Health Assessment: Adults and Older Adults
Curriculum guideline
It is the intent of faculty to facilitate student learning, and promote critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoning through the use of active experiential learning strategies including simulation, online learning activities, and laboratory practice.
In this course, the physical assessment of adults and older adults, and a variety of basic psychomotor skills used in nursing practice with adults and older adults are the focus of discussion. The concepts and essential content that will be addressed relative to these topics are listed below. In addition, the core curriculum concepts are integrated in this course.
Holistic health assessment of adults and older adults with a focus on physical assessment
- Comprehensive assessment
- Focused assessment
- Ongoing, continuous and episodic assessment (introduction)
- Observation, history taking
- Inspection, palpation, and auscultation
Psychomotor skills commonly used in caring for clients who are adults and older adults (basic)
- Purpose
- Principles
- Engaging with clients
- Assessment
- Planning
- Safety
- Implementation
- Rationale
- Evaluation
Safe work practices
Environmentally responsible practice
Reporting and documenting assessments and psychomotor skills
At the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:
- Demonstrate the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for basic comprehensive and focused physical assessment of adults and older adults.
- Demonstrate the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for the safe implementation of a variety of basic psychomotor skills commonly used in nursing practice with adults and older adults.
- Demonstrate the integration and application of course and other nursing knowledge in simulated nursing practice experiences.
The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Evaluation Policy. A course evaluation schedule and other course evaluation information are provided on the instructor’s course outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. This is a graded course.
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the instructor’s course outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.
Students in the BSN program are required to maintain a passing grade of 65% (C+) in all courses in order to progress in the program.