RNSG 1517 – CONCEPTS OF NURSING PRACTICE I FOR ARTICULATING STUDENTS
Course Description:
This course provides the articulating student the opportunity to examine the role of the professional
nurse as provider of patient-centered care, patient safety advocate, member of health care team, and
member of profession nurse; application of a systematic problem solving process and critical thinking
skills which includes a focus on the adult population in selected settings; and identify ethical and legal
principles in professional nursing practice.
Prerequisites: BIOL 2304, BIOL 2101, BIOL 2305, BIOL 2102, MATH 1332, HPRS 2300, BIOL 2420,
and RNSG 1105.
Corequisite: 1263,1140,1170
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course the student will 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 adult patients /families
with complex health care needs.
2. Integrate the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications,
therapeutic interventions for patients /families with complex health needs.
3. Interpret the four roles of the professional nurse when planning patient-centered care
for adult patients and families with complex health needs.
4. Develop teaching plans that assist adult patients and their families to meet their needs for
health maintenance, promotion, and /or restoration.
5. Integrate 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. Analyze 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. Analyze the principles of therapeutic communication that facilitate interactions with patients
and health care members.
10. Analyze use of technology when communicating and managing information to support decision
making to improve care for individuals and their families.
11. Analyze the guidelines and responsibilities associated with delegation of nursing care.
12. Analyze measures that promote the development and practice of professional nursing.
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COURSE CONTENT
Module - Overview of Professional Nursing:
 History of Nursing
 Roles and Functions of the Nurse
 Nursing Specialties
Module - Legal/Ethical
 Torts
 Negligence
 Malpractice
 Licensure
 Texas Nurse Practice Act
 Board of Nurse Examiners
 Standards of Professional Practice
 Unprofessional Conduct
 Patient Advocacy
Module - Psychosocial Need
 Assessment
 Coping and Defense Mechanisms
 Anxiety
 Nurse/Client Relationship
 Therapeutic Communication Techniques
 Health Teaching
 Psychiatric Principles
 Cultural Considerations
Module - Stress
 Physiological Responses
 Interventions
Module - Loss, Grief, Death and Dying
 Grief, Bereavement and Mourning
 Loss
 Grief Resolution – Theories
 Advance Directives
 End of Life Issues
 Dying Person’s Bill of Rights
 Definition of Death
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Male with Urinary and Reproductive Disorders
Problems with Prostate:
 BPH
 Prostate cancer
 Prostatitis
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Testicular Cancer
Erectile disjunction
Renal cancer
 Urinary diversions
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for 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 – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with a Reproductive Disorder
Breast Disorders:
Fibrocystic breast
Breast Cancer
Female Reproductive Disorders:
 Menstrual Disorders
 Menopause
 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
 PCOS
 Problems with pelvic support
 Cystocele/rectocele
Female Cancer
Cervical, Endometrial, Ovarian, Vaginal, vulvar
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with a Sexually Transmitted Disease
Infection Diseases:
 STD’s
o Chlamydia/ Gonorrhea
o Syphilis
o Genital Herpes
o Genital Warts
 HIV/AIDS
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances
 Fluid Spacing
 Intake and Output
 Fluid Volume Deficit
 Fluid Volume Excess
 Hypo and Hypernatremia
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

Hypo and Hyperkalemia
Hypo and Hypercalcemia
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with Cancer
 Fisk Factors
 Pathophysiology
 Manifestations
 Diagnostic Tests
 Treatments
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with Pain
 Pain Experience
 Physiology
 Assessment
 Tolerance vs Dependency
 Interventions
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Aging Individual
 Delirium vs Dementia
 Theories
 Age Related Physical Changes
 Alzheimer’s Disease
Module – Nursing Care of the Individual with Acid-Base Imbalances
 Respiratory Acidosis
 Respiratory Alkalosis
 Interpreting Arterial Blood Gases
Module – Nursing Care of the Individual with Diabetes
 Type I and Type II
 Metabolic Acidosis
 Metabolic Alkalosis
Module 18 – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with a Gastrointestinal Disorder
Upper GI:
Nausea & vomiting
Esophageal disorders
 GERD
 Hiatal hernia
Stomach
 Gastritis
 Peptic ulcer disease
Lower GI
Diarrhea
Fecal incontinence/ Constipation
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Gastroenteritis
Peritonitis
Intestinal obstruction
Diverticulitis, Diverticulosis
Hemorrhoids
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Crohn’s disease
 Ulcerative colitis
Colostomy
Gall Bladder and Pancreas:
 Cholelithiasis/ Cholecystitis
 Acute Pancreatitis
GI Cancers:
 Oral
 Esophageal
 Gastric
 Colorectal
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with a Cardiovascular Disorder
Hypertension
Heart Failure
Coronary artery disease
 Angina
 Myocardial Infarction
Peripheral Artery Disease
 Disease of lower extremities
 Raynaud’s
 Thromnboangiitis obliterans
Venous Disorders
 DVT
 Thrombophlebitis
Module – Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with a Respiratory Disorder
Upper Respiratory
Influenza
Lower Respiratory
Pneumonia
Fungal infections (brief)
Lung Abscess (brief)
Head and neck cancer
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 Laryngectomy
 Radical Neck Surgery
Lung Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
 Chronic Bronchitis
 Emphysema
 Asthma
Module - Evidence Based Practice:
 Nursing Research
 Research and Theory
 Evidenced Based Practice
 Evaluating Research
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