lOMoARcPSD| 56999567
lOMoAR cPSD| 569
Case Study on C. diff and Sepsis in
Elderly Patient - NURS 350 2026
C. SKINNY Reasoning
Minnie Taylor, 62 years old
Primary Concept
Infection/Inflammation
Interrelated Concepts (In order of emphasis)
• Perfusion
• Clinical Judgment
• Patient Education
• Communication
• Collaboration
NCLEX Client Need Categories Percentage of Items from Each Covered in
Category/Subcategory Case Study
Safe and Effective Care Environment
✓ Management of Care 17-23% ✓
✓ Safety and Infection Control 9-15% ?
Health Promotion and Maintenance 6-12% ✓
Psychosocial Integrity 6-12% ✓
, lOMoARcPSD| 56999567
Physiological Integrity
✓ Basic Care and Comfort 6-12% ✓
✓ Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 12-18% ✓
✓ Reduction of Risk Potential 9-15% ✓
✓ Physiological Adaptation 11-17% ✓
SKINNY Reasoning
Part I: Recognizing RELEVANT Clinical Data
History of Present Problem:
Minnie Taylor is a 62-year-old African American female with a history of diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and
peripheral arterial disease who had a left below the knee amputation (LBKA) three days ago. She had two small loose,
watery stools last night and a third large watery brown stool this afternoon that had a distinct foul odor. Minnie is now
complaining of generalized lower abdominal cramping that she rates 3/10. She does not have an appetite and does not feel
like drinking fluids. Minnie was awake and alert after lunch, but later that afternoon just before supper you note that
Minnie is sleepy and once aroused, falls right back to sleep.
Personal/Social History:
Minnie is a retired teacher who never married and has no close friends. She lives alone in her own apartment.
What data from the histories are RELEVANT and must be interpreted as clinically significant by the nurse?
(Reduction of Risk Potential)
RELEVANT Data from Present Problem: Clinical Significance:
History of Type II diabetes, hypertension, Pt has had 3 spouts of diarrhea and the most current one has a distinct
and peripheral artery disease foul odor. We need to figure out what the distinct foul odor is
attributed to.
Two small loose watery stools last night
Third large watery stool this afternoon that
had a distinct foul odor.
Lower abdominal cramping with diarrhea needs to be further
Generalized lower abdominal cramping @ evaluated.
3/10
Does not have an appetite and pt. does not
feel like drinking fluids
Pt was aware and alert after lunch, but this There has been a significant change in her alertness- this needs to be
afternoon pt. is sleepy once aroused and further evaluated
falls right back to sleep
** These are signs of infection- per the CDC loose watery stools,
Had LBKA 3 days ago abdominal cramping and dehydration are signs of C. Diff
RELEVANT Data from Social History: Clinical Significance:
2|Page
lOMoAR cPSD| 569
Case Study on C. diff and Sepsis in
Elderly Patient - NURS 350 2026
C. SKINNY Reasoning
Minnie Taylor, 62 years old
Primary Concept
Infection/Inflammation
Interrelated Concepts (In order of emphasis)
• Perfusion
• Clinical Judgment
• Patient Education
• Communication
• Collaboration
NCLEX Client Need Categories Percentage of Items from Each Covered in
Category/Subcategory Case Study
Safe and Effective Care Environment
✓ Management of Care 17-23% ✓
✓ Safety and Infection Control 9-15% ?
Health Promotion and Maintenance 6-12% ✓
Psychosocial Integrity 6-12% ✓
, lOMoARcPSD| 56999567
Physiological Integrity
✓ Basic Care and Comfort 6-12% ✓
✓ Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 12-18% ✓
✓ Reduction of Risk Potential 9-15% ✓
✓ Physiological Adaptation 11-17% ✓
SKINNY Reasoning
Part I: Recognizing RELEVANT Clinical Data
History of Present Problem:
Minnie Taylor is a 62-year-old African American female with a history of diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and
peripheral arterial disease who had a left below the knee amputation (LBKA) three days ago. She had two small loose,
watery stools last night and a third large watery brown stool this afternoon that had a distinct foul odor. Minnie is now
complaining of generalized lower abdominal cramping that she rates 3/10. She does not have an appetite and does not feel
like drinking fluids. Minnie was awake and alert after lunch, but later that afternoon just before supper you note that
Minnie is sleepy and once aroused, falls right back to sleep.
Personal/Social History:
Minnie is a retired teacher who never married and has no close friends. She lives alone in her own apartment.
What data from the histories are RELEVANT and must be interpreted as clinically significant by the nurse?
(Reduction of Risk Potential)
RELEVANT Data from Present Problem: Clinical Significance:
History of Type II diabetes, hypertension, Pt has had 3 spouts of diarrhea and the most current one has a distinct
and peripheral artery disease foul odor. We need to figure out what the distinct foul odor is
attributed to.
Two small loose watery stools last night
Third large watery stool this afternoon that
had a distinct foul odor.
Lower abdominal cramping with diarrhea needs to be further
Generalized lower abdominal cramping @ evaluated.
3/10
Does not have an appetite and pt. does not
feel like drinking fluids
Pt was aware and alert after lunch, but this There has been a significant change in her alertness- this needs to be
afternoon pt. is sleepy once aroused and further evaluated
falls right back to sleep
** These are signs of infection- per the CDC loose watery stools,
Had LBKA 3 days ago abdominal cramping and dehydration are signs of C. Diff
RELEVANT Data from Social History: Clinical Significance:
2|Page
