Foundations of Nursing

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. explain the nature of nursing and the trend towards the emergence of professional practice; 2. discuss the professional context of nursing practice with relevance to education, ethics and professional behaviours, and scientific basis of nursing practice; 3. discuss the concepts of health, healthcare delivery systems and contributions of government, non-governmental and international organisations to health care delivery; 4. discuss the components and use of nursing process and nursing care plan; and 5. demonstrate moderate competence in basic nursing skills covered as part of the core knowledge areas.

Introduction to the fundamentals of nursing as a profession, rudiments of health attainment and health care, giving extensive considerations to the roles of nurses within organisational and professional ethical prescriptions for the practice of nursing. Interpersonal communication and understanding of scientific basis of nursing care. Laboratory demonstration of basic nursing skills prior to exposure to clinical practice.