You will study the basic concepts of pharmacology and related nursing responsibilities in the context of patient safety. Your studies will focus on medication classifications and their physiological effects on the human body. You will describe natural health products and traditional Indigenous medications. You will demonstrate evidence-informed care and knowledge of medication actions, therapeutic effects, side/adverse effects, nursing implications, and patient teaching.
You will describe mental health concepts, legal and ethical considerations, and social stigmas related to mental health disorders. You will examine specific mental health disorders along with health promotion strategies and resources. You will examine substance use and the physiological and psychological risks related to substance misuse. You will describe the processes of withdrawal and detoxification and examine the principles and application of the harm reduction model. You will describe the challenges for patients with concurrent disorders.
You will demonstrate competency in the calculation of medication dosages. You will explain the nursing responsibilities, safety principles, and legal implications concerning the safe administration of medications. In a simulated setting, you will learn how to prepare and safely administer medications via the enteral , percutaneous, and parenteral (subcutaneous and intramuscular) routes. Proficiency in this course underpins safe nursing practice.
You will examine the roles of legislation and professional organizations in practical nursing. You will demonstrate accountability for ethical practice and examine the role of the practical nurse in advocacy. You will examine factors that affect collaborative practice and analyze the principles and practice related to conflict resolution. You will examine the leadership role of the practical nurse and examine trends in nursing practice.
You will practice assessments and skills associated with rehabilitative and supportive care. Your experiential learning will provide you with the opportunity to apply your nursing knowledge to the assessment and care of adults with chronic health challenges in a longterm care setting. You will demonstrate the concepts of patient safety, critical thinking, and evidence informed practice in the delivery of patient care and teaching.
You will demonstrate, at an introductory level, the assessments and skills associated with the care of adult and geriatric patients. You will apply the nursing process, practice documentation, and apply principles of patient teaching. Your experiential learning will provide opportunities to practice your skills and abilities for patients in long term care environments.
You will begin to apply critical thinking skills, explaining the physiological and psychological health changes of the ageing adult. With guidance, you will apply the nursing process and describe evidence informed practice related to the ageing adult patient. You will describe specific health variations using a systems approach and recognize health promotion strategies in gerontological care.
You will discuss key concepts in nursing practice and describe diverse perspectives related to health. You will describe determinants of health, concepts of primary health care and explain the delivery health services in Canada, You will describe ethics, standards, and competencies related to practical nursing. You will discuss the concepts of culture and diversity and describe diverse health care practices. You will apply key elements of patient safety to nursing practice.
You will describe concepts related to communication and the development of therapeutic relationships and apply interpersonal communication skills. You will examine concepts of self and develop skills in reflection and critical thinking. You will examine knowledge, skills and abilities related to fitness to practice and describe what professionalism means related to nursing practice.
In the second of a two-course sequence, you will continue to explore the human body focusing on the interaction between structure and function and the regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. You will examine how the levels of the organization of the body and the components of cells, tissues and organs impact the form and function for the following body systems: endocrine, blood, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, fluid, electrolyte and acid-based balance and reproductive.