Navigating Case Studies
When you begin a case study, you'll notice two primary tabs: Questions and EHR (Electronic Health Record).
Questions Tab: This tab presents the questions related to the case scenario.
EHR Tab: This tab provides access to the patient's electronic health record, containing essential information to answer the questions.
Exploring the Electronic Health Record (EHR)
The EHR tab is further divided into four tabs:
Pt. Info: This tab contains the patient's demographics, medical history, and other relevant personal details.
Vitals & Labs: This tab displays the patient's vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
Meds: This tab lists the patient's current medications, including dosages and administration routes.
Notes: This tab contains notes from healthcare providers, documenting the patient's condition, treatments, and progress.
Important Note: Progressive EHR Information
The EHR information in Nexclex case studies is designed to build upon itself as you progress through the questions. This mimics real-world clinical scenarios where healthcare providers gather information over time. As you answer questions and move through the case, new information may be added to the EHR, reflecting the patient's evolving condition.
Best Practices for Utilizing Case Studies
Read the initial patient information carefully: Understanding the patient's background is crucial for interpreting subsequent information.
Toggle between the Questions and EHR tabs: Use the EHR to find the information needed to answer each question.
Pay close attention to the chronology of events: The order in which information is presented is often significant.
Analyze the vital signs and medication information: Look for trends and potential interactions.
Use the notes to understand the healthcare providers' assessments and plans: The notes can provide valuable insights into the patient's condition.
Practice critical thinking and clinical reasoning: Case studies are designed to test your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world situations.
Reviewing Your Performance
After completing a case study, you'll gain access to a comprehensive performance review. This review includes:
Overall Performance: A breakdown of your overall score compared to your peers.
Question-Specific Performance: An analysis of your performance on each individual question, compared to peer performance.
Rationales: Detailed explanations for the correct answers to each question.
Final EHR Review: Access to the complete EHR as it appeared at the end of the case study.
How to Maximize Your Review
Focus on your areas of weakness: Identify the questions you answered incorrectly and review the rationales thoroughly.
Analyze the EHR information: Review the information that was available at the time you answered each question.
Compare your performance to your peers: This will give you a sense of your relative strengths and weaknesses.
Use the case studies to identify knowledge gaps: If you consistently struggle with certain types of questions, focus on reviewing the relevant content.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively utilize case studies on Nexclex to enhance your NCLEX preparation and improve your clinical reasoning skills.