Master Resource Outline

Credits: 3  (3 college laboratory)

Semesters  offered: F, Sp

Prerequisites: BIOH 201,BIOH 211,HDFS 101 orPSYX 101,BIOM 250/BIOM 251

Co-requisites: NRSG 329 IL or consent of instructor

Course Description 

This clinical laboratory course introduces the  application of nursing principles, concepts and fundamental skills for the care of the individual needing assistance. Safe, quality nursing care begins with the application of knowledge, skills, attitudes and cultural sensitivity to patient-centered care. Learners will apply assessment data and cues to develop the clinical judgment needed in the nursing process. Effective and therapeutic communication includes obtaining and conveying relevant information via oral, written, and electronic methods to collaborate with clients, their support systems and thehealthcare team.

Catalog Course Description: Students apply nursing principles, concepts and fundamental skills for safe quality nursing care. Learners apply assessment data and nursing process to develop the clinical judgment and therapeutic communication for effective collaboration with clients and the healthcare team.

Course Objectives

  1. Incorporate assessment findings, data, cues, and critical thinking to the nursing process.
  2. Apply concepts of physiological and psychosocial responses, safety, and nursing judgment to promoting health in nursing care.
  3. Utilize accurate, therapeutic, and timely oral, written, and electronic communication to facilitate interactions with clients, their support persons, and the healthcare team.
  4. Demonstrate the components the professional nurse’s role, skills, and responsibilities in pharmacological management, including information technology to patient-centered, safe care.
  5. Demonstrate attitude and behaviors consistent with professional nursing values in providing compassionate, culturally sensitive, and ethical nursing care.

Course Learning Outcomes: The student will:

  1. Demonstrate steps and rationales in the performance of nursing care that adheres to safety standards and current evidence-based practice.
  2. Utilize therapeutic communication skills to build rapport with individuals and their support persons to address disease prevention, health promotion, maintenance, and restoration.
  3. Incorporate assessment findings, data, and cues into the nursing plan of care.

AACN Competencies

This course introduces:

1.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of nursing’s distinctive perspective and where shared perspectives exist with other disciplines.

1.2 Apply theory and research-based knowledge from the arts, humanities, and sciences.

1.3 Demonstrate clinical judgement founded on a broad knowledge base.

2.1 Engage with the individual in establishing a caring relationship.

2.2 Communicate effectively with patients (individuals, families, and groups.

2.3 Perform an assessment.

2.4 Diagnose actual or potential health problems and needs.

2.5 Develop a plan of care.

2.6 Demonstrate accountability for care delivery.

2.7 Evaluate outcomes of care.

4.2 Integrate best evidence into nursing practice.

5.2 Contribute to a culture of patient safety

5.3 Contribute to a culture of provider and workplace safety

6.1 Communicate in a manner that supports a partnership approach to care delivery.

6.3 Use knowledge of nursing and other professions to address the healthcare needs of patients and populations.

7.1 Apply knowledge of systems to work effectively across the continuum of care.

8.1 Describe information and communication technology tools used in the care of patients, communities, and populations.

AACN Threads

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

Required Content and Concepts

  1. Basic Nursing Care
    1. Infection Control
      1. Universal Precautions
      2. Specific precautions for airborne, contact, droplet and enteric
      3. Medical asepsis, cleaning and disinfection
    2. Surgical asepsis
      1. Creating and maintaining a sterile field
      2. High-level disinfection and sterilization of equipment and instruments
    3. Safety, security and emergency preparedness
      1. Common hazards
      2. Safety devices
      3. Restraints
    4. Medication delivery 
      1. Pre-administration assessments to include physical,pschological, psychosocial, cultural, ethnic,pharmocogenomics, environmental, and spiritual factors
      2. Medication calculations for oral, injected and intravenous medication administration
      3. Evaluation of therapeutic or non-therapeutic effects during and after medication administration
      4. IV site maintenance and monitoring for complications
      5. Patient/caregiver education regarding all aspects of pharmacological intervention
      6. Rights 5/10
      7. Adherence to three checks
      8. Documentation and communication for safe medication administration
      9. Oral, buccal, rectal, and transdermal routes
      10. Injections: intramuscular, intradermal, sub-cutaneous
      11. IV medication administration
      12. IV starting
  2. Nursing Process-creating an individualized and applicable care plan
    1. Critical thinking, clinical judgment, and patient-centered care
    2. Assessment
    3. Diagnosing
    4. Planning
    5. Implementation
    6. Evaluation
  3. Communication
    1. Professional therapeutic
    2. Interprofessional
    3. Physician orders
    4. Electronic Health Record
    5. Documentation
      1. Nursing notes
      2. Intake/output
      3. Vital signs
      4. Operating room flow sheets
      5. EHR
      6. Change of Status
      7. Incident Reports
    6. Reporting
      1. SBAR
      2. IPASS
    7. Teaching-learning principles
  4. Physiological Needs and Care
    1. Vital Signs
    2. Telemetry application (3- & 5-leads)
    3. Oxygenation
    4. Comfort
    5. Hygiene
    6. Intake/Output & Nutrition
    7. Elimination/Specimen Collection
    8. Mobility/Immobility
    9. Skin integrity/wound care

Suggested Student Learning Activities

  • Laboratory introduction of skills with demonstration/return demonstration
  • Clinical applications of nursing  process and skills
  • Clinical setting observation and participation
  • Development of nursing care plans
  • Chart review
  • Role plays
  • Simulation
  • Case studies
  • Demonstrations
  • Patient interviews
  • Utilization of informatics
  • Reading assignments
  • Literature searches
  • Cooperative learning
  • Presentations
  • Clinical conferences
  • Video
  • Electronic media
    • EHR
    • Virtual simulations

Ideal Clinical Placements

Sub-acute care: Transitional Care Units, Rehabilitation Units/Services, Medicare Skilled Nursing Care, Long-term Care settings, Outpatient and Inpatient Wound Care services, Foot Care Clinics