The course is designed to help students become socialized to the American health care system. It is recommended for any prospective students in health careers, and especially for linguistic minority students. 6 Integrates knowledge from Maternity, Pediatric, and Gerontological Nursing into a developmental perspective. The focus is on normal growth and development and the common health problems that arise from alterations in growth and development. The student acquires the knowledge and skills to deliver culturally sensitive nursing care to clients across the life span.
Content covers the care of the patient in the nursing home and home care settings.
Units on the basic human needs of safety, mobility, comfort and rest, communication, nutrition, elimination, and oxygenation are presented. These assist the student in recognizing characteristics of individual patients whose ability to meet their own basic needs have been compromised. Upon successful completion of this course, the student is eligible to acquire a certificate as a Nurse's Aide through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Quality. The student will also be eligible for home certification as a Home Health Aide. An exploration of the evolution of nursing, provides a basis for understanding the impact of past, contemporary and future issues on current nursing practice.