Healthy Aging

Catalog description

This course “for registered nurses in the RN/BS completion program” builds upon students’ previous nursing knowledge and focuses on the unique health care needs of the older adult and nursing strategies for meeting those needs. Concepts of healthy aging, health promotion and disease prevention, safety, age related changes, independence, and loss are discussed among vital issues effecting aging adults. The role of the nurse in managing common geriatric syndromes, medications, transitions between care environments, and end-of-life and palliative care issues are emphasized. Ethical/legal issues related to the nursing care of the older adult are explored. Students will learn to conduct a comprehensive geriatric assessment using evidence based assessment instruments. This course will prepare students to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam in gerontology.