General Information

• Name: Health Assessment Laboratory
• Discipline: Nursing (NURS)
• Units (Credits): 1
• Schedule History: See when this course was offered over the last three years.
• Transfer Information: Courses with numbers 100 to 299: This course is designed to apply toward a WNC degree and/or transfer to other schools within the Nevada System of Higher Education, depending on the degree chosen and other courses completed. It may transfer to colleges and universities outside Nevada. For information about how this course can transfer and apply to your program of study, please contact a counselor.
• Academic Division: Nursing and Allied Health

Prerequisites and Recommended Courses

• Prerequisites: admission to the nursing program or consent of the Nursing and Allied Health director
• Corequisites: NURS 147

Course Outline

I: Catalog Course Description

Incorporates knowledge from NURS 200 to provide students with learning opportunities to collect, organize, analyze and synthesize health assessment data for adult and elder patients in a laboratory setting using simulation and live patients. Formerly NURS 201.

II: Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of NURS 201 the student will be able to:

• Apply principles of evidenced based practice that lead to best practice decisions.
• Demonstrate appropriate communication skills to establish a therapeutic relationship for subjective and objective data collection and validation.
• Utilize clinical decision making skills to deliberately and systematically collect subjective and objective data using various assessment tools in order to perform any one of the four basic types of assessments.
• Document normal and abnormal health assessment findings in an accurate, clear, concise and complete manner following appropriate guidelines.
• Prioritize the needs of the individual through integration of information from a health history and the physical examination.
• Demonstrate data analysis skills for identification of nursing diagnoses, collaborative problems, or need for referral to another health care provider.
• Perform a holistic health assessment by incorporating knowledge of basic ethical values, cultural competence and legal accountability.
• Perform a safe, accurate, comprehensive assessment on an adult client efficiently and effectively; then analyze the data to identify at least one nursing concern; and complete a SOAP note.
• Perform an assessment on an elder patient using a specific assessment tool and evaluate the effectiveness of the tool with peers to define the tools' usefulness.
• Present the findings of the assessment tool and its usefulness for best practice outcomes to the class as a member of a group who assessed the tool.

III: Course Linkage

Linkage of course to educational program mission and at least one educational program outcome.

Linkage of course to the Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Mission and Outcomes, Nursing Program Mission, Nursing Program Outcomes, and General Education Outcomes.

Link to the Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Mission and Outcomes

The purpose of the Assocate of Applied Science degree is to provide employment-related knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a chosen field of study.

Students who complete programs in occupational areas are expected to demonstrate that they

1. Know subject area of the degree
2. Are able to acquire skills and perform tasks necessary for employment or career enhancement

Link to the Nursing Program Mission

The mission of the nursing program at Western Nevada College is to meet the nursing educational needs of the service area. The program prepares qualified students to function as entry-level registered nurses and transfer to higher degree programs.

Graduates are prepared to function in a variety of health care settings, providing culturally sensitive, holistic nursing care to individuals and families across the lifespan. The nursing faculty supports graduate competency in an evolving and complex health care environment by facilitating the students' development of clinical judgement, promoting professional behaviors, and fostering the value of lifelong learning.

Link to at least one Nursing Program Educational Outcome

1. Integrate knowledge derived from the bio/psycho/social sciences, humanities, and nursing to achieve deliberative and competent decision-making that is grounded in evidence based practice to achieve best practice outcomes.

2. Utilize therapeutic communication skills when interacting with patients and their families.

Link to at least one General Education Program Outcome

1. Demonstrate college-level skills in reading, writing, and oral communication appropriate to their degree and/or emphasis.

2. Can understand and apply social science principles.