Aims: One way to improve nursing education is to shift from the traditional teaching methods into modern student-based ones. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the implementation of the case-based teaching method and comparing it with lecture method on the amount of nursing students’ learning and satisfaction. 

Methods: This quasi-experimental study which was conducted in Zanjan Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery in 2010, all 30 senior nursing students were included in the study. For data collection a researcher-made questionnaire was used. The given questionnaire consisted of two sections including demographic characteristics and 20 questions regarding the comparison of the features of case-based teaching method with lecture. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16 and descriptive statistical tests, independent T test and Chi Square test.

Results: In students’ point of view, the most important characteristic of the case-based teaching method was students’ increased reading comprehension compared with lecture. Moreover, 66.7% of students evaluated the case-based teaching method to be, in general, better than lecture method and had considerably higher satisfaction of it (8.38 ± 1.8 out of 10). No significant difference was observed between the students’ satisfaction mean based on gender (p>0.05).

Conclusion: In nursing students’ standpoint, the case-based teaching method is better and enjoys more efficacy than lecture method.