Practical Nursing — Shelton

This course provides students with a review of mathematics in fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, and proportions.  Students also learn computing equivalents between the metric and household systems of measure that is essential for accurate dosage calculation of medications.  Emphasis is placed on measures to calculate aspects of a patient’s health status specific to intake and output, weights, lengths, and converting Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales. Students participate in practice sessions and assessments to promote a solid knowledge base of general mathematics in preparation for calculation of drug dosages in subsequent nursing courses.

This course introduces students to the history of nursing and the contributions to the profession by practical nursing.  Students explore the role of the practical nurse, the clinical decision-making process; the healthcare team concept; problem-solving/critical thinking; ethical/legal/moral issues; and teaching/learning processes.  Students learn study skills and strategies for success in nursing studies.  Emphasis is placed on Watson’s human caring theory of nursing to understand the contributions of practical nursing to the holistic care and health of clients.  The core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN) are used as the foundation for students to learn team collaboration, development of professional identity, evidence-based practice, and spirit of inquiry. 

This course is designed to provide information for students to gain a basic knowledge of the anatomical structure and the normal function of the human body.  Course content includes a focus on basic medical terminology.   The primary goal of this course is to provide a foundation upon which students may build further knowledge and skills to render quality patient care. This course also relates how the parts of the body influence each other and contribute to effective overall functioning in maintaining homeostasis. 

The Nursing Fundamentals I course provides instruction on the basic nursing skills and introduction to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Essential concepts include the nursing process, health data collection, documentation, asepsis, basic nutrition, vital signs, and mobility. Nursing skills are practiced and validated in the nursing skills laboratory and applied in the clinical settings during Clinical I.  Emphasis is placed on Watson’s human caring theory of nursing as the basis for providing compassionate care with respect and humility.  The core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN) are used as the foundation for students to learn basic patient-centered care and concepts of safe healthcare environments.

Nursing Clinical I is the first of four clinical courses with a focus on the needs of clients in long-term care settings for students to provide safe, quality nursing care. Students apply fundamental knowledge acquired from nursing theory classes and interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic care to clients and families.  Students use the theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a guide for assisting clients in meeting their basic healthcare needs.  Clinical experiences focus on implementation of the nursing process, health data collection, documentation, asepsis, nutrition, vital signs, and mobility.  Students learn holistic, individualized client care delivery with compassion, respect, and humility based upon Watson’s human caring theory of nursing.  The National League for Nursing’s (NLN) core competencies are used for students to develop a foundation in clinical problem-solving, caring, communication, and identification of client health education needs.  Clinical competencies must be successfully completed to receive a passing grade for this course. 

This course provides an introduction to major drug classification systems and medication effects on the human organism. Principles of pharmacology provides a foundation for the general actions, therapeutic uses, side effects, and nursing implications common to each drug classification system. The National League for Nursing’s (NLN) core competencies are used as the foundation for students to learn safety in administration of medications and to provide culturally competent nursing care and health teaching. Emphasis is placed on a comprehensive review of mathematical functions as they relate to dosage calculations. Students will be required to successfully pass a Dosage Calculations exam. This course includes principles of medication administration and requires students to demonstrate competency in medication administration skills in the laboratory setting. 

This course provides an overview of the biological, social, and psychosocial processes that contribute to human growth and development across the lifespan. Theories of development, learning, and personality provide the basis of nursing care for clients at all stages of life.  Essential concepts include sociology, culture, status, role, and identity.  Emphasis is on the physical and psychosocial care of individuals over the life span. The role of the nurse in preventative and restorative care throughout the life span is highlighted. 

The Nursing Fundamentals II course provides a continuation of instruction on basic to intermediate nursing skills and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  Essential concepts include oxygenation, elimination, sleep/rest needs, pain management, infection control, nutrition/diet therapy, and wound care.  Nursing skills are practiced and validated in the nursing skills laboratory and applied in the clinical settings during Clinical II.  Emphasis is placed on Watson’s human caring theory of nursing as the basis for problem-solving, respectfully assisting with human needs, and the importance of human caring relationships for health and healing.  The core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN) are used as the foundation for students to learn evidence-based rationale for clinical decisions and culturally competent care.  

Nursing Clinical II is a continuation of Nursing Clinical I with the focus on students providing safe, quality care for adults in healthcare settings. Students apply knowledge and basic to intermediate skills practiced in the laboratory sessions to provide care for assigned clients.  Students develop an exemplar to demonstrate application of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to assist clients in meeting their basic healthcare needs.  Clinical experiences focus on the nursing process to contribute to the client’s plan of care, health data collection, documentation oxygenation, elimination, sleep/rest needs, pain management, infection control, nutrition/diet therapy, wound care and medication administration. Watson’s human caring theory of nursing provides the basis for holistic, individualized, and compassionate care.  The National League for Nursing’s (NLN) core competencies are used for students to continue learning clinical problem-solving strategies with an emphasis on health teaching.  Clinical competencies must be successfully completed to receive a passing grade for this course.
 

This course is designed to build a foundation for care of the client with mental health needs throughout the life span. This course focuses on current theories, treatment modalities, pharmacology, and use of the nursing process to facilitate therapeutic communication.  Essential concepts include ethical and legal considerations that affect individuals with emotional and behavioral needs.  Emphasis on Watson’s human caring theory of nursing serves as the basis for students to cultivate sensitivity to meet the needs of clients with a variety of mental health disorders.  The core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN) provide a framework for students to promote human dignity and personal growth of clients with psychological and psychosocial disorders. 
 

This course covers the physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum care. The course includes care of the pediatric client with various childhood illnesses.  Emphasis is placed on health promotion and the LPN’s role in health education for the mother with newborn infant and pediatric population.  Watson’s human caring theory provides a framework for students to gain an understanding of the teaching-learning process within a healing/wellness coaching model. Health problems that complicate pregnancy are discussed including those related to the mother and the infant. Childhood illnesses that affect children and adolescents are discussed and the impact on individuals, families and society.  Pharmacology pertaining to maternal-child health is also discussed. The nursing process is applied to provide safe, quality, individualized client care based on the core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN).

This course is designed to provide the student with a broad base of knowledge of selected diseases and disorders which affect individuals as they move along the wellness/ illness continuum. Emphasis will be placed on using the nursing process to meet the unique needs of each client, family, and/or support system during disruptions of health with the goal of returning the individual to an optimal level of wellness or to support them in managing illnesses. The concept of cultural competence is presented with its application in creating a healing environment to provide nursing care in congruence with the culture, religion, and spiritual beliefs of adults with medical-surgical illness based on Watson’s human caring theory.  Course content includes the basic pathophysiology within selected biological system disorders. The core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN), are emphasized with a focus on evidence-based practice and the assessment of medication effectiveness for the restoration and maintenance of health.

This Clinical Experience integrates elements of Medical Surgical Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing. Clinical rotations provide students the opportunity to deliver direct client care, as well as observation experiences in a variety of healthcare settings that include sub-acute, mental health, pediatric, and maternal newborn. Clinical experiences focus on the nursing process to contribute to the client’s plan of care, health data collection, documentation, wound care, medication administration, and discharge teaching for the client and family. Watson’s human caring theory of nursing serves as a foundation to provide individualized, culturally competent nursing care and health teaching in congruence with the client’s values, culture, religion, and health beliefs. The National League for Nursing’s (NLN) core competencies are used for students to continue to develop clinical judgment skills with an emphasis on quality improvement. Clinical competencies must be successfully completed to receive a passing grade for this course.
 

This course is designed to prepare the student for the role transition to Licensed Practical Nurse.  Topics in professionalism include the responsibility of licensure, the importance of continuing education, concepts of management and supervision of client care, conflict resolution, communication through informatics, and the involvement in nursing organizations.  State Board of Nursing regulations and Practical Nursing Standards of Practice will also be discussed.  Disaster Preparedness Nursing and the Licensed Practical Nurse’s role along with Bioterrorism issues will be included.  Watson’s theory of nursing guides the student in self-care and to understand the responsibility of nurses to advocate for and practice ethical human caring of clients.  Emphasis is placed on the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) core competencies related to development of professional identity and the application of quality improvement, nursing standards, and practice guidelines as a basis for clinical judgment.   Learning activities to promote preparation of NCLEX testing are integrated throughout the course. 

This course is a continuation of Nursing Across the Adult Lifespan I and provides students the opportunity to gain an advanced level of understanding related to evidence-based nursing care to improve client outcomes.  Course content focuses on the nursing care delivery for adult clients living with medical-surgical illnesses.  Multi-system disorders are integrated throughout this course to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of alterations in health. Cultural and ethnic implications and variations provide students with a holistic perspective of authentic listening and presence based on Watson’s human caring theory.  Course content includes the basic pathophysiology within selected biological system disorders. The needs of clients with a variety of health alterations provides students with the knowledge to deliver safe, quality nursing care based on the core competencies of the National League for Nursing (NLN).   

This Clinical Experience is a culmination of previous clinical courses with a focus on holistic, individualized care of the client.  Clinical rotations provide students the opportunity to care for clients of all ages in various healthcare settings.  Clinical experiences focus on the nursing process to evaluate the client’s response to the plan of care, health data collection, documentation, medication administration, and health teaching for the client and family.  The focus is on the individual as a client within the context of the family and community and the importance of health promotion using Watson’s human caring theory of nursing. Students develop an exemplar to demonstrate application of Watson’s caring theory to client care delivery.  The National League for Nursing’s (NLN) core competencies are used for students to continue to develop competency in prioritization and clinical judgment, communication, providing client education, and facilitating continuity of care following discharge. Intravenous (IV) therapy education sessions include a review of IV therapy concepts covered throughout the curriculum, roles and responsibilities of the practical nurse in monitoring and maintenance of IV therapy, as well as skills validation for care of clients receiving IV therapy.  A leadership experience is incorporated into this clinical course to prepare graduates for the charge nurse role for LPNs. Clinical competencies must be successfully completed to receive a passing grade for this course.