LPN (non-req) 0002 - Worker Characteristic
Clock Hours: 6
Delivery Mode
on-ground
Course Description:
Nursing is a combination of three content areas: Vocational Relations (VR), Nutrition and Diet Therapy, and Geriatric Nursing. Each of these content areas are basic components of practical nursing. Each content area is described below with objectives listed for each area.
Vocational Relations (VR):
This content area introduces the student to the profession of nursing. The origins of nursing, the present state of the profession, and the trends for the future of practical nursing are discussed. The legal and ethical aspects of nursing are included. Nursing functions, roles, rights, and responsibilities are defined. Trends in nursing and nursing education will be explored in the light of current realities with knowledge that nursing is a responsible social discipline and all nurses must be concerned about health maintenance. Emphasis will be placed upon the practical nurse’s functions, ethical and legal rights and responsibilities as a health care provider.
Nutrition and Diet Therapy:
Nutrition provides the student practical nurse with information related to the fundamental principles of normal nutrition. Included in this content area is a study of the basic nutrients, the use of guides for evaluation and planning of normal diets, principles for the safe and economic selection and preparation of food, and a study of selected food legislation. Factors such as age, cultural and religious practices, and socioeconomic conditions are presented as influences on a client’s nutritional well-being. The study of basic nutrition is presented as applicable to the students own daily living habits as well as in the client care situations. The need for an understanding of normal nutrition as a basis for the study of therapeutic diets is discussed.
Geriatric Nursing:
This content area introduces geriatric nursing and the leadership role of the practical nurse caring for older adults in long-term care environments. The normal aging process is explored with emphasis on promoting, maintaining, and restoring health in older adults. Beside the sociological, psychological, and physiological aspects of aging, this unit will also incorporate the financial, safety, and pharmacological aspects of aging. The curriculum, using the nursing process and basic human needs as a framework will integrate cultural diversity, legal/ethical considerations, and the communication process to provide holistic care to the geriatric client.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Vocational Relations (VR):
Upon completion of this content area, the student will be able to:
- Recognize the past, present, and changing role of the practical and professional nurse and the role of the members of the health team.
- Assume personal responsibility for acquiring the knowledge of the practical nurse.
- Recognize the ethical and legal responsibilities of the practical nurse as he/she relates to the client, family, physician, professional nurse, employer, and co-worker.
- Client rights
- Good Samaritan Laws
- Malpractice
- Current issues in medical ethics
- Confidentiality/ Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Legal aspects of nursing practice
- Health care facility security
- Fire safety
- Multicultural diversity
- Identify the extent of the responsibility and the protection afforded by the Nurse Practice Act.
- Recognize the importance of health organizations and the need for active participation in practical nursing organizations.
- Recognize career opportunities as well as the need for continuing education.
- Identify and utilize basic various forms of communication.
- Verbal and nonverbal communication skills
- Positive and therapeutic group dynamics
- Develop listening skills- Active and Passive
- Utilize medical terminology
Nutrition and Diet Therapy:
Upon completion of this content area, the student will be able to:
- Recognize that nutrition plays a vital role in the total well-being of an individual.
- State the common characteristics of a well-nourished vs. malnourished person
- Discuss the relationship between food, health, and wellness
- Discuss the need for nurses to be knowledgeable of nutrition
- Describe a detailed nutritional assessment
- Discuss the water compartments in the body
- Define and discuss the process of digestion, absorption and metabolism
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system
- Identify the functions, requirements, and sources of basic nutrients.
- State the essential nutrients and discuss their primary functions
- Discuss the functions, primary sources and classifications of carbohydrates
- Discuss the digestion, absorption, metabolism and elimination of carbohydrates
- Discuss the function and composition of protein in the body
- Describe the differences between complete and incomplete proteins
- Discuss the digestion, absorption, metabolism, and elimination of proteins
- Discuss the functions, sources and classifications of fats in the body
- Discuss the process of digestion, absorption, metabolism and elimination of fats
- State the function of water in the body
- State functions and food sources of each vitamin
- Discuss the fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins
- Discuss the major minerals, their sources and functions of each mineral
- Discuss the minor minerals, their sources and functions of each miner
- Use basic guides for the evaluation and selection of normal diets for individuals throughout the life cycle
- Demonstrate the ability to calculate basal metabolic rate (BMR), as well as body mass index (BM
- Calculate the average energy requirement Kcal needed for a client
- Define a balanced diet to identify ways diets can be modified for therapeutic effect
- Identify the basic food groups and the chief nutrients each group provide
- Identify nutritional requirements for pregnancy/lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, young-, middle-, and older- adulthood
- Recognize the influence of physical, cultural, religious and socioeconomic factors on nutrition and factors influencing a client’s ability to adjust to prescribed dietary changes.
- Discuss the importance nutritional counseling
- Discuss criteria for planning appetizing meals
- Describe factors influencing the client’s ability to adjust to a prescribed diet therapy
- Discuss the development of food customs
- List food customs of various cultural groups
- Describe unusual food habits (i.e., pica, etc.) and possible food-related disorders
- Identify the uses and therapeutic effects of diets associated with common medical-surgical/psychological disorders.
- Describe the nutritional diets and list foods found in each
- Discuss methods for prevention and treatment of obesity
- Discuss underweight dangers, causes and treatment
- Define and discuss the types of food allergic reactions and treatments
- Describe methods of storing, preparing, and handling food safely
- Discuss illnesses caused by microorganisms in foods and list symptoms of each
- State methods for the prevention of food-borne illnesses
- Identify the effects of excesses and deficiencies of the basic nutrients on physiologic functioning.
- Describe the effects of protein deficiency on the healing process
- Describe the disease processes associated with excessive consumption of fats
- Describe and discuss the causes of water imbalance
- Discuss acid-base balance of the human body
- Discuss each vitamin deficit and the related symptoms
- Discuss methods to avoid mineral deficiencies
- Discuss mineral and vitamin toxicity
- Recognize critical elements pertaining to nutrition received by oral diets, enteral, and parenteral nutrition.
- Understand the differences in how oral diets may be categorized based upon texture/consistency and therapeutic need. (Ex: Regular vs a mechanically altered diet)
- Monitor the client’s ability to chew and swallow
- Understand the role speech therapists/speech language pathologists play in evaluation of client’s abilities to identify diet needs for optimal nutrition
- Provide and reinforce client teaching as necessary in regards to education on special diets: diabetic, cardiac/low sodium, etc.
- Evaluate client’s response/tolerance of diet and report to physician as appropriate
- Identify clients at risk for aspiration, ex: feeding tubes, swallowing difficulties
- Understand the need for enteral nutrition and the various routes it may be administered, ex: nasogastric, gastrostomy, jejunostomy
- Monitor client’s weight and labs as appropriate to evaluate if nutritional needs are being met
- Promote client’s independence in eating
Geriatric Nursing:
Upon completion of this content area, the student will be able to:
- Identify developmental and physiologic changes related to aging.
- Describe the physical and emotional effects of the aging process
- Describe some common physical changes among the elderly
- Describe the body system changes which take place with aging
- Discuss the biological, developmental and psychosocial theories of aging.
- List some common myths and stereotypes about the aged and aging
- Describe philosophies of the major theorists on aging
- Describe Erickson’s stage of integrity vs. despair
- Identify alterations common to aging in the health of the older adult and nursing interventions to promote wellness.
- Apply theoretical knowledge in providing basic care and health teaching to the geriatric client
- Describe the importance of relationships and stimulation
- Describe nursing measures to assist an older person to meet nutritional needs, elimination, and personal hygiene
- Describe ways to help the elderly balance activities and rest
- Describe the special needs and problems as related to the elderly
- State nursing measures to assist an older person to meet communication needs
- Discuss the concerns of aging persons concerning socioeconomic, safety, security, cultural, psychosocial, physical, legal and ethical factors.
- Describe how an elderly person compensates for impaired proprioception
- Describe family dynamics involved in the caregiving of a geriatric patient
- List ways to help the elderly person in completing activities of daily living (ADLs)
- List risk factors for falls in the geriatric population
- List community resources for elderly people and include members of the team
- Discuss the dynamics of abuse among the elderly
- Recognize problems of the dying patient
- Describe important aspects of nursing care for the dying patient
- Discuss needs of the family of the dying patient
- Evaluate personal beliefs and ideas about the death and dying process
- Describe the five stages of death and dying (Elizabeth Kubler-Ross)
- State the signs of approaching death
- Describe techniques for informing and supporting family members when death is imminent
- Describe nursing responsibilities associated with postmortem care
- Describe the Patient’s Bill of Rights
- Describe differences in assisted living, adult day care, intermediate and skilled facilities, respite and hospice, and home care entities
- Discuss guidelines for advanced directive, the living will, and power of attorney and do not resuscitate orders
- Discuss guidelines for organ donation
- Discuss the appropriate use of physical and chemical restraints, alternative measures and legal issues
- Discuss problems, treatments and nursing interventions related to common diseases/disorders of the elderly.
- Define primary degenerative dementia and secondary dementia
- Describe Alzheimer’s disease, physiological changes and theories related to causes
- Describe nursing care of a patient with dementia
- Identify differences between delirium and dementia
- Define and describe rehabilitation nursing, bowel/bladder training, and skin care, mobility training and adaptive devices
- Discuss the leadership role of the Practical Nurse in the care of the geriatric client.
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