NURS 2004: Variations in Health 2
Effective date
September 2019
Department
Practical Nursing
Description
This course focuses on pathophysiology as it relates to the aging process and selected chronic illnesses. The main focus of this course is on the care of the older adult experiencing a health challenge. Cultural diversity in healing practices will be explored as well as evidence informed research and practice.
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Corequisites
NURS 2001, NURS 2002, NURS 2003, NURS 2005, NURS 2006.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the pathophysiology of common chronic illness related to the aging process.
- Describe the nursing management of illness associated with aging.
- Identify altered presentations of illnesses in the older adult clients.
- Identify common mental health challenges or mental illness experienced by older adults (e.g., differences between normal aging and symptoms of a mental illness in older adults).
- Give examples of diversity in traditional healing practices in management of chronic illness.
- Describe how evidence informed practice impacts nursing care of older adults.
- Identify holistic healing practice associated with chronic illness.
- Explain the influence of culture and cultural competency in health and healing.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Course guides provide direction of learning in preparation, in course activities and reflection of the content. The instructor acts as facilitator and expert to promote an environment conducive for learning through activities such as guided discussion, debate, audio-visual presentation, group activities, online activities, skill building exercises
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Evaluation Plan
Type
|
Percentage
|
Assessment activity
|
Assignments
|
15
|
Case studies on illness
|
Exam
|
25
|
|
Exam
|
25
|
|
Final Exam
|
35
|
Comprehensive Final Exam
|
Course topics
- Physiological changes in elderly contributing to disease and illness
- Recognition and presentation of common disease and illness in the older adult
- Nursing management of disease and illness for the older adult according to body systems: Integumentary, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Neurological, Sensory, Haematology
- Nursing management, including assessment (holistic assessment, data collection including lab values and diagnostics); pharmacology; identification of real/potential problems; nursing diagnoses; planning of specific nursing interventions; implementing culturally competent care; evaluation of care; collaborating with other members of the health care team; health promotion; client teaching.
- Therapeutic interventions and treatments
- Traditional healing practices (eg. acupuncture, smudging, sweat lodge, reiki)
- Introduction to diagnostics
- Cultural diversity in health and healing, including end of life
- Evidence informed research and practice
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/.
- To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.