Minimum Course Hours: 40

Course Description

Learners are introduced to the foundations of disease and illness across the lifespan to gain an understanding of pathophysiological alterations of body systems. Nursing management of diseases and illnesses across lifespan with an emphasis on interventions and treatment is also discussed. Learners will also explore cultural safety in healing practices and the incorporation of evidence-informed research and practice.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Practical Nursing Program; completion of Human Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses or equivalent course with a minimum grade of 65%

Corequisites: Professional Communication 1; Integrated Nursing Practice 1; Professional Practice 1, Health Promotion 1; Pharmacology 1

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course the learner will be able to:

1. Discuss how the current British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and Entry-Level Competencies are used to guide practice when caring for clients with variations in health.
   • 1.1 Examine how standards and scope inform nursing management of disease and illness.
2. Describe pathophysiology as it relates to common presentations of illness.
   • 2.1 Give examples of cellular alterations.
   • 2.2 Describe the inflammatory and tissue repair processes.
   • 2.3 Describe chronic versus acute illness in the context of disease (health continuum and disease versus illness).
   • 2.4 Identify the influence of illness and disease on homeostasis.
3. Explain physical and psychosocial stressors.
   • 3.1 Describe the differences between mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness.
   • 3.2 Explain compensatory and decompensatory mechanisms.
   • 3.3 Identify physical and psychosocial stressors that affect health and wellness.
   • 3.4 Define general adaptation syndrome and how it affects health.
4. Identify the nursing management of disease and illness for body systems in clients across the lifespan.^[1]
   • 4.1 Identify holistic and traditional healing practices associated with common illnesses.
   • 4.2 Describe the historical and current impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and how this has impacted their health and health care experiences.
   • 4.3 Discuss how culture influences health and wellness.
   • 4.4 Identify appropriate evidence-informed research and practice resources.

Course Concepts

Course outcomes will be met through examination and exploration of the following:

• BCCNM LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and documents that guide scope of practice
• Introduction to pathophysiology
• Maintaining homeostasis
• Compensatory and decompensatory mechanisms
• Cell alteration: types of cell injury and repair, cell aging and degeneration, and irregular cell growth
• Alterations to all body systems (e.g., inflammation, infection, obstruction/occlusion, genetics, familial, cancer, trauma)
• Physical and psychosocial stressors
• Chronic versus acute disease (health continuum); illness versus disease
• Mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness
• Nursing management of disease and illness across the lifespan
• Nursing management, including
  • Assessment (holistic assessment and data collection, including lab values and diagnostics)
  • Pharmacology
  • Identification of real and potential problems
  • Nursing diagnoses
  • Planning and documenting specific nursing interventions on a care plan
  • Implementing culturally safe care
  • Evaluation of care
  • Collaborating with other members of the health care team
  • Health promotion
  • Client teaching
• Therapeutic interventions and treatments, including pharmacology
• Traditional and holistic healing practices
• Introduction to diagnostics
• Cultural diversity in health and healing
• Impacts of colonialism on the health and experiences of Indigenous Peoples
• Introduction to evidence-informed research and practice