NURS 431 - Nursing Complex Care

Credits 2
This introductory theoretical and clinical course is designed to provide nursing students with the skills required to care competently and safely for patients with complex care needs. It focuses on having the students expand their knowledge base and master complex nursing care, psychomotor skills associated with assessment, and provision of comprehensive nursing care for the patient with acute, life-threatening conditions and attitudes through reflection in and on actions in clinical settings. It also focuses on the application of immediate rapid and accurate nursing assessment and the provision of quality nursing care according to priorities. It enables the students to provide comprehensive quality nursing care for patients with complex needs and with different body system alterations, with different types of invasive devices and with different types of machines encountered in complex care settings, and to understand the complex care environment in which practice occurs to provide care for patients with complex care needs in the different complex care settings. The nursing process is used as an approach to providing holistic patient care. Critical thinking, clinical judgment, decision-making, and teamwork are emphasized in this course. Emphasis is placed on a holistic understanding of the cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of the individual adult and family. Nurse accountability, adult and family psycho-social development and care, cognitive development, cultural diversity, spiritual and psychological needs, and the art of caring behaviors by the nurse are integrated throughout the course. Pharmacology is emphasized. Application of the nursing process occurs throughout this course. Lab and clinical experiences in providing patient care and documentation of care given are integrated throughout this course. End-of-life care (palliative and hospice) will also be explored, including ethical, legal, and socio-cultural concerns. Lecture, 30 hours.
Take NURS-300 (Required, Previous)