Practical Nursing

PN Course Curriculum

1st Quarter

NRS 100 Medical Terminology/Charting – 15 hours/1.5 credit hours

• Course Description: Basic medical terminology is covered, as well as basic information to prepare the nursing student for medical charting.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Recognize medical terminology prefixes and suffixes 2) Identify medical terms from their component parts 3) List abbreviations for medical terms 4) Identify the parts of a medical chart 5) Perform accurate charting
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

ALH 140 Allied Health Nutrition – 5 hours/0.5 credit hours

• Course Description: This course covers basic nursing concepts in nutrition, and covers content relevant to NCLEX preparation and entry level nursing practice.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Identify components of a quality nutritional assessment 2) List rich dietary sources of a specific nutrition component 3) Describe the nursing role in health promotion regarding nutrition 4) Identify the guidelines for healthy eating 5) List common food-medication interactions and identify interventions to prevent or reduce the impact of these interactions 6) Identify nutritional needs across the lifespan 7) Identify sources of enteral nutrition and the nurse’s role in safe, effective provision of enteral nutrition 8) Identify sources of parenteral nutrition and the nurse’s role in safe, effective provision of parenteral nutrition 9) Identify what client findings (lab results, weight, intake and output) indicate a need for dietary alteration, what client findings should be monitored, and what client findings indicate effective dietary management.
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

ALH 150 Allied Health Study Skills – 5 theory hours/1.5 credit hours

• Course Description: This course helps prepare the incoming student for the challenges of being a nursing student through the introduction of basic study skills, test taking strategies, and time management skills.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Demonstrate utilization of basic study skills 2) Identify test taking strategies for multiple choice exams and essay exams 3) Create a time management plan for their student nursing career
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

BIO 140 Integrated Body Science – 30 theory hours/4 credit hours

• Course Description: This overview course to orient the student to components of the biological, physiological and societal domains that impact the human perception of balance or health. Topics to be explored include foundations of environmental science, chemistry and cellular biology including microbes, nutrition requirements and metabolism.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Describe the human body as an integrated series of sophisticated systems that sustain life as a result of continual balance among internal, environmental, psychological and spiritual domains 2) Identify and describe the base components and respective properties of the organic elements 3) Identify the core components of the human body at the cellular level necessary to promote and sustain life 4) Define microbiology and identify elements that promote or inhibit growth of pathogenic microbes and normal flora 5) Describe application of the four environmental principles impacting the health of individuals and communities 6) Define nutrition and differentiate between the components comprising the human diet and implications on health status
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

NRS 101 Practical Nursing Foundations – 30 theory hours/20 lab hours/4 credit hours

• Course Description: This course includes the beginning knowledge and skills that serve as a foundation for a career in nursing. The holistic human functioning patterns are introduced to organize the student’s learning of nursing problems and traditional interventions. The students will continue to build upon the patient care skills learned as a patient care assistant in the laboratory environment. Course includes 2 Hrs of clinical lab time weekly.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Identify and describe five core values of holistic nursing practice 2) Verbalize the components of the nursing process and the role of the PN in meeting the spiritual, biological, psychological and sociological needs of clients 3) Discuss the contribution of the PN in promoting and maintaining a safe and effective care environment including coordination of care and injury prevention activities 4) Identify basic nursing problems and potential holistic interventions associated with each of the components of the Holistic Functioning Patterns: feeling (comfort), moving (activity and rest), and exchanging (nutrition, elimination, tissue integrity) 5) Demonstrate competent, safe practice of basic patient care skills
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

NRS 110 Math for Nursing Medication Administration – 30 theory hours/3 credit hours

• Course Description: Identifies and reviews the mathematical principles and computations essential to medication administration. The course also explores practical measures to deliver the ordered dose safely to patients across the lifespan.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Articulate the importance of accurate math calculations to the practice of nursing and specifically medication administration 2) Perform basic mathematical computations that involve fractions, decimals, simple equations and proportions 3) Utilize the three basic systems of measure in medication administration: Household, metric and apothecary 4) Describe the components of a medication label to accurately determine the prescribed dosage of enteral and parenteral medications 5) Articulate the process of determining the safe and therapeutic dose of a ordered medication for adults and children based upon body weight
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

NRS 111 Nursing Pharmacology – 25 theory/20 lab hours/hours/3.5 credit hours

• Course Description: Theory course to prepare practical nurses to deliver ordered enteral and parenteral medication therapies safely. This course will use a prototype model to assist the learner to identify drug class indications, contraindications, common side effects, adverse events and nursing considerations.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Demonstrate understanding of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles through teaching strategies with self medicating adults 2) Identify the common mechanism of action, indications, side effects, and contraindications of a prototype from each of the main drug categories (sympathetic, parasympathetic) 3) Identify nursing considerations and relevant holistic interventions relevant to selected major classification of drugs
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

2nd Quarter

HOL 101 Holistic Foundations: Historical Survey – 20 theory hours/2 credit hours

• Course Description: This course focuses on studying the historical development of integrative approaches to healing and health care. Integrative medicine promotes an expanded view of healing by combining both conventional and complementary methods of diagnosis and treatment in order to enhance the healing process as well to promote overall well being and prevention of health related illnesses. The course will begin with studying the history of holistic, also known as complementary/alternative health practices from ancient cultures to modern practices, followed by the current trend of integrating these approaches.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Describe the historical countenance of holistic medicine 2) Articulate differences and similarities between the Holistic, Integrated approach to meeting health care needs and the traditional medical model 3) Identify the holistic interventions most frequently utilized in providing care to clients across the lifespan
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nurse Program

ALH 130 Allied Health Informatics – 10 theory hours/1 credit hour

• Course Description: This overview course introduces the student to current technology routinely utilized in the patient care arena and learning environment. Potential ethical and legal issues associated with use of technology in health care will also be explored.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Identify various types of hardware, software and interface technologies associated with health care informatics 2) Describe technology-based allied health applications in hospitals, community health agencies, education and research based activities 3) Discuss ethical and legal considerations related to proprietary software, data security, information privacy and confidentiality while providing direct patient care activities 4) Discuss the importance of life long learning as it relates to the challenges of implementing, operating and upgrading health management information systems
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

BIO 175 Holistic Human Functioning – 30 theory hours/20 lab hours/4 credit hours

• Course Description: This course focuses on human function and structure of the major body systems. Laboratory experiences will assist the learner to visualize and manipulate the components of the concepts learned in theory. The relationship of the individual body system to the overall perception of balance or health will be discussed.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Outline the systems that maintain the human body including a description of the general function and relative location of the major body cavities 2) Describe the interrelationship of each body system to promote homeostasis 3) Demonstrate knowledge of basic terminology used in the study of the human body 4) Apply the principles of body structure and function to promote, maintain or restore select client’s and personal wellness
• Prerequisite: BIO 140

HOL 120 Therapeutic Herbology – 10 theory hours/1 credit hour

• Course Description: This is a companion course to medical pharmacology to explore non-traditional approaches to promote, maintain or restore health balance. The student will begin to learn approaches to complete a holistic assessment. Potential interactions and contraindications to concomitant use with traditional medicinal therapy will be reviewed.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) State the general guidelines for herbal safety 2) Discuss indications and contraindications of the frequently utilized herbal remedies 3) Discuss legal and ethical considerations for herbs in personal and professional use 4) Demonstrate competency of interactions of selected herbal remedies
• Prerequisite: NRS 101

COM 110 Therapeutic Communication – 30 theoryhours/3 credit hours

• Course Description: Integrated beginning communication course to outline the key components and approaches to effective communication with clients, peers and other health care providers. Students will participate in a simulated learning experience to practice learned techniques in a controlled environment. A presentation will be included to assist the student in teamwork and public speaking.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Demonstrate beginning levels of appropriate therapeutic intrapersonal, interpersonal and public communication 2) Describe effective communication approaches/techniques to assist the client to express spiritual, biological, psychological and sociological needs and expectations 3) Utilize the concepts and approaches of Neuro Linguistic Programming to enhance relationships between the nurse/client and interdisciplinary team
• Prerequisite: None

NRS 102 Integrative Nursing I – 30 theory hours/20 lab hours/60 clinical hours/6 credit hours

• Course Description: This clinical experience course designed for exploration of common health alterations in the adult and senior adult population. Students begin to actively practice and enhance the skills learned in previous nursing courses with an emphasis on promoting cultural diversity and client self care measures. Course includes 6 Hrs of clinical weekly.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Identify the relationships among critical reasoning, nursing process, diagnostic reasoning, decision making and homeodynamics 2) Explain the principles of systematic observation and data collection to meet the biological needs of patients 3) Describe potential LPN roles in providing holistic nursing care (traditional and alternative) for common alterations in adult physiological integrity 4) Identify advanced nursing problems and potential holistic interventions for the general adult population including: communication, knowing, perceiving, and exchanging (oxygenation) holistic functioning patterns 5) Verbalize nursing considerations in providing holistic care for clients that are diverse from the ethnicity, values, beliefs or culture of the student nurse 6) Differentiate between adaptive and maladaptive responses to alterations in the perceived balance of the mind-body-spirit-social connection 7) Demonstrate ability to competently and confidently perform safe, basic nursing care for select clients in the clinical environment 8) Demonstrate behavior consistent with the role and responsibility of the student PN including professionalism and team work 9) Have a beginning knowledge and utilize the nursing process to meet basic biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual needs of stable clients 10) Perform accurate calculation and preparation of medications for administration, either in laboratory or clinical area(s)
• Prerequisite: NRS 101

3rd Quarter

NRS 106 Legal and Ethical Practice – 30 theory hours/3 credit hours

• Course Description: This course highlights the legal components and concepts needed for professional practice in the changing health care environment. The role of ethics in judgment and decision making will be reviewed. The importance and implications of consistent positive and professional interactions between and among all health care delivery disciplines will be explored.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Identify and describe ethical principles and potential violations that can occur in the process of providing health care services 2) Define the legal aspects of healthcare provider-client, healthcare provider-physician, and healthcare provider-employer relationships 3) Describe the basic components of professional, legal documentation within the medical record
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

HOL 102 Holistic Interventions I – 20 theory hours/2 credit hours

• Course Description: This course provides a theoretical overview of seven common holistic interventions. In addition, learners will perform basic holistic interventions in Energy Healing, Reflexology, Acupressure, and Guided Imagery. Course includes 2 Hrs of lab weekly.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Describe seven common holistic interventions 2) Identify indications for Energy Healing, Reflexology, Acupressure and Non Directive Guided Imagery in common nursing situations 3) Perform two techniques from each of the holistic interventions practiced in class
• Prerequisite: HOL 101

NRS 103 Integrative Nursing II – 30 theory hours/150 clinical hours/8 credit hours

• Course Description: This advanced clinical nursing course promotes student learning of health alterations in the adult and senior adult populations while allowing mastered skills to be practiced in the clinical environment. Student care focus will be on assisting the client to maintain or restore perceived balance within the mind-body-spirit-social connection. Course includes 15 Hrs of clinical weekly.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Verbalize professional, therapeutic holistic nursing care practices within the mandated scope of practice for adults experiencing alterations in multiple dimensions 2) Consistently contribute to nursing care planning in terms of appropriate data collection, problem focusing, client specific intervention and timely evaluation of progress 3) Describe diagnostic testing and laboratories used in the care of adults with common health problems 4) Identify advanced nursing problems and potential holistic interventions for the general adult population including: exchange (renal/urinary, circulation, hormonal/metabolic), relating and feeling (emotional integrity) holistic functioning patterns 5) Describe medicinal and alternative interventions to address common alterations in the perceived balance of the mind-body-spirit-social connection 6) Define end-of-life nursing care and describe nursing interventions to promote a peaceful death 7) Consistently provides safe nursing care to increasing numbers and complexity of clients 8) Consistently demonstrates professional behaviors appropriate to role and responsibility as a student PN including communication and collaboration 9) Effectively use the nursing process to identify problems and provide holistic interventions for clients experiencing alterations in the mind-body-spirit-social connection in an effort to maintain or restore perceived balance of health 10) Demonstrates safe medication administration 11) Document nursing care planning and care provided in accurate, complete and appropriate nursing language according to clinical agency policy
• Prerequisite: NRS 101, NRS 102

NRS 112 IV Therapy Competency – 5 theory hours/15 clinical hours/1 credit hour

• Course Description: This focused nursing course exploring the concepts central to Intravenous Therapy planning, delivery and monitoring. The course reviews the Ohio rules and regulations concerning IV therapy administration by licensed practical nurses. The student will have supervised hands-on experience in the classroom, laboratory and finally the clinical environment to demonstrate mastery. Course includes 15 Hrs of lab/clinical.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Accurately state the licensure appropriate scope of practice concerning IV therapy with consideration of clinical agency policy 2) Demonstrate the correct procedure for initiating successful IV catheter insertions 3) Identify potential adverse events and the appropriate patient teaching/follow up procedures that must ensue should an adverse event occur 4) Demonstrate competency in calculating ordered IV rates in consideration of safe, therapeutic ranges, pharmacodynamics of the medication to be delivered and current client condition
• Prerequisite: NRS 101, NRS 102

4th Quarter

PSY 100 Understanding Growth and Development Across the Lifespan – 30 theory hours/3 credit hours

• Course Description: Theoretical course to assist the student in differentiating normal and abnormal behaviors and adaptation patterns across the lifespan. The generally recognized growth and development theories will be explored through practical application to teaching learning scenarios. Holistic approaches of theory application in the health care environment will be reviewed.
• Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the major fields of study and theoretical perspectives within psychology and articulate their similarities and differences. 2. Apply psychological theories and findings of empirical studies to explanations of human behavior. 3. Apply psychological concepts in practice and be able to recognize psychological principles when encountered in everyday life.
• Prerequisite: Admission into the Practical Nursing Program

NRS 104 Lifespan Nursing – 30 theory hours/20 lab hours/90 clinical hours/7 credit hours

• Course Description: Overview course designed to familiarize the student with nursing care of the family unit in community and acute care settings. The student will apply concepts of normal growth and development in providing holistic nursing care and planning health promotional teaching interventions. The course features modules on care for the pregnant female, birthing process, routine newborn care, well child care and mental illness in the community issues. Course includes 10 Hrs of clinical weekly.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Describe the physical, psychological, spiritual and socio-cultural changes that occur throughout the life continuum 2) Identify key interview questions to collect, data in the biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual domains to provide holistic nursing care for individuals and families 3) Identify community resources to promote health for clients and self 4) Implement effective teaching strategies for routine client interactions concerning health promotion 5) Explain the legal responsibility of the PN in reporting suspected child/elder abuse and /or impaired care providers 6)Integrate the nursing process in the safe delivery of holistic care for individual clients across the life span and/or within the family unit 7) Demonstrate the ability to perform complex nursing procedures and holistic interventions with increasing independence and judgment 8) Consistently demonstrate professional behavior as a member of the health care team and student 9) Utilize effective communication techniques to assess the perceived balance of health for select individuals and to provide health promotional teaching 10) Apply the nursing process to provide preventive health service for a population in the community setting
• Prerequisite: NRS 101, NRS 102, NRS 103

NRS 109 Practice Transitions – 20 theory hours/2 credit hours

• Course Description: Synthesis course to review and link all the previous course work for success on the NCLEX-PN exam. A variety of guest lectures, computer assisted instruction and tailored instruction will assist the student to build competence and confidence in his/her future role as a nurse.
• Learning Outcomes: 1) Demonstrate competence to proceed in taking the state licensure examination 2) Identify key professional and leadership principles for PN’s in the current and future health care arenas 3) Verbalize coping strategies to adjust from the role of student to licensed care provider
• Prerequisite: NRS 101, NRS 102, NRS 103