Jordan University of Science and Technology

Faculty of

Department of

Semester 200

Course Syllabus

Course Information
Course Title / Advanced Adult Health Nursing
Course Code / NUR 415
Prerequisites / NUR 315, NUR 340, NUR 352
Course Website
Instructor / Wejdan Khater, RN, PhD
Office Location / N1
Office Phone # / 23623
Office Hours / Sun & Tue 1-2 pm.
Mon & wed 10-12 am
E-mail /
Teaching Assistant(s) / NA
Course Description
This course focuses on the process of decision making in managing the care of adult clients experiencing critical conditions that are life threatening and/or involve multiple body systems. Complex medical-surgical conditions in adults are discussed in terms of pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatments that are based on current research. A collaborative care approach will be stressed to meet the critically ill client and his family’s physiological, psychological, and developmental needs taking into consideration the client’ s and his family’s sociocultural context. Students will use critical thinking and problem solving skills to integrate knowledge acquired in class into the nursing process while caring
Textbook
Title / Critical care nursing: A holistic approach
Author(s) / Morton, P., Fontaine, D., Hudak, C., & Gallo, B
Publisher / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Year / 2005
Edition / 8th ed.
Book Website / www.lww.com
Other references
Assessment
Assessment / Expected Due Date / Percentage
First Exam / 22/3/2007 / 30%
Second Exam / 24/4/2007 / 30%
Final Exam / TBA / 40%
Assignments / NA
Participation / NA
Attendance / NA
Course Objectives / Percentage
1. Create a specific plan of care in partnership with clients and families experiencing acute and/or complex multi-system conditions. / 25%
2. Learn leadership and management skills, coordination and evaluation necessary to interact and provide care for clients with acute health conditions. / 15%
3. Implement therapeutic nursing interventions and develop caring relationships with clients and families in the acute care setting. / 15%
4. Apply relevant theoretical concepts and nursing research findings when planning care for clients in diverse acute care settings. / 15%
5. Use effective communication skills in collaborating with other health care professionals to promote health in clients experiencing acute and/or complex and multi-system conditions. / 10%
6. Evaluate clients and families responses to the plane of care and modify accordingly. / 10%
7. Implement the code of professional practice, including legal, ethical, regulatory and professional standards with consideration for sociocultural diversity among clients and families. / 10%
Teaching & Learning Methods
Content will be presented in a variety of ways including: Lecture/demonstration; small group activities; role playing; and audiovisual aids (AV); interactive classroom discussions of assigned case studies to clarify concepts, and to promote group and individual competencies in critical thinking and learning. Success of learning experiences depends on full participation by each student. Students are expected to complete assigned readings, view videos, etc. prior to coming to class. Students are responsible for any information presented in class (verbal, written, or AV material), in required readings, and in readings/audiovisuals on reserve. Students are also accountable for reviewing information presented in previous courses.
Useful Resources
-Nursing Skills Laboratory
-Videos on in Nursing Skills Lab.
-Reserve in the library
Course Content
Week / Topics / Chapter in Textbook (handouts)
1 / Introduction and orientation to the course
I. Review of Assessment of Clients with CVS Conditions:
-Discuss 4 important considerations in preparing a patient for cardiac examination.
-locate the areas of auscultation of heart sounds.
-discuss the mechanisms for the 1st and 2nd heart sound.
-discuss the phases of the cardiac cycle in relation to the heart sounds.
-discuss the clinical significance, timing, and location of the 3rd & 4th heart sounds and selected murmurs. / Chapter 17; pages 216-228
2 / II. CVS Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests:
-describe the laboratory studies used in diagnosis of CV conditions.
-describe the role of cardiac enzyme (CK, LDH, Troponion) studies in diagnosis of an acute MI.
-compare and contrast the use of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme studies.
-interpret cardiac enzymes studies when providing care for patient with CV conditions.
-describe at least 4 diagnostic procedures used for
diagnostic purposes for clients with CV conditions.
-outline the client and family teaching needs pre, intra, and post diagnostic procedure (stress testing, catheterization, echo, angiography).
-understand the management of expected complications for invasive and non-invasive cardiac studies. / Chapter 17; pages 228-248
3 / III. Hemodynamic Monitoring:
-describe the normal characteristics of normal systemic arterial, right atrial, right ventricular, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures & waveform.
-discuss the basic components necessary to monitor pressure readings.
-accurately identify steps, procedures, and interventions to measure hemodynamic measures (pressures, cardiac output).
-discuss major complications that can occur during hemodynamic monitoring.
-identify interventions (nursing & collaborative) to manage complications above.
-accurately troubleshoot equipment during hemodynamic monitoring (i.e. pulmonary artery pressure). / Chapter 17; pages 269-288
4 / IV. Dysrhythmias (Cardiac Conduction Disturbance)
-discuss/review of cardiac conduction system.
-identify the criteria for normal sinus rhythm.
-discuss and identify the ECG waves in relation to the cardiac cycle.
-discuss methods for calculating the heart rate from an ECG strip.
-discuss the criteria for identifying an abnormal cardiac rhythm. / Chapter 17; pages 248-269
5 / IV. Continued (Dysrhythmias)
-discuss selected atrial, ventricular, and conductive dysrhythmias describing their:
etiology, pathophysiology, clinical significance, and management
-discuss the nursing and collaborative management for clients with cardiac dysrhythmias. / Chapter 18; pages 298-302
Chapter 18; pages 346-364, 368-370
6 / V. Management of Clients with Acute Myocardial infarction (AMI)
-review circulation to the cardiac muscle.
-describe the continuum of pathophysiological events/changes that occur between angina and AMI.
-discuss nursing and collaborative management for client with AMI including management of:
·  Oxygenation needs, pain, nutrition, cardiac muscle reperfusion, and pharmacological.
-discuss patient and family teaching needs while in recovering in the critical care unit and discharge planning.
-discuss complications prevention and health promotion for patients with AMI. / Chapter 21; pages 429-445
7 / VI. Cardiac Surgery and Surgical Procedures (PTCA, Stent, IABP).
-discuss and describe selected cardiac surgical procedures in regards to their:
·  Indications, contraindications, and physiological effects
·  Pre, intra, and post procedure management (nursing & collaborative)
·  Possible complications and nursing interventions to prevent possible complications. / Chapter 18; pages 305-324, 328-346
8 / VII. Care of Client with Multisystem Organ Failure Condition (Shocks)
-identify the different types of shocks.
-discuss the etiology and pathophysiology and clinical implications of shocks.
- explain the nursing and medical management therapy and its rational for the different types of shocks. / Chapter 54; pages 1251-1274
9 / Pulmonary Alterations
VIII. Assessment and Diagnostic Tests of the Respiratory System.
-discuss/review assessment of respiratory system
-compare and contrast normal and abnormal breath sounds.
-discuss selected pulmonary diagnostic tests (i.e. arterial blood gas (ABG), pulmonary function test, radiology, sputum, CT, Thoracentesis, Pulse oxometry, Bronchoscopy) identifying their:
·  Indication, management(pre-post), and clinical significance.
-identify normal and abnormal values for ABG and their clinical significance.
-describe the procedure for obtaining ABG sample.
-analyze ABG readings and provide an accurate interpretation.
-identify indications for chest tubes and their physiological effects.
-discuss the nursing interventions necessary to prevent complications and maintain patency for chest tube drainage system. / Chapter 24; pages 506-515
Chapter 25; pages 527-532; 539-563
10 / IX. Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) & Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
-discuss etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations of ARF and ARDS.
-describe the nursing and collaborative interventions to manage the care of clients with ARF or ARDS.
-identify types, modes, physiological impact, and complications of mechanical ventilators.
-discuss the nursing interventions necessary when weaning a patient from a ventilator. / Chapter 26; pages 597-604
Chapter 27
11 / X. Care of Client with Chest and/or Abdominal Trauma
-identify possible mechanisms of chest and/or abdominal injury associated with trauma.
-describe various types of chest/abdominal injuries and their associated symptoms.
-identify the nursing and collaborative management therapy for chest/abdominal injury and their rational. / Review Chapter 26; pages 572-578
Chapter 55; pages 1277-1293; 1296-99
12 / Neurological Alterations
XI. Assessment of Clients with Neurological Conditions
-discuss the value of gathering neurological data in an organized and objective manner.
-recognize the patterns of assessment data that imply a significant change in pathology for patient care.
Relate the procedure of selected neurological tests to nursing implication for patient care (i.e. Glasco Coma Scale, VS, etc.).
-recognize the meaning and clinical significance of the changes in the intra cranial pressure (ICP).
-describe the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and techniques to obtain ICP.
-identify interventions used to maintain cerebral perfusion flow. / Chapter 33; pages 753-758, 759-60 (cranial nerve III); 765-773
Chapter 34
13 / XII. Acute Head Injury
-identify possible mechanisms of head injury associated with trauma.
-describe various types of head injuries and their associated symptoms.
-identify the nursing and collaborative management therapy for head injury and their rational. / Chapter 36; pages 839-858
14 / XIII. Care of Clients with Burn Condition
-describe the classifications system of burn injury.
-describe the major physiological and psychological effect of burn.
-discuss the phases of recovery following burn injury.
-develop a nursing care plane appropriate for each phase of recovery for burn injury with rational. / Chapter 53
15 / Final Exam Week
Additional Notes