deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing

Unit I: Introduction to Nursing and the Health Care System 1. Nursing and the Health Care System 2. Concepts of Health, Illness, Stress, and Health Promotion 3. Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing

Unit II: The Nursing Process 4. The Nursing Process and Critical Thinking 5. Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, and Planning 6. Implementation and Evaluation

Unit III: Communication in Nursing 7. Documentation of Nursing Care 8. Communication and the Nurse-Patient Relationship 9. Patient Education and Health Promotion 10. Delegation, Leadership, and Management

Unit IV: Developmental, Psychosocial, and Cultural Considerations 11. Growth and Development: Infancy Through Adolescence 12. Adulthood and the Family 13. Promoting Healthy Adaptation to Aging 14. Cultural and Spiritual Aspects of Patient Care 15. Loss, Grief, and End-of-Life Care

Unit V: Basic Nursing Skills 16. Infection Prevention and Control: Protective Mechanisms and Asepsis 17. Infection Prevention and Control in the Hospital and Home 18. Safe Lifting, Moving, and Positioning of Patients 19. Assisting with Hygiene, Personal Care, Skin Care, and the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers 20. Patient Environment and Safety 21. Measuring Vital Signs 22. Assessing Health Status 23. Admitting, Transferring, and Discharging Patients 24. Diagnostic Tests and Specimen Collection

Unit VI: Meeting Basic Physiologic Needs 25. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance 26. Concepts of Basic Nutrition and Cultural Considerations 27. Nutritional Therapy and Assisted Feeding 28. Assisting with Respiration and Oxygen Delivery 29. Promoting Urinary Elimination 30. Promoting Bowel Elimination 31. Pain, Comfort, and Sleep 32. Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Unit VII: Medication Administration 33. Pharmacology and Preparation for Drug Administration 34. Administering Oral, Topical, and Inhalant Medications 35. Administering Intradermal, Subcutaneous, and Intramuscular Injections 36. Administering Intravenous Solutions and Medications

Unit VIII: Care of the Surgical and Immobile Patient 37. Care of the Surgical Patient 38. Providing Wound Care and Treating Pressure Ulcers 39. Promoting Musculoskeletal Function

Unit IX: Caring for the Elderly 40. Common Physical Care Problems of the Older Adult 41. Common Psychosocial Care Problems of Older Adults

Appendix A: Standard Steps for All Nursing Procedures Appendix B: NFLPN Nursing Practice Standards for the Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Appendix C: ANA Code of Ethics Appendix D: Standard Precautions Appendix E: Common Laboratory Test Values Appendix F: NANDA-I Approved Nursing Diagnoses, 2015-2017 Reader References Glossary