Health/Illness Concepts - NSG 170 at Northern Virginia Community College
https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/nova/courses/NSG170-HealthIllnessConcepts
Effective: 2024-05-01
Course Description
Focuses on the nursing care of individuals and/or families throughout the lifespan with an emphasis on health and illness concepts. Includes concepts of nursing care for the antepartum client and clients with common and predictable illnesses. Provides supervised learning experiences in college nursing laboratories, clinical/community settings, and/or simulated environments.
Lecture 4 hours, Laboratory 6 hours. Total 10 hours per week.
6 credits
The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.
General Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to introduce the advanced beginner student to concepts related to care of clients with predictable outcomes.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Prerequisites: BIO 142 (or BIO 232), NSG 100, NSG 106, NSG 130 and NSG 200
Course Objectives
- Accurately assess clients who are experiencing common and predictable health problems.
- Use clinical judgment and evidence-based care related to the concepts of fluid and electrolytes, cellular regulation, metabolism, sexuality, reproduction, thermoregulation, gas exchange and perfusion.
- Differentiate relevant cues in the care of clients who are experiencing common predictable health problems.
- Prioritize safety measures in the care of clients with varied health problems.
- Use evidence to support and plan appropriate nursing care.
- Recognize the impact of personal beliefs, values and attitudes in the development of professionalism and professional behaviors
- Use technology and information management tools to plan and provide safe and effective patient care.
- Compare and contrast the roles of the health team members in the planning and provision of client care.
- Demonstrate the principles of pharmacology and parenteral therapies throughout the lifespan.
- Demonstrate preparation and administration of pharmacological therapies to include parenteral.
Major Topics to be Included
- Fluid & Electrolytes (F&E) Concept
- Basic principles of F&E
- Risk factors related to imbalances in F&E
- Prevention strategies of F&E
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to imbalances in F&E
- Skills related to intravenous therapy and blood transfusion
- Pharmacology: Isotonic, Hypertonic, Hypotonic, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium
- Exemplars: specific electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, fluid volume overload
- Cellular Regulation Concept
- Basic principles of cellular regulation
- Risk factors related to imbalances in cellular regulation
- Prevention strategies
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to imbalances in cellular regulation
- Pharmacology: Selective estrogen receptor modulator (Tamoxifen), Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, (DMARDS)-(ex. Methotrexate), Alkylating Agents (cisplatin), Anti-tumor (Bleomycin); Anti-emetics: 5-HT3 Antagonist-ondansetron, Prokinetic agents-metoclopramide, Cannabinoids, Tricyclics-promethazine; Chemotherapy (safety), Radiation (safety), Miotic Inhibitors (ex. Vincristine), Taxanes (ex. Abraxane), Biologic Response Modifiers (Interferon), Colony Stimulating Factors (ex. Filgrastim), Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (Epoetin alpha), Gene therapy, Microtubule inhibitor (Docetaxel
- Exemplars: breast cancer, colon cancer, leukemia (child)
- Metabolism Concept
- Principles of metabolism
- Risk factors related to alterations in metabolism
- Prevention strategies related to alterations in metabolism
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to alterations in metabolism
- Pharmacology: Insulin and deliver methods (SC, pumps, etc.), Glucagon, Biguanides (ex. Metformin), Thiazolidinedione (ex. Rosiglitazone, pioglitazone), Sulfonylurea (ex. Chlorpropamide), Serotonin 2 inhibitor, DPP4 inhibitor (ex. Sitagliptin), GLP-1, Alpha glucoside inhibitor- (ex. Acarbose), Meglitinides
- Exemplars: diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 (across the lifespan), gestational diabetes
- Sexuality Concept
- Basic principles of sexuality
- Risk factors related to alterations in sexuality
- Prevention strategies related to altered sexuality
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to alterations in sexuality
- Pharmacology: Estrogen, Progesterone, Contraceptives, Testosterone, Phosphodiesterase, Routes of administration for contraceptive devices, Spermicides
- Exemplars: family planning, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), erectile dysfunction, menopause
- Reproduction Concept
- Basic principles of reproduction
- Risk factors related to alterations in reproduction
- Prevention strategies related to altered reproduction
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to alterations in reproduction
- Pharmacology: Beta Adrenergic agonist -Tocolytics (Terbutaline), Corticosteroids (betamethasone), RhoGam
- Exemplar: antepartum
- Thermoregulation Concept
- Principles of thermoregulation
- Risk factors related to alterations in thermoregulation
- Prevention strategies related to altered thermoregulation
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to alterations in thermoregulation
- Pharmacology: ASA, Acetaminophen, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), Skeletal Muscle Relaxants (Dantrolene)
- Exemplars: fever, environmental hypo-and hyperthermia, preterm and newborn hypothermia
- Gas Exchange Concept
- Principles of gas exchange
- Risk factors related to alterations in gas exchange
- Prevention strategies related to altered gas exchange
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to alterations in gas exchange
- Pharmacology: Decongestants (ex. Pseudoephedrine), expectorants (ex. Guaifenesin), Antitussives (ex. Benzonatate), Corticosteroids (ex. Prednisone), Sympathomimetic drugs (ex. Dopamine), Anticholinergics- (ex. Benztropine), Adrenergic agonist drugs-(ex. Albuterol), Xanthine?s (ex. Theophylline), Colony Stimulating Factors (ex. Neupogen), Mast cell stabilizers (ex. Loratadine), Methods of administration (Inhalers), Bronchodilators (ex. Albuterol)
- Exemplars: asthma-child, COPD-adult, anemias
- Perfusion Concept
- Principles of perfusion
- Risk factors related to alterations in perfusion
- Prevention strategies related to altered perfusion
- Assessment and diagnostics
- Clinical judgment related to alterations in perfusion
- Pharmacology: Alpha Adrenergic, B- Adrenergic blockers (ex. Atenolol, metoprolol), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ex. Lisinopril), Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ex. Losartan), Calcium Channel Blockers (ex. Diltiazem), Vasodilators (Nitrates), Diuretics (Loop, Potassium sparing, Thiazide), Magnesium Sulfate
- Exemplars: hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, preeclampsia