• Introduction

    This Fundamentals of Nursing course provides information and instructions on foundational concepts and principles of nursing care and essential nursing skills required for the provision of safe, respectful, and holistic client care. The goal is to provide a strong foundation in nursing theory, critical thinking and clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, and safe clinical care in all settings.

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  • DISCLAIMER: This content is designed to enhance the study of nursing. This content is generic and is not designed to take into account the specific objectives, needs, and/or circumstances of any particular region or country. To become a nurse, learners must successfully complete a program of study approved by the government or state-regulatory agency in their place of residence. We cannot guarantee that the successful completion of these materials will enable you to practice in your place of residence. Make sure that you are in compliance with the scope of practice of your regulatory body before attempting to put into use or practice any of the knowledge gained.

    This Fundamentals of Nursing course provides information and instructions on foundational concepts and principles of nursing care and essential nursing skills required for the provision of safe, respectful, and holistic client care. The goal is to provide a strong foundation in nursing theory, critical thinking and clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, and safe clinical care in all settings.

    The global nursing scope of practice varies widely depending on the country, the national and regional government, and professional regulatory agencies. In an attempt to be relevant to the entire global nursing community, this course addresses nursing skills and practice on several levels. It is the nurse’s responsibility to know what particular regulations apply to their area of practice.

    The Fundamentals of Nursing course is a competency-based course developed in partnership with Nurses International (NI) and NextGenU.org (NGU). Competencies were developed in collaboration with subject matter experts in nursing education and practice. The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education direct the course objectives. The course uses learning resources from accredited world-class organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization,  universities, international guidelines, peer-reviewed journals, and credible open-access nursing books. The Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) is utilized for facilitating distance learning. The course was designed by NextGenU’s Instructional Design team and Nurses International’s team members Kathleen Capone MS, RN CNE, EdD; Stephanie Marfurt APRN-BC, ARNP-BC; Renee Marg DNP, MSN-ED, RN; Teresa Darnall, DM, MSN, RN, CNE; Emily Pappa MSN, RN; Betsy Woods MSN, RN, CPEN; Chasya Wiseman DNP, RN, CMSRN; Sara Bohling MSN, RN, APRN-NCNS; Caitlin Cartmell MFS, BSN, RN; Jordan Wilson MSN, RN-BC, NPD-BC, and Bethania Gonzalez MSN, FNP-BC, RN.

                                                                                                                                                       

    There are 8 units/modules to complete, which include:

    • Unit 1: Understanding Health Care
    • Unit 2: Foundational Principles in the Management of Nursing Practice
    • Unit 3: Safe and Effective Care
    • Unit 4: Holistic Care
    • Unit 5: Health Across Life Span
    • Unit 6: Nursing Skill Functions
    • Unit 7: Supporting Physiologic Functioning
    • Unit 8: Nursing Communities and Populations

    Nurse educators may contact info@nursesinternational.org with queries/permission to access faculty files for this course.

    Instructions:

    The course consists of eight (8) learning units. Included in the units are individual lessons with accompanying assigned reading resources, PowerPoint presentations with speaker notes, learner self-assessments, related clinical skills procedures/videos, and interactive clinical judgment learning activities. A passing grade of 80% is required on quizzes and unit exams to gain access to the next lesson or section.

    There is a 50-question multiple-choice exam at the end of the course. A grade of 80% is required. If a grade of 80% is not achieved, the learner may self-remediate and take another exam. The second exam is of comparable content, and 80% is required for a passing grade. 

    A certificate of completion may be downloaded upon the successful completion of the course.

    Engaging with this course:

    Learners may take this course at no cost for their personal enrichment. There are no course prerequisites. 

    To obtain a certificate, the learner must successfully complete:

    • All of the reading requirements;
    • All of the quizzes and unit exams with a passing grade of 100%;
    • All of the activities and case studies;
    • The final exam with a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 2 attempts, and
    • The self and course evaluation forms.


    NextGenU.org is happy to provide your institution with:

    • A link to and a description of the course training, so that they can see all of its components, including the co-sponsoring universities and other professional organization co-sponsors; 
    • Your grade on the final exam;
    • Your work products (e.g., case study activities) and any other required or optional shared materials that you produce and authorize to share with them;  
    • Your evaluations - course and self-assessments;
    • A copy of your certificate of completion.


    To obtain a degree:

    NextGenU.org co-sponsors degree programs with institutional partners. To obtain a full degree co-sponsored with NextGenU.org, registrants must be enrolled in a degree program as a student of a NextGenU.org institutional partner. If you think that your institution might be interested in offering a degree with NextGenU.org, please feel free to contact us.

    We hope that you will find this a rewarding learning experience, and we count on your assessment and feedback to help us improve this training for future students.

    For nurse educators:

    • There are teacher resources for this course, including didactic and clinical syllabi, a teacher’s guide, and suggested teaching activities. 

    Disclaimer: This content is designed to enhance the study of nursing. This content is generic and is not designed to take into account the specific objectives, needs, and/or circumstances of any particular region or country. To become a nurse, learners must successfully complete a program of study approved by the government or state-regulatory agency in their place of residence. We cannot guarantee that the successful completion of these materials will enable you to practice in your place of residence. Make sure that you are in compliance with the scope of practice of your regulatory body before attempting to put into use or practice any of the knowledge gained.

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  • Unit Objectives:

    Understand the regulation of the profession of nursing.
    Identify the roles of health professionals within the healthcare system.
    Compare the scope of practice for the RN within various countries.
    Identify the impact of health beliefs as they relate to client care.
    Discuss the relevance of client-centered care.

  • Unit Objectives:
    • Explore critical thinking as the foundation for nursing education and nursing practice.
    • Discuss the significance of evidence-based practice and research in nursing.
    • Understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of the nurse.
    • Identify the nurse's role in supervision.
  • Unit Objectives:
    • Define “unconscious cultural competency” as it relates to patient care.
    • Outline the nurse’s progression toward the achievement of unconscious cultural competency.
    • Begin to apply Purnell’s Cultural Competence Model (PCM). 
    • Describe how the registered nurse uses the PCM in practice.
  • Unit Objectives:

    • Identify the role of the nurse in providing safe and effective care for clients.
    • Explore the concepts of asepsis and infection control as measures to protect clients.
    • Understand the ergonomic principles applied to client and self-care.
    • Discuss the elements of security as they relate to disaster threats.
  • Unit Objectives:
    • Identify the nurse's role in health maintenance and promotion and disease prevention
    • Integrate cultural awareness in planning client care
    •  Discuss the nurse-client relationship
    • Explore the role of the nurse in client education
    • Integrate spiritual awareness in the planning of client care
    • Discuss the role of alternative therapies in client care
    • Discuss the nurse’s role in grief, loss, and end-of-life care
  • Unit Objectives:

    • Explore the theories related to human development.
    • Understand how the nurse supports the physiologic/social/emotional developmental stages during infancy and childhood.
    • Understand how the nurse supports the physiological/emotional developmental stages during adolescence and young adulthood.
    • Understand how the nurse supports the physiologic/emotional developmental stages during middle and late adulthood.
  • Unit Objectives:
    • Explain the safe method of medication administration.
    • Explain the nurse's role in safe intravenous therapy.
    • Explore the role of the nurse in perioperative care.
    • Identify the essential elements of reporting and documentation.
    • Explain the 6 vital signs and related assessment techniques.
    • Explain the procedures for types of specimen collection.
  • Unit Objectives:
    • Understand how the physiologic functions of the body contribute to health.
    • Explain the nurse's role in supporting the physiologic functions of the body.
    • Describe the care of clients with alterations in health-related to body functions.
    • Understand the relationship between fluid and electrolytes and physiologic integrity.
    • Understand the role of nutrition in healing and maintaining optimal health.

  • Unit Objectives:
    • Understand community as it relates to population health.
    • Explore the nurse’s impact in various domains of community care.
    • Discuss interventions associated with various population health needs.
  • In the following exercise, you will learn about the health care needs of a family. Each section provides a scenario that requires a synthesis of fundamental nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes and their application using the nursing process to provide optimal nursing care.

    Each case study has two parts. Read each case study and answer the questions in narrative form. You will share your responses in the discussion forum and respond to one post made by your peers.

    Feedback reflection: Once you have completed this task, you will be provided with feedback on the scenario, and you will have an opportunity to reflect on the feedback as it relates to your answer. Reflect on the areas where you did well and on any gaps where you could have done better. Discuss how you will use this information in your future practice. Share this insight in the discussion forum and respond to the reflection of one of your peers.

    Introduction to the Lynn family

    Boschtown is a small farming community with a population of 1500 people located in a remote area surrounded by rolling hills and farmland. The residents of Boshtown work as farmers and laborers or are employed by the few businesses in town - a gas station, post office, coffee shop, feed store, grocery store, school, bank, and three churches. People living here often drive two hours once or twice a month to reach the nearby city to buy needed items and to seek healthcare.

    The Lynn family moved to Boshtown six months ago to be closer to their family. Throughout this course, you will learn more about the Lynn family and will be asked to apply what you have learned as a nurse to care for them.

    Click here to start this activity.

  • To take the final exam, you must complete all quizzes and complete all the required activities. 

    To access the exam, click on the name of the exam provided above. On the following screen, click the Attempt Quiz button to respond to the questions.

  • In this section, you can provide feedback about this course to help us make NextGenU.org better. Once evaluations are completed, you will be able to download your certificate of completion.