Nursing 724

NURS 724: Advanced Family Nursing: Chronic Illness Across the Lifespan            

Prerequisite: NURS 710, NURS 712, NURS 713, NURS 716 and concurrent with NURS 725; or permission of instructor

Credit Hours: (3)

This course provides the advanced practice nurse practitioner with the knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and managing chronic illnesses across the lifespan.

Detailed Description of Content of the Course

This course is designed to prepare the student to practice advanced nursing skills and clinical decision making in diverse settings (including rural and urban) with patients, families, and groups experiencing chronic conditions.  Emphasis is on analyzing, synthesizing, and applying current family, nursing, and other health care theories, research, best practices related to individuals and families across the lifespan in the context of the chronic condition.  The focus includes wellness promotion, health protection, management and maintenance of chronic conditions, restoration and rehabilitation, coordination of services, collaborative care with other providers, and appropriate referral.

Topical Outline
1. Adult Development
        a. Physical activity and fitness (President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
        b. Clinical Preventive Services (Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control)
2. Diabetes and Chronic Disability Conditions (National Institutes of Health; Centers for Disease Control)
3. Chronic Dermatological Conditions
4. Heart Disease
        a. Hypertension
        b. Congestive Heart Failure
        c.  Chest Pain-chronic
5.  Chronic respiratory conditions
        a. COPD
        b. asthma in adults
6. Peripheral vascular compromise
7. Neurological problems
        a. Vertigo/syncope
        b. HA
        c. TIA, Stroke
        d. Dementia
8.  Arthritis (osteo/rheumatoid), Immune Disorders--HIV
9.  Mental Health and Mental Disorders
        a.  Substance Abuse
        b.  Depression & Anxiety
        c.  Somataform Disorders
        d. Bipolar Disorder
10.  Cancer (National Institutes of Health)
11.  Nutrition (National Institutes of Health; Food and Drug Administration)
12.  Chronic GI Disorders

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This on line course may include but is not limited to faculty and student led seminar discussions, lectures, guest speakers, case studies, reading assignments, written projects and other teaching-learning strategies as appropriate. Because the course is online, audio or video presentations/lectures, discussion boards, chat rooms and other instructional technology strategies may be used.

Goals and Objectives of this Course

Upon completion of this course, the student will

1.Demonstrate the synthesis and application of knowledge necessary for holistic assessment of the chronically ill client and family.
2.Demonstrate the synthesis and application of advanced nursing and family knowledge, theory and research findings to promote wellness, health protection and restoration for families and groups across the lifespan with chronic illness
3.Demonstrate the synthesis and application of advanced nursing knowledge necessary to diagnose, treat, and provide nursing management of common chronic conditions for clients and families across the lifespan.
4.Select, implement, and evaluate health teaching and counseling approaches for these clients and families experiencing chronic conditions.
5.Evaluate clinical data and therapeutic options to determine effective nurse practitioner management, collaborative management, and/or appropriate referral.
6.Apply/develop a theory-based conceptual framework to guide practice.
7.Apply/conduct research studies pertinent to evidenced based primary care management.

Assessment Measures

May include but are not limited to:   Case studies; exams, quizzes; student presentations, written projects.


Other Course Information
None

Review and Approval
Approved:  April 2010