Excelsior College Nursing

"Excelsior College Nursing<"

Study Guide Expanded Notes

Introduction

The Regents College Associate Degree Nursing is composed of six theory examinations and 
a Clinical Performance Nursing Examination which compose the 36 credits for the nursing 
portion of the degree. The other 30 credits for the degree are in the general education area.

The six examinations and their respective subject areas are:

Commonalties in Nursing Care: Area A
	I. Health, Wellness, and Illness 10%
	II. Comfort, Rest, and Sleep 10%
	III. Activity/Mobility 15%
	IV. Environmental Safety 25%
	V. Biological Safety 20%
	VI. Psychological Safety 20%

Commonalties in Nursing Care: Area B
	I. Nutrition 25%
	II. Elimination 25%
	III. Oxygenation 25%
	IV. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance 25%

Differences in Nursing Care: Area A
	I. Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Problems (50%)
	II. Abnormal Cellular Growth (25%)
	III. Needs of the Childbearing Family (25%)

Differences in Nursing Care: Area B
	I. Behavior Responses - Observable Responses 
		of the Individual to Life Stressors	(40%)
	II. Regulatory Mechanisms	(25%)
	III. Metabolic Mechanisms	(25%)
	IV. Congenital Anomalies, Genetic Disorders, 
		and Developmental Problems	(10%)

Differences in Nursing Care: Area C
	I. Infectious and Communicable Disease Problems (35%)
	II. Tissue Trauma (30%)
	III. Neurological, Sensory, and Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions (35%)

Occupational Strategies in Nursing 
	I. Forces Influencing the Development of Nursing Practice (15%)
	II. The Health Care Delivery System (15%)
	III Framework for Nursing Practice (45%)
		A. Quality Assurance
		B. Ethical Aspects of Nursing Practice
		C. Legal Liability Affecting Nursing Practice
		D. Educational Aspects of Nursing Practice
	IV. Delivery of Nursing Care by the Associate Degree Graduate (25%)

Each subject area is divided into two sections:

	A. Theoretical framework: basis for care
	B. Nursing Care Related to Theoretical Framework

The first section, "Theoretical framework: basis for care," provides an outline
 for study of the basic elements related to the section.

The second section, "Nursing Care Related to Theoretical Framework," provides an outline for
 study of the specific nursing care related to the section. This section is organized
 along the five step nursing process of:

			1. Assessment
			2. Analysis
			3. Planning
			4. Implementation
			5. Evaluation

The nursing process is a central element to the thought process for organizing information 
to undertake decision making and problems solving. This process can take the form of a
 quick mental appreciation, or be a detailed written care plan. Training and education can 
be based around this process, and in the time urgent situation the process may be undertaken 
within a few minutes or even a moment as when a critical intervention is undertaken.

This nursing process requires the individual to have the skills for:

	1. assessment through the systematic collection of data relating to the patients
 and their problems,
	2. problem identification through the analysis of the data collected,
	3. planning through the choice of solutions and based upon priorities established, 
	4. implementation of these solutions in the form of patient care, and 
	5. evaluation of that plan through assessing the effectiveness of the patient care, 
making changes in the plan as indicated by the current needs.

This process is a cyclical reoccurring event that may be undertaken by
 several individuals over a period of time!