NGR 6255
COURSE SYLLABUS
PAGE 1
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
COLLEGE OF NURSING
COURSE SYLLABUS
SUMMER 2012
COURSE NUMBER
NGR 6255, Section #7717
COURSE TITLE
Advanced Nursing Care of the Older Adult
CREDITS
2
PLACEMENT
Required Course in Adult Nurse Practitioner and Medical-Surgical
Clinical Nurse Specialist Tracks
Elective Course for all other Tracks
PREREQUISITES
NGR 6241:
NGR 6241L:
Adult Nursing: Common Health Problems
Adult Nurse Practitioner: Common Health Problems
Laboratory
OR:
NGR 6245L: Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist: Common Health
Problems Laboratory
NGR 6172:
Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice
Nursing
OR:
Permission of the Instructor
PRE/CO-REQUISITES
NGR 6244:
NGR 6244L:
OR:
NGR 6246L:
FACULTY
Adult Nursing: Chronic Health Problems
Adult Nurse Practitioner: Chronic Health Problems
Laboratory
Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist: Chronic Health
Problems Laboratory
OFFICE
Laura Sutton, PhD, ACNS-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor
lsutton@ufl.edu
HPNP
3228
PHONE
352-273-6358 (office)
OFFICE HOURS
Tues –10:00 – 12:00 pm
By appointment
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Joyce Stechmiller PhD
ACNP-BC, FAAN
Associate Professor
stechjk@ufl.edu
HPNP
3222
352-273-6370 (office)
By Appointment
Jacksonville CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Andrea Gregg, DSN, RN
gregga@ufl.edu
Jacksonville
(904) 244-5172
NGR 6255 – Summer 2012 – CON Website – Final Copy
By appointment
2
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides the student with knowledge to care for the health
care problems that result from normal and pathologic aging. The emphasis will be on gaining the
knowledge necessary to prevent, diagnose and manage both acute and chronic age-related health problems.
The focus is on management of older adults from diverse backgrounds with health problems that are
caused or exacerbated by the processes of normal and pathologic aging in the primary care setting.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Integrate knowledge from health, psychological, and social sciences in the clinical reasoning
process and advanced nursing management of older adults with health problems related to normal
or pathologic aging.
2. Develop diagnostic plans based on holistic health assessment data for older adults with health
problems related to normal or pathologic aging.
3. Utilize critical thinking and current research to develop management plans for disease prevention
and treatment of older adults with health problems related to normal or pathologic aging.
4. Formulate strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion, disease prevention, and
management plans in older adults with health problems related to normal or pathologic aging.
COURSE SCHEDULE – Web-Based Course
E-Learning (Sakai) is the course management system that you will use for this course. E-Learning (Sakai)
is accessed by using your Gatorlink account name and password at http://lss.at.ufl.edu. There are several
tutorials and student help links on the E-Learning login site. If you have technical questions call the UF
Computer Help Desk at 352-392-HELP or send email to helpdesk@ufl.edu.
It is important that you regularly and frequently check your Gatorlink account email for College and
University wide information and the course E-Learning site for announcements and notifications.
Course websites are generally made available on the Friday before the first day of classes.
WEB BASED LECTURE, DISCUSSIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
This course uses web-based, asynchronous lectures and discussions. The Weekly class sessions begin on
Wednesday at 8am and end on the following Tuesday at 8pm (With the exception of the first week which
begins Monday, May 14 at 8:00 am).
Students are expected to participate in the activities and discussions as listed in the course syllabus and on
the course web-site. Timeframes for the posting and receiving of materials are listed in the course materials
on the course web-site.
ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO DISABILITY
Each semester, students are responsible for requesting a memorandum from the Office for Students with
Disabilities to notify faculty of their requested individual accommodations. This should be done at the
start of the semester.
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STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are to refer to the College of Nursing Student Handbook for information about College of
Nursing policies, honor code, and professional behavior.
TOPICAL OUTLINE
1. Theories of aging (physiologic, psychological, social)
2. Aspects of assessment, diagnostic testing and pharmacology unique to the older adult.
3. Prevention, diagnosis and management of the most common health problems caused or
exacerbated by the processes of normal and pathologic aging focusing on an adaptive rather than
curative approach:
a. Cognitive impairment
b. Genito-urinary alterations
c. Musculoskeletal problems
d. Mental health alterations
e. Symptom management
i. Pain
ii. Fatigue
iii. Altered sleep
iv. Inadequate nutrition
f. Sensori-neuro problems
g. End-of-life issues
TEACHING METHODS
Class online lectures, interactive online discussion, case studies, audiovisuals, application of evidence to
practice.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Case study presentations, reflection paper, participation in discussion and web assignments.
EVALUATION METHODS/COURSE GRADE CALCULATION
(See e-Learning Sakai website for course for specific guidelines)
Participation
Online discussions
Case study presentations
Reflection paper
45%
40%
15%
4
Grading Scale
Letter Grade
Percentage
A
95-100
A93-94
B+
91-92
B
84-90
B82-83
C+
80-81
C
74-79*
C72-73
D+
70-71
D
64-69
D62-63
E
61 or below
*74 is the minimal passing grade
Quality Points
4.0
3.67
3.33
3.0
2.67
2.33
2.0
1.67
1.33
1.0
0.67
0.0
REQUIRED TEXTS
None
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Ham, R., Sloane, P., Warshaw, W., Bernard, M., & Flaherty, E. (2007) Primary care geriatrics: A
case-based approach (5th ed). Philadelphia, PA: Mosby-Elsevier.
Hirth, V., Wieland, D., * Dever-Bumba, M. (2010). Case-based geriatrics: A global approach. New
York: McGraw Hill Medical. Available in print and electronic.
Touhy, T. & Jett, K. (2012). Ebersole & Hess’ Toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing
response (8th ). St. Louis, MO.: Elsevier-Mosby.
Reuben, D., Herr, K., Pacala, J. Pollock, B., Potter, J., & Semla, T.. (2012). Geriatrics at your
fingertips (14th ed) [Online version]. Retrieved from http://www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org/
2012 version (14th ed) available online and download versions in April, 2012.
All texts required for:
 NGR 6002C: Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
 NGR 6140: Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
 NGR 6172: Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing
 NGR 6052C: Adult Nursing: Diagnostics & Procedures
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WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE
DATE
May 16
May 23
May 30
TOPIC/EVALUATION
Course overview:
Theories and issues of aging
Health promotion: Geriatric syndromes
ASSIGNMENTS
Dr. Sutton
Role of Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in Primary
Care
Health assessment of the older adult: physical assessment,
psychosocial, spiritual assessment, health promotion
needs, diagnostics
Functional decline and frailty: Nutrition and Immobility
Dr. Sutton
Case Study #1
Caregivers
June 6
June 13
June 27
July 4
July 5
July 11
Dr. Sutton
Dr. Sutton
Reflection paper
Elder Abuse and Neglect
Dr. Jett
Medication Management
Case Study #2
Cognitive impairment – Delirium, Dementia
June 20
FACULTY
Dr. Rowe
Case Study #3
Mental Health Alterations
Dr. Neff
Dr. Sutton
Summer Break (June 25-29)
July 4th Holiday –
Assignments due on
July 5.
Symptom Management: Sleep Disorders - Fatigue
Symptom management: Immobility and Pain
Case Study #4
Case Study #5
Symptom management: Hearing and Vision Problems
July 18
Dr. Sutton
Dr. Sutton
Dr. Coburn
Case Study #6
Dr. Sutton
Complementary Medicine
July 25
Aug 1
Older Adult Drivers
Incontinence/Sexual Dysfunction
Case Study #7
Dr. Yoon
Case Study #8
Dr. Sutton
Ethics/End-of-Life Issues
Last class
NOTE: There may be additional readings from selected journal articles and Websites.
Aug 8
Approved: Academic Affairs Committee:
Faculty:
UF Curriculum:
4/02
9/02
1/03
Dr. Jett