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 NA
Assistant(s)
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 family’s physiological, psychological, and developmental needs taking into
consideration the client’ s and his family’s 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.
Book Website www.lww.com
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 Percentage

1. Create a specific plan of care in partnership with clients and families 25%
experiencing acute and/or complex multi-system conditions.

2. Learn leadership and management skills, coordination and 15%

evaluation necessary to interact and provide care for clients with
acute health conditions.
3. Implement therapeutic nursing interventions and develop caring 15%
relationships with clients and families in the acute care setting.
4. Apply relevant theoretical concepts and nursing research findings 15%
when planning care for clients in diverse acute care settings.

5. Use effective communication skills in collaborating with other health 10%

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 10%
modify accordingly.

7. Implement the code of professional practice, including legal, ethical, 10%

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

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 Chapter in Textbook
Topics
(handouts)
1 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.
-locate the areas of auscultation of heart Chapter 17; pages 216-
sounds. 228
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.
2 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 228-
conditions. 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.
3 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).
4 IV. Dysrhythmias (Cardiac Conduction Chapter 17; pages 248-269
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.
5 IV. Continued (Dysrhythmias) Chapter 18; pages 298-302
-discuss selected atrial, ventricular, and Chapter 18; pages 346-
conductive dysrhythmias describing 364, 368-370
their:
etiology, pathophysiology, clinical
significance, and management
-discuss the nursing and collaborative
management for clients with cardiac
dysrhythmias.
6 V. Management of Clients with Acute Chapter 21; pages 429-445
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.
7 VI. Cardiac Surgery and Surgical Chapter 18; pages 305-
Procedures (PTCA, Stent, IABP). 324, 328-346
-discuss and describe selected cardiac
surgical procedures in regards to their:
 Indications,
contraindications, and
physiological effects
 Pre, intra, and post
procedure management
(nursing & collaborative)
 Possible complications and
 nursing interventions to
prevent possible
complications.

8 VII. Care of Client with Multisystem Chapter 54; pages 1251-

Organ Failure Condition (Shocks) 1274
-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.
9 Pulmonary Alterations Chapter 24; pages 506-515
VIII. Assessment and Diagnostic Tests of Chapter 25; pages 527-
the Respiratory System. 532; 539-563
-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(pre-
post), 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.
10 IX. Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) & Chapter 26; pages 597-604
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Chapter 27
(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.
11 X. Care of Client with Chest and/or Review Chapter 26; pages
Abdominal Trauma 572-578
-identify possible mechanisms of chest Chapter 55; pages 1277-
and/or abdominal injury associated with 1293; 1296-99
 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.
12 Neurological Alterations Chapter 33; pages 753-
XI. Assessment of Clients with 758, 759-60 (cranial nerve
Neurological Conditions III); 765-773
-discuss the value of gathering Chapter 34
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.
13 XII. Acute Head Injury Chapter 36; pages 839-858
-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.
14 XIII. Care of Clients with Burn Condition Chapter 53
-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.
15 Final Exam Week

Additional Notes