Course Title: Implement and monitor nursing care for older clients

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2013

Course Code: NURS5289C

Course Title: Implement and monitor nursing care for older clients

School: 155T Life & Physical Sciences

Campus: Bundoora Campus

Program: C5313 - Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled-Division 2 Nursing)

Course Contact : Leeanne Mond

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4837

Course Contact Email:leeanne.mond@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

City Campus:

  • Simone Allison
  • Email: simone.allison@rmit.edu.au
  • Phone: 03 9925 4809


Bundoora Campus:

  • Erica Keen
  • Email: erica.keen@rmit.edu.au
  • Phone: 03 9925 6649

Nominal Hours: 75

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

NIL PRE REQUISITES

This unit is delivered in collaboration with HLTEN502B Apply Effective Communication Skills in Nursing Practice

                            HLTEN511B Provide nursing Care for clients requiring palliative care.

Course Description

This competency unit describes the skills and knowledge required for the Enrolled/Division 2 Nurse to perform nursing interventions to support the health care needs of the older person in both acute care settings and residential aged care environments.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTEN515B Implement and monitor nursing care for older clients

Element:

6. Use strategies which relate to the progressive and variable nature of dementia

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Work with an awareness of dementia as a neurological condition
6.2 Provide activities appropriate for gender, culture and age reflecting likes and dislikes of the individual
6.3 Design activities that provide the client with opportunities for autonomy and risk-taking where they can maintain safety, dignity and comfort
6.4 Use a range of validation strategies to relieve distress and agitation in clients

Element:

7. Develop and implement strategies to minimise impact of challenging behaviours

Performance Criteria:

7.1 Observe and document behaviours to determine triggers which may be related to: physical and emotional health; environment; tasks; and communication
7.2 Consider the potential impact of the behaviours on the person or other persons in determining an appropriate response
7.3 Consider a range of options when developing effective responses for inclusion in the person's care plan
7.4 Implement best practice strategies which minimise the impact of behaviours
7.5 Regularly review strategies that are implemented to ensure maximum effectiveness

Element:

1. Respond to the special health requirements of the older adult

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Work within the scope of practice for the Enrolled/Division 2 nurse with the aged care client within any health care setting
1.2 Work with an understanding of physical changes that take place as part of the ageing process, associated age-related adjustments and transitions and psychosocial needs of the older persons and their families
1.3 Allow for the fact that drugs and medicines have different effects in the older person
1.4 Reflect an understanding of pathophysiological disorders and how they may affect older persons and their family
1.5 Communicate effectively with older person experiencing sensory loss
1.6 Perform preventive health checks in consultation/collaboration with a registered nurse
1.7 Assist the older person to maintain health lifestyle practices
1.8 Work with an awareness of own values, attitudes and beliefs towards ageing and the aged person
1.9 Work with an awareness of common stereotypes associated with ageing and the influences they can have on the care of the older adult
1.10 In planning and implementing care for the older person, use work practices that reflect an understanding of theories of aging and best practice care guidelines
1.11 Take action to manage factors which may tend to segregate and disadvantage the older adult

Element:

2. Contribute to care plan development for the older person

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Assess the older client to determine their health status in consultation/collaboration with registered nurse
2.2 Complete appropriate health assessment tools used specifically in the aged care environment
2.3 Assist the older client to identify self-care abilities and disabilities
2.4 Develop the nursing care plan within the context of the health care setting using organisation policies and procedures
2.5 Ensure client, family and/or significant other understand the implications of their admission to the health care setting
2.6 Discuss with older client or their family representative psychological, social and/or physical needs
2.7 Discuss with older person or their family representative the impact of the ageing process and/or pathophysiological disorders on the performance of activities of daily living
2.8 Share information regarding older person’s health status with other members of health care team
2.9 Implement care as per nursing care plan and monitor work allocated to others
2.10 Provide support, comfort for grieving family/client
2.11 Take into account the impact of complex issues involved in aged care on carer(s)

Element:

3. Assist to evaluate outcomes of planned nursing care of the older client

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Document responses of older client to nursing actions
3.2 Report changes in older client response to nursing actions to registered nurse
3.3 Convey information clearly and accurately to appropriate staff member
3.4 Take in account complex and dual diagnosis issues in addressing aged care
3.5 Provide information on community services available to older person and their family

Element:

4. Practise within the aged care environment

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Work with an understanding of the funding mechanisms impacting on aged care provision
4.2 Take into account the variety of areas of practice within the aged care environment
4.3 Take into account the changes and impacts of those changes to the delivery of health care for the older person
4.4 Work with an understanding of the changing demographics of the aging population
4.5 Work with an awareness of own values, attitudes and beliefs towards ageing and the aged person
4.6 Promote health maintenance for older person and their family
4.7 Provide information on community services available to older person and their family
4.8 Provide care of deceased person
4.9 Provide support, comfort for grieving family/client
4.10 Take into account the impact of complex issues involved in aged care on carer(s)

Element:

5. Address contemporary issues in aged care practice

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Work with an awareness of the current legal and ethical issues involved in aged care practice
5.2 Work with accurate knowledge of the role of guardianship, advanced health directives and legislation in aged care practice
5.3 Recognise and support the rights and responsibilities of the older person
5.4 Work with an awareness of elder abuse as a significant contemporary issue for older persons
5.5 Act as an advocate for the client and their family
5.6 Demonstrate respect for individual culture, spiritual and religious practice for the older person
5.7 Observe and respond appropriately to physical, emotional and mental signs of stress in the older adult

Learning Outcomes


At the end of this unit students should be able to:

  • Respond to the special health requirements of the older adult
  • Contribute to the development of a care plan for the older person
  • Assist to evaluate outcomes of planned nursing care of the older client
  • Practise within the aged care environment
  • Address contemporary issues on aged care practice
  • Use strategies which relate to the progressive and variable nature of dementia
  • Develop and implement strategies to minimise the impact of challenging behaviours
     


Details of Learning Activities

Refer to the latest timetable on Blackboard for actual days.

 Learning Strategies will be in the form of:

  • Lecture
  • Small Group Work
  • Facilitated Class Discussion
  • Self-directed learning
  • Presentations
  • Formal Classroom


Teaching Schedule

Lesson 1 Aging Process

Identify and discuss:
Age related physiological, laboratory and psychosocial changes, physical changes (with reference to the body systems)
How drugs and medications have different effects on the body and the scope of practice for an EN working in the age care setting
 

Lesson 2 Communication

Identify how sensory losses may affect communication, strategies to communicate effectively with an older person experiencing sensory losses
Identify and describe how the EN can conduct preventative health checks for the older person, promote a healthy lifestyle for the older person
Identify and discuss the theories of ageing, common stereotypes associated with the older person, strategies to manage factors that may segregate or disadvantage an older person

Lesson 3 Assessments for care planning

Identify and describe how the ageing process and/or pathophysiological disorders can affect the performance of ADLs, tools to assess function, mental health and risk factors of/for the older adult
Identify and describe how to promote independence with ADLs for older persons with disabilities, strategies to ensure the older person, and family/carers understand the implications of an admission to a health setting

Lesson 4 ACAS

Define and discuss the ACAS, its role, team members and types of assessments it conducts, the impact of complex issues involved in aged care on non-professional carers
Identify and describe strategies to support and comfort grieving clients/families

Lesson 5 Complex Care

Identify and document client responses to nursing actions, discuss the complex and dual diagnosis issues in addressing aged care
Identify and describe community services available for the older person and their family

Lesson 6 Funding

Identify and describe the variety of areas for aged care practice and sources of funding for aged care
Identify and describe changes in the demographics of the ageing population, your own attitudes and beliefs to caring for the older person
 

Lesson 7 Legal & Ethical

Identify & discuss the current ethical & legal issues involved in aged care practice, aged care legislation and the role of guardianship and advanced healthcare directives in aged are practice
Indentify & discuss the roles & responsibilities of the EN as a client advocat & the signs of and strategies for physical & emotional stress in the older adult
 

Lesson 8 Last Rites

Understand how to perform ‘last rites’ for a deceased patient
Understand the issues surrounding who can perform ‘last rites’ and when it can not be performed by a member of the healthcare team

Lesson 9 Dementia

Identify and discuss the progressive neurological changes of dementia, the behavioural & psychological symptoms of dementia
Identify and discuss activities that provide clients with opportunities for autonomy and risk taking where they can maintain safety, dignity & comfort
Identify and describe a range of validation strategies to relieve distress & agitation & discuss the similarities and differences between dementia, delirium and depression

Lesson 10 Strategies for Dementia

Identify and describe behaviours of concern, including their potential impact on the person and others
Observe and document behaviours to determine triggers, which may be related to physical, emotional, environmental tasks and communication
Identify and describe best practice strategies, which minimise the impact of behaviours of concern


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Kozier and Erbs ‘ Fundamentals of Nursing’. (2010). 1st edition. Pearson: Australia.

Tollefson,J. (2010). Clinical psychomotor skills: assessment tools for nursing students. (4th edition). South Melbourne: Cengage Learning


References


Other Resources

All powerpoints are posted on student blackboard


Overview of Assessment

Underpinning knowledge for this unit of competency will be assessed via teh following methods:

  • Written Assessment
  • Practical Assessment
  • Clinical Placement


Assessment Tasks

Written Assessment 60%

Laboratory Assessment - Last Rites 20%

Clinical Assessment 20%


Assessment Matrix

All assessment tasks must have a competent outcome before a grade can be awarded for this course

All written assessment must have a 60% grade to be deemed competent

  • 60 - 69 - CAG
  • 70 - 79 - CC
  • 80 - 89 - CDI
  • 90 - 100 -CHD

Other Information

60% must be achieved on EACH assessment

<45% student must re- enrol into course


45 – 50% a resit of the assessment will be considered

Course Overview: Access Course Overview