Master Resource Outline

Credits: 2 lecture

Semesters Offered: F, Sp

Prerequisites: NRSG 329 IL, NRSG 327, NRSG 328, NRSG 317

Course Description

This course focuses on the care of patients across the adult lifespan with chronic illness and noncurable, life limiting diseases. Integration of knowledge from nursing theory, clinical practice, and research that supports a holistic perspective of the experience of chronic illness. Selected concepts of chronic illness such as quality of life, altered mobility, sexuality, body image, stigma, social isolation, compliance, chronic pain, as well as aging are the foundational knowledge for promoting health within the chronic illness experience. Emphasis is placed on patient-centered health promotion, disease and palliative care, hospice, and end-of-life care, for patients and their families.

Catalog Course Description

This course focuses on care of adult patients with chronic, noncurable diseases. Quality of life, altered mobility, sexuality, body image, stigma, social isolation, compliance, chronic pain, and aging provide foundation for patient-centered health promotion, palliative care, hospice, and end-of-life care.

Course Objectives:

1. Utilize evidence-based nursing practice to assist adult patients across the lifespan with chronic illness and life-limiting disease.

2. Determine the psychosocial, mental, and physical challenges, adaptive/maladaptive coping strategies, and health promotion for adults across the lifespan and those living with chronic illness and life-limiting disease.

3. Relate theoretical and empirical knowledge in design and implementation of nursing care with individuals across the life span and their families experiencing chronic health problems and life-limiting disease.

4. Appraise interprofessional collaboration and community resources to promote wellness / disease management in the context of aging, chronic illness and palliative/hospice care.

Course Learning Outcomes: The student will:

1. Integrate knowledge to identify appropriate patient-centered interventions for chronic illness.

2. Compare and contrast the differences between palliative and hospice care.

3. Analyze measures to improve quality of life as defined by the patient with respect to personal preferences and needs while accounting for cultural and socioeconomic uniqueness and challenges.

4. Identify community and interprofessional resources to provide appropriate support and care for patients and families with chronic illness and life-limiting diseases.

5. Differentiate various ethical and moral dilemmas related to chronic and end of life care.

6. Incorporate health promotion interventions and teaching-learning strategies for themselves and for their clients.

AACN Threads

Equity and Inclusion

Diversity

Cultural Sensitivity

Social Determinants of Health

Communication

Ethics

Clinical Judgement

Mental Health

 

Recommended Content and Concepts

Understanding the patient and family lived experiences of living with a chronic illness – impacts on quality of life, ADLs, etc

Understanding the pathophysiological changes that occur with aging and the impacts of chronic illness and multiple chronic illnesses

Interprofessional coordination of care throughout stages of health illness-wellness Palliative care – symptom management, hospital readmission quandaries, case management

Community resources including, but not limited to aging services, adult day care, respite care, home health, hospice

Health literacy and access to care issues

Patient teaching

Health promotion and prevention

Disability, degenerative joint, neurodegeneration

Frailty assessment

Mental health - illness, depression, social isolation

Selected illness and disease processes:

  • Chronic respiratory (asthma, COPD, CA)
  • Chronic cardiac (CHF, CAD)
  • Endocrine - DM (to include hypoglycemia but not hyperglycemia alterations), thyroid, etc.
  • Chronic renal failure and dialysis, liver failure (cirrhosis),
  • Chronic GI
  • Cancer
  • Long-term CVA

End of life issues – crucial conversations, advanced directives, POLST, POA, family impact, care of the dying patient Practice with crucial conversations – patients, families, and other healthcare professionals

 

Included threads

  • Equity, Inclusion, and
  • Diversity
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Communication
  • Ethics
  • Clinical Judgement
  • Mental Health