Unit 1: Self-Assessment of Existing Knowledge of Adult Health Alterations and Consideration of the RN Role

1. Overview | 2. Welcome Video | 3. Unit Learning Outcomes | 4. Learning Activities and Resources | 5. Review | 6. References

1.1 Overview

Welcome to NURS 400 – Adult Health and Health Alterations. NURS 400 builds on your current knowledge of pathophysiology and treatment modalities to enhance your ability to provide competent, evidence-informed care to adults experiencing health alterations.

The learning activities in this course use open educational resources (sometimes called OER), links to other online multi-media resources, Lippincott's NCLEX-RN PassPoint (PassPoint), and electronic references from the AU library. There are many sources of knowledge related to adult health alterations including the anatomy, physiology and assessment of various diseases and conditions. To enhance your digital literacy, and to help personalize your learning, you are invited to choose from the learning resources provided in the course and to search for other sources that meet your learning needs. To help you choose appropriate sources refer to the Guide to Choosing Open Educational Resources located on the course home page.

You will receive access to NCLEX-RN PassPoint system at the beginning of the course. While all of the information you require to succeed in this course is available through OER and PassPoint, some students may find it helpful to purchase a print medical-surgical nursing textbook to support their learning. The use of a print textbook is optional and not required.

All courses in your program include learning threads related to enhanced leadership, critical thinking, clinical problem-solving and decision-making, cultural sensitivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, creation of a safe and civil work environment, ethical caregiving and digital literacy. NURS 400 includes opportunities for you to develop your competencies in these areas. As a senior level course you will note the learning outcomes in NURS 400 require that you demonstrate an ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate. You are also challenged to become a reflective practitioner aware of your personal learning needs. Continual reflection and honest self-assessment are important steps to continuing competency as a RN.

To begin, unit 1 provides you with the opportunity to assess your current knowledge and evaluate your learning needs in relation to adult anatomy and physiology, health assessment, pharmacology, and medication administration. You will assess your current knowledge by completing a comprehensive quiz related to 400 course content. This quiz is not part of your grade in this course, but you need to complete the quiz to guide the development of your learning plan which is assignment 1 in this course. The quiz questions are taken from the PassPoint exam bank and the questions are considered NCLEX like.

We recommend that you also review the CARNA Entry to Practice Competencies and the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics to evaluate areas where you might need to focus your learning related to adult health. After an honest and through self-assessment, based in part on the quiz results, you develop a learning plan (assignment 1) to help you focus your learning in this course. Since students enter this course with variations in their existing knowledge and skill levels this personalized learning plan will be useful as you make choices to individualize your learning in NURS 400.

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1.2 Welcome Video

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1.3 Unit Learning Outcomes

After completing Unit 1, you will be able to meet or exceed the following:

1. Identify your learning needs and competence levels related to the care of acutely or chronically ill adults, and develop a learning plan to guide you as you address gaps in your existing knowledge.
2. Consider the CARNA entry-to-practice competencies for RNs and the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics in determining your learning plan.
3. Evaluate your progress in the development of your professional identity and self-concept as a baccalaureate prepared RN.
4. Reflect on your past work environments and assess strategies for promoting safety and civility.

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1.4 Learning Activities

1.4.1 Identification of Personal Learning Needs

RNs must never stop learning. New medications, new treatments, new research findings are part of the work life of all RNs. To be successful RNs need to be able to determine their own learning needs and take steps to address these. Creating your own learning plan, that you regularly update throughout your career, may give you a road map to life-long learning.

Begin by assessing your current knowledge related to adult health by completing the Self-Assessment quiz located on the course home page. Note this quiz is for your own self-assessment only. It is not graded. Use the results of the quiz to help you determine the areas of adult health where you need to focus your learning in this course.

Complete additional online tools for self-assessment of your learning needs related to adult health below. Here are two tools you might find helpful:

• RNpedia. NCLEX Practice Test for Medical Surgical Nursing
• Practice Test: Medical Surgical Nursing

When you find a helpful self-assessment tool share it with the class in the Webquest forum. The Webquest forum is a place where you can share interesting and helpful resources you find throughout the course that you think your classmates might also benefit from.

Reflect on the following in relation to your current practice.

• CARNA Entry to Practice Competencies
• CARNA Joint Publication on Collaborative Nursing Practice in Alberta
• CARNA Practice Standards for Regulated Members with the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics

Tip: Download a free poster with the 8 values for ethical nursing practice here:
http://www.clicshop.com/stores/salescna/files/CodePosterFull.pdf

1.4.2 Learning Plan Development

After completing learning activity 4.1 identify the area/topics you need to focus on in NURS 400. It is very important that you focus on concepts/topics rather than on specific skills such as NG tube insertion or starting peripheral IVs. Make a learning plan for yourself that includes:

1. three specific learning outcomes (what you need to learn),
2. how you will accomplish each learning outcome (your learning strategies),
3. resources you will use to achieve your outcomes, and
4. how you will measure achievement of your outcomes.

The learning plan is Assignment 1 in this course. There are many resources and templates for learning plans available online. Select a format that suits you but that includes the four components listed.

You might find it helpful to review online resources and articles like these (note that sample templates are often included):

• Motivating learning and assessing outcomes in continuing medical education using a personal learning plan
• How SMART are your goals? How to recognize and write SMART goals for change. (video)

Place your completed learning plan in the Assignment 1 dropbox and receive feedback from your tutor. Revise your learning plan if recommended by your tutor. Once you receive feedback and adjust your learning plan you will be ready to proceed with the course.

1.4.3 What Does it Mean to be a Registered Nurse?

In NURS 250 you began the journey toward developing the professional identity and self-concept of a baccalaureate prepared RN. In NURS 400 you have the opportunity to assess how your professional identity has changed.

To stimulate your reflection read the article 'RN means Real Nurse': Perceptions of Being a 'Real' Nurse in a Post- LPN- BN Bridging Program (Janzen, Melrose, Gordon, & Miller, 2013). This paper is the report of a research project where the participants were students of the same program you are currently enrolled in. Did the article guide you toward any new understandings of the RN role? If you want to discuss your ideas send a course mail to your tutor or to another "study-buddy" student in the course. (To find a "study-buddy" go to course mail and look at the list of participants. Select someone and send that person a course mail to discuss your view on the RN role.)

1.4.4 Health Work Environments

Part of your responsibility as an RN is helping to create a healthy work environment for yourself and others that is civil and safe. Review this website provided by the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses and reflect on your current and past workplaces. What could you do in the future to ensure a healthy work environment?

Review what the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses says about healthy work environments.

Next time you are in the work environment deliberately take one action to enhance the safety and civility of your workplace.

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1.5 Review: Reflection Moments

Unit 1 provided you with an opportunity to review knowledge and skills related to adult health that you will have gained in previous courses and from work experience. You need to congratulate yourself on the knowledge and skills you currently have and plan to continue gaining additional competence as you progress through NURS 400 as well as throughout your career. Conclude unit 1 by considering the following and making a note about it in your reflection journal (see below).*

1. Why is it important to remember that individuals who seek care for health problems are also family and community members. How does this influence your approach to caring for acutely ill adult patients?
2. You are an RN, recently hired and new to your organization. You are on your first shift after orientation and are assigned to a caseload of clients. You encounter what you consider a senior RN engaging in an unsafe patient medication administration practice. What will you do?