How to Ace Your Case Presentation: Real Tips from a Student Nurse

By [Rossein Zaynah Paglala] | April 2025

Being a first-timer in making a case presentation is really stressful. You honestly won’t know where or how to begin. Like me, you’ll probably overthink a lot—afraid to miss important details, unsure about how deep your assessment should go, and scared to face your clinical instructors. But don’t worry, it’s all part of the learning process.

One thing I can’t stress enough: history-taking is everything. It’s the foundation of your case. If you don’t get enough details from your patient or their family, your case will feel incomplete, no matter how much effort you put into the rest. In my experience, especially during our CHN (Community Health Nursing) case presentation, we were even asked things as specific as how many plates and utensils the family had or if the income from their sari-sari store was active or passive. These questions may seem small, but they give insight into the family's lifestyle, which is essential in nursing care planning.

Here are some practical tips for better, deeper history-taking:

1.Don’t just settle for yes or no questions.

Avoid questions that can be answered with just “yes” or “no.” Open-ended questions give you richer, more detailed data. Start broad, then get specific.

Instead of:

- “May ubo po ba kayo?”

Try:

- “Kailan niyo po unang napansin ang ubo?”

- “Paano po ‘yung tunog ng ubo niya? Parang may plema po ba?”

- “Sa palagay niyo po, ano ang nakapagpalala?”

Always explore the characteristics of symptoms:

Onset

Location

Duration

Character, Aggravating/Relieving factors

Timing

Severity

2. Listen actively. Sometimes, patients don’t give you what you need right away. Pay attention to their stories and body language—these might lead to follow-up questions that can reveal key information.

3. Clarify and confirm.If something seems vague or confusing, politely clarify. Don't assume. Confirm details, especially about medications, past illnesses, or habits.

4. Go beyond clinical—assess the social aspect.Ask about their living conditions, family structure, income, education, and access to health services. These greatly affect their ability to recover and follow medical advice.

5. Be respectful and empathetic.Building rapport makes patients more willing to open up. Respect their privacy and make sure they’re comfortable talking to you.

Instead of:

- “May sapat po ba kayong pera?”

Say:

- “May mga panahon po ba na kulang ang kita para sa pagkain o gamot?”

6. Take notes properly.Write everything down neatly and clearly. Poorly written notes can lead to errors when it’s time to encode your case.

7. Prepare a good guide or checklist.Before the interview, create a checklist of areas to cover: chief complaint, past medical history, family history, lifestyle, etc. This helps you stay organized during the interview.

Bonus Tip: Communicate with Your Groupmates

You’re not doing this alone. Your groupmates are your teammates for the whole semester, so communicate well with them. Share tasks, clarify misunderstandings, and build friendship—it’ll make everything less stressful. When things get overwhelming, having a solid support system makes all the difference. Trust me.