Literature Review- Case Studies in Nursing

As a nurse working in a hospital or other environment, there doesnt seem to be much academic

writing involved. Sure, nurses are always writing things down and taking note of vitals or symptoms, but

it isnt the traditional writing that comes to mind. When I hear writing I dont think of jotting numbers

down in a chart, I think more of essays and reflections, the longer and more agonizing type deals. Both

the type of writing and extent of said writing is situational dependent on what path is taken for the

nurse.

Last time I went to the hospital for an appointment, I met a nurse who only takes vitals, records

them, and passes those numbers along to the doctor. I also know a nurse who oversees her entire floor,

and does writing primarily on patients overall care as well as reports on her staff. Other nurses may

work in a lab collecting data and recording research to further advance hospitals approaches and

technique. Then there are other nurses who may monitor a patient and take note of medical history, or

assess current health to gain way towards a diagnosis or treatment plan. To prepare for this, whatever

type of writing it may be, nursing students will encounter many different opportunities to write

throughout their education.

These different writings include but are not limited to: health history, statements of philosophy

(dealing with ethics), lab reports, case studies, research papers, charts and many others. I figured

focusing on lab reports was redundant, so I went with something not as popular yet still important. Case

studies are very important to a nurse both in the process itself as well as the report which is where the

writing comes into play. Although the process itself deals with much more than just the writing itself,

case studies are a very important type of writing. These steps as well as the report are very important in

nursing and health care related fields. They allow individuals a greater understanding of the topic at
hand both through observation/data collection as well as the reflecting process that goes into the

written report. Basically, Ill explain what case studies are and how they aide in teaching nursing

students.

But whats so great about these studies? John Budgell says, Case studies are an invaluable record

of the clinical practices of a profession. While case studies cannot provide specific guidance for the

management of successive patients, they are a record of clinical interactions which help us to frame

questions for more rigorously designed clinical studies. (Budgell 199) Even though results may not be

completely accurate, there is always some truth to them. If solid answers arent obtained, it is still

further knowledge on the subject which can guide further research or just provide better understanding

for the nurses or whomever is conducting the case study. But this has to do with the conclusion, first we

must discuss the features of case studies and the different parts of the written report.

In general, case studies are helpful in preparing for professional practice. John Gerring speaks on

this, I argue that for methodological purposes a case study is best defined as an in-depth study of a

single unit (a relatively bounded phenomenon) where the scholar's aim is to elucidate features of a

larger class or phenomenon. (Gerring 341) This process can answer the questions the researcher seeks

to fulfill. The different types of case studies include explanatory, exploratory, collective, and intrinsic.

Out of these different formats, there are also several different subjects the author of the case study can

choose from. The variety of subjects can be individuals, groups, organizations, places or events. Clearly

in this case, people are our focus but that still leaves the option of individuals or groups. Now, onto how

these case studies are written and the features of their genre that make them unique.

The format of case studies includes four different, yet simple sections. These are the

introduction, background, presentation of findings, and conclusion. The introduction is self-explanatory

and basically introduces the report. This will set the stage for the experiment, the findings and the
conclusion which is why it comes first and why its called the introduction. This will be a good foundation

to base the rest of the case study written portion on. This is usually a paragraph of only about 3-5

sentences. The next part is the background information. This should include the reasoning for the

hypothesis that brought about the study as well as explain the subject at hand. Inclusion of the rationale

helps explain what to look for in the report, it also provides reasoning as to why the case study is being

conducted. Explanation of the research method is also a good transition for the reader and writer

proceeding to the next section, the presentation of findings. This introduces the data and explains its

significance. This must be carefully done in a way that the ordinary eye can read and understand

without having to have prior knowledge of how to interpret the results. The writer must keep in mind

that the audience may not be as educated on the topic or might be completely clueless to the topic. It

should be explained as easily as possible, so it can be interpreted by those with little to no scientific

background. The writer should lay out all relevant facts and clearly detail how they should be

interpreted and the significance of such. The final part is the conclusion. This isnt necessarily providing a

solid solution or explanation, but more to layout possible solutions or answers. There is never a

definitive answer because of the difficulty to prove. A good conclusion will also leave the reader with

more things to think about. Also, the author isnt necessarily telling the reader to believe their findings,

but potentially get them interested to collect findings of their own or share their opinion on the matter

to further discuss or elaborate what is being studied. There must be solid evidence so that the reader

knows it is a legitimate experiment and not a random thing. Dependent on the type of case study, the

conclusion should also make suggestions or recommendations for course of care or next steps for the

subject.
 One thing to keep in mind about case studies is that the audience is not solely scientists or other

professionals. In fact, most of the time, normal people may come across these case studies which is why

the writing must be done in a way that the average person can understand. It needs a clear narrative so

that the person can understand the goal, the process, the results and what those results mean. Writing

in such a way that isnt extremely academic is beneficial to both the author and the audience. As the

writer, being able to put something so dense into easier understood terms shows great understanding

of the topic. This also benefits the reader because they are actually able to understand what is being

said even without knowledge of science terms or other complicated details that may be included.

Specifically, in nursing, the studies are very helpful. Because of their ability to help the writer

understand the experiment and interpret the results, knowledge is gained from the case studies. Martin

Woods of Massey University says, Thus, between us, we can fill the perceived gap between theory and

practice with not just mere description or endless philosophical speculations, but with focused

reflection, analysis and continuing mindfulness that should invariably lead to better ethical decision

making and ultimately improved nursing care for all.(Woods 6) As its known, correlation is not always

causation but it certainly helps in preparing nurses for what they may face in hospitals. A nurse educator

shared her thoughts on case studies by saying: so many benefits result from it, to both patient and

nurse, that it can be warmly recommended. (Jensen 856) She agrees that the whole process and the

ability to reflect on it is essential in teaching nursing students what things are like and what they may

experience.

Case studies can play an important role in many occupations, but specifically those working with

patients as well as providing care for them like in nursing. A case study allows students/researchers to

observe new findings or see things first hand. This will later help those nursing students when working

with and caring for patients. Tending to the patients physical needs is half the battle and sometimes the

more overwhelming remainder or the battle is the emotional aspect. Case studies allow students
pursuing nursing careers to observe and reflect. This process of a case study, specifically the written

report, will help them further down the road when they must act quickly or are in a tough situation. Not

to say they wont have colleagues to consult, but it will provide some guidance in new or unfamiliar

situations. General scientists find this form of research and writing helpful, as well as nurses speaking

out on the strengths this writing teaches students. Case studies are a great technique because the lack

of complexity and ease of teaching. This writing will help ensure nurses come in with insight and

therefore provide the best care for those that need it most both physically and emotionally.
 Budgell, B. (2008). Guidelines to the writing of case studies. The Journal of the Canadian
Chiropractic Association, 52(4), 199204.
Gerring, J. (2004). What Is a Case Study and What Is It Good for? The American Political
Science Review, 98(2), 341-354
Jensen, D. (1929). Case Study in Schools of Nursing. The American Journal of
Nursing, 29(7), 851-857.
Woods, M. (2012). 'There is Only Narrative': Using Case Studies in Nursing Ethics.
Nursing Ethics, 19(1), 5-6.