NURS 304 - Health Assessment

Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 2
Laboratory (or Other) Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): UNIV 300 (with a grade of C or better)
Corequisite(s): None
Restriction(s): None

This course includes principles of health history, assessment, and physical examination of clients across the lifespan using a systems and evidence-based approach. This course uses a computer-based simulated laboratory experience to develop holistic approaches and techniques of health assessment utilizing critical thinking skills. Effective interviewing and history taking will be a focus. Students are expected to accurately perform a series of assessments culminating in a systematic, comprehensive health assessment, analyze the assessment data, develop a plan of care and document the findings.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course:

Demonstrate the collection of a comprehensive database, including age-appropriate health history, lab data, and physical examination.
Modify history taking, physical examination, psychosocial assessment, and screening procedures according to the client’s concerns, gender, age and developmental status, psychosocial and cultural/spiritual characteristics, and health status.
Synthesize health assessment data identifying normal, normal variants, and abnormal findings to determine health status of the individuals.
Use critical thinking and clinical reasoning in the synthesis of data to identify physical, social, cultural/spiritual, economic, and environmental factors that influence the health status of clients.