Basics of Nursing and Elderly Care (7 cr)
Code: TH00CJ51-3004
General information
Enrollment
02.07.2025 - 01.10.2025
Timing
25.08.2025 - 16.11.2025
Number of ECTS credits allocated
7 op
Mode of delivery
Contact teaching
Unit
Emergency Care, Public Health Nursing and Midwifery
Teaching languages
- English
Degree programmes
- Degree Programme in Midwifery
Teachers
- Heli Aarnio
- Jaana Koskela
- Satu Halonen
Scheduling groups
- Pienryhmä 1 (Size: 15. Open UAS: 0.)
- Pienryhmä 2 (Size: 15. Open UAS: 0.)
- Pienryhmä 3 (Size: 15. Open UAS: 0.)
Groups
-
PKATIS25
Small groups
- 1
- 2
- 3
Objective
Student:
• Knows the key concepts of nursing
• Knows the values and principles guiding nursing
• Knows the principles of professional interaction and cooperation
• Uses the nursing process to make decisions and record nursing work
• Uses the national nursing work recording model to record nursing work
• Knows the key principles of patient safety
• Can ensure patient safety in their own operations and in the work community
• Can assess the patient’s resources and care needs, define the patient’s care needs and objectives, and plan and implement key methods of assistance innursing, promoting the customer’s/patient’s resources
• Students will know the ethical values and principles of nursing elderly people, and values old age as a stage in life
• Students will acknowledge and know how to identify any changes related to old age
• Students will acknowledge and know how to use the methods of nursing related to assessing and maintaining the health, functional capacity and resources of the elderly
• Students will become familiar with common memory disorders and the related treatment and service chains
• Students will know the importance of nutrition for elderly persons
• Students can plan, implement and evaluate safe and effective pharmacotherapy for the elderly
• Students will know how to support and guide family members in the treatment of elderly patients
• Knows the principles of aseptic work, ergonomics, pain and chronic wound care and can apply the information in nursing work
• Can systematically assess the need for immediate treatment and can act in situations requiring immediate first aid
• Knows the principles and can function as a nurse in connection with death
• Knows the key methods, prerequisites and implementation of examining a person
• Interacts with the customer and the work community
• Knows what treatment-related infections and management of infection risks mean: hand hygiene, use of protective equipment, safe care environment
• Knows microbiology and basics, and the meaning of immunity and defence system
• Knows the purpose and knowledge base of vaccination
Content
Content
• Key concepts of nursing
• Values, principles and key concepts that steer nursing
• Professional interaction and clear communications
• Nursing process, decision-making in nursing and documentation in nursing
• Starting points for patient safety and arranging a safe care environment
• Information security and data protection
• Ergonomic working and assisting in patient’s mobility
• Patient monitoring
• Assisting in daily activities
• Common methods of assisting and treatment methods required in nursing
• Tissue integrity, prevention of bedsores and treatment of chronic wounds
• Elderly care, gerontology, geriatrics and pharmacology
• Changes related to old age
• Risk factors that indicate declining functional capacity of elderly patients
• Assessment of the functional capacity and resources of the elderly and provision of support in different environments
• Nutrition of the elderly and how to ensure proper nutrition and provide related instructions in different circumstances
• Memory disorders and nursing of patients with memory disorders
• Legislation concerning the treatment of the elderly and the services required by the elderly: home care and other services provided at the homes of the elderly
• Safe and effective administration of pharmacotherapy for the elderly
• Supporting the involvement of family members in the treatment of elderly patients
• Pain assessment and unmedicated pain management methods
• First aid and basic resuscitation
• Interaction and communication competence
• Clinical examination of a patient following the ABCDE principles
• Key methods for examining people: interview, anamnesis, inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, observation and indicators
• Preconditions of good clinical examinations and their implementation: general condition, breathing, circulation, consciousness, excretion, musculoskeletal system, skin
• Aseptic techniques, infection prevention, hand hygiene, precautions and isolation arrangements
• Resistance and immunisation, infection risk management and hygiene recommendations
• The most common treatment-related infections and the microbes causing them
Teaching methods
Diverse activating methods include in-person, online, and simulation techniques, as well as classroom exercises. Professional activities are learned in teams during basic and special care situations.
Exam schedules
Group exam with individual component.
International connections
According to the innovation pedagogy of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the key principles are sustainable development, interdisciplinarity, research and development activities, flexible curricula, utilization of digital learning methods, entrepreneurship and service activities, as well as internationalization. The student is seen as an active, independent, and responsible learner.
Student workload
7 ECTS = 189 hours of student work.
Individual and group assignments, online courses, knowledge tests, Sustainable Development online course, and theme days (16 hours), as well as group exam and preparation 2 ECTS = 54 hours
First Aid 1 ECTS = 27 hours Classroom exercises, practical training, and simulation 4 ECTS = 108 hours
Content scheduling
Timing:Weeks 35-44
Content:
- Professional interaction and therapeutic relationship
- Care process, decision-making, and documentation
- Patient safety, data security, and ergonomics
- Nursing assistance methods and daily activity support
- Monitoring patient's condition and basic vital functions
- Nutrient needs and significance
- Diet according to nutritional recommendations for the elderly
Further information
If you have a question related to the course that cannot be resolved with the provided instructions, please contact the responsible teachers via email.
For practical training sessions, a nursing uniform and work shoes are required.
Evaluation scale
H-5
Assessment methods and criteria
Assignments 1 ECTS: pass/fail/to be completed
Knowledge tests 1 ECTS: 1-5
Classroom exercises 4 ECTS: completion of preliminary tasks and active participation: pass/fail
Exam 1 ECTS: numerical assessment FAIL-5
Mini-simulations: PASS/FAIL
ASSESSMENT: The exam constitutes 50% of the course's overall grade and the knowledge tests 50%.
Classroom exercises and simulations require 100% attendance. Absences must be compensated by joining another small group or during a make-up session.
Assessment criteria, fail (0)
KNOWLEDGE:
Does not demonstrate sufficient understanding of the basic concepts of nursing fundamentals and the objectives of the course.
Cannot justify or evaluate their own views and solutions. Does not utilize scientific knowledge.
SKILLS:
Fails to complete assigned tasks.
Does not understand key procedures or justify their choices.
Provides incorrect solutions to problems.
ATTITUDES:
Does not receive or give feedback.
Does not reflect or identify areas for improvement.
Does not recognize the values or ethical principles of the field.
Does not take responsibility for their part in group work.
Behaves unprofessionally.
Does not recognize the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, or the promotion of well-being.
Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)
KNOWLEDGE:
Can identify, name, and define individual phenomena and basic concepts related to the Fundamentals of Nursing course.
Utilizes professional knowledge.
SKILLS:
Completes assigned tasks with guidance.
Is familiar with various procedures but cannot justify their choices or apply what they have learned to different situations.
ATTITUDES:
Can selectively receive and give feedback.
Examines and evaluates matters from their own perspective.
Recognizes values and ethical principles important to their field.
Takes responsibility only for their part in group work.
Recognizes their interaction skills.
Recognizes what constitutes professional behavior.
Has limited recognition of the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, and well-being.
Assessment criteria, good (3-4)
KNOWLEDGE:
Structures the relationships between phenomena and concepts related to the Fundamentals of Nursing course.
Can explain, compare, and organize matters in relation to each other.
Utilizes professional knowledge and some scientific knowledge.
SKILLS:
Can independently choose the most appropriate course of action from different options and strives to justify their choice.
Can apply, create plans, and define tasks. Solves problems.
**ATTITUDES:**
Can actively and constructively receive and give feedback.
Examines and evaluates matters from both their own and the local community's perspective.
Has adopted the values and ethical principles of the field and acts according to guidelines.
Can act responsibly and participates in developing their interaction and teamwork skills.
Behaves professionally.
Can describe and evaluate the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, and well-being.
Assessment criteria, excellent (5)
KNOWLEDGE:
Understands the broad concepts of the Fundamentals of Nursing course and their cause-and-effect relationships. Can analyze, apply, and integrate into a professional context.
Can justify actions using scientific knowledge.
SKILLS:
Can search for and evaluate various procedures and solution options.
Able to justify choices and experiment with new methods.
Can creatively combine solutions or create justified action models.
ATTITUDES:
Uses feedback systematically as a tool for professional growth for themselves and their community. Changes actions based on feedback.
Actively reflects on their own skills and the community's operational model.
Can flexibly apply ethical principles of the field in various value conflict situations.
Works responsibly, committedly, and constructively in collaboration.
Develops their own and the group's interaction, considering the requirements and needs of the community and their field.
Behaves professionally and can guide others in professional behavior.
Understands the impact of their actions on sustainable development, economy, and the promotion of well-being. Can also act proactively in these areas.