NUR1111 Fundamentals of Nursing
NUR1111: Fundamentals of Nursing is a core foundational module designed to equip nursing students with essential clinical judgment, patient-centered care strategies, and core practical skills.
Topics Covered:
1. Nursing Process
Master the core 5-step clinical decision-making framework (ADPIE): Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Learn how to systematically collect subjective and objective data, formulate accurate nursing diagnoses, develop SMART outcomes, and evaluate patient responses to nursing care.
2. Infection Control
Understand key principles of chain-of-infection prevention, standard precautions, and transmission-based isolation protocols (Contact, Droplet, and Airborne). This section covers medical vs. surgical asepsis, correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donning and doffing sequences, hand hygiene guidelines, and sterile field maintenance.
3. Drug Therapy
Learn the fundamental rules of safe medication administration, including the Rights of Medication Administration, dosage calculation formulas, and varied routes of drug delivery (oral, parenteral, topical, sublingual). Gain critical insights on pharmacokinetic processes, preventing medication errors, and monitoring therapeutic versus adverse drug effects.
4. Documentation
Build strong medical record habits compliant with HIPAA regulations and professional standards. Practice structured charting formats such as SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), DAR (Data, Action, Response), and narrative reporting, along with structured clinical communication tools like ISBAR for safe handoff reports.
5. Patient Safety
Focus on national patient safety goals, fall risk assessment protocols, fire safety (RACE/PASS), and seizure precautions. Review safe restraint application rules, environmental hazard awareness, and proper body mechanics to prevent ergonomic injury for both patients and healthcare workers.
6. Mobility
Explore physical assessment of mobility status, range-of-motion (ROM) exercises, and the physiological complications associated with prolonged immobility (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pressure injuries, atelectasis). Master safe patient transfer techniques, positioning strategies, and the proper selection of assistive devices like canes, crutches, and walkers.
7. Comfort & Pain
Gain expertise in pain management by differentiating acute vs. chronic pain and using validated pain assessment tools (PQRST, Numeric Rating Scale, Wong-Baker FACES). Learn both pharmacological interventions and non-pharmacological comfort techniques, such as repositioning, heat/cold therapy, and relaxation strategies.
8. Care of Older Adults
Address the unique physical, cognitive, and psychosocial considerations of aging populations. Learn to differentiate the "3 Ds" (Dementia, Delirium, and Depression), manage polypharmacy risks, prevent skin breakdown, and promote functional independence while providing safe, compassionate care to older adults.