clear
evidence of
original
thought.
Format and Timeliness
• Followed APA format
including citation of
references citing references.
• Case study essay is between
500 to 750.
Does not meet
length
expectation
and/or follow
APA format.
Case study
essay is less
than between
500 to 750.
Does not use
appropriate
APA
formatting.
Case study
essay is
between 500
to 750
words
excluding
reference
list.
Majority of
the paper
complies
with APA
format.
Case study
essay is
between 500
to 750
words
excluding
title page
and
reference
list.
Consistently
follows
APA format.
