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 nursing and roles of the nurse in a variety of healthcare systems as well as profession related and patient care concepts. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe, quality care. The theoretical foundation for basic assessment is integrated with nursing skills. The student is given an opportunity to demonstrate these skills in the clinical and laboratory setting. An introduction to the nursing process provides a decision-making framework to assist students in developing effective clinical judgment skills.

This course focuses on the nursing care of the adult patient with health alterations that require medical and/or surgical intervention. Emphasis is placed on health assessment and care of patients with alterations in selected body functions. Concepts of patient centered care, cultural sensitivity, informatics, safe practice, and professionalism are integrated throughout the course. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe patient care to adults in a variety of medical surgical settings.

The components of the course are ; patient care for individuals with complex medical/surgical alterations and patient care for individuals with mental health alterations. Medical/Surgical: This portion of the course 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. Concepts of pharmacology, health promotion and education, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration will be integrated throughout the course. Clinical learning experiences provide an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients and selected groups in a variety of medical surgical settings. Mental Health: This portion of the course provides a concentrated experience in the specialty area of mental health nursing by addressing the nursing care of pediatric, adult, and geriatric clients with a variety of psychiatric disorders and mental health alterations to include those related to crisis, addiction, and suicide. Emphasis is placed on using effective therapeutic communication techniques, completing a psychiatric nursing assessment, discussion of psychotropic medications and maintaining patient safety as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the care of individuals with mental health needs. Clinical learning experiences include the classroom, simulated learning environment, and patient care settings.

Nursing IV has three components: Leadership and Management, care of Medical/Surgical patients with multisystem disorders and Maternal, Newborn, Pediatrics & Reproductive Health. 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 use health literacy strategies to identify education needs of a patient in the community. They will use data from a comprehensive assessment to develop an education plan that addresses knowledge deficits related to management of chronic disease including medications, nutrition, health promotion and community resources. Using technology students will present their project to their peers for feedback. Medical Surgical Multisystem: This portion of the course 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 managing the care of patients with multiple needs and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team. Complex clinical skills, as well as priority setting, clinical judgment, and tenets of legal and ethical practice, are integrated throughout the course. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients and selected groups in a variety of settings. Maternal Newborn & Pediatrics & Reproductive Health: This portion of the course provides an integrative, family-centered approach to the care of mothers, newborns, and children. Emphasis is placed on normal and high-risk pregnancies, normal growth and development, family dynamics, common pediatric disorders and the promotion of healthy behaviors in families. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe patient care to families (including childbearing women, newborns, children and adults with reproductive health alterations) in selected settings.