Nursing Care of Elderly Patients (4 op)

Tavoitteet

The student is able to
- apply their knowledge of changes related to ageing, health risk factors and most common illnesses of the elderly in their nursing care
- apply the principles and recommendations related to the assessment of the functional capacity, service needs of elderly patients and service guidance
- apply the main principles of rehabilitation and resource-oriented care while supporting health, functional capacity and care for elderly patients
- apply research data and recommendations in the planning, implementation and assessment of the quality of care for elderly patients
- describe and justify the most common examinations and procedures needed in the nursing care of elderly patients when the general condition of the elderly patient has suddenly deteriorated
- describe the special features of interaction and guidance in the nursing of elderly patients and patients with a memory disorders
- describe and justify the use of digital and technological aids in the monitoring and treating of the health of elderly patients and their rehabilitation

Aika ja paikka

Tikkurila campus/ and or Zoom. Check the study schedules in the Pakki timetable. Laurea reserves the right to make changes.

Oppimateriaali ja suositeltava kirjallisuus

The learning environment built in Canvas and its corresponding materials.Here is some of the material in the course:

Act on Supporting the Functional Capacity of the Older Population and on Social and Health Services for Older Persons. 980/2012. Available: https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2012/en20120980?search%5Btype%5D=pika&search%5Bkieli%5D%5B0%5D=en&search%5Bpika%5D=980%2F2012.
EBM Guidelines. 2018 (updated 2019). Clinical assessment of memory impairment.
EBM Guidelines. 2018. Treatment of a patient with memory disease.
EBM Guidelines. 2018. Memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
EBM Guidelines. Risk factors for and prevention of memory disorders.
EBM Guidelines. Reviewing an elderly patient's medications (soveltuvin osin).
EBM guidelines. Nutritional disorders in the elderly.
Ferraro, K. & Wilmoth, J. 2013. Gerontology: Perspectives and Issues (4th Edition). Springer Publishing Company. Available: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/jypoly/detail.action?docID=106870
Fimea 2018. Medication of elderly and Meds 75+ database. Available: https://www.fimea.fi/web/en/for_public/medication-of-the-elderly.
Hutchison, L. C. 2015. Fundamentals of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. ASHP. (Chapters 3-6.) Available at ProQuest Ebook Central.
Nurses collegiality guidelines. Available: https://www.nurses.fi/nursing_and_nurse_education_in_f/collegiality/.
Kwon, S. 2016. Gerontechnology: Research, practice, and principles in the field of technology and aging. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, LLC. E-book available.

Toteutustapa

Day Implementation, Teaching is conducted at the Tikkurila campus, some of the lectures might be held in Zoom. Information on this will be given during the orientation.

The implementation of the studies is supported by a learning environment built in Canvas, but it is important for learning to participate in the on-campus instruction and guidance according to the schedule. The studies involve pair or group work, active and participatory learning, case work, and workshop teaching. Attendance is mandatory in the orientation, workshops and exam.

Personal feedback on assignments will be provided by the instructor. The evaluative tasks include the Nursing of elderly Knowledge Test (YleSh) and the assessable Canvas assignments. Additionally, successfully completing the final test in Geriatrics and Gerontological Nursing (1 credit) is included in the course.

Please note timetable changes are possible!

Toteutuksen tärkeät päivämäärät

Based on the Degree Regulations (2024), a student accepted for the implementation is required to confirm their participation by demonstrating activity at the start of the studies. To show this activity, the student must be present at the first contact session or notify the responsible instructor of their absence to confirm their participation in the studies. Registration will be rejected if the student does not inform about their absence from the initial session or if the reason for the absence is not deemed justified. Another student may be admitted in their place.

Lecture teaching: Lecture sessions 4x4 hours.

Workshops: Workshops (3x4 hours) will be conducted in small groups. The small group divisions will be clarified by the start of the studies. Attendance is mandatory in the workshops.

Toteutuksen valinnaiset suoritustavat

The course can be completed as a demonstration of competence if:
a. The student has a practical nurse diploma and has completed courses in Elderly Care and Rehabilitation / Geriatric Work / Working in Home Care. b. The student has a practical nurse diploma and has completed the Nursing Care specialization with 1.5 years of work experience. c. The student has a practical nurse diploma (with a specialization other than those mentioned above) and at least 3 years of relevant work experience in elderly care.
Additional training in elderly care (e.g., functional capacity assessment, RAI training, validation, or other training related to interacting with individuals with dementia, acute situations, nutrition, elderly medication management) is considered an advantage.
In the competence demonstration, the student must inform the course instructor of their willingness to pursue this method via email, after which they will submit a competence analysis (see instructions on the student intranet) to the course instructor. The instructor will assess whether the demonstration is possible based on this. If the demonstration is possible, the student will participate in a retake exam for the Elderly Care Knowledge Test. Before the exam, the student has the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the exam materials. The exam can only be taken once (no retake opportunity). The exam is graded T1-K5 (T1 = at least 40% of the total points).
A successful competence demonstration will be recorded in the system by the course instructor, and the student will no longer need to participate in the course. If the competence demonstration is failed, the student will participate in the course as usual.
A student who has an existing employment relationship in an elderly care unit can complete the course by integrating their work, meaning they can enhance their skills through a separate task related to practical nursing. For more information on integrating work into studies, you can ask the course instructor and find additional information on the student intranet.


Here are the instructions on how to do a competence analysis (osaamisen näyttö) from the Student intranet: https://laureauas.sharepoint.com/sites/studentEn_planningstudies/SitePages/Demonstration-of-competence-in-Bachelor-of-Health-Care-and-Public-Health-Nurse-programmes.aspx#main-principles-for-demonstration-of-competence-in-theoretical-studies-in-nursing

Opiskelijan ajankäyttö ja kuormitus

The workload of the studies is calculated so that to achieve the intended competencies, one credit point corresponds to an average of 26.7 hours of work by the student. The actual time required varies by individual, for example, due to prior knowledge.

4 credits / 107 hours:
- Lecture teaching: 16 hours
- Workshops: 12 hours
- YleSh Exam: 2 hours
- Independent studies: 77 hours

Sisältö ja sen jaksotus

- Changes related to aging
- Risk factors and the most common diseases in elderly health
- Assessment of the functional capacity and service needs of the elderly
- Principles and recommendations for service guidance
- Principles of rehabilitative and resource-oriented nursing in supporting and caring for elderly health and functional capacity
- Utilization of research data and recommendations in the planning, implementation, and quality assessment of elderly nursing care
- Acute situations in elderly nursing care
- Specific features related to interaction and guidance in elderly and dementia care
- Digital and technological aids used in monitoring, caring for, and rehabilitating elderly health

Arviointiasteikko

H-5

Lisätiedot

The specific assessment criteria for the components of the course will be communicated and discussed during the course orientation. The orientation will also cover the policies regarding absences and compensatory measures for the course.

Attendance is required at the first contact session/orientation, where participation in the course will be confirmed.

Previous modules I-III and their associated studies should be completed before the start of the course. Before this course can be done clinical placements 1 and 2 should be completed.