Competencies and Learning Objectives

Course Competency 1: Use Principles of Teaching and Learning When Reinforcing Teaching Plans

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the principles of teaching and learning.
• Relate the teaching process to the nursing process.
• Include evidence-based content appropriate to the teaching topic.
• Describe how to identify the health education needs of individuals.
• Identify components of a learner assessment.
• Identify client outcomes for each domain of learning.
• Select teaching approaches that reflect the developmental level of the learner.
• Discuss the use of various teaching methods in various settings.
• Recognize common barriers, problems, and mistakes made in client teaching.
• Describe ways in which learning can be evaluated.

Course Competency 2: Apply Principles of Family Dynamics to Nursing Care

Learning Objectives

• Describe characteristics of healthy family functioning.
• Identify characteristics of the different roles of family members.
• Explain possible cultural and ethnic differences in family roles.
• Apply knowledge of different family decision-making styles.
• Describe family developmental stages.
• Identify how the nurse assesses family roles and coping ability.
• Describe factors that can affect the care of family members.
• Describe different parenting styles and their effects on families.
• Identify community resources for families in need.

Course Competency 3: Contribute to a Plan of Care for Mental Health and Maladaptive Conditions

Learning Objectives

• Differentiate between adaptive and maladaptive behaviors.
• Describe the clinical manifestations of anxiety, mood, psychotic, impulse-control, and substance use disorders in the client and family.
• Explain recommended pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions for mental health disorders.
• Identify signs and cues associated with domestic, child, and elder abuse.
• Apply knowledge of the recurring cycle of violence.
• Identify the legal and ethical obligations related to abuse and documentation.
• Describe behaviors associated with grief and depression in adults and children.
• Identify signs, characteristics, and risk factors of depression and suicide.
• Explain behaviors associated with escalating anxiety and aggression.
• Differentiate between maturational and situational stressors.
• Describe coping strategies and defense mechanisms.
• Define adaptive and maladaptive behaviors.
• Reflect on how coping relates to developmental and health status.
• Describe stress-management techniques that can help improve coping.

Course Competency 4: Contribute to a Plan of Care for Clients With Reproductive Issues

Learning Objectives

• Apply knowledge of reproductive issues, including contraception, normal reproduction, reproductive screening, sexually transmitted infections, and infertility.
• Use the nursing process when caring for clients with reproductive issues.
• Identify the nurse’s role in family planning and infertility.
• Apply knowledge of normal male and female sexual changes across the lifespan.
• Recognize common barriers to reproductive care, including cultural and physical factors.
• Identify appropriate contraceptive methods for clients based on health status and personal and relationship factors.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence, fertility awareness, chemical barriers, mechanical barriers, intrauterine devices, hormonal contraception, and surgical sterilization.
• Describe the role of the ovarian and uterine cycles in preparing for pregnancy.
• Describe the nurse’s role in the prevention and early detection of cancers involving the male and female reproductive organs.
• Identify the causes, prevention, and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections.
• Identify primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention methods.

Course Competency 5: Contribute to a Plan of Care for an Antepartum Client

Learning Objectives

• Include evidence-based concepts related to preconception and a healthy pregnancy.
• Describe the role of the ovarian and uterine cycles in preparing for pregnancy.
• Apply knowledge of appropriate nursing and medical care based on the trimester of pregnancy.
• Recognize danger signs in pregnancy and related nursing actions.
• Identify teaching concepts related to pregnancy.
• Describe laboratory tests, screening tests, and diagnostic procedures related to pregnancy.
• Apply knowledge of medications used during pregnancy.
• Explain why the embryonic period is the time of greatest vulnerability for the fetus.
• Identify presumptive, probable, and positive signs of pregnancy.
• Outline cultural variations related to childbearing.

Course Competency 6: Contribute to a Plan of Care During Labor and Delivery

Learning Objectives

• Identify screening tests performed upon admission for labor.
• Describe important nursing assessments for clients in labor.
• Identify common complications during labor and delivery.
• Describe how passage, passenger, and powers influence labor.
• List the effects of common labor medications on the mother and infant.
• Explain common teaching needs during labor.
• Apply knowledge of the four stages of labor and nursing care for each stage.
• Identify components of the nursing process related to labor and delivery.

Course Competency 7: Contribute to a Plan of Care for the Postpartum Client

Learning Objectives

• Apply concepts of family-centered care to meet the needs of the postpartum client.
• Describe expected postpartum changes in the mother.
• Identify correct components of postpartum nursing assessment and interventions.
• Identify common postpartum complications and their implications.
• Explain education required for the postpartum client, including available community resources.
• Discuss important education for clients who are breastfeeding or pumping.
• Describe how nurses can promote parental attachment to the newborn.

Course Competency 8: Contribute to a Plan of Care for a Healthy Newborn

Learning Objectives

• Describe the physical changes that occur in the newborn immediately after birth.
• Apply evidence-based nursing care based on the needs of the healthy newborn.
• Apply knowledge of medications administered to the healthy newborn.
• Recognize community resources for newborn care.
• Identify the components of a newborn assessment and expected vital signs.
• Identify newborn screening and prophylactic interventions.
• Describe the differences between physiological and nonphysiological jaundice and their treatments.
• Describe teaching topics for parents of a newborn.
• Identify expected patterns of newborn feeding and elimination.

Course Competency 9: Examine Adaptations of Nursing Care for Clients From Infancy Through Adolescence

Learning Objectives

• Review Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.
• Review Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
• Review Kohlberg’s theory of moral development.
• Discuss the importance of development as a framework for promoting health.
• Contrast the terms growth and development.
• Identify appropriate health-promotion activities at each stage of development.
• Identify recommended childhood immunizations.
• Describe expected milestones of motor, social, and cognitive development.
• Identify community resources available for families.
• Identify the importance of play and types of play.
• Identify primary safety issues for each level of development.
• Describe evidence of unsafe situations for each level of development.
• Discuss interventions to promote safety for each level of development.
• Define and identify anticipatory guidance topics related to safety.
• Identify community resources that promote safety.
• Define stranger danger, internet safety, safer sex, and other topics that promote developmental safety for all ages.

Course Competency 10: Contribute to a Plan of Care for the Ill Child

Learning Objectives

• Examine symptoms and treatments of common childhood illnesses.
• Identify causes and prevention of common childhood illnesses.
• Describe developmentally appropriate modifications of care for an ill child.
• Identify the effects of illness and hospitalization on the ill child and family.
• Describe the phases of separation anxiety and when they may be observed.
• Identify problems confronting the siblings of seriously ill or hospitalized children.
• List ways the nurse can decrease the stress of serious illness and hospitalization for the ill child and the child’s parents.
• Discuss adaptations necessary when preparing a pediatric client for surgery.
• Describe pain-management assessments and techniques for infants and children.
• Identify practices that nurses can use to help clients and families cope with illness and maximize family functioning.

Course Competency 11: Contribute to a Plan for a Healthy Diet for a Well Client

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the components of a healthy diet for a well client.
• Describe dietary recommendations for clients according to their developmental needs.
• Include recommendations based on individual client health conditions.
• Identify dietary recommendations related to carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake.
• Interpret growth charts for infants and children.
• Define the DASH diet and its role in reducing hypertension.
• Describe food-guide recommendations and where to find healthy sources of recommended foods.
• Define common oral diets, such as clear-liquid, full-liquid, soft, and puréed diets.
• Identify protein sources for vegetarians and vegans.
• Discuss the implications of deficiencies in iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, and vitamin A.
• Identify sources of iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, and vitamin A.
• Describe changes in nutritional needs across the lifespan.
• Define nutrient-dense as it relates to nutrition.

Course Competency 12: Encourage Healthy Lifestyles in Clients

Learning Objectives

• Define a healthy lifestyle and its components.
• Describe primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
• Identify screening guidelines and recommended immunizations.
• Discuss the importance of stress management and sleep.
• Explore how to identify client risk factors and steps to reduce risks.
• Outline the steps in the behavior-change process.
• Describe the difference between promoting health and preventing illness.
• Identify influences that affect the health of individuals.
• Discuss the importance of physical activity to a healthy lifestyle.
• Analyze the impact of risk-taking behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity, and overeating, on a healthy lifestyle.
• Discuss community resources available to promote health and wellness.