NURS 126 - Nursing Care of Special Populations I: Geriatric and Psychiatric Nursing

(TP/SS only)

Introduces concepts related to mental health and illness across the lifespan as well as the unique physiologic and psychosocial needs of the older adult. Healthy aging of the older adult patient is emphasized. PREREQUISITE(S): A grade of C or better in BIOL 150 , NURS 113 , NURS 114 , NURS 121 , ENGL 102 , or ENGL 103 . PRE- or COREQUISITE(S): A grade of C or better in mathematics foundation. PSYC 102 or PSYC 203 or consent of program coordinator. COREQUISITE(S): BIOL 212 , NURS 125 . Two hours lecture, six hours laboratory each week. Formerly NU 126.

4 semester hours

Course Outcomes:
Upon course completion, a student will be able to:

Access and use current research evidence to promote clinical reasoning for the special care needs of adult and geriatric populations with alterations in biopsychosocial functioning.
Adhere to the legal/ethical responsibilities of the student nurse when providing care to the geriatric/psychiatric populations.
Identify legal issues involved in providing care to patients with alterations in mental health in the adult and geriatric populations.
Correlate performance of nursing techniques with desired physiologic and psychological outcomes.
Recognize Geriatric syndromes and chronic conditions, including atypical presentations.
Advocate during acute exacerbations of chronic conditions to prevent further complications
Maintain maximum function and independence in the psychiatric, adult and geriatric populations.
Analyze risk and benefits of care decisions in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, patient, family and caregiver.
Interpret findings and evaluate clinical situations in order to provide high quality nursing care based on current knowledge and best practices to psychiatric and geriatric populations.
Assess, respond to, and respect the functional status, strengths, wishes, culture and expectations of adult and geriatric populations.
Apply the principles of therapeutic communication across the life cycle.
Facilitate interdisciplinary communication for transitioning adult and geriatric populations
Use technology to enhance the functioning, independence and safety of psychiatric, adult and geriatric populations.
Specify the unique nursing responsibilities in administration of medications to psychiatric, adult and geriatric populations.
Assess and provide nursing care to promote safety based on the biopsychosocial vulnerabilities and care needs of psychiatric, adult and geriatric populations

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