HLTAAP003 – Case Study Assessment: Analyse and Respond to Client Health Information

Unit and Qualification

• Unit code and name: HLTAAP003 Analyse and respond to client health information

• Qualification: HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing – TAFE Queensland (structure adapted from HLTAAP003 case study assessment templates)

• Assessment type: Case study with short-answer questions

• Assessment task: 1 of X (refer to Unit Assessment Overview)

• Length: Equivalent to 1,500–2,000 words

• Mode: Individual written submission via LMS

Assessment Overview

In this assessment you will interpret client health information from one or more case studies and demonstrate your ability to recognise normal and abnormal findings, identify potential health problems, and suggest appropriate nursing responses within the Enrolled Nurse scope of practice. You will use current evidence and clinical references to support your answers and document information clearly and accurately.

Your responses must demonstrate systematic clinical reasoning. You are expected to differentiate between subjective and objective data, apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and justify prioritisation decisions using recognised nursing frameworks.

Assessment Conditions

• Assessment type: Case study and short-answer questions (open book).

• You must work individually and complete the student declaration.

• You may use ClinicalKey Student, prescribed texts, and reputable online resources as directed.

• All questions must be attempted. All aspects of the marking criteria must be met to achieve a Satisfactory result.

• Use APA 7th edition referencing unless otherwise directed.

Case Study

You are provided with a written case study of an adult client admitted to a medical ward with multiple health issues, for example uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and early kidney disease. The case includes past medical history, medication list, social history, vital signs, physical assessment findings, and recent pathology results. You are required to analyse this information, differentiate between normal and abnormal data, and identify priority concerns that require further assessment or escalation.

Specific Task Instructions

Task 1 – Interpreting Health Information (Approx. 500–700 Words)

Using the case study:

• Identify at least eight pieces of assessment data, both subjective and objective, that are outside normal limits or clinically significant.

• Explain why each of these findings is abnormal, referring to relevant anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology.

• Discuss how two of these abnormal findings are related to each other in terms of the client’s underlying condition or conditions.

Your explanation must clearly reference normal ranges where appropriate and demonstrate understanding of disease processes rather than simply stating that results are abnormal.

Task 2 – Identifying Potential Problems and Risks (Approx. 400–500 Words)

From your analysis in Task 1:

• Identify at least three actual or potential health problems or risks for this client, for example risk of hypoglycaemia, impaired skin integrity, or fluid overload.

• Briefly explain the rationale for each identified problem, linking back to the assessment data.

• Prioritise the problems from one to three and justify the order of priority using clinical reasoning and risk assessment principles.

Your prioritisation should reflect an understanding of urgency, potential for deterioration, and impact on vital organ function.

Task 3 – EN Responses Within Scope of Practice (Approx. 400–500 Words)

Describe how, under the direction and supervision of the Registered Nurse, you would respond to the client’s health information by:

• Outlining at least two appropriate nursing actions for each of the top two priority problems that are within the Enrolled Nurse scope of practice.

• Stating what additional information you would collect or monitor to further clarify the client’s status.

• Indicating which findings you would promptly report to the Registered Nurse and or medical officer and how you would communicate these using a structured format such as ISBAR.

Ensure that your proposed actions are realistic, evidence-informed, and aligned with professional standards.

Task 4 – Documentation and Use of Information (Approx. 200–300 Words)

Explain:

• How you would document abnormal findings, actions taken, and client responses in the health record, using appropriate terminology and organisational requirements.

• Why accurate analysis, recording, and communication of client health information are essential for safe, legal, and ethical nursing practice.

Your discussion should demonstrate understanding of accountability, continuity of care, and professional responsibility.

The ability to analyse and respond appropriately to client health information is a core competency in contemporary nursing practice. Systematic clinical reasoning enables nurses to interpret cues, recognise patterns of deterioration, and prioritise interventions based on risk and physiological instability. Levett-Jones (2020) explains that structured reasoning frameworks support nurses to move beyond task-based care toward analytical decision-making grounded in pathophysiological understanding. In the context of complex chronic conditions such as diabetes and renal impairment, careful synthesis of laboratory values, assessment findings, and patient history is essential to prevent complications and ensure timely escalation of care.

Marking Focus (Summary)

• Correct identification and explanation of abnormal findings.

• Evidence of basic clinical reasoning when linking data to potential problems.

• Appropriate Enrolled Nurse level responses and understanding of when to report or escalate concerns.

• Clear, accurate written expression and correct use of APA referencing.

Indicative Marking Guide (Abbreviated)

When analysing the client’s health information, the Enrolled Nurse must first distinguish between normal variations and clinically significant abnormalities. For example, elevated blood glucose levels, increased blood pressure, and abnormal renal function markers may indicate poorly controlled diabetes contributing to progressive kidney impairment. Recognising the relationship between hyperglycaemia and nephropathy allows the nurse to anticipate complications such as fluid imbalance or electrolyte disturbances. After identifying priority problems such as risk of hypoglycaemia or fluid overload, the nurse can implement monitoring strategies within scope, including regular blood glucose monitoring, fluid balance charting, and timely reporting of abnormal findings using ISBAR. Accurate documentation of assessment data and nursing actions supports continuity of care and reduces the risk of adverse outcomes.

References

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2021). National Safety and Quality Health Service standards (2nd ed.). ACSQHC.

Levett-Jones, T. (Ed.). (2020). Clinical reasoning: Learning to think like a nurse (2nd ed.). Pearson.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2023). Standards for practice: Enrolled nurses. NMBA.

Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2021). Principles of anatomy and physiology (16th ed.). Wiley.

Tollefson, J., & Hillman, K. (2019). Acute care nursing (4th ed.). Elsevier.

Hinkle, J. L., & Cheever, K. H. (2022). Brunner & Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing (15th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.