This course emphasizes the development of nursing skills aimed at promoting health and healing with individuals experiencing acute health challenges across the lifespan. A variety of approaches (eg. simualtion) will help learners build on theory and practice from Levels A and 3 (APN program) or Level 1, 2, and 3 (PN program) to integrate new knowledge and skills relevant to the acute care setting.
Hours: 180 (Lecture Hours: 75; Laboratory Hours: 105)
Prerequisites:
PNUR: 231, PNUR 232, PNUR 233, PNUR 235, PNUR 236
Non-Course Prerequisites:
None
Co-Requisites:
PNUR 240, PNUR: 241, PNUR 242, PNUR 243
Detailed Course Content, Topics and Sequence Covered:
Course outcomes will be met through examination and exploration of the following:
- Comprehensive holistic health assessment
- Clinical decision making
- Nursing interventions with clients experiencing acute illness
- Continuous bladder irrigation
- Risk management
- Principles of infection control
- Removing sutures, staples and drains; inserting and removing packing
- IV therapy II (converting IV to an intermittent infusion device, flushing an intermittent infusion device, discontinuing a peripheral
infusion device)
- IV insertion – theory/knowledge only
- Blood and blood products (checking client identification, monitoring infusion, responding to blood reactions)
- Initiation of blood and blood products – theory/knowledge only
- Maintaining, and removing nasogastric tubes
- Inserting nasogastric tubes – theory/knowledge only
- Management of chest tubes, epidural catheter, drainage tubes, suprapubic catheter, tracheostomy, ostomy:
- Care of the medical/surgical client
- Individualizing nursing care plans in acute care setting
- Medication Administration:
- client in the acute care setting
- Pain management:
- client in the acute care setting
- IV medication administration – theory/knowledge only
- Reporting and documentation in the acute care setting
- Leadership competencies
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, within the simulated learning environment, the learner will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of the Scope of Practice: Standard, Limits and Conditions (BCCNM), Entry-to-Practice Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurse (CCPNR, 2013), Professional Standards for LPNs (BCCNM) and Practice Standards (BCCNM, current editions) and how they guide the practice of LPNs in acute care settings.
2. Perform comprehensive nursing assessment and interventions including principles of medication administration with clients experiencing acute illness.
3. Apply critical thinking, clinical judgment and knowledge of assessment to plan, implement and evaluate care of clients experiencing acute illness.
4. Practice in collaboration with clients, the interprofessional healthcare team, peers and faculty.
5. Provide a caring environment for clients by connecting, sharing and exploring with them in a collaborative relationship.
6. Provide culturally safe, person-centred care that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual and is sensitive to culture and diversity.
7. Identify own values, biases, and assumptions as a self-reflective, responsible and accountable practitioner.
8. Identify own learning needs to enhance competence.
9. Demonstrate competency with mathematical drug calculations in client in the acute care setting.
10. Examine practical applications associated with leadership, management and followership.
Grading System: Percentage
Passing Grade: In order to pass this course, students require BOTH a grade of 75% on the theory portion of the course, AND mastery in skill development as indicated by a grade of 80% on the final Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). One retest is granted for failure of the OSCE, as per Northern Lights College's Practical Nursing Handbook.
Text Books:
Textbooks are subject to change. Please contact the bookstore at your local campus for current book lists.