Overview
Nursing 442: Gerontological Nursing provides an opportunity to explore the challenges of aging through the lens of transitions. Within the course, we examine how aging adults respond to transitions such as health challenges, changes in living environments, existential issues, family issues, and dying and death. While physical health issues are addressed, the major emphasis lies in how older adults understand and process transitions in older years and how nurses can facilitate the process for their patients or clients and family members. We also examine the challenges faced by emerging sub-populations of aging adults, such as those with developmental disabilities, the incarcerated, the homeless, as well as those with HIV/AIDS.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of NURS 442, the student will achieve or exceed the following learning outcomes:
- Identify the unique health needs of older adults.
- Identify strategies related to assessment and prevention in the older adult.
- Explore the importance of families and other social supports.
- Identify nursing interventions related to health challenges and transitions experienced by older adults.
- Critically analyze ethical issues related to the care of the older adult.
- Identify research questions that remain unanswered both in your personal learning and in the profession of gerontological nursing.
Evaluation
To receive credit for NURS 442, you must complete and submit all of the required assignments and achieve a composite grade of C (64 percent). All papers submitted must follow the guidelines of the current APA Publication Manual.
The assignments and weightings of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: 40 Question Quiz | 15% |
| Assignment 2: Two Postings | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Transitions and Aging | 30% |
| Assignment 4: Sub-populations within a Population | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Lane, A., & Reed, M.B. (2019). Older adults: Understanding & facilitating transitions (3rd ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.
Other materials
A variety of electronic journal articles and websites are used in the course and paper copies are not included in the course package.