Chabot College
Fall 2011
Replaced Fall 2012
Course Outline for Nursing 55
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
Catalog Description:
Nursing 55 - Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
8.5 Units
Introduction to fundamental concepts and practices in nursing care across the life span with emphasis on
later-life issues. Application of the nursing process to the care of adult clients with the following chronic
disorders: Hypertension, Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Artery Disease, and Cerebrovascular
Accidents, and the acute processes of pneumonia and influenza. Beginning nursing skills include:
principles of medical asepsis, body mechanics, standard precautions, hygienic and nutritional care, basic
assessment, and administration of fluids and medications. Theoretical content provides overview of the
care of clients with diverse cultural backgrounds and spiritual needs as well as principles of therapeutic
communication and mental health. Concepts related to the California Nursing Practice Act, as well as
principles of safe clinical practice will be included. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Nursing Program.
Corequisites: Nursing 69, Nursing 61, Nursing 58, Nursing 56, Nursing 74. 4 hours lecture; 11.5 hours
clinical practice, 2 hours laboratory.
[Typical Contact Hours: Lecture 70, clinical 262.5, laboratory 35]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
Theoretical Outcomes:
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identify and describe the scientific principles that form the basis for assessments and nursing
interventions which assist the client’s adaptation to the following conditions:
a. hypertension;
b. cerebrovascular accident;
c. diabetes mellitus;
d. cancer;
e. coronary artery disease;
f. influenza and pneumonia
describe and apply the components of the nursing process;
discuss principles of safety involved in client care;
identify and apply principles of medical asepsis and infection control;
integrate concepts related to cultural diversity, spirituality and therapeutic communication in client care;
describe principles of administration of fluids and medications to clients
discuss principles of mental health, defense mechanisms and stress management.
Clinical Outcomes:
1. demonstrate the following nursing skills in the Skills Laboratory or Clinical area:
a. hygienic care (bed bath, bed making, oral care);
b. assessment of vital signs;
c. nutritional care, including providing oral and enteral feedings;
d. collection of specimens and analysis of findings;
e. hand hygiene;
f. principles of body mechanics;
g. positioning/lifting/transferring the client to or from bed/chair;
h. accurate documentation of intake and output;
i. physical head-to-toe assessment of the client, including normal physiological changes
across the life span;
j. administration of oxygen;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Nursing 55, Page 2
Fall 2011
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administration of medications by oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical and
enteral routes;
administration of intravenous fluids, including calculation of IV drip rates;
basic principles of surgical asepsis;
safe application of restraints;
ability to work with chronically ill clients of diverse cultural and racial background
in the clinical area.
Course Content:
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Nursing process
Safety and mobility of clients
Medical and surgical asepsis
Provision of basic care to the client
Cultural diversity
Communication skills
Introduction to cultural diversity and communication issues in the clinical setting
Selected medical diagnoses
Methods of Presentation:
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Lecture/discussion
Audio/Visual aids
Assigned readings
Skills laboratory simulations
Nursing care plans
Clinical practice
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
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Written tests
Satisfactory performance in Skills Laboratory and Clinical practice
Skills exam
Group presentation
Research paper
Textbooks (Typical):
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, 7th Edition, Potter/Perry, Elsevier/Mosby, 2009.
Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 12th edition. Smeltzer, et. al. Lippincott,
2010.
Mosby’s Drug Reference, Skidmore-Roth. Elsevier, 2011.
Lab and Diagnostic Tests, Pagana and Pagana, Elsevier, 2009.
Special Student Materials:
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Rev. 9/10 cg
Lab coat and uniforms
Stethoscope
Watch with sweep second-hand
Goggles