Human responses to pathophysiology, diagnostic testing, pharmacologic treatment, and therapeutic interventions are explored within an eclectic nursing framework. The course introduces students to ethical, moral, and diagnostic reasoning in decision making for evidence-based, quality client care in a variety of hospital settings. This course provides nursing students with an understanding of disease and its treatment as the basis for nursing assessment and intervention. Major disease entities will be explored by emphasizing pathophysiological concepts for the implementation of therapeutic nursing care. Students use didactic instruction and supervised practice to develop skills in assessing the health and physical status of the well adult client.
Students develop critical thinking skills in analyzing data and determining individual needs.
Ethical issues, leadership styles of the nurse, and aggregate health needs are discussed as they relate to conducting a complete health assessment. Complex pathophysiological concepts are discussed. The students think critically as they analyze issues related to these concepts while examining the client's basic needs from a holistic point of view. Emphasis is on biophysiological, spiritual, ethical, legal, cultural, and theoretical principles which form the basis for studying theories of human behavior and current findings in nursing care, psychiatric treatment, and psychosocial rehabilitation. In acute and ambulatory settings, students practice nursing assessment and the management of clients and their support systems.