Butte College

Course Outline

2026-2027 Catalog

NSG 55 - Medical Surgical Nursing I

Catalog Description

Transfer Status
CSU
Prerequisite
Admission to Associate Degree Nursing Program
Corequisite
NSG 54, NSG 56
Unit(s)
4.00
  • Lecture: 68.00 Contact hours/136.00 Out of class hours/204.00 Total hours/4.00 Unit(s)
  • Total: 68.00 Contact hours/136.00 Out of class hours/204.00 Total hours/4.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course examines the pathophysiological foundations of health and disease and introduces the role of the nursing process in the maintenance, restoration and promotion of health. Emphasis is placed on developing familiarity with the role of the professional nurse: gathering information, formulating nursing diagnoses, planning interventions, implementation or care, medication administration, and evaluation of outcomes. Graded only.

Objectives

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

  1. Identify the nursing assessment skills required to formulate nursing diagnoses in the care of clients with acute or chronic health care conditions in order to assist clients in maintaining health, restoration of wellness, and or promoting adaptation.
  2. Identify the pathophysiology, medical and nursing diagnosis, and common treatments to include pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and nutritional aspects for patients across the lifespan with acute or chronic health care conditions.
  3. Identify nursing interventions and nursing techniques used in the care of clients with acute and chronic health conditions.
  4. Identify methods of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of acute or chronic health care conditions used to maintain and support health across the lifespan.
  5. List criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of selected nursing therapeutic interventions and recognize data indicating a need to modify a client’s care plan.
  6. Identify factors such as genetics, developmental level, psychosocial, socioeconomic, sexuality, nutrition, and culture that affect client and familial support system’s adaptation to acute, chronic, and terminal illness.
  7. Define nursing care based on assessment data and nursing diagnosis for clients with acute and chronic health care conditions.
  8. Define the professional role of the nurse in the care of clients with acute and chronic health care conditions as it relates to collaboration within health care teams, interprofessional communication skills, legal and ethical parameters, and client advocacy.
  9. Describe formal and informal teaching methods for clients, familial support systems, health care teams, and communities in order to optimize care for clients with acute or chronic health care problems.
  10. Describe community resources available to assist clients and familial support systems in managing acute or chronic health care problems prior to and after discharge from a health care system.

Course Content

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

Lecture topics and suggested hours
TopicsLec Hrs
Legal Ethical Considerations2.00

Error Prevention

2.00
Over the Counter and Herbal preparations1.00
Life Span Considerations2.00

Pharmacological Principles

4.00

Dosage calculations

12.00

Nursing care for a client with skin disorders

8.00

Nursing care caring for a client with musculoskeletal disorders

10.00

Nursing care for a client with gastrointestinal disorders

10.00

Nursing care for a client with urinary elimination disorders

6.00
Nursing care for a client with altered sensation/mobility from a cerebral vascular accident.4.00
Nursing care for a client with diminished oxygen, cardiovascular cause, congestive heart failure4.00
Nursing care for a client with diminished oxygen, respiratory cause, pneumonia.3.00
Total Hours:68.00

Methods of Instruction

  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. Problem-Solving Sessions
  6. Reading Assignments

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Homework
  3. Written Assignments

Examples of Assignments

Reading Assignments

  1. In the assigned medical/surgical nursing textbook, read the chapter on patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Come to class prepared to discuss the reading.
  2. In the assigned medical/surgical nursing textbook, read the chapter on assessment of musculoskeletal function. Answer an instructor prepared set of objectives.

Writing Assignments

  1. Write a 2 to 3 page paper using APA format describing an aspect of medication errors as described in a class handout.
  2. Write a 3 to 4 page paper on nursing assessment and integration of data into a nursing care plan.

Out-of-Class Assignments

  1. Complete reflective online module for the patient with a gastrointestinal disorder and complete post assessment quiz online.
  2. Set up a teaching plan to optimize a patients nutrition given a set of nutritional guidelines and standards.

Recommended Materials of Instruction

Lilley. L.L., Harrington, S., & Snyder, J.S. (2017). Pharmacology and The Nursing Process. Mosby, Elsevier, 8th.

Lewis, S., Heitkemper, M. & Dirksen, S., O'Brien, P. & Bucher, L. (2018). Medical Surgical Nursing - Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems. St Louis: Elsevier, 10th.

Jarvis. C. (2016). Pocket Companion for Physical Examination and Health Examination. St Louis: Elsevier, 7th.

Minimum Qualifications

Nursing (Masters Required)