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NSC305

Medical Surgical Nursing I

This course is the first in a series of four Medical Surgical Nursing courses. It aims to enhance your understanding of medical-surgical nursing principles, concepts, and theories. It also explores nursing models and theories used in current care planning. The course covers diverse medical-surgical conditions and includes theoretical, laboratory, and clinical practice components over 15 weeks. It aims to improve the quality of care given to patients with medical or surgical conditions.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
208 hours
Maths
Basic
Content
Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work
Yes
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor Marked Assignments
  • Computer Marked Assignments
  • Laboratory Practical Sessions and Reports
  • Final Examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

NSC305 · MODULE 4: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND CARE OF PATIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The dendritic cells are able to activate only the specific T lymphocytes that are needed to respond to a given invader, whether it is a virus, bacteria, or fungus.

What you should be able to do

  1. Apply nursing theories and concepts to patient care.
  2. Provide care for patients with fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
  3. Manage patients experiencing shock and stress.
  4. Care for patients with infectious diseases and altered immune status.
  5. Provide preoperative and postoperative care to surgical patients.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Registered Nurse
  • Medical-Surgical Nurse
  • Critical Care Nurse
  • Emergency Room Nurse
  • Operating Room Nurse
Where it is applied
  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Long-Term Care Facilities
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Rehabilitation Centers

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing

    Unit 2: Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

    Advanced concepts of fluid and electrolyte balance require strong understanding of physiology and biochemistry.

  • Module 4: The Immune System and Care of Patients with Infectious Diseases

    Unit 3: Caring for Patients with Altered Immune Status

    Understanding the immune system requires knowledge of complex cellular interactions and immune responses.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 1: The Context of Care – Principles, Concepts and Theories of Nursing Care · 2 hours

      Read the unit introduction to understand the context of care.. Define nursing and discuss its principles.. Explain the concepts of health, wellness, and illness.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment and self-assessment exercise..

    • Unit 2: Models of Nursing Care Delivery · 2 hours

      Explore different models of nursing care delivery.. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each model.. Discuss how these models inform current nursing practice.. Relate these models to real-world healthcare settings..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 3: Nursing Process · 3 hours

      Understand the steps of the nursing process.. Apply the nursing process to patient scenarios.. Practice formulating nursing diagnoses and planning interventions.. Complete the self-assessment exercise..

  3. Week 3Module 1: Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 4: Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice · 3 hours

      Define critical thinking and its importance in nursing.. Analyze case studies to apply critical thinking skills.. Discuss ethical considerations in nursing practice.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..

  4. Week 4Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 1: Nutrition · 3 hours

      Review the nutrients in foods and their roles in the body.. Discuss the chemical composition of nutrients.. Explain the energy-yielding nutrients and their sources.. Perform a nutrition assessment of individuals..

  5. Week 5Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 2: Fluid and Electrolyte Balance · 4 hours

      Explain the distribution of body water and the role of electrolytes.. Discuss the regulation of body fluid compartments.. Describe the homeostatic mechanisms involved in fluid balance.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..

  6. Week 6Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 3: Shock · 4 hours

      Define shock and its classification.. Explain the pathophysiology of shock and its stages.. Discuss the complications of shock.. Complete the self-assessment exercise..

  7. Week 7Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 4: Stress · 3 hours

      Define stress and its relationship to adaptation.. Identify common reactions to stress and maladaptive responses.. Discuss indicators of stress and stress management techniques.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..

  8. Week 8Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 5: Temperature Control · 3 hours

      Explain the mechanisms of temperature control.. Discuss factors that increase and decrease heat production.. Describe the causes, clinical manifestations, and management of hypothermia and hyperthermia.. Complete the self-assessment exercise..

  9. Week 9Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 6: Pain · 4 hours

      Describe the pathophysiology of pain.. Discuss pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions for pain relief.. Apply the nursing process to patients experiencing pain.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..

  10. Week 10Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 7: Sleep · 3 hours

      Define sleep and describe its stages.. Discuss the theories of sleep and the sleep-wakefulness cycle.. Explain the physiological effects of sleep.. Complete the self-assessment exercise..

  11. Week 11Module 2: Fundamentals of Medical Surgical Nursing
    • Unit 8: Skin Care and Wound management · 3 hours

      Discuss skin integrity and the types of wounds.. Explain factors influencing wound healing.. Describe how to care for the skin and manage wounds.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..

  12. Week 12Module 3: Caring for Patients with Special Needs
    • Unit 1: Care of the Client Having Surgery · 4 hours

      Discuss physical and psychosocial needs of surgical patients.. Explain the phases of surgical patient care.. Provide preoperative physical and psychological care.. Complete the self-assessment exercise..

  13. Week 13Module 4: The Immune System and Care of Patients with Infectious Diseases
    • Unit 2: Caring for Patients with Infectious Diseases · 4 hours

      Describe the management of Angel, a 6 year old girl, who presented in the unit with severe prostration, hyperpyrexia (Temp. 38.7oC), and one episode of convulsion prior presentation, using the nursing process model.. Describe the chain of infection.. List the signs and symptoms of infection.. Describe the management of a patient who has infection..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Create concept maps linking Units 2-3 fluid/electrolyte balance to renal function.
  • Practice care planning for shock scenarios from Units 3-4 weekly.
  • Review medication side effects from Units 5-6 related to immune response.
  • Focus on surgical procedures and post-op care from Units 7-8.
  • Study infection control protocols from Units 9-10 weekly.
  • Use case studies from Units 11-12 to apply palliative care principles.
  • Review all TMAs and CMAs

Questions students ask about this course

What is NSC305 about?

This course is the first in a series of four Medical Surgical Nursing courses. It aims to enhance your understanding of medical-surgical nursing principles, concepts, and theories. It also explores nursing models and theories used in current care planning. The course covers diverse medical-surgical conditions and includes theoretical, laboratory, and clinical practice components over 15 weeks. It aims to improve the quality of care given to patients with medical or surgical conditions.

How many units does NSC305 have?

NSC305, Medical Surgical Nursing I, has 10 units across 3 modules, over 327 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is NSC305?

NSC305 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Health Sciences.

Is NSC305 hard?

NSC305 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does NSC305 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.

How is NSC305 assessed?

NSC305 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments, Computer Marked Assignments, Laboratory Practical Sessions and Reports and Final Examination.

What can I do with NSC305?

Registered Nurse, Medical Surgical Nurse, Critical Care Nurse, Emergency Room Nurse and Operating Room Nurse.

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