NURS 720: Advanced Family Nursing: Acute Illness Across the Lifespan
Prerequisite: NURS 702, NURS 710, NURS 712, NURS 713, NURS 716 and concurrent with NURS 721; or permission of faculty
Credit Hours: (3)
This course is designed to prepare the student to practice advanced nursing skills
and clinical judgment with clients, families, and groups experiencing acute conditions
in diverse settings and cultures. Emphasis is on analyzing, synthesizing, and applying
current nursing, family, behavioral, and other health care theories and research related
to individuals and families across the lifespan. The focus includes risk assessment,
wellness promotion, health protection, health restoration, management of acute conditions,
coordination of services, collaboration with other providers, and appropriate referral.
Detailed Description of Content of the Course
Topical Outline:
1. Special Health Risks Associated with Early, Middle, and Late Adult Stages
a. Adult Development
b. Family Theory and Assessment
c. Clinical Preventative Services
d. Physical Activity and Fitness
2. Educational and Community-Based Programs
3. Unintentional injuries
a. Wound Management
4. Occupational Safety and Environmental Health
a. Musculoskeletal injuries
b. Acute eye problems
5. Common acute respiratory and thyroid conditions and infectious diseases
a. Immunizations and Infectious Disease
b. Tuberculosis
c. HIV
6. Common acute dermatologic conditions
7. Acute cardiac problems.
8. Abdominal pain
9. Managing rapidly changing situations
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This on line course may include but is not limited to faculty and student led seminar
discussions, lectures, guest speakers, case studies, reading assignments, written
projects and other teaching-learning strategies as appropriate. Because the course
is online, audio or video presentations/lectures, discussion boards, chat rooms and
other instructional technology strategies may be used.
Goals and Objectives of this Course
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
1. Demonstrate the synthesis and application of knowledge necessary to assess clients,
families, and groups holistically.
2. Demonstrate the synthesis and application of advanced nursing and family knowledge,
theory and research findings to promote wellness, health protection and restoration.
3. Demonstrate the synthesis and application of advanced nursing knowledge necessary
to diagnose, treat, and provide nursing management of common acute conditions for
clients, families, and groups across the lifespan.
4. Select, implement, and evaluate health teaching and counseling approaches for clients,
families, and groups.
5. Evaluate clinical data and therapeutic options to determine effective nurse practitioner
management, collaborative management, and/or appropriate referral.
Assessment Measures
May include but are not limited to: Case studies; exams, quizzes; student presentations,
written projects.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
Approved: April 2010