Academic Catalogs

NURS G285: Pediatric Nursing

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 05/17/2022
Top Code 123010 - Registered Nursing
Units 2 Total Units 
Hours 36 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 36)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S)

Course Description

This course focuses on the collaborative care of pediatric patients with complex health problems across the life span in a variety of settings. Students will provide family-centered care for pediatric patients experiencing acute and chronic health problems. Students will utilize best-evidence as a basis for clinical judgment and the establishment of priorities. Concept-based curriculum provides the structure of the curriculum and is threaded throughout the course. PREREQUISITE: NURS G170, NURS G170C, NURS G295, and NURS G295C. COREQUISITE: NURS G285C. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Course Outcomes
  2. Describe the theoretical basis and procedures for a focused assessment based on a pediatric patient's clinical status.
  3. Explain how to use clinical judgement to prioritize care for a pediatric patient with complex health problems.
  4. Identify pertinent assessment data to determine potential risk behaviors and promote patient safety.
  5. Explain how to collaborate with other interdisciplinary professionals to coordinate patient care and management.
  6. Utilize evidence-based research to provide patient-centered care for complex health problems

Course Objectives

  • 1. Describe a timely and focused assessment based on patients priority problems.
  • 2. Utilize principles of growth and development during the assessment of patients from infancy through adolescence.
  • 3. Describe a basic physical assessment on a pediatric patient, identifying pertinent norms and common deviations.
  • 4. Describe clinically significant assessment data pertinent to patients priority problems.
  • 5. Differentiate the nursing care of pediatric and adult patients.
  • 6. Utilize clinical judgment while providing care to patients across the lifespan.
  • 7. Develop and implement a plan of care based on the nursing process framework to provide safe and evidence-based care across the lifespan.
  • 8. Utilize the concepts of collaboration when providing patient care with complex health problems across the lifespan.
  • 9. Identify community and in-patient resources/services that influence patient care outcomes for pediatric populations.
  • 10. Examine current trends and health protocols that are designed to meet the health promotion and health maintenance needs of the pediatric patient and their families.
  • 11. Develop evidence-based plans of care for patients across the lifespan using principles of quality and safety.

Lecture Content

Overarching standards that will be addressed in each concept: Patient-centered Care: Utilizing the nursing process to provide compassionate, culturally sensitive care that is based on the physiological, psychological, sociological, spiritual, and cultural needs, preferences, and values of the patient. Safety and Quality Improvement (QI): The minimization of risk factors that could cause harm while promoting quality care and maintaining a secure environment for patients and others in order to improve health care services and better meet the needs of patients. Nursing Judgment/Evidence Based Practice (EBP): The use of current knowledge from research and other credible sources, in consideration of the nurses clinical expertise and patient preferences, to make nursing clinical judgments and provide patient, family and community centered care. Teamwork and Collaboration: The delivery of patient care in partnership with nursing and interdisciplinary teams to achieve continuity of care and promote patient outcomes. Informatics and Technology: The use of information and technology as a communication and data gathering tool that supports clinical decision making and safe, scientifically based nursing practice. Professional Identity: The adherence to legal, ethical, and professional standards of practice to provide nursing care for patients across the lifespan. For the following concepts, apply the nursing process and collaborative management for improved patient outcomes, focusing on complex patients across the lifespan: Cellular Regulation: The functions cells perform to maintain homeostasis. Introduction of concept of cellular regulation as it relates to patient care Nursing assessment to identi fy patients with alterations in cellular regulation Nursing care of patients with alterations in cellular regulation Cognition: Thinking skills including language use, calculations, perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, judgment, learning, intellect, social skills, and imagination. Nursing interventions in the care of pediatric patients with processing disorders Collaborative management of pediatric patients with processing disorders Elimination: The secretion and excretion of bodily waste. Nursing assessment of pediatric patients with changes in elimination patterns Nursing interventions for the management of pediatric patients with GU disease Nursing care of pediatric patients with alterations in GI function Fluid Electrolyte/Acid-base: The physiological mechanisms that maintain fluid and electrolyte. Collaborative management of the pediatric patient with chronic diseases related to fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Nursing care of the pediatric patient with alterations in fluid and electrolytes Grief/Loss: Facilitation of the grieving process while caring for patients and families. Nursing care of the family experiencing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Cancer  Health and Wellness: A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Nurses role in pediatric screening Nursing assessment of pediatric patients Nursing interventions based on growth and development needs of the pediatric patient, including communication techniques, safety and play Nurses role in health screening of the pediatric patient l> Infection: Infection or infectious disease is a state of tissue destruction resulting from invasion of microorganisms into the body. Nursing care of patients with chronic infections Nursing interventions to treat pediatric patients with acute, life-threatening infections Nurses role in the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases Inflammation: The physiologic response to injury, infection, or allergic inflammatory response. Collaborative management of pediatric patients with inflammatory diseases Nursing care of pediatric patients experiencing acute inflammatory processes requiring surgical interventions Nursing interventions to treat pediatric patients with inflammatory processes involving the integumentary system Mood/Affect: Mechanisms that influence the emotional state of an individual and its outward manifestations. Collaborative management of pediatric patients with attention deficits Nutrition: The process by which the body ingests, absorbs, transports, uses, and eliminates nutrients and foods. Nursing care of patients with chronic alterations in nutrition Oxygenation: Detection of potential and actual alterations in oxygenation. Nursing care of pediatric patients with acute diseases affecting oxygenation Collaborative management of pediatric patients with chronic diseases causing alterations in oxygenation Perfusion: The process of fluid nutritive and oxygen delivery to cells. Collaborative management of pediatric patients with chronic alterations in perfusion Nurses role in the care of pediatric patient with congenital heart dise ase Nursing interventions in the care of pediatric patients with acute alterations in perfusion Sensory/Perception: Factors contributing to receiving and interpreting internal and external stimuli Nursing care of children with alterations in receiving and/or interpreting stimuli Stress and Coping: Conditions which disturb physiological and/or psychological equilibrium and the bodys attempt to return to homeostasis following disequilibrium. Assess stress levels and coping mechanisms. Identification of pediatric patients at high risk for abuse Nursing interventions to assist the family, decrease stress, and foster coping skills

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)

Instructional Techniques

Seminar style instruction Class participation and discussion Group and individual presentation Case Studies Exams Pop quizzes Calculation exam

Reading Assignments

Textbook Interactive software

Writing Assignments

Nursing care plans. Critical thinking exercises. Presentations. Short essays and/or professional papers.

Out-of-class Assignments

Reading assignments from required textbooks and online resources. Practice nursing skills and interventions in the skills lab (NEST). View audio-visual material as assigned. Internet research for evidence-based interventions. Outside assignments may include, but not limited to nursing lectures or in-services offered by local health facilities, independent exercises and community activities.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Human Patient simulation scenarios Nursing care plans Case studies

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Nursing care plans Case study scenarios

Eligible Disciplines

Nursing: Masters degree in nursing OR bachelors degree in nursing AND masters degree in health education or health science OR the equivalent OR the minimum qualifications as set by the Board of Registered Nursing, whichever is higher. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Hinkle,J., Cheever,K. . Brunner Suddarths Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 14th ed. Wolter Kluwer, 2018 2. Required Ricci, S., Kyle, T., Carman, S. . Maternity and Pediatric Nursing, 4th ed. Wolters Kluwer, 2018 3. Required Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B.. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook. A Guide to Planning Care, 12th ed. Mosby, 2019

Software Resources

1. Lippincott CoursePoint for Nursing Concepts. . Wolter Kluwer, 2nd ed.