I. Course Title: RN Gerontological Nursing
II. Course Number: NURS 405
III. Credit Hours: 3 credits
IV. Prerequisites: None
V. Course Description: This course focuses on the aging process to include biological,
sociological, psychological, and spiritual components with clinical applications in
the provision of care to older adult clients in a variety of settings, such as the
community, assisted living facilities, acute care facilities, rehabilitation centers,
and long-term care facilities.
VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:
Topic Outline:
1) Foundations of Gerontological Nursing
- a. Introduction to Gerontological Nursing
- b. The Aging Population
- c. Theories of Aging
2) Communication and Assessment
- a. Therapeutic and Interprofessional Communication with Older Adults, Families, Caregivers
- b. Teaching Older Adults and Their Families
- c. Comprehensive Assessment of the Older Adult
3) Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, and Disease Prevention
- a. Promoting Healthy Aging
- b. Identifying and Preventing Common Risk Factors in the Elderly
4) Illness and Disease Management
- a. Management of Common Illnesses, Diseases, and Health Conditions
- b. Nursing Management of Dementia
5) Management of Geriatric Syndromes
- a. Pain Management and Polypharmacy
- b. Safety and Falls in the Older Adult
- c. Delirium
- d. Anxiety and Depression in the Older Adult
- e. Urinary Incontinence
- f. Sleep Disorders
- g. Dysphagia and Malnutrition
- h. Pressure Injuries
6) Leadership and Responsibility
- a. The Gerontological Nurse as Manager and Leader
- b. Ethical/Legal Principles and Issues
7) Gerontological Care Issues
- a. Culture and Spirituality
- b. Sexuality
- c. Abuse and Mistreatment of Older Adults
- d. Alternative Health Modalities
- e. Caring Across the Continuum
- f. End-of-Life Care
- g. Global Models of Health Care
VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Utilize scientific principles of nursing knowledge in increasingly complex situations
when providing multidimensional care to older adults, their families and their aggregates.
(E- II, V, VI; PO- 2,5,6)
- Discuss evidence-based nursing interventions for managing the care of older adults,
promoting healthy aging, and advocating for high quality and safe patient care. (E-
II, III, VI, VII; PO- 2, 3, 6, 7)
- Examine evidence-based research findings, clinical judgment, and interprofessional
perspectives for the older adult, as well as their caregivers. (E- I, III, VI, VII;
PO- 1, 3, 6, 7)
- Demonstrate knowledge of frameworks for ethical decision making and advocating for
safe, quality care for the older adult. (E- I, VIII; PO-1, 8)
- Discuss evidence-based assessment tools using developmentally and culturally appropriate
approaches. (E-III, IV, VII; PO- 3, 4, 7)
- Articulate management of care to maximize health, independence, and quality of life
for older adults in all care settings. (E- II, VII, IX; PO- 2, 7, 9)
- Integrate knowledge to identify, report, refer, and manage elder abuse and exploitation.
(E- V, VIII; PO- 5, 8)
Other Course Information: None
Review and Approval
March 01, 2021