NRS 222A Nursing in Acute Care II and End-of-Life

This course builds on Nursing in Acute Care I, focusing on more complex and/or unstable patient care situations, some of which require strong recognitional skills, rapid decision making, and some of which may result in death. The evidence base supporting appropriate focused assessments, and effective efficient nursing interventions is explored. Life span and developmental factors, cultural variables, and legal aspects of care frame the ethical decision-making employed in patient choices for treatment or palliative care within the acute care setting. Case scenarios incorporate prioritizing care needs, delegation and supervision, family and patient teaching for discharge planning or end-of-life care. Exemplars include acute psychiatric disorders, pregnancy-related complications, as well as acute conditions affecting multiple body systems.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

NRS 221A and NRS 221B and admission into the Nursing Program

Corequisite

NRS 222B

Course Learning Outcomes

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

1. Analyze evidence-based, culturally and age-appropriate plans of care for clients experiencing complex acute, possibly changing, conditions

2. Evaluate outcomes of evidence-based interventions, agency policy and procedures, and clinical practice guidelines in the provision of client care in the acute care setting

3. Utilize the clinical judgment model to guide evidence-based, individualized, developmentally appropriate interventions that are dynamic and based on changing needs of the client and family

4. Create discharge plans in collaboration with the client, family, health care team members, and service providing agencies

5. Integrate principles of integrity, accountability, and legal and ethical practice while caring for clients experiencing physical and psychological discomfort

6. Evaluate client data and nursing interventions that minimizes risk of harm to clients, self, and other