Nursing Theory and Practice

Course details

This course is designed for:

• Carers currently employed in a healthcare setting
• Those planning a career in a healthcare setting who require a formal qualification
• Students hoping to access 3rd level nursing courses

Learners who successfully complete this course will:

• Outline the history and development of nursing
• Acquire a knowledge of the structure and function of the health care service in the Republic of Ireland
• Know the various disciplines and specialities within nursing
• Understand the nursing process
• Appreciate the models of care
• Be aware of nursing ethics and etiquette in care situations
• Communicate effectively in ways that are consistent with the carer's role
• Avoid occupational hazards

The course covers the following:

• The development of nursing as a profession
• The structures of the health care service in the Republic of Ireland
• The functions of each structure
• The effects of European Union directives on nursing
• Identifying the members of the primary, secondary and tertiary health care teams
• The specialities within the health care profession
• The stages of the nursing process
• The 'Code of Practice' for nurses
• Emphatic behaviour  of the care worker
• The use of the senses in observation
• Commonly occurring infections, causes, transmission and prevention
• Nursing and medical terminology and medical abbreviations
• The importance of precision in admistering drugs and correct recording procedures
• Accurate measurement of vital signs

Assessment:

Assessment will be split between a skills demonstration and a theory based exam.