demonstrate an awareness and understanding of clinical decision making within the role of the Registered Nurse.

Case Study Essay
Aim:
The aim of this task is for you to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of clinical decision making
within the role of the Registered Nurse. The clinical reasoning cycle (Levett-Jones, 2012) will be utilised to
show the progression of your critical thinking process. Familiarisation with the clinical reasoning cycle will
support you to provide quality care and will provide a foundation for your next essay in this course.
Task Description:
You are to write an essay which uses the clinical reasoning cycle (Levett-Jones, 2012) to present a case
study of a clinical decision that you have been involved in. The clinical decision you select can be a
decision that went well or one with a negative outcome. You only need to discuss one example of a clinical
decision.
Examples of clinical decisions may include (but are not limited to):
? Responding to a change in the patient’s condition
? Care planning considering the patient’s present health status
? Reviewing planned patient interventions including medications
? Outcome from effective or ineffective communication
Instructions:
1) Explain the background situation, including current and related patient or case information and
other influencing factors related to the clinical decision.
2) Provide a clear description of the clinical decision making process incorporating the first seven of
the eight stages of the clinical reasoning cycle (Levett-Jones, 2012).
3) Explain the factors which influenced this clinical decision
4) Use literature where relevant to support the key points you make to demonstrate evidence based
practice.
Other elements:
? Always refer to the School of Nursing & Midwifery Writing and Referencing Guide for
formatting conventions and referencing guidelines
? Ensure that you use scholarly literature (digitised readings, research articles, relevant Government
reports and text books) that has been published within the last 5 years.
? Provide a clear introduction, sound body and conclusion to your paper.
Assessment Type: Case Study Essay – Assessment One
Word Count: 1000 words
Weighting: 30%
? You may use headings to organise your work if you wish.
? The use of first person can be utilised in your writing.
? Use academic language throughout.
? Refer to the marking guidelines when writing your assignment. This will assist you in calculating
the weightings of the sections for your assignment.
? State your word count (excluding your reference list) on the Assignment Coversheet.