Chabot College
Fall 2008
Replaced Fall 2011
Course Outline for Nursing 55
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
Catalog Description:
55 - Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
8.5 units
Introduction to fundamental concepts and practices in nursing care across the life span.
Application of the nursing process to the care of adult clients with the following chronic
disorders: Hypertension, Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Artery Disease, Cerebrovascular
Accidents, Congestive Heart Failure, Thyroid Disorders and Influenza. Beginning nursing skills
include: principles of medical asepsis, body mechanics, standard precautions, hygienic and
nutritional care, administration of medications, interpretation of laboratory results and beginning
IV skills. Theoretical content provides overview of the care of clients with diverse cultural
backgrounds and spiritual needs, principles of therapeutic communication and mental health, and
legal and ethical considerations in the provision of nursing care. Prerequisite: Acceptance into
the Nursing Program. 4 hours lecture; 13.5 hours clinical practice.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 70, clinical 236.25]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
Theoretical:
1. Identify and describe the scientific principles that form the basis for assessments and
nursing interventions which assist the clients’ adaptation to the following conditions:
a. hypertension
b. cerebrovascular accident
c. diabetes mellitus
d. cancer
e. coronary artery disease
f. congestive heart failure
g. Thyroid disease
h. Influenza and Pneumonia
2. Discuss specific issues related to diverse cultural and racial populations across the life
span and their impact on development and treatment of the following illnesses:
hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes mellitus, cancer, coronary artery disease;
3. Describe and apply the components of the nursing process;
4. Discuss principles of safety involved in client care;
5. Identify and apply principles of medical asepsis and infection control;
6. Integrate concepts related to cultural diversity, spirituality and therapeutic
communication in client care;
7. Describe principles of administration of medications with implications for the elderly
client;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Nursing 55, Page 2
Fall 2008
8. Discuss principles of mental health, defense mechanisms and stress management.
9. Identify essential legal and ethical considerations in the provision of nursing care
Expected Outcomes for Students (continued):
Clinical:
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. Beginning IV skills (IV set-up, changing IV fluids, fluid administration)
e. Collection of specimens and analysis of findings;
f. Handwashing;
g. Principles of body mechanics;
h. Positioning/lifting/transferring the client to or from bed/chair;
i. Observe and document intake and output;
j. Basic physical assessment skills;
l. Administration of medications by oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical and
enteral routes;
m. Interpretation of laboratory results
n. Administration of oxygen therapy
o. Principles of surgical and medical asepsis;
p. Safe application of restraints;
q. Ability to work with chronically ill older clients of diverse cultural and racial
background in the clinical area.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Nursing process
Safety and mobility of clients
Asepsis and infection control
Provision of nursing care to the client
Introduction to cultural diversity and communication issues in the clinical setting
Selected medical diagnoses
Legal and ethical issues in the provision of nursing care
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lecture/discussion
Audiovisual aids
Assignments
Skills laboratory simulations
Clinical practice
Chabot College
Course Outline for Nursing 55, Page 3
Fall 2008
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Write a research paper on patient safety
b. Write a nursing care plan or mind map on each patient assigned.
c. List priority nursing interventions for patients assigned
d. Analyze a research article on a patient with diabetes mellitus.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Written exams
b. Research project
c. Satisfactory performance in Skills Lab and clinical practice
d. Final exam
Textbooks (typical):
1. Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Potter and Perry, Elsevier/Mosby, 8th edition, 2005
or most recent edition
2. Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care, Elsevier/Mosby,
Ignatavicius & Workman, 5th edition, 2006 or most recent edition
Special Student Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lab coat and uniforms
Stethoscope
Watch with second-hand
Goggles
Provide own transportation to clinical sites
Access to computer, internet and printer