NURS 002 - Introduction to Medical/Surgical Nursing - Units 4.5

Prerequisites: NURS 1 with a grade of "C" or better and concurrent enrollment in NURS 3.

Limitations on Enrollment: Admission into the Associate Degree Nursing Program.

This course is designed to introduce the concepts and principles of Medical-Surgical Nursing. The concepts of wholistic care are considered as the basis of providing nursing care to the adult in varying stages of the life cycle. Placement on the health-illness continuum is assessed in terms of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and pharmacological considerations. The role of the professional nurse in planning and providing nursing care by utilizing the nursing process is reinforced. Legal and ethical factors inherent in nursing care are introduced. Clinical experiences focus on the normal changes that occur during the aging process, actual and potential problems associated with chronic and/or non-critical illness, pain management, and oncology. The student learns to assess the health status of the individual and provide care to selected adults in acute, long-term, and community health care settings. (CSU)