Fundamentals of Nursing

Different actions that should occur before, during, and after disasters. These include mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. the classification system used to triage during mass casualty events.

Epidemiology including the epidemiologic triangle. This triangle consists of the agent, host, and environment. Ellis then discusses other important terms in epidemiology like incidence, prevalence, attack rate, endemic, epidemic, and pandemic.

The nursing process steps as they relate to developing a community health plan, including specific data collection methods used in the assessment of a community like informal interviews, direct observation, windshield surveys, secondary analysis, and surveys.

Health risks across the lifespan by discussing health risks specific to infants, children, adolescents, and adults, including any related family or patient teaching. Family nursing is also discussed by reviewing the family systems theory and family assessment tools. These tools include the genogram and ecomaps.

Vulnerable populations including examples of what unique health risks different groups face. We then transition into violence in the community covering risk factors for violence, specific violent acts, and the impact violence has on an individual.

The differences between Medicare and Medicaid, including the four parts of Medicare and what each of them covers.

A review of community health content with environmental hazards. These include air pollution, occupational hazards, water contamination, and food deserts. Ellis further explores lead poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning covering their risk factors and critical patient teaching.

A review of community health content with prevention levels and determinants of health. Prevention levels include primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Determinants of health have been broken into environmental and social factors. These are critical parts of determining risk factors and impact an individual's health outcomes.

Community health terminology including the differences between community-oriented nursing and community-based nursing. They then describe different nurse roles within the field of community health.

Elder mistreatment, including risk factors, types of abuse, signs/symptoms, and nursing care.

Polypharmacy, including risk factors, prevention, patient teaching, and a selection of medication categories and classes that are included on the Beer's List.

Dementia, delirium, and depression, including the differences in onset, reversibility, causes, changes to the level of consciousness, and behavior-related changes.

Alzheimer's disease, including the signs/symptoms, diagnosis, and nursing care.

The best practices in communication techniques for engaging with older adults.

The common changes that occur with aging as it relates to eye health, vision, hearing, balance, and other sensory changes.

The common changes that occur with aging as it relates to the immune and integumentary systems.

The common changes that occur with aging as it relates to the renal and reproductive systems.

The common changes that occur with aging as it relates to the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems.

The common changes that occur with aging as it relates to the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.

The common changes that occur with aging as it relates to the respiratory and cardiac systems.

The psychosocial changes an older adult may experience.

The quality improvement (QI) process and best practices along with different types of patient safety events (e.g., near miss, adverse event, sentinel event).

Best practices for employee performance appraisal and disciplinary action (e.g., for the chemically-impaired employee and the progressive approach to discipline).

The types and stages of conflict, and conflict management strategies (e.g., avoiding, smoothing, competing, accommodating, compromising, collaborating).

Best practices for efficiency in nursing practice and critical pathways.

Delegation of tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) and practical nurses (LVNs/LPNs).

Patient prioritization models, including the nursing process, Maslow's hierarchy, ABCs, acute vs. Chronic, unexpected vs. Expected, restrictive/invasive procedures, and survivability potential.

Types of leadership styles, including authoritarian, autocratic, laissez-faire, democratic, transactional, transformational.

The essential points of perioperative (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) nursing care.

The basics of chest tubes, artificial airways, tracheostomy care, and home oxygen safety.

Oxygen delivery devices (nasal cannula, non-rebreather, venturi device), therapeutic oxygenation interventions (chest physiotherapy and positive airway pressure), and suctioning.

Ventilation, diffusion, and perfusion, along with hypoxemia, hypoxia, and techniques to improve oxygenation.

Learn the key facts on laxatives, enemas, and fecal occult blood testing (FOBT).

Constipation, diarrhea, and important content about ostomies (ileostomy and colostomy). Meris's personal experience with a temporary ostomy.

The use of bladder scanners and key points of urinary catheters (indwelling, straight, suprapubic, and external).

The basics of urinary elimination and specimen collection, urinary incontinence, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Learn the most important facts on enteral and parenteral nutrition.

Considerations for the indication, insertion, placement confirmation and removal of nasogastric (NG) tubes.

Dysphagia, therapeutic diet types (NPO, clear liquid, full liquid, soft, dysphagia, and regular), prevention of foodborne illnesses, and capillary blood glucose measurement.

The key points you need to know on macronutrients, micronutrients, and body mass index (BMI).

Learn all about the basics of acid/base imbalances, including respiratory alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and metabolic acidosis.

Get the key facts you need on basic considerations of electrolytes and electrolyte imbalances, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

Get an overview of solution osmolarity, calculating intake and output, fluid volume deficit, and fluid volume excess.

Get the scoop on wound culture and irrigation, sterile dressing changes, suture and staple removal, care of drains, and diabetic foot care.

The phases of wound healing, healing by intention (primary, secondary, and tertiary), complications and barriers to healing, and wound drainage/appearance.

Pressure injury risk factors, prevention, and staging.

Fall prevention in the acute care and home settings, along with everything you need to know about restraints.

Mobility devices including canes, walkers, and crutches.