NS5605 - Advanced Assessment of the Older Adult

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition

This subject will explore the complex advanced nursing assessment of the older adult, using a holistic framework and including a solid understanding of the normal physiological changes that can complicate and confound the clinical assessment. Students will learn to differentiate between the changes related to the normal ageing process and those related to lifestyle effects and/or pathological conditions when assessing health status and planning care for the older adult in different clinical settings.

Learning Outcomes

• outline the changes which occur physiologically in each body system during ageing and relate this knowledge to the complex nursing assessment of the older adult;
• utilise a range of clinical tools to facilitate accurate and reliable assessment and reporting of health status;
• outline the developmental theories of ageing and demonstrate an understanding of the psychosocial changes which occur during the ageing process and the problems that may arise from those changes;
• explore issues in the assessment and interviewing of older clients, their families and significant others which may impact the conduct and outcome of assessment;
• complete a systematic, comprehensive holistic assessment of the health status of an older adult client in the physical, psychological, social, emotional and functional domains within their current environmental context.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to manage future career and personal development;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Availabilities
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coordinator:	Dr Kristin Wicking
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	assignments.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.