RNSG 1341 Common Concepts of Adult Health
Course Description
This course focuses on the basic integration of the role of the professional nurse as a provider of
patient-centered care, patient safety advocate, member of health care team, and member of the
profession. It continues with the study of the common concepts of caring for selected adult patients and
families in structured settings with medical-surgical health care needs related to selected body systems,
emphasizing knowledge judgment, skills, and professional values within a legal/ethical framework.
Prerequisites: RNSG 1413 and RNSG 1160.
Corequisite: RNSG 1161.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:
1. Utilize clinical reasoning and the nursing process guided by evidence based practice as a
framework for nursing decisions in meeting the health care needs of adults and families with
common health needs related to selected body systems.
2. Examine the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications,
therapeutic interventions for patients /families with common health needs.
3. Examine the four roles of the professional nurse when providing patient-centered care to adults
and families with common health needs related to selected body systems.
4. Describe teaching and learning principles in planning care to assist adult patients and their
families to meet their needs for health maintenance, promotion, and /or restoration.
5. Incorporate legal principles from governing and accrediting agencies and ethical guidelines
when planning patient- centered nursing care.
6. Formulate goals and outcomes that promote quality and a risk free, safe environment for all
individuals.
7. Demonstrate competence and safety in the performance of selected nursing skills.
8. Examine the role of a health care advocate when collaborating with members of the
interdisciplinary health team determining resources that facilitate continuity of care; health
promotion, maintenance, and restoration.
9. Examine the principles of therapeutic communication that facilitate interactions with patients
and health care members.
10. Examine the use of technology when communicating and managing information to support
decision making to improve care for individuals and their families.
11. Discuss the guidelines and responsibilities associated with delegation of nursing care.
12. Examine measures that promote the development and practice of professional nursing.
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Course Content
Module - Nursing Care of the Individual experiencing Pain
 Acute pain vs chronic pain
 Physiology of Pain
 Types of pain
 Effects of unrelieved pain
 Assessment of pain
 Pharmacological and Nonpharmacologic management
 Nursing role and responsibilities
 Team approach
 Ethical and legal issues
Module 2 - Nursing Care of the individual with Pre- and Post-operative Needs
 Preop ends with transfer to OR
 Post op begins with transfer to PACU
Preoperative
 Purposes and settings for surgery
 Preoperative nursing assessment
 Data related to preoperative status and operative risk
 Physical, psychological, and educational preparation for surgery
 Purposes and types of preoperative medications
 Special considerations for the elderly
1. Ethical/legal - informed consent for surgery
 Coordination of the health care team
Postoperative
 Initial postanesthesia assessment (PACU)
 Nursing responsibilities on admission to PACU
 Assessment and management of problems in PACU
 Initial nursing assessment and management on transfer to general nursing unit
 Assessment and management of problems during postoperative period
 Common complications in PACU; malignant hyperthermia
 Teaching and discharge planning for the post op patient
Module - Nursing Care of the Individual with Diabetes Mellitus
 Etiology and pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of diabetes mellitus
o normal insulin metabolism
o type 1
o type 2
o secondary
 diagnostic studies
 insulin therapy and oral agents
 nutritional therapy
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


exercise
monitoring blood glucose
Nursing management; teaching and home care; Coordination of health care team
Module - Nursing care of the Individual with a Gastrointestinal Disorder
Upper GI
 Nausea and vomiting
 Esophageal disorders
o GERD
 Hiatal hernia
 Stomach and upper small intestine
o Gastritis
o Peptic ulcer disease (bilroth 1 and bilroth 2 in level 2)
Lower GI
 Diarrhea
 Fecal incontinence Constipation
 Gastroenteritis
 Peritonitis
 Intestinal obstruction
 Diverticulitis, Diverticulosis
 Hemorrhoids
Module - Nursing care of the Individual with an Integumentary Disorder
 Skin cancers
 Cellulitis
 Psoriasis
 Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Module - Nursing care of the Individual with a Urinary Disorder
Infectious disease
 Urinary Tract Infection
 Acute pyelonephritis
 Interstitial cystitis
Obstructive uropathies
 Urinary calculi including Surgery for calculi
Urinary incontinence and Retention
Module - Nursing care of the Individual with a Respiratory Disorder
 Upper Respiratory
o
Influenza
 Lower Respiratory
o Acute bronchitis
o Pneumonia
o Fungal infections (brief)
o Lung Abscess (brief)
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Module - Nursing care of the Individual with a Cardiovascular Disorder
 Hypertension
 Heart Failure
Module - Nursing care of the Individual with a Neurological Disorder
 Alzheimer’s disease
 CVA
Module -Coordinator of Care
Module -Member of the Profession
 Legal and Ethical
Labs
1. Wound Care - acute and chronic wound care, staples, sutures
Wounds and wound healing
1. wound healing
2. delayed healing
3. stages of decubitus
4. chronic wound management
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