The study deals with a descriptive research, with the aim of assessing the contribution and difficulties expressed by students, utilizing the case study operational model, proposed by the authors as one of the teaching strategies used in Medical-Surgical Courses. In order to implement and perform the answer content analysis given by the students, authors used thematic analysis according to Bardin. With the performance of this investigation, we concluded that: students recognize the model as a teaching strategy in the formation of themselves, mainly related to theoretical and practical knowledge (70%). It encouraged them to decision making process autonomy and problem solving area besides stimulated them by using library resources. The other contribution related to knowledge refers to scientific methodology (30%), where the model emerges as an initiation strategy to this activity. Difficulties expressed by students in preparing the case study occurred in the following stage; - bibliographical survey (58%), to mainly lack of specific and updated bibliography in nursing area and lack of access indexes; - in the work essay (27%). It also revealed that study case contributed to basic knowledge about the elaboration of a scientific essay; among others (15%).
case study; teaching strategy; medical-surgical nursing; evaluation
