NURS 3312 Foundations: Basic Principles of Nursing

Focus is on basic concepts and dimensions that support health and the profession of nursing. Introduces the basic cognitive and psychomotor skills essential for professional nursing practice. A practicum allows opportunity for application of learned skills. Basic human functions of sleep, stress, cognition, self- confidence, and sexuality are examined with emphasis on the nursing process to promote client movement toward optimal health and functioning.

Credits

5

Typically Offered

Demorest Campus: every summer — Athens Campus: every summer

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Utilize theories from the liberal arts and sciences in the determination of basic human needs. 
2. Develop a basic understanding of the nursing process and critical thinking. 
3. Explore the history of contemporary nursing and its impact on modern nursing. 
4. Identify the qualities and roles of the nursing profession. 
5. Utilize basic concepts of therapeutic communication appropriately with clients. 
6. Describe the introductory legal, ethical, and value related issues that impact the practice of professional nursing. 
7. Describe the nursing code of ethics and the concept of client’s rights.
8. Integrate knowledge of sexuality into the nursing process. 
9. Recognize the nurse’s role in grief, loss, coping, and death and dying. 
10. Discuss the physiological and psychological concepts of stress, nutrition, sleep, cognition, self-concept, and spirituality utilized in patient care from a holistic perspective. 
11. Identify and maintain the elements of a safe environment for the client and the nurse including asepsis and infection control. 
12. Utilize basic skills and understanding in gathering nursing data. 
13. Demonstrate basic therapeutic organizational skills in providing care to clients and patient safety. 
14. Promote wellness in the provision of nursing care with a focus on health promotion, activity, and exercise. 
15. Recognize the nurse’s role as healer, teacher, and advocate. 
16. Explore basic nursing theory and conceptual frameworks 
17. Explore concepts related to patient hygiene, urinary and fecal elimination, oxygenation, nutrition, mobility and positioning, and assessment of vital signs. 
18. Demonstrate an understanding of aseptic, infection control, and personal protective safety concepts including sterile technique, gowns/mask, and handwashing.