Jordan University of Science and Technology

Faculty of
Department of
Semester 200
Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course Title

Advanced Adult Health Nursing

Course Code

NUR 415

Prerequisites

NUR 315, NUR 340, NUR 352

Course Website
Instructor

Wejdan Khater, RN, PhD

Office Location

N1

Office Phone #

23623

Office Hours

Sun & Tue 1-2 pm.

Mon & wed 10-12 am

E-mail

wkhater@just.edu.jo

Teaching
Assistant(s)

NA
Course Description

This course focuses on the process of decision making in managing the care of adult
clients experiencing critical conditions that are life threatening and/or involve multiple
body systems. Complex medical-surgical conditions in adults are discussed in terms
of pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatments that are based on current
research. A collaborative care approach will be stressed to meet the critically ill client
and his familys physiological, psychological, and developmental needs taking into
consideration the client s and his familys sociocultural context. Students will use
critical thinking and problem solving skills to integrate knowledge acquired in class into
the nursing process while caring
Textbook
Title

Critical care nursing: A holistic approach

Author(s)

Morton, P., Fontaine, D., Hudak, C., & Gallo, B

Publisher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Year

2005

Edition

8th ed.
www.lww.com

Book Website
Other references

Assessment
Assessment

Expected Due Date

Percentage

First Exam

22/3/2007

30%

Second Exam

24/4/2007

30%

Final Exam

TBA

40%

Assignments

NA

Participation

NA

Attendance

NA

Course Objectives
1. Create a specific plan of care in partnership with clients and families
experiencing acute and/or complex multi-system conditions.

Percentage

2. Learn leadership and management skills, coordination and

evaluation necessary to interact and provide care for clients with
acute health conditions.
3. Implement therapeutic nursing interventions and develop caring
relationships with clients and families in the acute care setting.
4. Apply relevant theoretical concepts and nursing research findings
when planning care for clients in diverse acute care settings.

15%

Use effective communication skills in collaborating with other health

care professionals to promote health in clients experiencing acute
and/or complex and multi-system conditions.
6. Evaluate clients and families responses to the plane of care and
modify accordingly.

10%

Implement the code of professional practice, including legal, ethical,

regulatory and professional standards with consideration for
sociocultural diversity among clients and families.

10%

5.

7.

25%

15%
15%

10%

Teaching & Learning Methods

Content will be presented in a variety of ways including: Lecture/demonstration; small
group activities; role playing; and audiovisual aids (AV); interactive classroom
discussions of assigned case studies to clarify concepts, and to promote group and
individual competencies in critical thinking and learning. Success of learning
experiences depends on full participation by each student. Students are expected to
complete assigned readings, view videos, etc. prior to coming to class. Students are
responsible for any information presented in class (verbal, written, or AV material), in
required readings, and in readings/audiovisuals on reserve. Students are also
accountable for reviewing information presented in previous courses.

Useful Resources
-Nursing Skills Laboratory
-Videos on in Nursing Skills Lab.
-Reserve in the library

Course Content
Week
1

Topics

Chapter in Textbook
(handouts)

Introduction and orientation to the

course
I. Review of Assessment of Clients with
CVS Conditions:
-Discuss 4 important considerations in
preparing a patient for cardiac
examination.
Chapter 17; pages 216-locate the areas of auscultation of heart
228
sounds.
st
-discuss the mechanisms for the 1 and
2nd heart sound.
-discuss the phases of the cardiac cycle
in relation to the heart sounds.
-discuss the clinical significance, timing,
and location of the 3rd & 4th heart sounds
and selected murmurs.
II. CVS Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests:
-describe the laboratory studies used in
diagnosis of CV conditions.
-describe the role of cardiac enzyme
(CK, LDH, Troponion) studies in
diagnosis of an acute MI.
-compare and contrast the use of
creatine kinase (CK) and lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme
studies.
-interpret cardiac enzymes studies
when providing care for patient with CV
Chapter 17; pages 228conditions.
248
-describe at least 4 diagnostic procedures
used for
diagnostic purposes for clients with CV
conditions.
-outline the client and family teaching
needs pre, intra, and post diagnostic
procedure (stress testing,
catheterization, echo, angiography).
-understand the management of expected
complications for invasive and non-invasive
cardiac studies.
III. Hemodynamic Monitoring:
Chapter 17; pages 269-288
-describe the normal characteristics of
normal systemic arterial, right atrial,
right ventricular, pulmonary artery, and
pulmonary capillary wedge pressures &
waveform.
-discuss the basic components
necessary to monitor pressure readings.
-accurately identify steps, procedures,
and interventions to measure
hemodynamic measures (pressures,
cardiac output).

-discuss major complications that can

occur during hemodynamic monitoring.
-identify interventions (nursing &
collaborative) to manage complications
above.
-accurately troubleshoot equipment
during hemodynamic monitoring (i.e.
pulmonary artery pressure).
IV. Dysrhythmias (Cardiac Conduction
Disturbance)
-discuss/review of cardiac conduction
system.
-identify the criteria for normal sinus
rhythm.
-discuss and identify the ECG waves in
relation to the cardiac cycle.
-discuss methods for calculating the
heart rate from an ECG strip.
-discuss the criteria for identifying an
abnormal cardiac rhythm.
IV. Continued (Dysrhythmias)
-discuss selected atrial, ventricular, and
conductive dysrhythmias describing
their:
etiology, pathophysiology, clinical
significance, and management
-discuss the nursing and collaborative
management for clients with cardiac
dysrhythmias.
V. Management of Clients with Acute
Myocardial infarction (AMI)
-review circulation to the cardiac
muscle.
-describe the continuum of
pathophysiological events/changes that
occur between angina and AMI.
-discuss nursing and collaborative
management for client with AMI
including management of:
Oxygenation needs, pain,
nutrition, cardiac muscle
reperfusion, and
pharmacological.
-discuss patient and family teaching
needs while in recovering in the critical
care unit and discharge planning.
-discuss complications prevention and
health promotion for patients with AMI.
VI. Cardiac Surgery and Surgical
Procedures (PTCA, Stent, IABP).
-discuss and describe selected cardiac
surgical procedures in regards to their:
Indications,
contraindications, and
physiological effects
Pre, intra, and post
procedure management
(nursing & collaborative)

Chapter 17; pages 248-269

Chapter 18; pages 298-302

Chapter 18; pages 346364, 368-370

Chapter 21; pages 429-445

Chapter 18; pages 305324, 328-346

10

11

Possible complications and

nursing interventions to
prevent possible
complications.

VII. Care of Client with Multisystem

Organ Failure Condition (Shocks)
-identify the different types of shocks.
-discuss the etiology and
pathophysiology and clinical
implications of shocks.
- explain the nursing and medical
management therapy and its rational for
the different types of shocks.
Pulmonary Alterations
VIII. Assessment and Diagnostic Tests of
the Respiratory System.
-discuss/review assessment of
respiratory system
-compare and contrast normal and
abnormal breath sounds.
-discuss selected pulmonary diagnostic
tests (i.e. arterial blood gas (ABG),
pulmonary function test, radiology,
sputum, CT, Thoracentesis, Pulse
oxometry, Bronchoscopy) identifying
their:
Indication, management(prepost), and clinical significance.
-identify normal and abnormal values for
ABG and their clinical significance.
-describe the procedure for obtaining
ABG sample.
-analyze ABG readings and provide an
accurate interpretation.
-identify indications for chest tubes and
their physiological effects.
-discuss the nursing interventions
necessary to prevent complications and
maintain patency for chest tube
drainage system.
IX. Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) &
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
(ARDS).
-discuss etiology, pathophysiology, and
clinical manifestations of ARF and
ARDS.
-describe the nursing and collaborative
interventions to manage the care of
clients with ARF or ARDS.
-identify types, modes, physiological
impact, and complications of
mechanical ventilators.
-discuss the nursing interventions
necessary when weaning a patient from a
ventilator.
X. Care of Client with Chest and/or
Abdominal Trauma

Chapter 54; pages 12511274

Chapter 24; pages 506-515

Chapter 25; pages 527532; 539-563

Chapter 26; pages 597-604

Chapter 27

Review Chapter 26; pages

572-578

12

13

14

15

-identify possible mechanisms of chest

and/or abdominal injury associated with
trauma.
-describe various types of
chest/abdominal injuries and their
associated symptoms.
-identify the nursing and collaborative
management therapy for
chest/abdominal injury and their
rational.
Neurological Alterations
XI. Assessment of Clients with
Neurological Conditions
-discuss the value of gathering
neurological data in an organized and
objective manner.
-recognize the patterns of assessment
data that imply a significant change in
pathology for patient care.
Relate the procedure of selected
neurological tests to nursing implication
for patient care (i.e. Glasco Coma
Scale, VS, etc.).
-recognize the meaning and clinical
significance of the changes in the intra
cranial pressure (ICP).
-describe the cerebral perfusion
pressure (CPP) and techniques to
obtain ICP.
-identify interventions used to maintain
cerebral perfusion flow.
XII. Acute Head Injury
-identify possible mechanisms of head
injury associated with trauma.
-describe various types of head injuries
and their associated symptoms.
-identify the nursing and collaborative
management therapy for head injury
and their rational.
XIII. Care of Clients with Burn Condition
-describe the classifications system of
burn injury.
-describe the major physiological and
psychological effect of burn.
-discuss the phases of recovery
following burn injury.
-develop a nursing care plane
appropriate for each phase of recovery
for burn injury with rational.
Final Exam Week

Additional Notes

Chapter 55; pages 12771293; 1296-99

Chapter 33; pages 753758, 759-60 (cranial nerve

III); 765-773
Chapter 34

Chapter 36; pages 839-858

Chapter 53