Pathophysiology Guidelines & Rubric (Narrative & Graphical)

Components of the pathophysiology and format for concept map presentation

1. Name of diagnosis should be included at the top most part.
2. Etiology (the exact cause): The study of the causes of diseases and other health
conditions (i.e. Dengue virus 1,2,3,4 for Dengue hemorrhagic fever).
3. Predisposing Factors (should be in presented in rectangles): are the risk factors that make
a person more susceptible to developing a disease (i.e. Dengue: “Travel and living in
tropical countries”).
4. Disease process (in rectangles)- process or manner in which a health condition develop
5. Clinical manifestation (in rectangles)- visible or detectable signs and symptoms of a
health condition. All clinical manifestation present to your client should be highlighted in
bold.
6. Diagnostic procedure & Lab test (if present, should be in a box with broken line )- is a
procedure (excluding Diagnostic Imaging) that is performed on a patient in order to
diagnose a condition disease or illness (i.e. Dengue: Dengue NS1; Pneumonia- Chest
xray).
7. Nursing diagnosis (should be in an oblong figure)- is a clinical judgment concerning a
human response to health conditions/life processes, or a vulnerability to that response, by
an individual, family, group, or community. A nursing diagnosis provides the basis for
selecting nursing interventions to achieve outcomes for which the nurse has
accountability. (i.e. Dengue- Risk for bleeding for the manifestation of decrease platelet
count.

Guidelines in making pathophysiology tailored-fit to your assigned case

1. Do the narrative pathophysiology before the graphical and ensure that it is properly cited.
2. The graphical pathophysiology should be align with the narrative pathophysiology which
is properly cited with latest (not later than 5 yrs ago) literature. This will aide you in
formulating your nursing diagnosis rationale.
3. Highlight (Bold font) predisposing factors & clinical manifestation present to your case.
4. All components of pathophysiology should be present.
5. Follow the recommended figure to input data/information based on the type of
components (i.e. risk factors, clinical manifestations, disease process should in a
rectangular figure; diagnostic procedure/laboratory results- should be in rectangular
broken line figures; nursing diagnosis- oblong figures)
Rubrics for Pathophysiology Narrative & Graphical
Perfect Score: 20
Passing Score: 16
Criteria Exceeding Meeting Approaching Not Meeting Score
Expectations (4) Expectations Expectations Expectations
(3) (2) (1)

Narrative Content The narrative The narrative The narrative The narrative
1. Diagnosis thoroughly covers covers 4-5 covers 2-3 content covers 0-1 content
Name all 6 components of content areas areas. Inaccurate areas with
2. Etiology pathophysiology. accurately information is inaccuracies and
3. Risk factors Information minimal. lack of
4. Clinical presented is thoroughness.
Manifestations accurate and
5. Diagnostic appropriately
procedure related.
6. Nursing
Diagnosis

Narrative Quality of Information is well Information is Information is Information is

writing organized and reasonably somewhat poorly organized
clearly organized and organized and and lacks clarity. It
communicated. It is communicated. lacks some clarity. contains many
free of spelling and It is mostly free Contains some spelling and
grammatical errors. of spelling and spelling and grammatical
grammatical grammatical errors.
errors. errors.
Narrative Citation & All references are References There are less There are less
Reference appropriate. There used are than 3 scholarly than 2 references
is a minimum of 5 mostly resources. cited. Some
scholarly resources. appropriate. References are references are
All references are There are 3-4 mostly correctly correctly cited and
correctly cited and scholarly cited and listed in listed in APA 7th
listed in APA 7th ed resources. All APA 7th ed. ed. Format.
format. references are Format.
correctly cited
and listed in
APA 7th ed.
Format.
Concept map The concept Map is There 1-2 parts There are more The concept map
presentation content consistent and of the concept than 3 parts of the is totally different
aligned with the map that is not concept map that from the
narrative aligned with deviates from the narrative.
the narrative narrative.
Concept map All formatting There are 1-2 More than 3 Totally did not
presentation format recommended format format guidelines follow all the
were all followed. guidelines were not followed. guidelines
were not recommended
followed.
 Sample Concept Map: Note that this is just a sample accuracy and comprehensiveness of the
disease process is not ensure.
Pathophysiology
Medical Diagnosis: Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Etiology: Dengue virus 1,2,3,4

Modifiable Risk Non-modifiable Risk

Factors: Travel/living Factors: Age (children),
to a tropical country sex, age

Bite of a virus carrying mosquito

Virus enters into the host’s blood

stream

Infects cells & replicate in

sufficient amount

Initiate immune response

Activation of memory T-cell

response during re-exposure Stimulates release of cytokines

Virus-anti-bpdy complex
Fever (38.9-39’C), Body
weakness, headache, dizziness
Cytolysis

Nursing Dx. Hyperthermia

Coagulopathy (PT/PTT) Thrombocytopenia Vasculopathy

↑hematocrit
Nursing Dx. Risk for
bleeding
↓Platelet count of
80x103/L Normal:
150-400 x 103/L