Nursing Art and Science: Acute Health Challenges
Curriculum guideline
It is the intent of faculty to facilitate student learning, and promote critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoning through a variety of interactive learning processes such as lecture, client-based studies, group discussion and electronic resources.
In this course, common and predictable acute health challenges in the adult population with a focus on clients preparing for, undergoing and recovering from surgery are the foci of discussion. 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.
Adults
- Growth and developmental considerations
- Common and predictable acute health challenges
People’s experiences of health challenges requiring surgical intervention
- Preparation for surgery
- Undergoing surgery
- Recovering from surgery
- Geriatric considerations
Nursing care
- Peri-operative
- Planning
- Decision-making
- Unpredictability
Pain
- Management
- Physical
- Psycho-social, spiritual
Anxiety and fear
- Hospitalization
- Separation
- Courage
- Trauma
- Disfigurement
- Dying
Vulnerability
- Fatigue
- Risk for infection
- Loss of consciousness
- Mobility/immobility
- Control
- Hardiness
- Resilience
Safety
- Client/family safety
- Nurses’ work environment
Teaching and Learning
- Preoperative
- Postoperative
- Discharge planning
Legal Responsibilities
- Client rights
- Advocacy
- Confidentiality
- Informed consent
- Reporting and documentation
At the end of this course, successful students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for safe, competent, compassionate, and evidence-informed nursing care for adults with common and predictable acute health challenges with an emphasis on adults preparing for, undergoing, or recovering from surgery.
- Demonstrate the ability to formulate nursing practice decisions through critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoning in planning care for adults with common and predictable acute health challenges within a surgical context.
- Apply previously learned knowledge and integrate new knowledge from a variety of sources including knowledge derived from nursing practice with clients (individual and family) to expand their understanding of peoples’ experiences of health challenges and nursing care.
- Reflect on the role of the nurse as a member of an inter-professional team working with adults experiencing common and predictable acute health challenges in a surgical context.
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.