NUR-1020 Foundations of Nursing Practice

Credits 7
This course introduces major nursing concepts and skills while incorporating the nursing process to promote safe client care. These concepts include clinical judgement, client safety, and end of life care. Emphasis in this course is on learning and applying nursing theory and practice that supports a safe and effective care environment including the client’s physiological and psychological integrity, as well as health promotion and dosage calculations for safe medication administration. Course requirements include weekly lecture, skills lab, and supervised clinical experiences. Clinicals are on-campus and off-campus at hospitals and long-term care facilities. After successful completion of this course, students can progress to the second semester of the Nursing (RN) A.S. program or Nursing (LPN) Certificate curriculum.
Prerequisite(s): Please refer to admission criteria as noted in the catalog.
15 weeks/3.5 class/8 clinical/2 lab hours.
Course Outcomes

Demonstrate nursing care and clinical judgement that maintains client safety and infection control.
Perform client physical and health assessment, including vital signs.
Identify communication skills which facilitate the therapeutic relationship with the client.
Identify the effects of the aging process on clients’ physiologic and psychosocial integrity.
Implement interventions to maintain client oxygenation.
Implement interventions to promote client health including nutrition, hydration, fluid and electrolyte.
Implement interventions to promote elimination.
Implement interventions to promote comfort and manage clients’ pain.
Implement interventions to promote client health and comfort including rest and sleep.
Discuss the disease process of hypertension and diabetes.
Identify care of clients at the end of life or experiencing loss.
Apply mathematical concepts to dosage calculation to ensure client safety.