NURS 6540: Advanced Practice Care of Frail Elders
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The frail elderly are a subpopulation characterized by inactivity and weight loss. In this course, students focus on the
complex healthcare and management needs of the frail elderly by advanced nurse practitioners in community
settings. Students learn to plan, implement, and evaluate therapeutic regimens through the analysis of case studies
and the actual care of frail elderly in various settings. Additionally, students examine content related to end-of-life
care and caregiver issues to gain the knowledge and sensibilities needed to implement positive change for the
quality of life available to this vulnerable population.
CREDIT & PRACTICUM HOURS
Quarter Credit Hours: 5 credits
• Didactic – 3 credits
• Practicum – 2 credits
Practicum Hours:
Students Enrolled Before Spring 2018: This course requires a minimum of 144 practicum
hours. Students Enrolled After Spring 2018: This course requires a minimum of 160
practicum hours.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Analyze the assessment and management of disorders for geriatric patients to enhance function
and reduce frailty
• Analyze strategies to identify, prevent, and mitigate disorders to enhance geriatric patient function
and reduce frailty
• Evaluate the impact of issues related to the care of frail elders
• Analyze the role of advanced practice nurses in the care of geriatric patients
• Analyze issues related to drugs and frail elders
• Apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to frail elders
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, PRACTICUM OVERVIEW
A practicum course is a distinctly defined supervised on-site experience in which students implement knowledge and
skills acquired in coursework and integrate professional knowledge in a real healthcare context. During the
practicum course, students complete the didactic portion of the courses online and accumulate practicum hours in a
site-based experience.
The practicum experience helps students transition from the role of learner to that of scholar-practitioner. To achieve
this transition, students engage in a relationship with a clinical instructor and preceptor, focusing on roles and role
functions and the achievement of individualized learning objectives. The primary objective of the practicum is to
provide students with the basic skills necessary to serve as midlevel providers to selected populations and to prepare
students to take the appropriate national certification exams.
PRACTICUM ACTIVITIES
During practicum courses, students complete the didactic portion of the courses online and accumulate practicum
hours in a site-based experience. The following are required activities for practicum courses:
P a g e |2
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The frail elderly are a subpopulation characterized by inactivity and weight loss. In this course, students focus on the
complex healthcare and management needs of the frail elderly by advanced nurse practitioners in community
settings. Students learn to plan, implement, and evaluate therapeutic regimens through the analysis of case studies
and the actual care of frail elderly in various settings. Additionally, students examine content related to end-of-life
care and caregiver issues to gain the knowledge and sensibilities needed to implement positive change for the
quality of life available to this vulnerable population.
CREDIT & PRACTICUM HOURS
Quarter Credit Hours: 5 credits
• Didactic – 3 credits
• Practicum – 2 credits
Practicum Hours:
Students Enrolled Before Spring 2018: This course requires a minimum of 144 practicum
hours. Students Enrolled After Spring 2018: This course requires a minimum of 160
practicum hours.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Analyze the assessment and management of disorders for geriatric patients to enhance function
and reduce frailty
• Analyze strategies to identify, prevent, and mitigate disorders to enhance geriatric patient function
and reduce frailty
• Evaluate the impact of issues related to the care of frail elders
• Analyze the role of advanced practice nurses in the care of geriatric patients
• Analyze issues related to drugs and frail elders
• Apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to frail elders
P a g e |1
, PRACTICUM OVERVIEW
A practicum course is a distinctly defined supervised on-site experience in which students implement knowledge and
skills acquired in coursework and integrate professional knowledge in a real healthcare context. During the
practicum course, students complete the didactic portion of the courses online and accumulate practicum hours in a
site-based experience.
The practicum experience helps students transition from the role of learner to that of scholar-practitioner. To achieve
this transition, students engage in a relationship with a clinical instructor and preceptor, focusing on roles and role
functions and the achievement of individualized learning objectives. The primary objective of the practicum is to
provide students with the basic skills necessary to serve as midlevel providers to selected populations and to prepare
students to take the appropriate national certification exams.
PRACTICUM ACTIVITIES
During practicum courses, students complete the didactic portion of the courses online and accumulate practicum
hours in a site-based experience. The following are required activities for practicum courses:
P a g e |2
