Nursing 728

NURS 728: Advanced Family Nursing: Women’s Health    

Prerequisite:  NURS 710, NURS 712, NURS 713, NURS 716 and concurrent with NURS 729; or permission of faculty

Credit Hours: (3)

This course is designed to prepare the student with the advanced knowledge and skills to practice in diverse settings in delivering primary health care to women. The student will develop clinical judgment in assessment and problem identification, management, monitoring, follow up, and referral of health problems of women across the life span. In addition, health promotion, prevention, protection, and restoration for women and families.  Nursing and related theories provide a framework for culturally sensitive, evidence based advanced practice.  

Detailed Description of Content of the Course

    1.  Issues in Women’s Health Care
            a. Culture
            b. Alternative lifestyles
            c. Partnerships
    2.  Health Promotion
            a. Standards and guidelines
            b. Diagnostic tools and screening
            c. Nutrition
            d. Exercise
            e. Stress management
            f. Educational and community based programs
            g. Occupational safety and health
            h. Environmental health issues
            i.  Food and drug safety
            j. Other areas of holism for women
    3.  Family Planning
            a. Reproductive endocrinology
            b. Contraception
            c. Infertility
    4.  Menstrual cycle disorders (assessment and management)
    5.  Disorders of the breast and genital tract
    6.  Infectious processes
            a. Sexually transmitted infections
            b. Vaginitis
    7.  Sexual health
            a. Intimacy and sexuality
            b. Physiological and psychological concerns
    8.  Physio-psychosocial Problems in Women
            a. Depression
            b. Violence and injury
            c. Substance abuse
            d. Changing body image
            e. Incontinence
            f. Surgical alterations
    9.  Issues for Midlife Women
    10. Pregnancy and complications    

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This online course may include but is not limited to faculty and student led seminar discussions, lectures, guest speakers, case studies, reading assignments, written projects and other teaching-learning strategies as appropriate. Because the course is online, audio or video presentations/lectures, discussion boards, chat rooms and other instructional technology strategies may be used.

Goals and Objectives of this Course

Upon completion of the course, the student will:

1.  Identify elements of an appropriate history and physical exam, and management strategies for women.
2.  Analyze the effects of family, culture and health practices on women’s health.
3.  Analyze assessment findings to formulate appropriate differential diagnosis regarding the health of women.
4.  Initiate the appropriate health promotion, protection, and restoration strategies for common acute and chronic illnesses or life processes of women.
5.  Develop health education and management of women in nontraditional settings.
6.  Examine the role of the FNP in providing primary care to women in nontraditional settings.
7.  Discuss current issues in women’s health care and identify barriers to care.
8.  Discuss nursing and related theories and research in development of therapeutic  interventions for promoting and restoring the health of women, families, and groups.
9.  Evaluate relevant research findings in clinical management of women’s health.

Assessment Measures

May include but are not limited to:   Case studies; exams, quizzes; student presentations, written projects.

Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval

Approved: April 2010