Practical Nursing

The Professional Concepts in Nursing course facilitates students' success in the nursing program and the nursing profession by introducing theories and concepts basic to nursing practice.  Students learn about the history of the nursing profession and issues facing nurses in the 21st century. Discussions focus on the different levels of nursing education and the importance developing an attitude of lifelong learning. The course introduces concepts in critical thinking and problem solving, as well as the Quality and Safety in Educating Nurses (QSEN) competencies and conceptual frameworks used to support nursing practice. Students examine the New Hampshire Nurse Practice Acts and discuss legal and ethical issues in nursing practice. Students access professional nursing research articles and discuss the importance of using evidence to support nursing practice.  

The focus of this course is to prepare the LPN to apply nursing process to collecting and organizing relevant health care data, assist in the identification of health needs/problems throughout the client life span, and contribute to the interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings. The entry level LPN demonstrates the essential competencies needed to care for clients with commonly occurring health problems that have predictable outcomes. Students learn to assess and identify normal body function, provide basic nursing care, and assist the client in maintaining and promoting good health and manage or adapt to illness. Skills and competency are developed through simulation and clinical practice using QSEN competencies and Benner’s model of skill attainment. Culture, spirituality, and alternative therapies prepare LPN’s for care of a diverse healthcare population. Pharmacological principles and common medications are introduced with a focus on safe medication administration principles.  

Semester Hours:    Lecture: 3    Lab: 2    Other: 10 (Clinical)

This course expands on concepts of nursing practice introduced in the fundamentals course. Concepts of nursing process, therapeutic communication, teaching-learning, and ethical-legal principles are integrated with knowledge, skills, and attitudes reflected in QSEN competencies, best practice models, and licensing and accrediting bodies. Concepts related to health and wellness are expanded to include acute health disorders of adults in a medical-surgical setting. Medical, nursing, and pharmacological management of health disorders is acquired through intellectual, interpersonal, and psychomotor competencies at the advanced beginner level in Benner’s model of skill acquisition. Critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills are developed in simulation and clinical practice. Mental health concepts are introduced across the lifespan and explored in a variety of teaching environments. Pharmacology and safe medication administration correlates to health disorders in this course and is expanded to include intravenous medications.

Semester Hours:    Lecture: 3    Lab: 2    Other: 10 (Clinical)

This course expands on concepts of previous nursing courses with the addition of nursing care to the childbearing family, including parents, infants, and children. Lifespan development and health disorders of infant and pediatric populations are introduced, providing insight into nursing in a specialty area. Nursing care of the adult expands to include complex acute health disorders requiring a higher level of critical thinking and nursing skills. The simulation lab and clinical practice provide opportunities to develop these skills which are based on Benner’s model of skill attainment, the Creighton competency evaluation instrument, and deliberate practice for skill proficiency. Concepts of health promotion and prevention, patient education, therapeutic nutrition, and legal-ethical principles are integrated throughout the course. Clinical learning experiences in community health settings as well as acute care facilities provide opportunities to integrate theory with clinical practice as well as introduce students to specialized nursing care.  

Semester Hours:    Lecture: 3    Lab: 2    Other: 10 (Clinical)