Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
NURS D095.
Course Title (CB02)
Complex Health Challenges
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2021
Course Description
This course builds on prior learning experiences to develop knowledge and skills used in the management of nursing care of patients experiencing complex health challenges and rapid changes in health status. It also integrates the knowledge of pathophysiology, diagnostics, pharmacology, communication concepts, and therapeutic interventions in order to facilitate culturally congruent nursing care for patients with complex variations in health patterns. Students will become increasingly competent in the application of nursing processes, research, problem-solving and use of clinical judgment. Both NURS 95 and NURS 95L must be taken and passed concurrently within the same quarter (failure of either component requires both courses to be retaken).
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is in a CTE program that was developed based on requirements from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), and input from current/potential healthcare employers and current/future needs of society. This course belongs on the A.S. degree in Nursing. This course is a BRN mandated component of the nursing program and exposes students to the theory of nursing the advanced medical-surgical patient population. Successful completion of this course is required for students to be eligible for the national licensing exam.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly NURS D085.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

NURS D094., NURS D094A, NURS D94AL, and NURS D094L

Corequisite(s)

NURS D095L

Advisory(ies)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Discussion of assigned reading

Lecture and visual aids

Review of case studies

Assignments

  1. Reading and study guide preparation.
  2. On-line case studies and practice exams.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Midterm examinations and a comprehensive computer final examination to evaluate retention and application of key concepts
  2. Quizzes based on lectures, readings and case study discussions to evaluate comprehension, mastery of key terms, and application of concepts to clinical situations of the critically ill adult patient.
  3. Submitted paper on evidence-based practice to be evaluated by a rubric.
  4. In-class group presentation on management of environmental emergencies to be evaluated by a rubric.
  5. Successful completion of Nursing 95L within the same quarter is required to pass Nursing 95.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Ignatavicius, Workman & Rebar. "Medical Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care", 9th ed. 2018. Elsevier.
"Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary", 23rd ed. 2017. F. A. Davis.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Doenges, Moorhouse & Geissler-Murr. "Nursing Diagnosis Manual", 6th ed. 2019. F.A. Davis.
Vallerand & Sanoski. "Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses," 15th ed. 2018. F.A. Davis.
Van Leeuwen & Bladh. "Davis's Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory an Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications", 7th ed. 2018. F. A. Davis.
Purnell. "Guide to Culturally Competent Health Care". 3rd. edition. 2014. F.A. Davis.
Nursing 95 Course Syllabus-on Canvas site
°®¶¹´«Ã½ College, Department of Nursing Student Handbook, on-line

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Assess complex patient problems, needs and data trends necessary for the management of the care of critically ill adult patients.
  • Examine the principles of communication with critically ill adult patients, families and staff, in order to foster mutual respect, shared decision making, and enhance patient satisfactions and health outcomes.
  • Use information and technology to facilitate communication, manage knowledge, mitigate errors, and support decision-making within the context of care of the critically ill adult patient.
  • Evaluate the role of the registered nurse in influencing the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals, including critically ill adult patients, within their environment in a way that facilitates the establishment and acquisition of shared goals.
  • Explore the role of interdisciplinary teams and shared decision making in the planning and delivery of care for critically ill patients.
  • Identify, evaluate, and integrate the best current evidence with clinical expertise and consideration of patient preferences, experience and values to make practice decisions for a critically ill adult patient.
  • Discuss the use of data to monitor the outcomes of care, and examine approaches to improve the quality and safety of health care systems and individual performance, thus minimizing the risk of harm to critically ill adult patients and providers.
  • Examine accountability for and approaches to the delivery of standard-based nursing care that is consistent with moral, altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory, and humanistic principles, within the context of care of critically ill adult patients.
  • Develop appreciation for the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner while providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for the critically ill adult patient's preferences, needs and cultural values.

CSLOs

  • Identify the goals and priorities in the management of care of unstable adult patients experiencing rapid changes in health status using the nursing process.

  • Identify the goals and priorities of care for adult patients experiencing multisystem failure using the nursing process.

Outline

  1. Assess complex patient problems, needs and data trends necessary for the management of the care of critically ill adult patients.
    1. Expand understanding of common, critical health challenges affecting adult patients.
    2. Describe the use of the nursing process in the management of care of adult patients experiencing rapid changes in health status.
    3. Identify critical elements of comprehensive and focused assessments of critically ill adult patients and their significance for planning and implementation of care.
    4. Develop understanding of the priorities of care of critically ill patients
  2. Examine the principles of communication with critically ill adult patients, families and staff, in order to foster mutual respect, shared decision making, and enhance patient satisfactions and health outcomes.
    1. Develop appreciation for the impact of effective communication on patient outcomes and quality of care.
    2. Identify communication challenges and principles of effective communication within the context of care of critically ill patients.
    3. Act consistently with integrity and respect for differing views.
  3. Use information and technology to facilitate communication, manage knowledge, mitigate errors, and support decision-making within the context of care of the critically ill adult patient.
    1. Describe the use of technologies to collect assessment data and other salient information to support clinical decision-making.
    2. Enhance the knowledge of the principles and standards of effective data and information management.
    3. Develop appreciation of the role of technology and information management systems in the provision of timely care to critically ill patients.
    4. Utilize technology to locate scholarly resources.
  4. Evaluate the role of the registered nurse in influencing the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals, including critically ill adult patients, within their environment in a way that facilitates the establishment and acquisition of shared goals.
    1. Develop understanding of the role of the RN as leader in the provision of care to critically ill patients.
    2. Recognize the impact of different styles of communication used by patients, families and other healthcare providers on the quality of care.
    3. Critically reflect on own leadership and communication styles and identify own learning needs.
    4. Demonstrate accountability and maintain professional integrity in all aspects of the learning process and nursing care.
  5. Explore the role of interdisciplinary teams and shared decision making in the planning and delivery of care for critically ill patients.
    1. Describe the unique contribution of nursing in the context of interdisciplinary care.
    2. Discuss the role of other disciplines in the care of critically ill patients.
    3. Evaluate the impact of interdisciplinary focus and shared decision making on the outcomes of care.
  6. Identify, evaluate, and integrate the best current evidence with clinical expertise and consideration of patient preferences, experience and values to make practice decisions for a critically ill adult patient.
    1. Identify scholarly and practice resources for evidence-based practice.
    2. Develop understanding of the role of evidence-based practice in the provision of care to critically ill adult patients.
    3. Explore the role of patient, family and other members of care team when formulating goals of care.
  7. Discuss the use of data to monitor the outcomes of care, and examine approaches to improve the quality and safety of health care systems and individual performance, thus minimizing the risk of harm to critically ill adult patients and providers.
    1. Develop understanding of significant iatrogenic problems and complications in the context of care of critically ill adult patients.
    2. Examine strategies to promote safe care using QSEN principles.
    3. Survey the standards of care in relation to the most common critical health challenges.
    4. Describe quality improvement indicators.
  8. Examine accountability for and approaches to the delivery of standard-based nursing care that is consistent with moral, altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory, and humanistic principles, within the context of care of critically ill adult patients.
    1. Explore the role of the RN as an advocate for patients and their families.
    2. Identify legal and ethical issues affecting professional nursing practice in the context of care for critically ill adult patients.
  9. Develop appreciation for the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner while providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for the critically ill adult patient's preferences, needs and cultural values.
    1. Develop awareness of the impact of patient preferences, experiences and values when planning and implementing care.
    2. Identify the facets of age-appropriate and culturally congruent care.
    3. Explore the role of the RN in the delivery of patient centered care.
Back to Top