LNUR 1447 - Geriatrics and Mental Health Nursing for the LPN

Credit Hours: 2.00

B. The student will apply the critical components of evidence-based nursing practice.

Course Outcome:

1. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to describe evidence‐based practice in the care of adult patients with psychiatric/mental health conditions.

Course Objectives: The student will:

1. Implement the nursing process in the care of patients with psychiatric/ mental illness.
2. Describe how mental illness alters human ability to meet Maslow’s physical and psychosocial needs.
3. Describe the impact of mental illness on growth and development.
4. Describe how failure to complete developmental tasks may lead to psychiatric problems.
5. Demonstrate awareness of evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and culture in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to care for patients with psychiatric/mental illness.
6. Incorporate verbal and written therapeutic communication skills to interact with clients and families of patients with psychiatric/mental illnesses.
7. Provide care appropriate to the scope of practice and ethical dimensions for one’s own actions according to the NAPNES Standards of Practice.

Course Outcome:

2. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to describe evidence‐based practice in the care of adult patients with geriatric conditions.

Course Objectives: The student will:

1. Employ basic principles related to characteristics of the aging population, concepts of geriatric nursing care, theories on aging, and ethical and legal aspects of geriatric nursing.
2. Discuss environmental, biological, physical, mechanical agents, and quality and safety agents that contribute to disability, morbidity, and mortality in later adulthood.
3. Implement the nursing process in the care of the geriatric population.
4. Demonstrate awareness of evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and culture in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to care for the geriatric population.
5. Incorporate verbal and written therapeutic communication skills to interact with clients and families of geriatric patients.
6. Provide care appropriate to the scope of practice and ethical dimensions for one’s own actions according to the NAPNES Standards of Practice.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Foundations of Psychiatric Nursing for the LPN 
2. Role of the LPN in the continuum of care 
3. Psychosocial, ethical, and socio‐cultural concepts
4. Mental Health and the Nursing Process 
5. Nursing process 
6. Mental health assessment 
7. Psychobiological basis of behavior 
8. Continuum of care 
9. Psychotherapeutic/Milieu Management 
10. Therapeutic relationship 
11. Therapeutic communication 
12. Management of Patients with Mental Health Issues (Anger, violence, cognitive disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders) 
13. Nursing process 
14. Medication treatment for mental health issues  
15. Health Promotion, Health Maintenance, & Home Health Considerations 
    1. Recommended Health Practices for Older Adults 
    2. Factors that Affect Health Promotion and Maintenance 
    3. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Inadequate Health Management 
    4. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Nonadherence with Treatment Plan.  
    5. Communication with Older Adults 
       1. Formal or Therapeutic Communication 
       2. Informal or Social Communication 
       3. Skills and Techniques 
       4. Maintaining Fluid Balance and Meeting Nutritional Needs
16. Nutrition and Aging 
    1. Malnutrition with the Older adult 
    2. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Risk for Altered Nutrition 
    3. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Fluid Volume and Potential for Altered Intake.  
    4. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Altered Swallowing Ability 
    5. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Aspiration Risk 
17. Medications and Older Adults 
    1. Risks Related to Drug Testing Methods 
    2. Risk Related to the Physiologic Changes of Aging 
    3. Nursing Assessment and Medication 
    4. Teaching Older Adults about Medication 
18. Health Assessment for Older Adults 
    1. Integumentary  
       1. Expected age-related changes 
       2. Common Disorders seen with aging 
19. GI/GU 
    1. Expected age-related changes 
    2. Common Disorders seen with aging 
20. Cardiovascular 
    1. Expected age-related changes 
    2. Common Disorders seen with aging 
21. Respiratory 
    1. Expected age-related changes 
    2. Common Disorders seen with aging 
22. Activity and Exercise 
    1. Normal Activity Patterns 
    2. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Altered Mobility 
    3. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Altered Activity Tolerance.  
    4. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Problems of Oxygenation 
    5. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Altered Self-Care Ability 
    6. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Deficient Diversional Activity 
    7. Rehabilitation 
23. Sleep and rest 
    1. Sleep-rest Patterns 
    2. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgment Model for Disrupted Sleep Pattern 
24. Safety Needs of Older Adults 
    1. Home 
    2. Social Media 
25. Cognitive Perceptions 
    1. Self-perceptions 
    2. Self-Concept 
    3. Roles and relationships 
    4. Coping and Stress   
    5. Values & Beliefs
26. End-of-Life Care 
    1. Attitudes toward Death and End-of-Life Planning 
    2. Collaboration Assessment and Interventions for End-of-Life  
    3. Psychosocial Perspectives, Assessments, and Interventions.  
    4. Physiologic Changes, Assessments, and Interventions 
27. Sexuality and Aging 
    1. Factors That Affect Sexuality of Older Adults.  
    2. Nursing Process/Clinical Judgement Model for Altered Sexual Function