Nursing (NURS) 326
Health Assessment (Revision 5)
Revision 5 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version
Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
Prerequisite: This course is normally open only to baccalaureate nursing students.
Post LPN BN: Pre-or co-requisite NURS 250.
Precluded Course: NURS 326 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for NURS 450.
Faculty: Faculty of Health Disciplines
Centre: Centre for Nursing and Health Studies
NURS 326 is not available for Challenge.
Overview
Nursing 326: Health Assessment assists nursing students in the development of interviewing and history taking skills as well as skills in physical examination and psychosocial assessment. The collection of data through these skills is the first step in the nursing process: the data are used as the basis of nursing diagnoses and nursing interventions to promote health, prevent illness, or manage illness.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of NURS 326, the student will achieve or exceed the following learning outcomes:
- Identify the components of a complete health assessment;
- Identify the equipment and skills required to perform a complete health assessment;
- Identify developmental and cultural considerations in the performance of a health assessment;
- Collect and document a complete health history with a healthy adult volunteer;
- Conduct and document a physical examination with a healthy adult volunteer;
- Adapt the techniques of health assessment for children and older adults;
- Identify the relationship between health assessment and the nursing process; and
- Identify patient teaching and health promotion activities appropriate for a healthy adult volunteer.
Course Structure
Unit 1: Health Assessment: Learning About Your Client
Unit 2: Health History and Physical Examination: Learning About Your Client's Story
Unit 3: Assessment of Skin, Hair, and Nails
Unit 4: Assessment of Head, Neck, and Eyes
Unit 5: Assessment of Nose, Mouth, Throat, and Ears
Unit 6: Assessment of Breasts and Regional Lymphatics
Unit 7: Assessment of Thorax, and Lungs
Unit 8: Assessment of Cardiovascular System
Unit 9: Assessment of Peripheral Vascular, and Lymphatic Systems
Unit 10: Assessment of Abdomen
Unit 11: Assessment of Musculoskeletal System
Unit 12: Assessment of Neurologic System
Unit 13: Assessment of Genitalia, Anus, Rectum, and Prostate
Unit 14: Putting it All Together: Knowing Your Client
Evaluation
To receive credit for NURS 326, students must complete and submit all of the required assignments and achieve an overall composite grade of a “C-” (60 percent). Effective January 1, 2010, all papers submitted must follow the guidelines of the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.) (2010).
The assignments and weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Unit Quizzes (Multiple Choice) | Health Assessment Teaching Resource | Final Examination (Case Studies) | Total |
---|---|---|---|
30% | 35% | 35% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbook
Jarvis, C. (2009). Physical examination & health assessment: First Canadian edition. (A.J. Brown, J.MacDonald-Jenkins, & M.Luctkar-Flude). Toronto: Saunders/Elsevier.
Other Materials
Students will receive an Access Letter in the course package with instructions for gaining access to this online course. A variety of electronic journal articles and websites are used in the course and paper copies are not included in the course package.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 5, January 30, 2009.
View previous syllabus