I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Practical Nursing Skills Lab

2. Course Prefix & Number:
PNUR 1160

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 0

Lab Hours: 6

4. Course Description:

This course covers nursing procedures. Concepts and rationales for clean/sterile techniques are explored along with instruction in procedures such as dressing changes, catheterization, suctioning, IV therapy, oxygen therapy, etc. Administration of oral and parenteral medications will also be taught. Documentation of these as well as other types of patient data will be covered, all within the context of the nursing process.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

7. Other Prerequisites
Admission to the Practical Nursing Program

9. Co-requisite Courses:

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

St. Cloud Technical College, PRSG 2419, 3 credits
Northland Community and Technical College, PNSG 1204, 3 credits

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Practical Nursing, Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Communicate effectively with patients in a simulated environment.
Demonstrate written communication skills	Document nursing care appropriately in focus format.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Recognize nursing values including caring, altruism, human dignity, and integrity in the performance of fundamental nursing skills;
• Practice fundamental nursing psycho-motor skills;
• Practice fundamental nursing data collection and monitoring skills;
• Demonstrate legal and ethical principles when documenting nursing care;
• Demonstrate personal and professional growth in a simulated clinical setting;
• Practice therapeutic communication in the performance of fundamental nursing skills;
• Identify roles of various members of the interdisciplinary health care team in a simulated clinical setting;
• Recognize the effect nursing skills and intervention have on the promotion of health and adaptation in patients;
• Identify medication effect, action and contraindication;
• Utilize medication references;
• Explain federal drug requirements;
• Demonstrate medication safety measures and national patient safety goals;
• Interpret medication orders written and verbal;
• Identify medication terms and abbreviations;
• Discuss medication errors and prevention methods;
• Describe the use of technology in patient care;
• Describe an information system and how it relates to patient documentation; and
• Describe nursing interventions aimed at health care systems regarding cost containment, access to health care and/or financing care for individuals.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1.  Review of Basic Nursing Skills
• KWIPES: knock, wash-hands, identify self and client, provide for privacy, explain what you are doing, maintain safety
• measuring blood pressure
• taking Pulse (apical pulse and other pulses: radial, brachial, popliteal, carotid, femoral, pedal)
• checking lung sounds
• checking bowel sounds
2. Neurological Assessment and Documentation
• taking vital signs
• strength check and upper and lower extremities
• best eye opening response to stimuli
• best motor response
• best verbal response
3. Range of Motion
• proper body mechanics and positions
• upper extremities
• lower extremities
4. Administration of:
• enemas (TWE, SSE, pre-filled, etc.)
• enteral (gavage) feedings
• oral medications (including tablets/capsules, multi-dose packaging Vs. single dose packaging, liquids, solutions needing mixing, inhalers, etc.)
• subcutaneous medications (preparation, insulin mixing, site selection and rotation)
• intramuscular medications (preparation of medication, site identification and selection)
• IV therapy (through an established IV)
• eye and ear drops
• oxygen (per NC or mask)
5. Demonstrating Nursing Skills
• sterile technique/sterile gloving
• catheterization/straight catheterization vs indwelling catheterization
• glucose monitoring/accucheck
• wound care and dressing change
  • determination of sterile or clean technique needed
  • how to clean and/or irrigate a wound, clean to dirty technique
  • application of elastic bandages (when to use, proper alignment, correct choice based on needs)
    • figure 8 wrap
    • recurring
    • circular
  • nasopharyngeal suctioning
  • tracheostomy care
    • tracheostomy suctioning
    • trach dressing change