Evaluating Student Learning Using the Williams Unfolding Case Study

Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors unfolding cases were created to guide the teaching of individualized aging, complexity and life transitions to nursing students. Even though the unfolding cases are well established, no literature was located regarding the assessment and evaluation of student learning that occurs when the ACES unfolding cases are used to teach gerontologic concepts.

Henry and Ertha Williams developed by Jeanne Cleary: Henry Williams is a 69-year-old African American, a retired rail system engineer who with his wife Ertha. They had one son who was killed in the war 10 years ago. They have a daughter-in-law, Betty, who is a nurse, and one grandson, Ty. Henry is concerned about Ertha because she is experiencing frequent memory lapses. (http://www.nln.org)

This case was delivered to 39 nursing students via a live feed observation from the simulation lab to the classroom. A pre-post survey design was used to evaluate student learning by measuring knowledge, self-efficacy and satisfaction. Data was gathered through the Pre-questionnaire, Post-questionnaire and the NLN’s Educational Practices Questionnaire.

Cronbach’s Alpha was .939. The total pre-post mean score shifted from 2.21-3.32. Paired T-tests revealed several significant areas of learning occurred for both the simulation participants were well as the students observing the unfolding case study. The ISBAR, SPICES and needs of patients with COPD are areas where significant learning occurred.