Nursing

The NH Board of Nursing approved Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) program consists of 46 hours of classroom theory/lab and 60 hours of clinical for a total of 106 hours of coursework. The theory portion is delivered at the college. The clinical is arranged at a local health care facility. The College offers semester long and accelerated LNA courses. After successfully completing the LNA program, all students must register for the state competency written and clinical exam and complete criminal background checks/fingerprinting as part of the process to obtain their LNA license with the State of New Hampshire. This course is not part of the Associate Degree in the Nursing Program.

This course provides an introduction to the nursing profession and roles of the nurse. The 10 key concepts that serve as the foundation for the nursing program are introduced. These include: list 10 concepts. The theoretical foundation for basic health for basic health assessment is integrated with nursing skills. The student is given an opportunity to learn and demonstrate health assessment skills using a variety of resources in the laboratory and clinical settings. The foundations of pharmacology and medication administration are presented using various resources to support material presented. An introduction to the nursing process provides a decision-making framework to assist students in developing effective clinical judgment skills.

• Meds-Surg: The Med Surg portion of Nursing II focuses on the medical surgical nursing care of adult patients with health alterations. Emphasis is placed on health assessment, medication administration, and the care of patients with alterations in selected body systems. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply the concepts introduced in Nursing I. The course expands the student’s ability to utilize effective clinical judgement skills and prepares the student to care for more complex patients in Nursing III.
• Mental Health: This content provides a concentrated experience in the specialty area of mental health nursing. Emphasis is placed on using the concepts introduced in NSG I and II, effective therapeutic communication techniques, completing a psychiatric nursing assessment, discussion of psychotropic medications as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the care of individuals within the mental healthcare clinical setting.

• Medical Surgical Complex: Integration of the program concepts continues as the content focuses on the care of adult patients with complex medical and surgical health problems. Emphasis is placed on helping patients and their families cope with alterations in body functions. Pharmacology, health promotion, and patient education are incorporated throughout the course. Clinical learning experiences provide an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients in a variety of medical surgical settings.
• Pediatrics This content provides an integrative, family-centered approach to the care of children. In this course the student will learn about growth and development, common pediatric disorders, and the promotion of health behaviors in families. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients and families in the school setting.

• Leadership & Management: Emphasis is placed on contemporary issues and management concepts, as well as developing the skills of delegation, conflict management, and leadership. Legal and ethical issues are discussed with a focus on personal accountability and responsibility. Students will demonstrate leadership through presentation of an evidence-based project.
• Medical Surgical Multisystem: This content focuses on advanced concepts of nursing care as they relate to patients across the lifespan with complex, multisystem alterations in health. Emphasis is placed on implementing time management and organizational skills while advocating and caring for patients with multiple needs. Complex clinical skills, as well as priority setting, and autonomous clinical judgement are integrated throughout the course. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts, implement safe care, and evaluate outcomes of patients in a variety of settings.
• Maternal, Newborn & Reproductive Health: This content provides a family-centered approach to the care of mothers and newborns. In this course the student will learn about pregnancy, reproductive health, and the promotion of health behaviors during pregnancy delivery and post partum. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients and their families.