Jewel L. McKinnon, BSN, RN

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Nancy Cobb, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD, CNE

Carol Haus, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD, CNE

This 10 week course is the first in a series of three courses that form a foundation for the practice of professional nursing.  The focus of this course is on the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to assess the basic health care needs of the individual client.  Interviewing, communication skills, and physical exam skills are the primary tools used in the collection of data.  Health Patterns are the basis for assessment of clients in various age groups and developmental levels in a variety of practice settings.  Critical thinking skills are utilized in the data collection process.  Concepts related to the nurse's role in disease prevention and health promotion are introduced to achieve the goal of promoting healthy lifestyles of individuals.  Holism is introduced and includes the concepts of health, human needs theory (Maslow) and developmental theories (Erikson, Piaget, Freud).  The concept of accountability is introduced in relation to both personal and professional responsibilities.  A basic introduction to various types of healthcare systems as they relate to the three levels of prevention is provided.  Clinical experience emphasizes the practice of assessment skills and basic nursing skills in both practice and clinical simulation settings.

Course curriculum includes:

• Activity and Exercise

• Age-Related Safety
• Elimination Lab
• Head/Neck/Neurological/Abdominal Assessment
• Hygiene and Comfort
• Vital Signs Assessment

Learning Objectives:

• To learn the proper techniques for transferring patients from the bed to the wheel chair and how to properly position patients in bed.
• To gain an understanding of the application of limbs and vest restraints and restraint use with patients
• To assess various methods/devices for accurately measuring intake and output.
• To perform comprehensive abdominal and cranial nerve assessments.
• To learn the proper technique for giving a patient a bed bath and how to make up an occupied & unoccupied bed.
• To accurately identify thoracic landmarks; auscultate lung and heart sounds; assess normal vital sign ranges; and utilize proper techniques when obtaining vital signs.

Audience:

• WPH SON Nursing Students