Students use string to connect the "evidence"
Victoria College nursing students recently put on their detective hats as part of an interactive learning exercise designed to sharpen their clinical reasoning and teamwork skills.
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Professors Dr. Jo Anne Settles, Kim McClure, Sharon Stevens and Dr. Shenell Wood challenged their students with “Nursing Detective Case Studies: Solving the Mystery of Patient Care.” The activity featured a classroom board styled after a classic murder mystery, where students acted as detectives analyzing “crime scene clues” such as symptoms of anemia, investigating underlying pathophysiology, and using string to connect evidence and identify the “culprit” behind a patient’s condition.
“The nursing field requires not just knowledge, but the ability to think analytically and connect information quickly,” said Settles. “This exercise allows students to approach patient care like detectives—piecing together clues, collaborating as a team, and developing confidence in their clinical judgment.”
The interactive case study reinforced key nursing concepts through experiential learning while encouraging communication and problem-solving among classmates.
Victoria College offers a variety of healthcare programs, including its top-ranked Associate Degree Nursing program, which prepares graduates to become registered nurses. VC’s Nursing Program was recently recognized by RegisteredNursing.org as the number one program in Texas, following two consecutive years of 100-percent NCLEX pass rates.
Learn more at VictoriaCollege.edu/HealthCareers.
