NURS 129 Gerontological Nursing

2 credits

A course introducing nursing students to assessment, care, and health promotion concepts and processes for older adults. Students will explore the nurse’s role as a change agent in planning and delivering care for older adults.

Prerequisites: BIOL& 241, BIOL& 242, BIOL& 260, CHEM& 121, any CMST& course, ENGL& 101, MATH& 146, NUTR& 101, and PSYC& 200

Corequisites: All NURS courses within same quarter

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Explain key concepts such as gerontological nursing history and roles, healthy aging, health promotion, and continuity of care
Identify expected changes in the aging process, encompassing physical, psychological, cognitive, and social aspects
Explain coping and health promotion strategies for living with chronic conditions and caring for older adults and their caregivers
Apply basic knowledge of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions in management of chronic conditions
Implement evidence-based assessment and screening tools in caring for older adults to identify health status and potential health issues
Demonstrate growing competency in accurate and effective communication with clients, families, and interdisciplinary teams to promote ethical, legal, and safe patient-centered geriatric nursing care
Utilize awareness of social determinants of health and holistic health assessment in analyzing clinical scenarios
Examine cultural diversity and attitudes towards aging to facilitate cross-cultural communication with older adults and their caregivers

Total Hours: 20 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 20