Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    NURS

 Course #:    171

 Credits:    7

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    7

 CIP:    513801

 EPC:    RND

 REV:    2019

 Course Description  

Introduction to the Associate Degree in Nursing. Includes the foundation needed for basic nursing practice and more advanced study. Concepts of person, health, environment, and nursing will be introduced. The nursing process is presented as the primary mechanism for providing care. Therapeutic communication techniques are studied as well as basic knowledge in pharmacology. Components of a complete multi-dimensional health assessment are presented. Focuses on the well individual and normal physiologic functioning including introductory review of basic alterations in health. Additional concepts basic to nursing practice are addressed including the Art of Nursing, safety, nutrition, lifespan, health teaching, culture, leadership, and ethical/legal aspects of practice. Encompasses the fundamental skills of nursing practice.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: CHEM& 121, BIOL& 160 or 211, BIOL& 260, BIOL& 241, BIOL& 242, ENGL& 101, MATH& 146, PSYC& 100 and 200 and NUTR& 101. Overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) for science prerequisites and overall 3.0 GPA (B) required for all NURS 171-173 prerequisite courses; AHA Healthcare Provider card, and current immunization status required.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 77

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Relate nursing and the health care environment to the healthcare delivery system, nursing planning and evidence based practice.
2. Application of critical thinking in nursing practice utilizing the nursing process.
3. Identification of professional standards in nursing practice to include communication, documentation, patient education and legal and ethical principles.
4. Identify concepts of health, wellness, culture and ethnicity to caring throughout the lifespan.
5. Articulate the foundation for nursing practice to include patient safety, infection control, and health assessment.
6. Explain basic principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and safe medication administration.
7. Describe the physiological basis for nursing practice with a focus on alterations in body systems, fluid and electrolyte status and acid-base balance.
8. Examine the psychosocial basis for nursing practice to include self-concept, issues of sexuality and gender identification.
9. Review grief, stress and coping across the lifespan.
10. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Human Flourishing: Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
11. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Nursing Judgment: Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and promote the health of patients within a family and community context.
12. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Professional Identity: Implement one's role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality care f
13. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Spirit of Inquiry: Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2018 and affects outlines for 2019 and later.

Think

Definition: Think analytically, logically, creatively, and reflectively.

Integrate

Definition: Apply knowledge, skills, and methodologies from multiple disciplines.

Course Contents

1. Nursing and the healthcare environment.
   • Introduction to nursing practice: Health care delivery system. Nurse care planning: theory and evidence based practice.
2. Critical thinking in nursing practice.
   • Nursing process and assessment: Physical, mental and nutritional. Skin integrity and wound care.
3. Professional standards in nursing practice.
   • Communication. Documentation and informatics.
   • Patient education. Legal and ethical principles.
4. Caring throughout the lifespan.
   • Health and wellness: health/illness continuum, culture & ethnicity. Development across the lifespan: Basic human needs.
5. Foundation for nursing practice.
   • Patient safety, workforce body mechanics. Infection prevention and control.
   • Health assessment and physical examination. Pharmacology.
   • Medication administration.
6. Physiological basis for nursing practice.
   • Hygiene. Urinary and bowel elimination.
   • Fluid, electrolytes and acid-base balance.
7. Psychosocial basis for nursing practice.
   • Self-concept. Sexuality and gender identification.
   • Grief, stress and coping across the lifespan.