Practical Nursing (NPN)

Includes a historical overview of current health care including medical economics, ethical and legal parameters, roles, and responsibilities of health care team members with an emphasis on reflective nursing practice. Introduces the four competencies of nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Explores medical terminology, therapeutic communication techniques, concepts of health, health assessment, self-care and basic needs related to activities of daily living across the lifespan. Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours).

Provides an overview of the health care system and roles and responsibilities of members of the health care team. Emphasizes the role of the practical nurse in the context of Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), National League of Nursing (NLN) Education Competencies, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs as related to client daily living across the life span. Covers fundamental nursing skills including therapeutic communication techniques, nursing assessment, health promotion, nursing process and care planning, charting nursing informatics, and legal and ethical parameters of health care. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hour). Lab: 3.0 credits (135 contact hours).

Introduces and emphasizes application of the nursing process in the context of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to meet the needs of diverse patients across the life span at the practical nursing level. Establishes the foundational knowledge for competency-based nursing practice by introducing basic nursing concepts, fundamental nursing skills related to health assessment, promotion, maintenance, and illness prevention, and critical thinking as a framework for organizing care delivery. Strengthens the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours); Lab/Clinical: 3 credits (135 contact hours).

Provides a historical overview of health care system and roles and responsibilities of members of the health care team. Introduces the four competencies of nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Emphasizes application of the nursing process in the context of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to meet the needs of diverse patients across the life span at the practical nursing level. Establishes the foundational knowledge for competency-based nursing practice by introducing basic nursing concepts, fundamental nursing skills, and critical thinking as a framework for organizing care delivery. Lecture: 4 credit hours (60 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 2 credit hours (90 contact hours).

Introduces dosage calculations and medication administration of commonly used medications. Includes an overview of common drugs, drug classifications, and effects administered in the following modes: oral, sublingual, rectal, topical, intradermal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous including IV fluid administration skills. Emphasizes nursing responsibility, accountability, and application of nursing process to drug therapy. Incorporates the four competencies of nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) related to medication administration. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours) Lab/Clinical: 2 credits (90 contact hours).

Introduces dosage calculations and medication administration of commonly used medications. Includes an overview of common drugs, drug classifications, and effects administered in the following modes: oral, sublingual, rectal, topical, intradermal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous including IV fluid administration skills. Promotes nursing responsibility, accountability, and application of nursing process to drug therapy. Emphasizes role and responsibilities in administration of medications according to 201 KAR 20:490. Establishes the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours) Lab/Clinical: 2 credits (90 contact hours).

Introduces dosage calculations and medication administration basic principles and techniques. Includes techniques of medication administration in the following modes: oral, sublingual, rectal, topical, intradermal, intramuscular, and subcutaneous. Emphasizes nursing principles of responsibility, accountability, and application of nursing process to medication administration. Incorporates the four competencies of nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) related to medication administration. Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours) Lab/Clinical: 1 credit (45 contact hours).

Includes an overview of common drugs by classification and effects with emphasis on responsibility, accountability, and application of the nursing process to drug therapy. Incorporates the four competencies of nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) related to medication administration. Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 1 credit (45 contact hours).

Focuses on the application of the core components of nursing practice for patients across the life span experiencing actual or potential alterations in mental health. Explores the role and relationship of the nurse in the multidisciplinary team in various settings and treatment modalities. Applies the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 1 credit (45 contact hours).

Focuses on the application of the core components of nursing practice across the lifespan in the areas of the perioperative cycle, deviations in the respiratory system and oxygenation, and threats to the body's immune system. Strengthens the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 3 credit (135 contact hours).

Applies the nursing process, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and core components of nursing practice to selected patients experiencing actual or potential alterations in health emphasizing the concepts of elimination, coordination, cardiac function, and metabolism. Strengthens the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 2 credits (90 contact hours).

Focuses on the application of the core components of nursing practice to include childbearing patients and their families, concepts related to the newborn, and women's reproductive health issues. Utilizes the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 1 credit (45 contact hours).

Applies nursing process across the lifespan to common health deviations related to metabolic dysfunctions, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, cardiovascular dysfunctions, and cellular deviations. Integrates the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 4 credits (60 contact hours). Lab/Clinical 2.0 credits (90 contact hours)

Applies the nursing process, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and core components of nursing practice to selected patients experiencing actual or potential alterations in health emphasizing the concepts of oxygenation, nutrition and metabolism, fluid & electrolytes, acid/base balance, and cellular deviations. Strengthens the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 4 credits (60 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 2 credits (90 contact hours).

Applies nursing process and core components of nursing practice to selected patients experiencing actual or potential alterations in health emphasizing the concepts of circulation and perfusion, urinary elimination, coordination, neurological and perception, and multi-system failure. Strengthens the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 4 credits (60 contact hours) Lab/Clinical: 2 credits (90 contact hours).

Applies nursing process and core components of nursing practice to selected patients experiencing actual or potential alterations in health emphasizing the concepts of cellular deviation, fluid and electrolytes, neurological and perception, and multi-system failure. Strengthens the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours); Lab/Clinical: 2.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Applies nursing process across the lifespan to complex health issues related to multi-system failure, neurological disorders, coordination dysfunctions, and elimination problems. Integrates the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 4.0 credits (60 contact hours). Lab/Clinical: 2.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Integrates the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) to provide direct care of clients in an integrated practicum experience. Provides the student the opportunity to incorporate theoretical concepts learned throughout the program in a concentrated clinical experience of direct patient care in a healthcare facility or healthcare organization. NPN 210 is the capstone course focusing on role transition and must be successfully completed in the final semester of the practical nursing program. (201 KAR 20: 320). Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours); Practicum: 3 credits (135 contact hours).

Prepares the student for the role and responsibilities of the licensed practical nurse. Explores specific state regulations and statutes that define the license practical nurse scope of practice. Analyzes the role transition from student to graduate practice with focus on professionalism and the employment process. Integrates the four competencies of practical nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours).

Prepares the student for the role of practical nurse and entry into practice, as well as focuses on the principles of management and leadership in the delivery of healthcare. An overview of leadership styles and management concepts assists the student in understanding legal and ethical implications of the role of professional nurse, cost effective care, quality improvement, and coordinating patient care. Includes content on seeking employment, conflict resolution, team building, delegation, time management, and disaster planning. Validates the four competencies of nursing practice including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours).