ECPI University College of Nursing ECPI University
Course Description
This course provides the theoretical foundation for the study of the issues related to nursing care of older adults, focusing on the health care of well older adults and those with chronic health problems. Health promotion and preventive care are examined, as well as the implications of chronic illness, palliative, and end-of-life care.
 
Course Information
Course Name NUR446 Nursing Care of the Older Adult
Course Credit Hours 4.00
Lecture Hours 48
Lab Hours 0
Clinical/Externship Hours 0
Weekly Preparation Time Outside Class 8
Course Prerequisite(s) NUR311
NUR312
NUR313
NUR315
NUR316
NUR322
NUR326
NUR328
NUR329
NUR332
NUR333
NUR433
NUR436
NUR437
NUR438
NUR439
Course Corequisite(s) NUR445
NUR447
NUR448
NUR449
NUR460
Required Textbook(s)
Title: Gerontological Nursing
Edition: 9E 2017
Author: Eliopoulos, C.
Publisher: LWW
ISBN: 9780060000387
Cost: 0.00


*Substitutions in text may occur due to teaching out of previous editions and campus retexting programs.
Placement in Curriculum: Semester (For Health Sciences only)
  1. Quarter 4
Additional Preparation
In order to facilitate successful completion of this course, expect to average 8 hours of additional preparation per week for study, homework, reading assignments, and assigned activities.
Program Outcomes Addressed
  1. Synthesize and apply knowledge from the humanities, the arts and letters, the social and natural sciences as a basis for clinical reasoning and decision-making in nursing practice;
  2. Effectively communicate using written, verbal and electronic methodologies;
  3. Collaborate as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, in partnership with the individual, family, group, or community, to promote health and wellness, prevent disease, and to influence health care delivery;
  4. Apply theories of nursing, patient teaching, leadership and management, and legal and ethical principles to promote optimal care delivery with nurse-sensitive quality indicators;
  5. Contribute to the enhancement of nursing practice through the delivery of compassionate care, the evaluation of health outcomes, and the application of research to practice;
  6. Actively participate in the role of a professional nurse through practice, self-care, leadership and lifelong learning across the continuum of care.
  7. Apply knowledge of health care policy, finance, and regulatory environments to advocate for the provision of safe and equitable nursing care.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Integrate knowledge from the humanities and sciences, coupled with nursing knowledge, theory and research, as a framework to discuss care of the older adult.
  2. Identify one’s own and other’s attitudes, values, and expectations about aging and their impact on the care of older adults.
  3. Explain the concept of individualized care as the standard of practice with older adults.
  4. Discuss the nursing process to develop both nursing and comprehensive plans of care based on identified needs and problems of gerontological clients in the clinical setting.
  5. Describe variations in health assessment and alterations in physical findings for the older adult.
  6. Determine the impact of cultural beliefs and cultural diversity on the provision of health care to older adults.
  7. Incorporate into daily practice valid and reliable tools to assess the functional, physical, and cognitive status of the older adult.
  8. Apply critical thinking skills to apply physical, psychosocial and laboratory data effectively to assess the needs of the older client to develop a plan of care and to evaluate health outcomes in the clinical setting.
  9. Evaluate care provided to the older client using a needs-based, outcome-oriented process.
  10. Utilize the nursing process and appropriate communication techniques to analyze the dynamic health status of the older client in the context of developmental, physiological and psychosocial needs within a family system.
  11. Demonstrate the professional and therapeutic communication skills required by the professional nurse to collaborate with other members of the health care team when caring for clients in the clinical setting.
  12. Integrate knowledge of holistic nursing, theories of aging, cultural competence, and health promotion in caring for older adults across settings.
Delivery Method
This course is delivered in the following formats:
  • In Seat
  • Remote Synchronous
University Grading System
Numerical Grade Letter Grade Quality Points
93 – 100 A 4
90 – 92 A- 3.7
87 – 89 B+ 3.3
83 – 86 B 3.0
80 – 82 B- (see note 1) 2.7 (Passing for graduate students and nursing students)
77 – 79 C+ (see note 2) 2.3
73 – 76 C (see note 3) 2.0
70 – 72 C- 1.7
65 – 69 D 1.0
64 and below F 0
Notes:
  1. A score of 80 is required for graduate students and courses with the following prefixes: COR, BIO and NUR in the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree in Nursing and BIO in Physical Therapist Assistant and Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Grades earned below the minimum of 80 in all of the above courses will be awarded a F.
  2. A score of 77 is required for courses with the following prefixes: COR, BIO and NUR in the BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), the RN to BSN and the Bachelor to BSN programs. Grades earned below the minimum of 77 in all the above courses will earn a F.
  3. A minimum of 73 is required for courses with the following prefixes: DEN (Dental Assisting), DMS (Diagnostic Medical Sonography), EMS (Emergency Medical), HIM (Health Information Management), HCA and LTC (Healthcare Administration), MED (Medical Assisting) RAD (Medical Radiography), PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant), MTP (Massage Therapy), and SUR (Surgical Technology) programs. Grades earned below the minimum of 73 in all of the above courses will be awarded a F.
Grade Evaluation: Final grades evaluations are determined by a weighted average of course work.

Your grade will be calculated as follows:
 
Residential Grading Scale Category Percentage
Exams* 90%
Presentation 10%
Total 100%
 
Grade required to pass this course: *A course grade of 77% is required for successful completion of this course. In addition, students need to earn at least a 77% weighted average on examinations in order to complete the course successfully (Exams 1-3). Other course requirements such as papers and presentations will not suffice to raise the grade to passing. Grade items included in the weighted average are indicated with an asterisk (*) in the residential grading scale category..
Other Grading Notes

Course Requirement                                        Percentage

Exam 1*                                                                     30

Exam 2*                                                                     30

Exam 3*                                                                     30

Presentation                                                             10

TOTAL                                                                       100
Online and Hybrid Courses
Note: The online campus does not currently grade on participation/attendance specifically. Participation is included directly in a discussion forum grade and indirectly in collaborative learning activities.
Course Outline

Week 1:  Aging population, Diversity, Legal and  Ethical Aspects of Gerontological Nursing,  Sexuality

                Chapters 1, 3-4, 8-9, 16

Week 2:  Sleep, Rest, Spirituality, Safety, Mobility, Neurological, Vision, Hearing

                Chapters 5, 12, 14-15, 23-25

Week 3:  Nutrition, Hydration, GI, GU, Oxygenation, Circulation, Endocrine

                Chapters 11, 18-21, 26

Week 4:  Comfort and Pain Management, Safe Medication Use, Mental Health Disorders, Delirium and Dementia

                Chapters 13, 17, 29-30

Week 5:  Reproductive System Health, Skin Health, Cancer, Rehabilitative and Restorative Care, Acute Care

                Chapters 22, 27-28, 32-33

Week 6:  Long-Term Care, End of Life Care

                Chapters 34, 36
Assignment Descriptions

    GROUP ASSIGNMENT: Case Study Presentation


    Students will form groups and will present information to the class on a selected topic utilizing a variety of teaching techniques. Topics will be assigned by the instructor. The group will facilitate learning with a 30-45 minute presentation on a topic that is scheduled to be covered during class time. The case study presentation assignment must address each criterion listed in the grading rubric (posted on Canvas).  








Created: April 22, 2021 08:57 AM | Revised: April 22, 2021 08:57 AM