Teaching Social Determinants of Health Through an Unfolding Case Study.

Background: The impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) was developed to educate nursing students through the use of an unfolding case study.

Problem: SDOH and population health are critical components of prelicensure nursing education. Unfolding case studies are a strategy to develop critical thinking and teach SDOH to nursing students.

Approach: A model was used to develop the case study including a community assessment, which follows a male veteran and family through life events. Implementation of the unfolding case study took place over 3 consecutive semesters in a community health nursing course.

Outcomes: This educational activity achieved standardized examination scores, which are intended to assess student preparedness for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), above the national averages. Student participation was above 90%.

Conclusion: Unfolding case studies can present realistic scenarios that are useful to teach critical thinking. As the Next Generation NCLEX moves to scenario-based testing, unfolding case studies are a teaching strategy to prepare students.