COURSE OUTCOMES AND COMPETENCIES:

1. Discuss the history of nursing, the role of the practical nurse, and the scope of practice related to established code of ethics, nurse practice acts, and professional registrations/certifications.
   1. Define nursing and relate its current state to historical events and leaders.
   2. Differentiate between the various roles of contemporary nurses today. Discuss the history of nursing, the role of the practical nurse, and scope.
   3. Discuss the scope of practice of unlicensed personnel, licensed/vocational nurses, professional nurses, and advanced practice nurses.
   4. Describe how nurse practice acts define the legal scope of nursing practice.
   5. Review the established code of ethics and its role in guiding nursing practice and ethical decision making.
   6. Recognize competencies related to knowledge, skills, and attitudes that nurses are expected to integrate into their practice.
   7. Discuss the implications of client care in relation to HIPAA regulations in care delivery settings.
2. Review the spectrum of health care settings across which client care is provided.
   1. Differentiate between the terms health and illness and the impact that lifestyle and risk factors has on one’s health status.
   2. Define the terms health promotion and wellness and discuss the nurse’s role in supporting client’s movement towards optimal health.
   3. Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary care as well as the role of the nurse when providing these levels of care.
   4. Differentiate between the goals of acute and chronic care and examples of client conditions in each category.
   5. Discuss the principles of restorative or rehabilitative care, its goals, and the role of the nurse when working with patients undergoing rehabilitation.
   6. Compare and contrast palliative and hospice care and the role of the nurse in providing end of life care.
   7. Describe the various health care settings within which client care is delivered.
   8. Discuss the roles of state and federal governments in regulating health care agencies.
3. Describe the concept of relationship-centered care as it relates to client care.
   1. Discuss the meaning of relationship-centered care.
   2. Describe the concepts of caring as a foundation for nursing practice.
   3. Review the professional skills inherent in providing relationship-centered care.
   4. Define advocacy in relationship to client’s right to information, Client’s Bill of Rights, and the Self Determination Act and their association with the nurse’s role as a client advocate.
   5. Compare and contrast the concepts of spirituality and religion.
   6. Review the religious practices of selected religions and their relationship to health promotion and health care.
   7. Recognize the influence culture has on health, health practices, illness and caring patterns.
   8. Verbalize cultural sensitivity and cultural competence and its relationship to nursing practice.
   9. Determine factors that contribute to spiritual distress and resulting manifestations.
   10. Review the nurses’ role when caring for clients who are experiencing spiritual distress.
4. Describe the concept of interprofessional care as it relates to client care.
   1. Define the concept of interprofessional care.
   2. Describe the essential aspects of collaborative health care.
   3. Discuss the benefits of an interprofessional health care team proving client care.
   4. Describe the essential aspects of collaborative health care.
   5. Discuss the benefits of an interprofessional health care team providing client care.
5. Describe the concept of evidence-based practice as it relates to client care.
   1. Define the concept of evidence-based practice.
   2. Identify available resources for evidence-based nursing practice.
   3. Discuss how evidence-based practice provides optimum care for individuals and their families.
6. Describe the concept of quality improvement as it relates to client care.
   1. Define the concept of quality improvement.
   2. Discuss the role of the nurse in identifying patient concerns related to quality care.
7. Describe the concept of safety as it relates to client care.
   1. Define the concept of client safety.
   2. Discuss personal and environmental factors that impair a client’s ability to protect themselves from injury.
   3. Review interventions that can assist in reducing risk of client injury.
   4. Discuss how proper and effective use of technology and standardized policies and procedures support safe, quality care.
   5. Recognize the role of the nurse in monitoring own care and that of others in promoting a safe environment for the client.
   6. Review the National Client Safety Goals developed by the Joint Commission and their relationship to the development of national safety standards and accreditation of health care institutions.
   7. Relate the importance of knowing the location and purpose of the MSDS Manual.
   8. Describe the RACE acronym and its use as a guide for action during a fire.
8. Describe the concept of informatics as it relates to client care.
   1. Define the concept of informatics.
   2. Describe the use of computers in nursing education and practice.
   3. Discuss the computer skills and computer applications necessary for monitoring and documenting client information.
   4. Discuss how to access online library resources.
   5. Review criteria that must be met for online resources and websites to be considered credible resources.
   6. Demonstrate how to cite resources using recommended form and style.
9. Describe the concept of client education as it relates to client care.
   1. Define the concept of client education.
   2. Identify the role of the nurse in relation to client education.
   3. Describe the three domains of learning.
   4. Review basic principles of learning.
   5. Discuss how to identify educational needs of clients.
10. Describe the concept of professionalism as it relates to client care.
    1. Define the concept of professionalism and its relationship to nursing practice.
    2. List professional behaviors that are consistent with those of a nurse.
    3. Discuss the relationship of ethical and legal practice to the role of the nurse.
    4. Compare and contrast accountability and responsibility.
11. Describe the concept of leadership as it relates to client care.
    1. Define the concept of leadership.
    2. Explore the leadership skills of organization, time management, and priority setting.
12. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic needs of rest and sleep.
    1. Review the role played by rest and sleep in maintaining good physical and mental health.
    2. Discuss the lack of sleep has on a client’s physical and mental health.
    3. Discuss developmental variations in sleep patterns.
    4. Describe the functions, physiology and stages of sleep.
    5. Identify conditions that interfere with a client’s rest and sleep pattern.
    6. Recognize the characteristics of common sleep disorders.
    7. Review nursing interventions that can help improve a client’s quality of rest and sleep.
13. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic need of sensory perception.
    1. Review the role played by sensory perception in maintaining good physical health.
    2. Describe the anatomical and physiological components of the sensory-perceptual process.
    3. Discuss factors that affect a client’s sensory perceptual processes (vision loss; hearing loss).
    4. Identify conditions that interfere with a client’s ability to process sensory input.
    5. Differentiate between sensory deficits, overload, and deprivation.
    6. Review nursing interventions that can facilitate or maintain a client’s sensory perceptual processes.
14. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic need of hygiene.
    1. Review the role played by skin, mucous membranes, teeth, and nails in maintaining the body’s first line of defense against pathogens.
    2. Describe conditions and activities that place clients at risk for altered skin integrity.
    3. Discuss hygienic practices that support healthy skin integrity.
    4. Discuss the effect that cultural practices and developmental stage has on hygiene practices.
    5. Determine a client’s need for assistance with hygiene-related care.
    6. Describe the procedures for providing hygiene-related care in a safe, comfortable environment.
    7. Describe proper techniques that support client hygiene.
    8. List common areas for pressure ulcers.
    9. Describe how to assess for early signs of pressure ulcers when providing hygiene-related care.
    10. Differentiate between the 4 stages of pressure ulcers.
15. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic needs of activity and exercise.
    1. Review the role played by the musculoskeletal and neurological systems in providing and regulating movement.
    2. Relate the effect exercise has on proper functioning of body systems and activity tolerance.
    3. Identify the elements of an exercise program that serves to maintain proper functioning and prevent lifestyle diseases.
    4. Discuss the effect lack of movement has on bones, muscles, and joints.
    5. Discuss the effect developmental stage has on bones, muscles and joints.
    6. Describe proper techniques that support client mobility and prevent complications of immobility.
    7. Review the principles of good body mechanics and ergonomics when positioning, moving, lifting, and ambulating clients.
    8. Identify assistive devices that can be used when moving clients to aid in the prevention of injury.
    9. Examine the relationship between using good body mechanics and preventing injuries.
    10. Discuss appropriate interventions to take to minimize injury to client and self during a client fall.
    11. Describe proper body mechanics and ergonomics when positioning, moving, lifting, and ambulating clients.
16. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic needs of infection control.
    1. Compare and contrast the various elements of the chain of infection.
    2. Review the anatomical and physiological barriers that protect an individual against infections.
    3. Describe the signs and symptoms of an inflammatory response, local and systemic infections, and related diagnostic tests.
    4. Discuss the etiology of nosocomial infections.
    5. Differentiate between medical and surgical asepsis.
    6. Relate principles of asepsis and their application to care.
    7. Differentiate between standard precaution and various types of isolation precautions.
    8. Review nursing interventions that can protect a client against infections.
    9. Describe proper techniques that support infection control.
17. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic need of elimination.
    1. Review the role played by elimination in maintaining good physical health.
    2. Describe the process of urine and feces production and subsequent elimination patterns.
    3. Differentiate between normal and abnormal elimination patterns (constipation, bowel incontinence, urinary retention, urinary incontinence).
    4. Discuss developmental and other factors that affect a client’s elimination status.
    5. Identify conditions that interfere with a client’s normal elimination patterns.
    6. Compare and contrast normal and abnormal characteristics of urine and feces.
    7. Identify diagnostic tests related to elimination and the nurse’s role in obtaining specimens.
    8. Review nursing interventions that can facilitate or maintain a client’s elimination patterns.
    9. Discuss proper techniques that support a client’s elimination needs.
18. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic need of nutrition.
    1. Describe proper techniques that support a client’s nutrition needs.
    2. Review the role played by nutrition in maintaining good physical health.
    3. Describe normal processes related to digestion, absorption, and metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
    4. Describe the role water, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes play in supporting body functions and processes.
    5. Determine the significance of the balance between caloric intake and energy expenditure in relation to weight gain and loss.
    6. Discuss physical, psychological, developmental, and cultural factors that affect a client’s nutritional status.
    7. Identify norms for body weight and BMI based on established standards.
    8. Use guidelines based on the USDA MY Plate when determining dietary recommendations for clients.
    9. Differentiate between various alternative and therapeutic diets.
    10. Review nursing interventions that can assist clients in meeting their nutritional needs.
19. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic need of oxygenation.
    1. Review the role played by oxygenation in maintaining good physical health.
    2. Describe the process of oxygenation.
    3. Differentiate between normal and abnormal respiratory patterns.
    4. Discuss developmental and other factors that affect a client’s oxygenation status.
    5. Identify diagnostic tests related to oxygenation.
    6. Review nursing interventions that facilitate or maintain adequate oxygenation.
    7. Describe proper techniques that support a client’s oxygenation status.
20. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s physiologic need of comfort.
    1. Review the role played by pain, as a symptom of a health issue, and its impact on basic physiological needs.
    2. Review theories related to the physiology of pain.
    3. Discuss physical, psychological, developmental, and cultural factors that affect the perception and expression of pain.
    4. Differentiate between the various types and characteristics of pain.
    5. Determine a client’s need for pain relief using established subjective tools and objective data.
    6. Evaluate efficacy of pain relief method used by follow up with pain rating post-administration.
    7. Review pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic nursing interventions that can assist clients in managing their pain.
    8. Review alternative and complementary methods of pain relief that clients may consider (acupressure, acupuncture, biofeedback).
    9. Describe proper techniques that support a client’s comfort needs.
21. Identify the nurse’s role in supporting a client’s cultural and spiritual needs.
    1. Define transcultural nursing.
    2. Differentiate between culture, ethnicity, race, and religion.
    3. Evaluate the influence of culture on the ways health care consumers manage their health and health care resources.
    4. Evaluate the effect of poverty on the quality and accessibility of health care.
    5. Define the nurse’s role in providing culturally congruent care.
    6. Plan patient-centered care with regard to patient’s cultural needs.
    7. Discuss boundaries of professional care for a patient whose cultural and religious beliefs are different from the nurse.
    8. Identify signs of spiritual distress in a patient and interventions to relieve it.
22. Describe the various elements of the nursing process and its relationship to clinical decision-making.
    1. Identify the steps of the nursing process.
    2. Identify the nurse’s role in data collection as an integral part of the nursing process.
    3. Discuss the purpose of the nursing process and nurse’s role in each step.
    4. Differentiate between subjective and objective data and various data collection methods.
    5. Review the use of the nursing process as a tool for planning client care.
    6. Review potential and actual client problems related to a plan of care.
    7. Apply principles of the nursing process to the client record.
23. Describe basic data collection skills as they relate to a client’s physiological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual dimensions using proper techniques and measures that ensure client safety.
    1. Describe the significance of nursing documentation as a written form of communication.
    2. Discuss the use of technology in the communication process.
    3. Identify the purpose and various elements of the client record.
    4. Review the legal parameters that guide documentation and the maintenance of client records.
    5. Review proper guidelines for effective documentation.
    6. Apply principles of effective documentation to an actual or simulated client record.
    7. Describe proper documentation techniques that support accurate, thorough, and timely charting.
    8. Describe the purpose of assessment when providing client care.
    9. Describe proper assessment techniques on clients.
    10. Review assessment techniques when collecting data in a focused manner.
    11. Use culturally sensitive, therapeutic communication when interviewing the client regarding their health history and current reason for seeking health care.
    12. Differentiate between nontherapeutic and therapeutic communication and how it is related to nursing care and documentation.
    13. Discuss interventions that will foster a therapeutic, caring nurse-client relationship.
    14. Identify finding that are outside the expected range for each body system.
    15. Use appropriate terminology when documenting assessment findings.