Week 6 Assessment Data

This week I would like to share an example of how I use Clinical Vignettes or short stories as a way of assessing critical thinking skills.

You are a float nurse to the ICU and one of your assignments is to take care of Mr. Jonas, age 78, who has cirrhosis of the liver secondary to alcoholism. You take a minute to review Mr. Jonas plan of care, his chart orders, and daily lab data for the last 3 day's trends. You understand his CBC results, but have forgotten the liver function test norms. Listed are aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and aminotransferase (ALT). Not only do you need to know what this ratio means, but you need to know how best to treat this patient. What can you tell us about these ratios and what resources will you utilize to help with your day, in the most time efficient way. He already has his call light on.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/liver_disease/videos.php
www.nlfindia.com/liverZone/biologyAnatomy.asp