NURS 345

I. Course Title: Foundations of Nursing Practice

II. Course Number: NURS 345

III. Credit Hours: 6 credits

IV. Prerequisites: Upper division standing

V. Course Description:

Focuses on the foundational skills necessary for successful community-based nursing practice.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

The course objectives and topical content of this Level 1 nursing course are derived from the Radford University School of Nursing’s philosophy and conceptual framework. This course facilitates achievement of the Radford University School of Nursing program objectives, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Nursing Education, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) behavioral competencies. Additionally, course content represents areas covered on standardized achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research, advanced nursing theory, and evidence based clinical practice recommendation aid in content development and course design.

Emphasis is placed on the following concepts/theories:

1. Foundations of Nursing Practice
   a. Introduction to Nursing
   b. Evidence-Based Practice
   c. Health, Wellness, and Health Disparities
   d. Cultural Diversity
   e. Values, Ethics, and Advocacy
   f. Legal Dimensions of Nursing
   g. Teaching and Counseling
2. Health Care Delivery
   a. The Health Care Delivery System
3. Person-Centered Care and the Nursing Process
   a. Person-Centered Care
   b. Critical Thinking Clinical Reasoning, Judgment, and Decision Making
   c. The Nursing Process
   d. Documenting and Reporting
   e. Nursing Informatics
4. Actions Basic to Nursing Care
   a. Asepsis and Infection Control
   b. Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness
   c. Complementary and Integrative Health
   d. Medications
   e. Perioperative Nursing
5. Promoting Health Physiologic Responsiveness
   a. Hygiene
   b. Skin Integrity and Wound Care
   c. Activity
   d. Rest and Sleep
   e. Comfort and Pain Management
   f. Nutrition
   g. Urinary Elimination
   h. Bowel Elimination
   i. Oxygenation and Perfusion
   j. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
6. Promoting Healthy Psychosocial Responses
   a. Loss, Grief, and Dying
   b. Sensory Functioning

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

The following teaching strategies may be employed but may not be limited to:

Lectures, discussion, multimedia, web-based activities, case studies, small group work, guided clinical practice, and lab experiences

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Utilize knowledge from the arts and sciences to understand the impact of the patient’s and their family’s perception of the health and illness experience.
2. Apply the nursing process to plan and deliver safe, efficient, and compassionate patient care.
3. Provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions in the delivery of patient care.
4. Utilize professional terminology to communicate with other members of the health care team.
5. Recognize the impact of health care policy and legislation upon professional nursing practice and local, state, national, and global health.
6. Demonstrate understanding of roles and responsibilities of members of the health care team.
7. Identify activities related to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
8. Demonstrate respect for others and accountability to won practice through the provision of patient-centered care.
9. Apply nursing knowledge and skills within the context of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.

VIII. Assessment Measures:

May include, but not limited to:

1. Exams; Quizzes
2. Paper
3. Project, Individual or Group
4. Nursing Process Project
5. Oral Presentations
6. Class Participation