Title: About This Course
Course: HEALTH ASSESSMENT 80FA20 > Section: Module 0 -- Getting Started (August 19-23)

Course Introduction

In this course, Sherpath will be used to aid students in advancing their interviewing, history-taking, and assessment skills for selected body systems.  Also, cultural and age-related variations in health assessment findings are highlighted.  An Ethnogeriatric case study will provide the student with an opportunity to integrate both variations into one learning experience.

NURS 01-411 Health Assessment will include experiential learning in the following ways:

- Complete focused assessments with a virtual simulated patient using Sherpath simulations
- Review, analyze and submit case studies for class review
- Video recording of the student completing a focused assessment of a friend or family member
  - Avoids the need for travel
  - Allows faculty to assess student skills

For more information regarding experiential learning, please refer to the course syllabus or the Nursing Student Handbook.

Click the video below to watch the course introduction from your faculty.

Course and Module Outcomes

At the end of this course students will be able to:

Course Learning Outcomes
1 - Describe history taking and interviewing skills necessary for comprehensive data collection.
2 - Identify health risks and health promotion strategies for a client.
3 - Analyze normal and abnormal assessment findings.
4 - Apply relevant anatomy and physiology principles to the health assessment process.
5 - Describe how cultural/ethnic differences influence the findings in a health assessment.
6 - Explain how assessment techniques vary across the lifespan.

Module 1 Learning Outcomes | Course Outcomes
Identify basic interviewing techniques | 1
Recognize various cultural considerations related to disease and the assessment process. | 5
Identify components of the interview process that aid in history taking. | 1
Identify unique aspects of gathering a health history for specific populations. | 1, 5
Identify the relevant questions for gathering a nutrition history. | 1, 2

Module 2 Learning Outcomes | Course Outcomes
Recognize unique age variations in growth assessment. | 6
Demonstrate appropriate history taking and examination techniques for growth assessment. | 1, 2, 3, 4
Discriminate between normal, age-related, and abnormal findings from the skin, hair, and nails examination. | 1, 2, 3, 6
Describe and explain culturally appropriate geriatric, palliative, and end-of-life care based on Ethnogeriatrics modules. | 2, 5, 6

Demonstrate appropriate history taking and examination techniques for the chest and lungs. | 1, 2, 3, 4
Discriminate between normal, age-related, and abnormal findings for the chest and lungs. | 1, 2, 3, 6
Demonstrate appropriate history taking and examination techniques for the heart. | 1, 2, 3, 4
Discriminate between normal, age-related, and abnormal findings for the heart. | 4, 5, 6

Module 4 Learning Outcomes | Course Outcomes
Demonstrate appropriate history taking and examination techniques for the peripheral vascular system. | 1, 2, 3
Discriminate between normal, age-related, and abnormal findings for the peripheral vascular system. | 4, 5, 6
Demonstrate appropriate history taking and examination techniques for the abdomen. | 1, 2, 3
Discriminate between normal, age-related, and abnormal findings for the abdomen. | 4, 5, 6

Module 5 Learning Outcomes | Course Outcomes
Demonstrate appropriate history taking and assessment techniques for a mental status assessment. | 1, 2, 3
Recognize normal and abnormal findings for mental status. | 2, 3
Demonstrate appropriate history taking and examination techniques for the neurological system. | 1, 2, 3
Discriminate between normal, age-related, and abnormal findings for the neurological system. | 4, 5, 6

Module 6 Learning Outcomes | Course Outcomes
Demonstrate competence in the process of conducting the adult head-to-toe examination. | 1, 2, 3, 4
Recognize the process of concluding and analyzing a patient encounter. | 1, 2, 3, 4

Module 7 Learning Outcomes | Course Outcomes
Explain the differences between the various types of liability. | 1, 2
List the most common allegations filed against nurses. | 1, 2
Identify additional legal roles for nurses. | 1, 2