Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Conduct an age and culturally appropriate health assessment and interpret health data focusing on physiologic, developmental, and behavioral parameters of the disease trajectory, normal childbirth, and acute exacerbations of chronic conditions and their resolution, and the patient response to acute conditions/processes.

2. Develop plans of care that are family/patient-centered and developmentally and culturally appropriate, using evidence including clinical practice guidelines and integrative literature reviews to implement care plans safely for patients with common acute conditions/processes including:

• manage common symptoms such as acute pain and acute anxiety,
•  follow evidence-based protocols for procedures and performing skills safely,
• use expected illness trajectory to implement patient-centered plans of care,
• monitor progress toward recovery, occurrence of complications, and patient's response to interventions.

3. Identify potential legal and ethical issues related to patient-centered decision-making and informed consent in acute care settings.

4.  Apply ANA Code of Ethics and Nursing Values to care of clients.

5. Use therapeutic communication skills in the development of relationships with patients, families, and the care team.

6. Identify roles of the nurse within the healthcare team and roles of all members of the healthcare team, patients, and families.  

7. Discuss the need for delegation of patient care with experienced nurses.

8. Demonstrate professional behaviors in all interactions with members of the healthcare team including peers, faculty, and staff.

Discussion groups

Required Readings
Clinical evaluation
Project/Papers
Multiple choice exams
Lab performance evaluation

Clinical performance evaluation

Papers/Project Rubrics
Multiple choice exams
Lab performance evaluation

Themes, Concepts and Issues;

Environments of Care

Illness trajectory

Clinical Judgment Model

Care Planning

Communication

Teaching

Legal

Ethical

Evidence-based best practices

Delegation

Roles within the health care team

Skills: This is not an exhaustive list but is a minimum skill set to be completed anytime throughout  NRS 110, NRS 111 or NRS 112

Principles of Infection control & PPE

Handwashing

Isolation technique

 Body mechanics

 Client/environment safety, bed making

Vital signs & SpO2 (pulse oximetry)

Height & Weight

Basic ‘head to toe’ physical assessment

Health History interviewing (across the lifespan)

Client hygiene

Client Skin Care & Pressure Ulcer Prevention

Safe patient handling: positioning, transfers & mobilizing

Client range of motion

Client’s ADLs, mobility, fall risk

Nutrition and elimination procedures, I&O

Pain Assessment & Management: Acute & Chronic

Nursing Documentation

Capillary Blood Glucose Measurement

Diabetic Care (skin, foot, oral, illness, eyes)

Intramuscular Injection sites

Subcutaneous and Intradermal Injections sites

Insulin preparation/injection

Medication calculation

Medication administration: Topical (skin, ear, eye, rectal), Oral, Inhaled

Intravenous Therapy and Regulation – Peripheral

Peripheral Intermittent IV Therapy via Secondary Infusion (piggyback)

Peripheral saline lock flush

NGT insertion and maintenance

Postpartum/newborn assessment

Sterile Technique

Perioperative Care – Pre/Post Suture, Staple, & Clip removal

Wound Care Drains: JP, Hemovac, Penrose,T-tube

Urinary Catheter insertion, maintenance and removal

Bladder Scan