Upon successful completion of NURS 284 the student will be able to:

1. Discuss how political, social, cultural, and economic factors influence health care financing and create pressure on nursing unit budget planning and strategies for cost containment.
2. Evaluate components of effective leadership and leadership styles, including concepts of power and empowerment.
3. Articulate principles of effective delegation, taking into account legal and ethical constraints, common errors and barriers to effectively delegate aspects of patient care to qualified assistive personnel.
4. Discuss the purpose, methods and limitations of quality assurance and risk management programs.
5. Incorporate principles of leadership and management when prioritizing and evaluating care for complex patients.
6. Analyze specific ways the nurse can apply knowledge of organizational structure and function in managing and coordinating patient care.
7. Investigate principles of planned change to successfully modify unit environment.
8. Evaluation navigational pathways within an organization useful for solving problems, identifying the chain of command, and developing personal empowerment within the organization.
9. Describe specific ways a nurse can utilize knowledge of effective communication within an organizational structure to enhance management and coordination of patient care.
10. Utilize technology to support and communicate the planning and provision of patient care.
11. Incorporate basic principles of research to facilitate professional career development.
12. Analyze and synthesize information from a variety of resources on a current healthcare topic.
13. Create a written and oral presentation on individual/group projects using a variety of resources.
14. Utilize the nursing process in the provision of care to patients guided by a variety of theoretical frameworks.
15. Acquire, apply and value knowledge necessary to demonstrate safe, competent practice within the profession's ethical and legal framework.
16. Discuss regulatory mandates to protect confidential information.
17. Evaluate evidence-based information collected electronically or through other means to support clinical decision-making.
18. Articulate the process of providing assistive personnel with relevant instruction to achieve best practice patient outcomes.
19. Explore creative interactions and openness with others to solve problems to achieve optimal patient goals and outcomes.
20. Demonstrate accountable, safe and competent professional nursing behaviors in the delegation and provision of care for patients in the acute care setting.

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 Associate 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

Utilize the nursing process in a competent and caring manner to safely meet the bio/psycho/social/cultural and spiritual needs of patients across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings.

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.

Apply concepts of cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and respect for persons when working with diverse populations.

Link to at least one general education outcome

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

Have appropriate technological skills, including computer skills.