NSG 14 - Accelerated Track Gerontology and Community Based Nursing

Transfer Status

CSU

Prerequisite

Admission to Accelerated Track Registered Nursing Program

Unit(s)

1.50

• Lecture: 25.50 Contact hours/51.00 Out of class hours/76.50 Total hours/1.50 Unit(s)
• Total: 25.50 Contact hours/51.00 Out of class hours/76.50 Total hours/1.50 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course focuses on the needs of the older adults and the disabled/chronically ill older adult in the community, home health, and dementia care settings. Course content builds on the student's knowledge of the aging process by the study of dynamics, etiology, and treatment of the rapidly growing aging population. Emphasis is placed on assisting client adaptation to normal age-related changes and chronic aging conditions as well as healthy/robust aging practices. Course content includes geriatric nursing, management of chronic illness, and healthy aging. The nursing process is utilized to assist the student in the planning of goal directed care for this client population. Graded only.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply the nursing process to caring for older adults, families, and groups in community settings.
2. Identify and discuss methods to successfully provide culturally appropriate care in community settings.
3. Discuss the role of the nurse in a variety of community practice settings including hospice.
4. Compare and contrast nursing roles in case management and continuity of care in community settings to promote client adaptation.
5. Discuss aspects of respectful nursing care of the patient who is close to death.
6. Describe basic statistics related to aging and aging in America.
7. Compare and contrast theories of aging, both biological and psychosocial.
8. Employ the nursing process to describe common geriatric conditions.
9. Utilize principles of healthy aging to promote adaptation in older adults.
10. Discuss selected issues related to older clients: depression, dementia, sexuality, and elder neglect and abuse.
11. Create a teaching plan for the individual client, family, or community.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Discussion
2. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
3. Lecture
4. Multimedia Presentations
5. Reading Assignments

1. Exams/Tests
2. Homework
3. Written Assignments
4. Class Discussion

Reading Assignments

1. Read and summarize the article "Pain Assessment and Management in Persons with Dementia" by A.L. Horgas & L. Miller. Submit a paper at least five paragraphs long demonstrating comprehension of the information.
2. Read chapters in the geriatric nursing text and community based nursing text that focus on culture, family care, and levels of prevention. Answer an instructor generated set of objectives. Be prepared to discuss the objectives.

Writing Assignments

1. Read and analyze the article "The Way We Age Now" by A. Gawande. Write a 2 page paper on the article focusing on how medicine has increased the ranks of the elderly and be prepared to discuss the major points in the paper written.
2. Given a set of death and dying case studies share your thoughts and feelings with four classmates. Each student will write a one-page paper with their thoughts and feelings. Review each of these papers and make a 3 paragraph written response. Evaluation will focus on relationship of the initial paper and the responses to material presented in class.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. Write a two-page description of a "perfect" hospital environment to meet the needs of a patient with Alzheimer's disease. Use readings and observation of the hospital environment for background information.
2. From a list of community resources provided by the instructor, visit and write up a description of the community resource site. An interview of an administrator, reimbursements, and the population served must be identified by the student in a three page written paper.

Hunt, Robert, RN, MSPH PhD. (2012). Introduction to Community-Based Nursing. Wolters-Kluwer, 5th. 978-1609136864.

Atul Gawande. (2008). Better. Picador, 1st. 978-0739487754.

Elipoulos, Charlotte PhD, MPH. (2021). Gerontological Nursing. Wolters-Kluwer, 10th. 9781975161002.

Nursing (Masters Required)