Pathophysiological Processes for Nursing 1

Course Number:
NRS 234
Transcript Title:
Pathophysiological Processes for Nursing 1
Created:
Apr 30, 2024
Updated:
May 01, 2024
Total Credits:
2
Lecture Hours:
20
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
No
Grading Options
A-F
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0
Prerequisites

Admission to the Nursing Program
Corequisites: NRS 110, NRS 237

Course Description

Introduces pathophysiological processes that contribute to many different disease states across the lifespan and human responses to those processes. Includes foundational concepts of cellular adaptation, injury, and death; inflammation and tissue healing; fluid and electrolyte imbalances; and physiologic response to stressors and pain, as well as additional pathophysiological processes. Develops skills for making clinical decisions using critical thinking in the context of nursing, using current, reliable sources of pathophysiology information. Trains in the selecting and interpreting of focused nursing assessments based on knowledge of pathophysiological processes, teaching individuals from diverse populations and communicating with other health professionals regarding pathophysiological processes. The first course in the three course Pathophysiological Processes for Nursing series. Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing Program. Corequisites: NRS 110, NRS 237.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of selected pathophysiological processes, including cellular adaption, cell injury and death inflammation, and tissue healing; fluid and electrolyte balance physiologic response to stress.
  2. Select and interpret basic focused nursing assessments based on knowledge of clinical manifestations, developmental considerations, and pertinent social determinants of health of selected pathophysiological processes in patients across the life span.
  3. Teach Individuals from diverse populations across the lifespan regarding selected pathophysiological processes.
  4. Communicate effectively with other health professionals regarding selected pathophysiological processes.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

The determination of assessment strategies is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: writings (journals, self-reflections, pre writing exercises, essays), quizzes, tests, midterm and final exams, group projects, presentations (in person, videos, etc), self-assessments, experimentations, lab reports, peer critiques, responses (to texts, podcasts, videos, films, etc), student generated questions, Escape Room, interviews, and/or portfolios.

Department suggestions: exams, case-based scenarios, concept maps

Course Content

Outcome #1: Demonstrate an understanding of selected pathophysiological processes, including cellular adaption, cell injury and death inflammation, and tissue healing; fluid and electrolyte balance physiologic response to stress.

The following concepts are foundational to the understanding of many different pathophysiological processes.

  • Homeostasis versus compensation
  • Cellular adaptation
    • atrophy
    • hypertrophy
    • hyperplasia
    • metaplasia
    • dysplasia
  • Causes of cell injury
  • Reversible cell injury and intracellular accumulations
    • cell swelling
    • intracellular accumulations
  • Irreversible cell injury/cell death
    • necrosis
    • apoptosis
  • Cell aging
    • cellular basis of aging
  • Somatic death
    • algor mortis and poikilothermic
    • postmortem lividity (livor mortis)
    • rigor mortis
    • postmortem autolysis
  • Mast cell response (degranulation) to tissue injury
  • Inflammatory response
    • hemostasis
    • vascular response (including chemical mediators)
    • cellular response (including chemical mediators)
  • Local versus systemic manifestations of inflammation
  • Acute versus chronic inflammation
  • Regeneration versus connective tissue repair (tissue healing)
  • Phases of tissue healing
    • inflammation (see above)
    • reconstructive (proliferative)
    • maturation (remodeling)
  • Factors that impair tissue healing (local and systemic)
  • Fibrosis
  • Bone healing
    • hematoma, callus, remodeling
    • factors that impair bone healing
  • Body fluid homeostasis
    • intake and absorption
    • distribution (including lifespan variations)
    • excretion
    • loss through abnormal routes
  • Fluid imbalances
    • interstitial fluid volume excess (edema)
      • capillary mechanisms that cause edema
    • extracellular fluid volume imbalances
      • ECV excess
      • ECV deficit
    • body fluid concentration (osmolality) imbalances
      • hyponatremia
      • hypernatremia
    • combined volume and concentration imbalance
      • clinical dehydration (ECV deficit and hypernatremia)
  • Principles of electrolyte homeostasis and imbalance
    • intake and absorption
    • distribution
    • excretion
    • loss through abnormal routes
  • Electrolyte imbalances
    • plasma potassium imbalances
      • hypokalemia
      • hyperkalemia
    • plasma calcium imbalances
      • hypocalcemia
      • hypercalcemia
    • plasma magnesium
      • hypomagnesemia
      • hypermagnesemia
  • Physiological responses to stressors (include lifespan variations where appropriate)
    • sympathetic response (fight-or-flight response)
    • reticular activating system response (hyper alertness)
    • musculoskeletal response (stretch reflex, muscle tension)
    • hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical response (cortisol)
    • release of other hormones: ADH, aldosterone, growth hormone
    • endorphin release and stress-induced analgesia
    • blood glucose effect of stress response
    • immunologic effects of stress response
  • Acute versus chronic stress response

Outcome #2: Select and interpret basic focused nursing assessments based on knowledge of clinical manifestations, developmental considerations, and pertinent social determinants of health of selected pathophysiological processes in patients across the life span.

Select the appropriate steps of a physical assessment for different age groups across the life span. Focusing on the following system:

  • Integumentary
  • Cardiac, vascular
  • Respiratory
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Renal
  • Endocrine
  • Neuromuscular
  • Immune system
  • Neuropsychologic

Identify the differences in physical findings as to:

  • Age
  • Size
  • gender
  • Vital signs
  • Developmental skills (fine motor, gross motor, speech and social interaction)

Identify clinical manifestations and pathological processes that places a healthy individual at risk for accidents and injuries, nutrition, infections and mental health across the life span.

Outcome #3: Teach Individuals from diverse populations across the lifespan regarding selected pathophysiological processes.

Focus on the systems assigned in #2

  • explaining how the risk factors relate to specific pathophysiological processes
  • describing selected pathophysiological processes in appropriate terms
  • explaining how the signs and symptoms relate to specific pathophysiological processes
  • explaining which signs and symptoms to report to a health professional
  • explaining how developmental factors relate to pathophysiology

Outcome #4: Communicate effectively with other health professionals regarding selected pathophysiological processes.

Focus on the assigned system in #2

  • using appropriate technical language
  • clarifying technical details of pathophysiological processes
  • reporting pertinent information about a patient’s status

Department Notes

  • Capriotti, T.M. (2020) Pathophysiology: Introductory concepts and clinical perspectives. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis