In this directed case study students follow a 16-year-old athlete as her mild upper respiratory infection progresses to an acute respiratory illness. In working through the case, students define select medical terms, interpret assessment data related to vital signs and the respiratory system, and identify interventions for a client with deteriorating respiratory status. Students identify the acute illness based on the signs and symptoms and outcomes of interventions. Designed for a beginning student in a health care field such as nursing, the case could be used for any course where students must interpret medical data and vocabulary. The questions are based on the clinical judgment model of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.