Clinical Nursing Methods (4cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The student
- knows how to monitor an adult’s body temperature, respiration and circulatory systems, knows the normal values and is able to implement nursing care to resolve problems in these systems;
- knows the ABCDE –method and how to assess patient’s vital signs based on the ABCDE method;
- knows how to assess a patient’s pain and is aware of various methods of pain management;
- takes responsibility for his/her learning and actions during small-group learning activities and commits himself/herself to goal-oriented problem solving process in small-group education;
- knows the most common clinical and microbiological investigations.

Content (course unit)

- Monitoring of the circulatory system
- Monitoring of respiration and nursing methods of respiratory support
- Monitoring of body temperature and nursing actions and methods related to imbalances of thermal regulation
- Assessment of a patient’s vital signs based on the ABCDE –method and reporting of patient’s condition (ex ISBAR)
- Pain types and pain management using non-pharmacological nursing methods
- The most common clinical and microbiological investigations

Prerequisites (course unit)

none

Exam schedules

Clinical nursing methods, theory exam: 14th of December 2018
Retake 1: In January 2019 (dates to be given later) in Exam
Retake 2: In February 2019 (dates to be given later) in Exam

Assessment methods and criteria

Nursing Care: Mark 0-5. Written exam. Participation in classes. Mandatory participation in orientation.
Small group work. Evaluated pass/fail. Small group work 100% presence, active participation and completed tasks.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

The course information will be updated and finalised before the mandatory orientation meeting.
Contact teaching: orientation lesson (mandatory participation), lectures, small group work (mandatory participation), online learning tasks, independent study.

Learning materials

Janice L. Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever. Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical nursing. 2018. 14th edition:
Concepts and Challenges in Patient Management: Pain management.
Gas Exchange and Respiratory Function: Assessment of Respiratory Function, Respiratory Care Modalities: Noninvasive Respiratory Therapies. Cardiovascular and Circulatory Function: Assessment of Cardiovascular Function, Assessment and Management of Patients With Hypertension.
More specific recommended literature/specific pages may be given by the teachers during the course.
Yoost& Crawford (2015) Clinical Companion for Fundamentals of Nursing : Active Learning for Collaborative Practice. (e-book). The relevant contents will be updated before the orientation lecture.
All the material provided by the teachers.
All the material produced within the small group work.

Student workload

The course is 4 ECTS; including contact studies/lectures, online studies and independent work, in total of 108 hours of student's work.

Content scheduling

• Part 1 Nursing care. Written exam, participation in the learning/teaching. 3 ECTS, evaluation 0-5.
• Part 2 Clinical investigations. Theory studies, participation in the learning/teaching. 1 ECTS. Evaluation passed/failed.
• Part 3 Small group work.100% mandatory, active participation, written assignments. Evaluation passed/failed.
• Part 4 ECG - orientation to clinical practice. 100% mandatory, active participation. Evaluation passed/failed.
• Part 5 Vena puncture - orientation to clinical practice. 100% mandatory, active participation. Evaluation passed/failed.

Further information

Goals:
The student:
- knows how to observe adult's temperature regulation system, breathing, circulatory system and their normal functioning. Is able to use nursing actions, measures and care in possible problem situations.
- knows what ABCDE -method means, and is able to use it when evaluating patient's basic life functioning values.
- knows how to observe patient's pain, is aware of different methods when treating patient's pain.
- basic knowledge in the care of an unconcious patient.
- basic knowledge concerning patient's fluid balance.
- will take the responsibility of his/her own learning and working in the small groups, is committed in a goal-orientated problem based learning process within the group.
- knows the most common clinical and microbiological examinations
Contents of the course:
- circulatory system and its observation, nursing methods to help and alleviate possible problems
- breathing system and its observation, nursing methods to help and alleviate possible problems
- temperature regulation system, its observation and nursing methods in possible disorder situations
- ABCDE -method used in the evaluation of patient's basic life functions. Reporting method ISBAR.
- Patient's pain, different forms, nursing methods to help and alleviate pain in the care.
- Care of an unconscious patient.
- Monitoring patient's fluid balance.
- Gas calculations
- The most important clinical and microbiological examinations
- Vena puncture and analysing the results

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Does not meet the criteria defined for mark 1.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Can define basic concepts of nursing in person's circulatory system, breathing, temperature regulation system.
Knows the basics of patient’s needs in the mentioned areas and can name the nursing methods meeting the needs. Knows the normal variations in the observed parameters.
Knows different types of pain and the nursing methods in the treatment of pain

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Can define many common concepts of nursing in person's circulatory system, breathing, temperature regulation system. Is able to use methods of observation, nursing care and evaluation in the named areas.
Understands the basics of patient’s needs in the mentioned areas and can use the nursing methods meeting the needs. Knows the normal variations in the observed parameters and is able to evaluate them.
Is able to observe and evaluate different types of pain and will be able to use nursing methods in the treatment of pain.
Can implement nursing care of a patient.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Can define concepts of nursing in person's circulatory system, breathing, temperature regulation system. Is able to use methods of observation, nursing care and evaluation in the named areas.
Understands the basics of patient’s needs in the mentioned areas and can use the nursing methods meeting the needs. Knows the normal variations in the observed parameters and is able to evaluate them.
Is able to observe and evaluate different types of pain and will be able to use nursing methods in the treatment of pain.
Can implement nursing care of a patient with good nursing skills.
Can combine theory base with nursing care.
Can analyse, ponder and implement in a professional context.