Effective: 2023-08-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to expand on the role of the professional nurse in the healthcare environment in preparation for practice as a registered nurse.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: NSG 210 and NSG 211

Course Objectives

• Provide patient-centered care promoting therapeutic relationships, caring behaviors, and self-determination across the lifespan for diverse populations.
• Practice safe nursing care that minimizes risk of harm across systems and client populations.
• Integrate clinical judgment when collaborating with the healthcare team in the management of care for complex clients.
• Practice professional behaviors that encompass the legal/ethical framework while incorporating self-reflection, leadership and a commitment to recognize the value of life-long learning.
• Manage client care through quality improvement processes, information technology, and fiscal responsibility to meet client needs and support organizational outcomes.
• Demonstrate principles of collaborative practice within the nursing and interdisciplinary teams fostering mutual respect and shared decision-making to achieve optimal outcomes of care.
• Manage the principles of pharmacology to the identified concepts for clients with complex conditions across the lifespan.
• Manage the appropriateness, accuracy, and client response to pharmacology principles for clients with complex conditions.

Major Topics to be Included

• Management of Patient-Centered Care Concepts
• Patient advocacy, respect and caring
• Development of a patient centered plan of care
• Time management and workload organization
• Incorporation of evidence-based practices and technology in patient care
• Use of therapeutic communication skills
• Safety Concepts
• Safety and Infection Control implementation in patient care
• Incorporation of safety principles
• Use of safety enhancing technologies
• Incorporation of National Patient Safety Goals
• Nursing Judgment Concepts
• Develop an individualized plan of care based on patient values, clinical expertise and reliable evidence
• Recognize changes in patient status and intervene appropriately
• Apply clinical judgment to guide care
• Prioritize patient care accurately using relevant data and best evidence.
• Incorporate and value evidence-based practice, evaluate existing practices and seek creative approaches to problem solving
• Professionalism Concepts
• Ethical and Legal Issues in patient care
• Responsibility and accountability for delivering safe patient care
• Professional demeanor in interactions with patients, families and healthcare providers.
• Reflective thinking for the purpose of improving nursing practice.
• Initiating a plan for ongoing professional development
• Informatics and Quality Improvement Concepts
• Common quality measures encountered in clinical practice
• Technology and information management tools to support safe, patient care.
• Fiscal responsibility in the delivery of patient care
• Teamwork and Collaboration Concepts
• The effect nursing and other interdisciplinary team members have upon care processes and outcomes for patients and families within any healthcare setting
• Collaboration with members of the healthcare team
• Appreciation of different communication styles and cultural differences in team members.
• Management skills and principles of delegation
• Identification of own strengths and weaknesses to improve individual as well as team performance