Dec 05, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog SVC 
    
2025-2026 Catalog SVC

NURS 281 - Nursing Complx M/S & Geriatric Patient (lecture)


Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 55
Lab Hours: 0
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: Examines nursing care of selected individuals, throughout the lifespan with a special focus on the geriatric population experiencing complex and multidimensional alterations in neurological, respiratory, cardiac, hematologic/oncologic and renal function. In addition to these medical/surgical concepts, trauma, disaster preparedness and critical care will be addressed. Focuses on applying previous learning in the advanced care of mental health patients. The pharmacologic management of these patients will also be analyzed.

Prerequisite: NURS 271, NURS 272, and NURS 273 with a B- or higher.
General Education Requirements:
  • Fulfills Communicate General Education Requirement
  • Fulfills Think General Education Requirement
  • Fulfills Engage General Education Requirement

Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes
  1. Use the nursing process to provide holistic care for diverse patients experiencing complex alterations in health function, i.e. neurological, respiratory, cardiac, hematological, renal, trauma, disaster, and burns.
  2. Implement nursing care that reflects principles of nursing practice, including integrity, legal practices, ethical practices, and professional growth and development.
  3. Implement strategies to promote adaptation in patients and associated families, including leadership, communication, health teaching, advocacy, and social justice.
  4. Evaluate the implications for nursing practice within the context of the nursing process when administering pharmacological agents.
  5. Utilize appropriate patient-specific communication techniques to promote adaption in complex patients.
  6. Develop methods of health teaching to promote adaption for complex patients.
  7. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Human Flourishing: Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
  8. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Nursing Judgment: Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and promote the health of patients within a family and community context. 
  9. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Professional Identity: Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality care f
  10. PROGRAM OUTCOME: Spirit of Inquiry: Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities. 

Course Contents
  1. Care of the Patient with Complex Cardiac Alterations. Complex cardiac dysrhythmias. End-stage heart failure. End-stage heart failure. Acute myocardial infarction. Coronary artery bypass graft. Hemodynamic monitoring. 
  2. Care of the Patient with Complex Respiratory Alterations. Respiratory Failure. ARDS. Endotracheal intubation/Ventilation. Conscious sedation.
  3. Care of the Patient with Complex Neurological Alterations. Traumatic Brain Injury. Intracranial Pressure Monitoring. Brain Death.
  4. Care of the patient experiencing complex alterations in the Renal System. Acute vs. Chronic renal failure. Pyelonephritis. Renal replacement therapy. Renal Cancer.
  5. Care of the client experiencing complex Hematological/Oncological Alterations. ITP, TTP, HITT. DIC.
  6. Care of the Acute Geriatric Patient.
  7. Care of the Trauma/Critically Ill Patient. SIRS/MODS. Shock. Burns.
  8. Disaster Preparedness. Disaster Nursing; Mass Casualty; Poisoning.


Instructional Units: 5