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NURS 713

NURS 713: Advanced Health Assessment Laboratory           

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator; must be taken concurrently with NURS 712

Credit Hours: (1)

This course is the laboratory for NURS 712 Advanced Health Assessment.

Detailed Description of Content of the Course

Content: Laboratory component of Advanced Health Assessment (NURS 712). Emphasis is on interviewing to acquire a comprehensive health history, including developmental, cultural, risk, nutrition, and functional assessments and refinement of physical examination skills of body systems.  Another focus is clinical decision making based upon data obtained from health assessments considered foundational to advanced nursing practice.      

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This online course may incorporate faculty/student directed discussions, class participation, reading assignments, and written work. Because the course is online, audio or video presentations/lectures, discussion boards, chat rooms and other instructional technology strategies may be used. In addition may include but not limited to:  video demonstration(s) with consenting patients of various components of the health history (including nutrition, risk, cultural, developmental and mental health assessments) and physical examinations;  interviewing; comprehensive histories and integrated physical examinations; case presentations focusing on clinical decision making.

Goals and Objectives of this Course

By the end of the course the student will be able to:
1.    Demonstrate skill in communication and interviewing in obtaining a comprehensive health history
2.  Demonstrate ability to perform a complete physical examination
3.  Accurately and appropriately modify the physical exam to focus on specific needs or problems of the client considering age, development, culture, and physical and mental limitations.
4.  Correlate physical and health assessment data with pathophysiology and findings of diagnostic studies.
5.  Demonstrate effective clinical decision making as reflected in identification of differential diagnoses based upon health assessment data.
6.  Develop plans of care based upon data considering health status and health promotion and prevention.


Assessment Measures

May include but are not limited to:  Performance of body system assessments; write ups of complete histories and physical examinations; case simulations and write ups of clients with health problems; quizzes; student presentations.

Other Course Information:  N/A

Review and Approval


Approved:  April, 2010