NRS 222 - Nursing in Acute Care II and End-of-Life

5 Credit(s)

Prerequisite(s): NRS 221, NRS 221C

Course Description: Builds on Nursing in Acute Care I focusing on more complex and/or unstable patient care conditions, some of which may result in death. These patient care conditions require strong noticing and rapid decision-making skills. Evidence base is used to support appropriate focused assessments and effective, efficient nursing interventions. Life span and developmental factors, cultural variables, and legal aspects of care frame the ethical decision-making employed in patient choices for treatment or palliative care for disorders with an acute trajectory. Case scenarios incorporate prioritizing care needs, delegation and supervision, family and patient teaching for either discharge planning or end-of-life care. Exemplars include acute conditions affecting multiple body systems. Includes classroom and clinical learning experiences.

Course Level: Career/Tech Preparatory

Course Learning Outcomes:

CLO#1: Conduct evidence-based assessment, using age, developmental and culturally appropriate communication skills, specifically by:
• Monitoring a variety of data and accurately interpreting obvious deviations from expected patterns in increasingly complex acute conditions (e.g. co-morbidities, complications, high-risk pregnancies, acute psychosis, life threatening situations, diverse health beliefs);
• Recognizing potential problems and rapidly changing physiologic and behavioral situations;
• Recognizing pathophysiological changes and symptoms experienced by the patient which are associated with the dying process;
• Regularly monitoring patients’ level of comfort and ability to manage symptoms and symptom distress;
• Assessing family’s response to patient’s illness and,
• Recognizing impact of individual development, as well as family development and dynamics on physiologic and behavioral status.
CLO#2: Develop and use evidence-based, individualized, developmentally appropriate interventions that are dynamic and based on changing needs of patient and family.
CLO#3: Collaborate with health care team members to provide comfort and symptom management.
CLO#4: Develop discharge plans in collaboration with patient, family and health care team members.
CLO#5: Reflect on experiences in caring for patients with acute conditions.
CLO#6: Demonstrate correct application/continued competence in previously learned principles/nursing care skills/therapeutic measures including dosage calculations and medication administration. (ILO: Quantitative Literacy and Reasoning)