Case Study: The Challenges of Self‐Management of Exacerbation of Pulmonary Symptoms

PURPOSE. This case study demonstrates the signs and symptoms of pulmonary exacerbation and the challenges of self‐management for a female veteran. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained through the author's clinical practice in primary care nursing and research literature sources. DATA SYNTHESIS. The appropriate nursing diagnosis, nursing interventions, and patient outcomes were identified through the use of NANDA‐International, the Nursing Interventions Classification, and the Nursing Outcomes Classification. CONCLUSIONS. This case study illustrates the appropriate nursing diagnosis, interventions, and outcomes pertinent to an individual with pulmonary exacerbations. It provides a framework for nurses in primary care when caring for individuals with pulmonary exacerbations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE. Employing the NANDA‐International standardized nursing diagnoses, the Nursing Interventions Classification and the Nursing Outcomes Classification provided the needed constructs for improving care for a patient that had pulmonary issues in a primary care setting.     

Case Study: Home Nursing Care for a 62-Year-Old Woman with Multiple Health Problems

PURPOSE.  This case study illustrates the characteristics of, and challenges for, a woman in the United States with multiple health problems.
DATA SOURCES.  Data were obtained through the authors' experience and knowledge of community health nursing and from published literature.
DATA SYNTHESIS.  NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification were utilized to identify appropriate nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes for the client.
CONCLUSION.  This case study illustrates and provides appropriate nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes relevant to a woman with many health concerns. It provides guidance for nurses in community health settings when caring for patients with multiple health problems.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  Utilizing the standardized nursing languages of NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification can provide the necessary framework for enhancing and improving the management of care for patients with many health concerns in the community setting.     

Using Standardized Nursing Languages in End‐of‐Life Care Plans

PURPOSE: This case study demonstrates the challenges to achieve dignified life closure and a comfortable death for a middle‐aged woman with terminal cancer and her family. DATA SOURCES: Data were obtained from a patient known through the author's clinical experiences, personal family experiences, and published sources. DATA SYNTHESIS: The appropriate nursing diagnosis, patient outcomes, and nursing interventions were identified through the use of NANDA‐International, the Nursing Outcomes Classification, and the Nursing Interventions Classification. CONCLUSIONS: This case study illustrates the appropriate nursing diagnosis, interventions, and outcomes pertinent to an individual with emotional distress at the end of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Employing the NANDA‐International standardized nursing diagnosis, the Nursing Interventions Classification and the Nursing Outcomes Classification provided the needed constructs for considering and improving a dying patient's care in a primary and home setting.     

Sexually Transmitted Disease in a Female Young Adult

PURPOSE. This case study demonstrates the sexual health challenges experienced by a woman newly married and recently migrated to the United States. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained through the author's clinical experiences in primary healthcare nursing and published sources. DATA SYNTHESIS. The nursing diagnoses, nursing interventions, and patient outcomes for this woman were identified using the classifications of NANDA‐International, the Nursing Interventions Classification, and the Nursing Outcomes Classification. CONCLUSION. This case study demonstrates the appropriate nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes that are relevant for an individual with a sexually transmitted infection. It provides a framework for nurse practitioners in primary health care when caring for individuals with sexually transmitted infections. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE. Based on the NANDA‐International standardized nursing diagnoses, the Nursing Interventions Classification, and the Nursing Outcomes Classification provided the needed structure to improve the care of a woman with issues involving sexual health.     

Case Study: A Woman Who Hemorrhages 24 Hours Post Tonsillectomy

PURPOSE. This case study focused on the emergency nursing care of a 32‐year‐old female, less than 24 hours post operatively from a tonsillectomy. The purpose is to identify the priority nursing diagnoses, patient outcomes, and nursing interventions that guided nursing care during this emergency. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained through the author's clinical practice in emergency nursing and literature sources. DATA SYNTHESIS. NANDA International Classification, the Nursing Outcomes Classification, and the Nursing Interventions Classification were used to identify the appropriate nursing diagnosis, patient outcomes, and nursing interventions of an adult with a postoperative hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS. This case study provides emergency nurses and students with the pertinent nursing diagnoses, patient outcomes, and nursing interventions for persons with post‐op hemorrhage after tonsillectomy.     

Case Study: Child With Global Developmental Delay

PURPOSE. This case study focused on the care of a child with global developmental delay. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained through the author's clinical practice in long‐term care pediatric rehabilitation and literature sources. DATA SYNTHESIS. NANDA‐International Classifications, the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) were used to identify the appropriate nursing diagnosis, nursing interventions, and patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. This case study provides the pertinent nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes for a child with global developmental delay. The interdisciplinary team approach and family involvement is addressed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING. Use of NANDA, NIC, and NOC outcomes constructs for enhancing the care of a child with global developmental delay.     

Case Study: Home Nursing Care for a 62‐Year‐Old Woman with Multiple Health Problems

PURPOSE. This case study illustrates the characteristics of, and challenges for, a woman in the United States with multiple health problems. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained through the authors' experience and knowledge of community health nursing and from published literature. DATA SYNTHESIS. NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification were utilized to identify appropriate nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes for the client. CONCLUSION. This case study illustrates and provides appropriate nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes relevant to a woman with many health concerns. It provides guidance for nurses in community health settings when caring for patients with multiple health problems. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE. Utilizing the standardized nursing languages of NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification can provide the necessary framework for enhancing and improving the management of care for patients with many health concerns in the community setting.     

Helping a Man with Leprosy: A Case Study

PURPOSE.  This case study illustrates nursing diagnoses and interventions for a man with leprosy.
DATA SOURCES.  Data sources were published literature on the disease of leprosy, and the experience and expertise of the authors in working with people with leprosy.
DATA SYNTHESIS.  Data were synthesized using the standardized nursing languages of North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International and the Nursing Interventions Classification. The accuracy of the diagnoses and the appropriateness of the nursing interventions were supported by the positive health outcomes of the patient.
CONCLUSIONS.  Although leprosy has been eradicated in some countries, the risk of new cases is present anywhere that Mycobacterium leprae still exists. The recommended treatment of multibacilar polychemotherapy has lowered the rate of new cases in Brazil.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  Nurses need to incorporate evidence-based practice interventions for leprosy-based wound care, and nurses should encourage persons with leprosy to maintain regular medical care with multibacilar polychemotherapy.     

Case study: a young male with auditory hallucinations in paranoid schizophrenia

PURPOSE. The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate use of the nursing process and the standardized nursing languages of NANDA International (NANDA‐I), the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), and the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) to assist a young male with paranoid schizophrenia to deal with auditory hallucinations. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained from the experience and expertise of the author and published literature. DATA SYNTHESIS. This case study demonstrates nurses' clinical decision making in providing care for an adolescent with mental illness. CONCLUSION. This case study provides the pertinent nursing diagnosis, patient outcomes, and nursing interventions for a young male with auditory hallucinations in paranoid schizophrenia. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING. The use of NANDA‐I, NOC, and NIC can provide the necessary framework for enhancing and improving the management of care with patients who experience auditory hallucinations in paranoid schizophrenia.     

Supporting Breast‐feeding When a Woman Is Homeless

PURPOSE. This case study demonstrates use of standardized nursing languages in the care of new mothers in community settings. DATA SOURCES. The author collected data from clinical practice as an instructor in a baccalaureate nursing program and from the research literature. DATA SYNTHESIS. The appropriate nursing diagnoses, outcomes, and interventions were identified in partnership with the new mother. CONCLUSIONS. This case shows that NANDA International (NANDA‐I), the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), and the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) are useful to direct nursing care in community settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING. When teaching nursing students in a baccalaureate program, nurse faculty can use NANDA‐I, NOC, and NIC classifications to guide the growing practice of nursing students in community settings.     

Older Adult Who Falls: A Case Study

PURPOSE. The purpose of this case study is to illustrate the nursing process by incorporating the standardized nursing languages of NANDA International, the Nursing Interventions Classification, and the Nursing Outcomes Classification to assist an older adult with a history of falls. DATA SOURCES. The data sources were the author's clinical nursing practice and research‐based evidence related to falls of older adults. DATA SYNTHESIS. The data were synthesized by using clinical reasoning to select the best possible nursing diagnoses, interventions, and patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. To provide a framework for nurses to achieve positive patient outcomes, standardized nursing languages should be incorporated into patients' clinical nursing databases. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING. In determining factors that relate to falls, nurses need to obtain baseline data, set goals with patients, and identify milestones, while encouraging patients to be active participants in plans of care.     

Current Knowledge Related to Intelligence and Thinking With Implications for the Development and Use of Case Studies

PURPOSE. This paper reviews current knowledge regarding intelligence and thinking, and relates this knowledge to learning to diagnose human responses and to select health outcomes and nursing interventions. DATA SOURCES. Knowledge from relevant literature sources was summarized. DATA SYNTHESIS. The provision of high‐quality nursing care requires use of critical thinking with three elements of nursing care: nursing diagnosis, health outcomes, and nursing interventions. Metacognition (thinking about thinking) should be used with knowledge of the subject matter and repeated practice in using the knowledge. Because there are limited clinical opportunities to practice using metacognition and knowledge of these nursing care elements, case studies can be used to foster nurses’ expertise. CONCLUSIONS. Simulations of clinical cases are needed that illustrate application of the nursing knowledge represented in NANDA International, Nursing Outcomes Classification, and Nursing Interventions Classification. IMPLICATIONS. The International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications will promote the dispersion of case studies as a means of facilitating the implementation and use of nursing languages and classifications.     

A Pilot Study to Validate the Priority Nursing Interventions Classification Interventions and Nursing Outcomes Classification Outcomes for the Nursing Diagnosis "Excess Fluid Volume" in Cardiac Patients

PURPOSE.  To validate the content of the priority Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) interventions and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)-suggested outcomes for cardiac patients with the nursing diagnosis excess fluid volume in the Brazilian context.
METHODS.  The content of the interventions and outcomes was scored by seven expert nurses using a Likert scale, using the Fehring model.
FINDINGS.  From the 83 activities of the priority NIC interventions, nine had scores lower than 0.5 (nonuseful) and 50 had scores higher than 0.8 (major); from the 53 indicators of the suggested NOC outcomes, eight scored lower than 0.5 and 26 had scores higher than 0.8.
CONCLUSIONS.  The majority of the NIC interventions and NOC outcomes were considered useful by the Brazilian Cardiology expert nurses.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE.  Clinical studies are an important strategy for validation of the usefulness of North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, NIC, and NOC language in clinical protocols. Additional studies are necessary to confirm the findings of this pilot study.     

An Oncology Case Study Demonstrating the Use of Rogers's Science of Unitary Human Beings and Standardized Nursing Languages

PURPOSE.  The purpose of this paper is to present an oncology case study focusing on a woman's journey through breast cancer treatment and survivorship and a nurse's journey to provide wholistic care using standardized nursing languages and Rogers's Science of Unitary Human Beings (SUHB).
DATA SOURCES.  Published literature, experience, and expertise of the author were used as data sources.
DATA SYNTHESIS.  The data were clustered to formulate oncology nursing care based on the standardized nursing languages of NANDA International, Nursing Outcomes Classification, and Nursing Interventions Classification (NNN) from the theoretical foundation of Rogers's SUHB.
CONCLUSIONS.  The use of Rogers's SUHB, NNN, and the extant literature provided a theoretical, evidence-based, and practical approach to providing holistic care for a woman journeying through breast cancer treatment and survivorship.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  Nurses can use standardized nursing languages and Rogers's SUHB to facilitate personal well-being and quality of life for breast cancer survivors.     

Coining and Defining Novel Nursing Terminology. Part 3: Critical Incident Control

PURPOSE.  In the third of a three-part series, a novel nursing terminology is introduced and proposed for inclusion in the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)—Critical incident control (CIC)—defined as a response that attempts to reverse a life-threatening condition. Critical incident nursing diagnosis (CIND), defined as recognition of an acute life-threatening event that occurs as a result of disease, surgery, treatment, or medication, and critical incident nursing intervention, defined as any indirect or direct care registered nurse–initiated treatment, based upon clinical judgment and knowledge that a registered nurse performs in response to a CIND, were introduced in Parts 1 and 2 of this series, respectively.
DATA SOURCES.  The current literature, research studies, meta-analyses from a variety of disciplines, and personal clinical experience serve as the data sources for this article.
DATA SYNTHESIS.  The current nursing outcomes in the NOC are inaccurate or inadequate for describing nursing care during life-threatening situations. The lack of standardized nursing terminology creates a barrier that may impede critical communication and patient care during life-threatening situations.
CONCLUSION.  Coining and defining novel nursing terminology, CIC, for patient care during life-threatening situations is important and fills the gap in the current standardized nursing terminology.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  Refining the NOC will permit nursing researchers, among others, to conduct studies on nursing diagnoses in conjunction with the proposed novel nursing terminology, CIC.     

Determining Critical Incident Nursing Interventions for the Critical Care Setting: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE.  The purpose of this research survey was to determine which Adult Critical Care Core Nursing Interventions (ACCCNIs) in the Nursing Interventions Classification constitutes a critical incident nursing intervention (CINI). A CINI is defined as any indirect or direct care registered nurse (RN)-initiated treatment performed in response to a life-threatening nursing diagnosis.
METHODS.  A list of ACCCNIs were sent to 50 critical care RNs in two survey rounds. Responses >80% for each ACCCNI was determined to be a CINI.
FINDINGS.  Forty-one ACCCNIs were determined to be CINIs.
CONCLUSIONS.  It is recommended that CINIs be included as a separate Nursing Intervention Classification category to reflect current nursing practice.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  CINIs can enhance RN competency, education, and vigilance, thereby preventing or decreasing the number of deaths that occur from critical incidents.     

Coining and Defining Novel Nursing Terminology. Part 1: Critical Incident Nursing Diagnosis

PURPOSE.  In the first of a three-part series, a novel nursing terminology is introduced and proposed for inclusion in the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) International Classification—Critical incident nursing diagnosis (CIND)—defined as the recognition of an acute life-threatening event that occurs as a result of disease, surgery, treatment, or medication.
DATA SOURCES.  The literature, research studies, and meta-analyses from a variety of disciplines, and personal clinical experience serve as the data sources for this article.
DATA SYNTHESIS.  The current nursing diagnoses in the NANDA International Classification are inaccurate or inadequate for describing nursing care during life-threatening situations. The lack of standardized nursing terminology creates a barrier that may impede critical communication and patient care during life-threatening situations.
CONCLUSIONS.  Coining and defining a novel nursing terminology, CIND, for patient care during life-threatening situations are important and fill the gap in the current standardized nursing terminology.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.  Refining the NANDA International Classification will permit nursing researchers, among others, to conduct studies on nursing diagnoses in conjunction with the proposed novel nursing terminology: CIND. Parts 2 and 3 of this series will propose additional nursing terminology: critical incident nursing intervention and critical incident control, respectively.     

Application of Orem''s Self-Care Deficit Theory and Standardized Nursing Languages in a Case Study of a Woman with Diabetes

PURPOSE: This paper aims to illustrate the process of theory-based nursing practice by presenting a case study of a clinical nurse specialist's assessment and care of a woman with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Orem's self-care deficit theory and standardized nursing language, NANDA, NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification), and NOC (Nursing Outcomes Classification), guided assessment and the identification of outcomes and interventions related to the client's management of diabetes. FINDINGS: Theory-based nursing care and standardized nursing language enhanced the client's ability to self-manage the chronic illness: diabetes. CONCLUSION: Nursing theory and standardized nursing language enhance communication among nurses and support a client's ability to self-manage a chronic illness.     

Outcomes related to dehydration in the pediatric population

The purpose of this pilot study was twofold: 1) to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference in nursing-sensitive patient outcome ratings from admission to discharge, and 2) to describe nursing interventions used to care for children admitted with a primary diagnosis of dehydration to a 272-bed Midwestern community hospital. Twenty-nine patient care records meeting study criteria were extracted from all pediatric admission records during the study period. The patient care records are part of a computerized clinical documentation system using the standardized nursing languages of the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, the Nursing Interventions Classification, and the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC). A statistically significant improvement in outcome ratings from admission to discharge was demonstrated for seven of eight NOC outcomes.