Course Description
This course focuses on the care of adult patients with common medical-surgical conditions. Students learn to apply the nursing process to patients experiencing perioperative care, pain management, fluid/electrolyte imbalances, and disorders of the musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and integumentary systems. Clinical experiences in acute care settings reinforce theoretical concepts.
Credit Hours
8 credits (4 lecture, 4 clinical) | 180 clinical hours
Prerequisites
NUR 101, BIO 201, BIO 202, NUR 210 (may be concurrent)
Student Learning Outcomes (QSEN Competencies)
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Patient-Centered Care: Develop comprehensive nursing care plans for adults with medical-surgical conditions
- Safety: Implement safe perioperative nursing care and pain management strategies
- Evidence-Based Practice: Apply current evidence to clinical decision-making in medical-surgical nursing
- Teamwork & Collaboration: Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary healthcare team
- Quality Improvement: Evaluate patient outcomes and modify care plans accordingly
- Informatics: Utilize electronic health records for documentation and clinical decision support
AACN Essentials Alignment
Domain 2: Person-Centered Care | Domain 4: Scholarship for Nursing Practice | Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships
Course Topics
- Perioperative Nursing: Pre-op, Intra-op, Post-op Care
- Pain Assessment and Management
- Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
- Integumentary Disorders and Wound Care
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Oncology Nursing Fundamentals
Required Textbooks
- Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing (12th ed.)
- Nursing Care Plans Manual
Evaluation Methods
Theory Exams (50%), Clinical Performance (35%), Care Plans (10%), Professionalism (5%)