NURS 4060: Gerontology

Course Description

Explores topics pertinent to health care of well older adults and those with chronic health problems. Develops and strengthens the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nurses caring for the older adult. Theories of aging, health promotion and preventive care, mental health issues in the older adult as well as palliative and end-of-life care are included.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Examine and clarify personal and professional values, attitudes, and ethics regarding care of the older adult.
Describe the process of aging from various theoretical perspectives.
Discuss common risk factors that contribute to functional decline, impaired quality of life, and excess disability in older adults.
Examine multiple role changes and transitions that are common to the elderly.
Examine the complex interaction of acute and chronic co-morbid conditions common to the older adult.
Identify the major components of comprehensive assessment of the older adult to include functional, physical, cognitive, psychological, social and spiritual tools.
Communicate effectively and respectfully with older adults.
Analyze the impact of an aging population on the health care system.
Explore evidence-based health education/health promotion activities for the older adult.
Discuss quality palliative and end-of-life care for older adults.

Prerequisites

Admission into the BSN program is required to take any nursing course. NURS 3010, NURS 3020, NURS 3030, and NURS 3270

Course Materials

Please go to MBS Direct to find the appropriate textbooks for this course. Please be aware when purchasing your textbooks that the International versions of the text may differ from the Domestic (North American) version required for your course.

Click here for more information about textbooks for online courses.

Course Activities

The course will be conducted entirely online. Students are expected to participate in all course activities as assigned by the instructor. Course activities may include readings, discussion, web Activities, videos, case studies, reflective exercises, interviews, journaling. However, individual instructors may incorporate other activities such as journals and group work into the course materials.

Policy Statements

The course policies follow Webster University policies including online class policies. Non-participation in online discussions and activities will affect your grade. Remember plagiarism concerns are part of this online course and the University's overall academic dishonesty policies. Plagiarism is use of another's idea, opinion, publications, writings, information in one's own publication without proper credit to the original source of the idea, opinion, writing, or information. Please cite whenever appropriate. (see the Undergraduate College Academic Policies and Procedures)

Academic Honesty
The university is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Students will be held responsible for violations of these standards. Please refer to the university's academic honesty policies for a definition of academic dishonesty and potential disciplinary actions associated with it. These policies can be found online at: http://www.webster.edu/graduatecatalog/policies.shtml and in the Nursing Department Handbook http://www.webster.edu/depts/artsci/nursing/handbook.htm

Drops and Withdrawals
Students may withdraw from courses after the official drop/add period. Tuition waivers for withdrawals are made on a pro rata basis. Since the credit hours of withdrawals remain on the student's record, students adding courses and exceeding the 18-credit-hour maximum will be charged additional tuition. Students may withdraw from courses up to and including the Friday of the sixth week of an eight-week course and the Friday of the twelfth week of a semester course. To withdraw, a student must complete a withdrawal form, which is signed by the advisor. The symbol for course withdrawal(W) is recorded on the student's transcript. Withdrawals after the above dates may occur only under exceptional circumstances, and the withdrawal form must be approved by the instructor, the advisor, department chair and the director of the Academic Advising Center. These policies can be found online at: http://www.webster.edu/graduatecatalog/policies.shtml

Special Services
If you are registered as a student with a documented disability and are entitled to classroom or testing accommodations, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor at the beginning of the course of the accommodations you will require in this class so that these can be provided. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations please contact the Academic Resource Center.

Disturbances
Behavior occurring within the academic arena, including but not limited to classroom disruption or obstruction of teaching, is within the jurisdiction of Academic Affairs. In cases of alleged campus and/or classroom disruption or obstruction, a faculty member and/or administrator may take immediate action to restore order and/or to prevent further disruption (e.g., removal of student[s] from class or other setting). Faculty members have original jurisdiction to address the immediacy of a situation as they deem appropriate. When necessary and appropriate, Public Safety and/or the local (or military) police may be contacted to assist with restoring peace and order. Faculty response is forwarded to the academic dean (or his or her designee) for review and, if necessary, further action. Further action might include permanent removal from the course. Repeated offenses could lead to removal from the program and/or the University.

Student Assignments Retained
The College of Arts and Sciences will retain some random student assignments or projects for the purpose of academic assessment as it relates to student learning outcomes.

Note: This syllabus may be revised at any time at the discretion of the instructor and without prior notification or consent of the student.

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