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ST. PAUL UNIVERSITY DUMAGUETE

COLLEGE OF NURSING
DUMAGUETE CITY

CLINICAL PAPER GUIDELINES

For Review and Revision

Proposed by:

EVER JOHN N. LAINGO, RN

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CLINICAL PAPER TECHNICAL GUIDELINES

Paper size: 8.5 in. x 13 in.

Margins: 1 in. on all sides
Font Style: Courier New
Font Size: 11
Paragraph Style: Left Align
Page Number Location: Bottom Center
Spacing: 1.5, except for figures and tables, which should be 1.0

Tables

Table Number (Chapter.Sequence)

Table Title

Figures

(Algorithms, Graphs, Pictures, Illustrations)

Figure Number (Chapter.Sequence). [Name of Figure]

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CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER I
CASE OVERVIEW

Introduction
Objectives
Scope
Limitation

CHAPTER II
CASE DATA AND INFORMATION

Patient’s Biographical Data

Health History
Chief Complaint
History of Present Illness
Past Health History
Family History

Functional Health Patterns

Health Perception and Health Management
Nutrition and Metabolism
Elimination
Activity and Exercise
Cognitive-Perceptual
Sleep and Rest
Self-perception and Self-concept
Roles and Relationship
Sexuality and Reproduction
Coping and Stress Tolerance
Values and Beliefs

General Condition
Review of Systems
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PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT

Integumentary System
Head, Neck, and Face
Eye and Ear
Respiratory System
Cardiovascular System
Peripheral-vascular and Lymphatic System
Breasts
Abdomen
Genitourinary System
Motor-Musculoskeletal System
Sensory-Neurologic System

Laboratory Examinations
Complete Blood Count
Urinalysis
Fecalysis
Biopsy
Etc...

Diagnostic Imaging Studies

Radiography
Endoscopy
Etc...

CHAPTER III
LITERATURE REVIEW

Normal Anatomy and Physiology

Name of System
Structures
Structures
Structures
Functions
Functions
Functions

Theoretical Background (This may vary depending on the nature of teh

case presented, e.g., Medical Case, Surgical Case, Psychiatric Nursing
Case)
Name of Disease
Definition
Etiology
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Clinical Manifestations
Management
Medical Management
Surgical Management
Nursing Management

CHAPTER IV
CASE ANALYSIS AND INTERVENTIONS

Pathophysiology

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT – BASED ON TEH PHYSICIANS ORDER

Medical Management
[Description]
Nursing Responsibilities

Surgical Management
[Description]
Nursing Responsibilities

Pharmacologic Management [Alphabetical Arrangement]

Name of Drug [Generic Name]
Brand Name:
Chemical/Therapeutic Classification:
Indication [specific problem of the patient managed by the drug]:
Dosage [exact dose received by patient]:
Drug action:
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions:
Nursing Responsibilities:

Nursing Care Management

Nursing Problems [nursing diagnoses according to priority]
Nursing Care Plans

Progress Notes - NA

Discharge Plan

CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusions
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Reccommendations

REFERENCES

APPENDICES
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OVERVIEW OF CONTENTS
Abstract
This is a summary of the study which will give the readers a
glimpse of what the study is all about. It should be composed of no
more than 250 words and should include summaries of the following:
a. Patient’s chief complaint
b. Patient’s diagnosis and existing problems
c. Medical, surgical, and nursing management done to solve the
problem
d. Results of the interventions done

Introduction
This chapter presents the background of the case being presented.
The following may be used as a guide in making an introduction:
a. First paragraph will present the patient’s case and it’s nature
b. Second paragraph will provide a basic information about the
patient and the history of the disease/problem
c. Third paragraph will discuss the rationale why the student/group
selected the case

Objectives
The presentors will specifically enumerate the different
objectives that they expect to accomplish in the course of making the
study. Verbs used may be based on Bloom’s taxonomy, with the emphasis
on utilizing objectives that would stimulate higher order thinking
skills (HOTS)

Scope
The presentors will discuss in this part the specific
topics/cases/ideas which should be tackled in the case study.

Limitations
This portion will present the things which may be related to the
topic but are not included in the study. This will also include the
uncontrolled hindrances that they encounter which prevented them in
gathering additional important data. The Scope and Limitations
portions will set the minds of the redears/audience on what to expect
and what not to expect on the study.

Biographic Data, History, and Physical Assessment

Students may based the contents of these portions on different
authors whose works are used by the College for references, e.g.,
Kozier, Dillon, Doenges, Gordon, etc.
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Genogram of the family history

The genogram of the family history is a figure the supports the
discussion of the family history. It should present at least three
generations of genealogy starting from the client. The following
symbols are used for the figure:

Represents male person

Represents female person

Patient

Couple

Siblings, in chronological order

The person’s age should is written inside the symbol. A cross

inside the symbol would signify that the person is already dead, with
the age of death written inside. The symbols are shaded with the
following colors that would identify the type of pathology each family
member is/was having:

Blue – respiratory disorder

Red – cardiovascular disorder
Green – neurologic disorder
Yellow – gastrointestinal disorder
Pink – cancer
Brown – other genetic/congenital disorders

Specific discussion for the disorders and how they may

genetically contribute to the patient’s problems are presented in the
textual discussion of family history.

Laboratory Examinations
This portion will present the laboratory and diagnostic
examinations that were done to the patient. The presentors will
discuss the examinations by specific type, not by date. The following
format will be used:

[Name of the exam]

[First paragraph will present the definition and description of
the exam]
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[Second paragraph will discuss the rational why the examination

is being done to the patient.]

[Next to second paragraph would be the presentation of the result

of the exam. The presentators may choose any format that would
best present the result (text, picture, figure, graph, or table)]

[Third paragraph would discuss the results, specifically the

deviations from normal, and relate them to the patient’s
case/problem, with emphasis on the affected anatomy/physiology]

Literature Review
The presentors should follow the format for chapter II (see
above). They are encourage to utilize at least five paper sources
(books, journals, etc.) and are given the liberty to utilize
electronic source provided that these are reliable.
Anatomy and physiology should not only give an overview of the
systems involved, but more importantly focus on the structures and
processes that are affeted with the patient’s problem. At the end of
the anatomy and physiology discussion will be a portion that dicuss
how these normal parts and processes function in sync with each other.
Theoretical background would discuss information about the
patient’s disease and problems, which are found in books and other
sources.

Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology would present the evolution of the patient’s
disease, begining from the idetified etiologic factor/s. The
pathogenesis of the disease should be well presented, emphasizing on
the etilogy, sequelae, complications, and clinical manifestations. The
presentors are given the liberty to include in the figure the nursing
problems that emerged out of the evolution of the disease/s, and the
corresponding interventions done, as well as their effect on the
sequence of the disease.
For the sake of uniformity, the pathophysiology should follow
vertical pattern in presenting the chronology. Texts should be inside
a box, with the following rules and symbols to be used:

Etiology and sequel– normal font

Complications – bold font
Manifestations - italics

Connects one concept to another, in sequence

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Connects one concept to another which are not in sequence

Connects manifestations from pathology

Nursing Care Plan

Nursing Care Plans should follow the format prescribe by the
College. It is the only portion of the paper that may be presented in
landscape orientation. The number of NCPs is dependent on the nature
and type of case being presented

Progress Notes
Progress Notes present the day-to-day condition of the patient
starting from the day of admission until the discharge day, or the
last SN-patient contact day. This is presented in tabular form with
the follwoing format.

DATE PROBLEM MEDICAL/SURGICAL NURSING OUTCOME

INTERVENTION INTERVENTION

The presentors may also include apart from the table above, other
data that are useful in understanding the patient’s progress (daily
serial platelet count results and temperature for a patient with
dengue fever; frequency, amount, and characteristic of stools for a
patient with diarrheal problems; Glasgow Coma Scale for a patient with
stroke or other neurologic problems, and others). These data may be
presented in any appropriate way (graph, table, etc.)

Discharge Plan
Discharge planning starts from the moment the patient is
admitted. The discharge plan is presented in the following format.

M - [First paragraph includes the medications that the patient will be

taking at home, including the indication/s, the specific dosage for
the patient, precautions, and things should be done/not done while
taking the medication]

E - [Second paragraph includes the activities that the client needs to

perform at home to improve his/her condition. This also includes the
appropriate limitations of activities that the patient should observe
to prevent undue problems]
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T - [Third paragraph will discuss the treatments that will be

performed to the client while at home. This may include nebulization,
wound dressing, etc.]

H - [Fourth paragraph includes necessary information that the patient

should know about her condition, the things that would make it worse,
and the things that could improve it. This would include information
about change in lifestyle, situational adjustments, etc.]

O - [Fifth paragraph will discuss plans on necessary follow-up check-

up and examinations that the patient may need to undergo in order to
monitor the progress of his/her condition. This may include specific
dates for follow-up check-up, regular BP monitoring, etc.]

D - [Sixth paragraph will discuss plans on appropriate diet based on

the disease process on the patient and advised by the doctor.]

S - [The last paragraph would discuss teachings that will be given to

the family of the client, as well as the significant others,
emphasizing on their roles that would help improve the client’s
condition. Spiritual teaching is included of utmost importance.]

Conclusions
This portion would discuss the learnings and realizations that
the presentors acquired in the course of making the paper. It should
include the discussion of the objectives in the chapter I and if they
are accomplished or not.

Recommendations
This portion discuss recommendations for specific persons/groups.

References
This includes citations of the different primary and secondary
sources that are used in making the paper. The following format should
be followed, based on the APA format of citation:

BOOKS, CHAPTERS IN BOOKS, REPORTS, ETC.

General Form
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Location: Publisher.

Balong, S. (1992). Medical-surgical nursing: a nursing process

Approach. Brooklyn, NY: Hang Loose Press.
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Chapter in a Book
Booth-LaForce, C., & Kerns, K. A. (2009). Managing client with renal
failure. In K. H. Rubin, W. M. Bukowski, & B. Laursen (Eds.),
Handbook of medical-surgical nursing (pp. 490-507). New York, NY:
Guilford Press.

JOURNALS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS IN PRINT FORMAT

General Form
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of
article. Title of Journal, xx, xxx-xxx.

Williams, J. H. (2008). Employee engagement: Improving participation

in safety. Professional Safety, 53(12), 40-45.

ONLINE JOURNALS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS

General Format - Databases
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of
article. Name of Journal, xx, xxx-xxx. doi:xxxxxxxxxx

Dila, B., & Niol, S. (2007). The quest for answer: Developing
Cancer treatment. Filipino Journal of Oncology, 18,
138-153. doi:10.9091/j.1467-8551.2006.00507.x

NOTE: Use the journal’s home page URL (or web address) if there is no
DOI. This may require a web search to locate the journal’s home page.
There is no period at the end of web address. Break a long URL before
the punctuation.

Koo, D. J., Chitwoode, D. D., & Sanchez, J. (2008). Violent

victimization and the routine activities/lifestyle of active drug
users. Journal of Drug Issues, 38, 1105-1137. Retrieved from
http://www2.criminology.fsu.edu/~jdi/

OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

General Form
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Retrieved from web address

Kenney, G. M., Cook, A., & Pelletier, J. (2009). Prospects for

reducing uninsured rates among children: How much can premium
assistance programs help? Retrieved from Urban Institute website:
http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411823