Nursing Art and Science: Acute Health Challenges

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
NURS 2211
Descriptive
Nursing Art and Science: Acute Health Challenges
Department
Nursing
Faculty
Health Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
36
Contact Hours
4.0 hours/week
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning Activities

It is the intent of faculty to facilitate student learning, and promote critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoning through a variety of interactive learning processes such as lecture, client-based studies, group discussion and electronic resources.

Course Description
In this course, students are introduced to the nurse’s role in caring for adults with common and predictable acute health challenges. Students build on previously learned knowledge and integrate new knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for the provision of safe, competent and compassionate nursing care for adults with an emphasis on those preparing for, undergoing, or recovering from surgery.
Course Content

In this course, common and predictable acute health challenges in the adult population with a focus on clients preparing for, undergoing and recovering from surgery are the foci of discussion. Concepts and essential content that will be addressed relative to these topics are listed below.  In addition, the core curriculum concepts are integrated in this course.   

Adults

  • Growth and developmental considerations
  • Geriatric considerations
  • Common and predictable acute health challenges
  • Health challenges requiring surgical intervention
  • Perioperative considerations

Nursing care

  • Preparing for surgery
  • Undergoing surgery
  • Recovering from surgery
  • Planning
  • Decision-making
  • Unpredictability

Pain

  • Management
  • Physical, psycho-social, spiritual

Anxiety and fear

  • Hospitalization
  • Separation
  • Courage
  • Trauma
  • Disfigurement
  • Dying

Vulnerability

  • Fatigue
  • Risk for infection
  • Loss of consciousness 
  • Mobility/immobility
  • Control
  • Hardiness
  • Resilience

Safety

  • Client/family safety
  • Nurses’ work environment

Teaching and learning

  • Preoperative
  • Postoperative
  • Discharge planning

Legal responsibilities

  • Client rights
  • Advocacy
  • Confidentiality
  • Informed consent
  • Reporting and documentation
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, successful students will be able to:

 

  • Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for safe, competent, compassionate, and evidence-informed nursing care for adults with common and predictable acute health challenges with an emphasis on adults preparing for, undergoing, or recovering from surgery.
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate nursing practice decisions through critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoning in planning care for adults with common and predictable acute health challenges within a surgical context.
  • Apply previously learned knowledge and integrate new knowledge from a variety of sources including knowledge derived from nursing practice with clients (individual and family) to expand their understanding of peoples’ experiences of health challenges and nursing care.
  • Reflect on the role of the nurse as a member of an inter-professional team working with adults experiencing common and predictable acute health challenges in a surgical context.
Means of Assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Evaluation Policy.  A course evaluation schedule and other course evaluation information are provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.  This is a graded course. 

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. 

Prerequisites

NURS 2111 AND NURS 2112 AND NURS 2113 AND NURS 2114 AND NURS 2116

Students in the BSN program are required to maintain a passing grade of 65% (C+) in all courses in order to progress in the program.

Corequisites
Which Prerequisite