Purpose of the course

This course will help you familiarize with the central concepts and theoretical knowledge of gerontological nursing. After completing the course, you will be familiar with the key changes related to healthy ageing and methods to promote health, functional capacity and quality of life in an individualised and client-centred approach. After completing the course, you will become more resource-oriented and have positive attitudes towards ageing and older people, both as individuals and as a valuable member of the family, community and society.

Course Competence

Ethical Competence
International Competence
Evidence-based nursing and decision making competence

Learning Outcomes of the Course

After completing the course, you will be familiar with the key changes related to healthy ageing and the factors contributing to the health and functional ability of elderly patients. Motivated to examine ageing based on available resources from different perspectives and understand the importance of promoting the health and functional ability of the elderly patient. You know the most common health conditions associated with ageing, its nursing interventions, ways to promote and prevent them and basic geriatric medications. You are able to seek evidence-based information related to gerontological nursing and follow the current discussion.

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Concepts of gerontological nursing
Elderly people, their family members and wider support networks as nursing clients
Ageing process and factors affecting it
Assessment of health and functional ability and promotion in different settings
Memory disorders and ways to improve memory
Fundamental concepts in geriatric palliative and hospice care
Nursing role and competencies in the gerontological multiprofessional team
Basics of pharmacotherapy for elderly people
Gerontechnology

1- Sufficient

You can identify the ageing process and risks to health and functional ability. You will be familiar with the methods used to assess health and functional capacity and promote successful ageing. You will be familiar with elderly people's illnesses, nursing interventions to prevent and treat them, and the use of basics of pharmacotherapy for elderly people. You recognise the responsibility and role of nursing in the multiprofessional team and examine ethical issues related to gerontological nursing.

2- Satisfactory

You are able to define the ageing process and risks to health and functional ability. You will describe the methods used to assess health and functional capacity and promote successful ageing. You know the most common health conditions associated with ageing, the methods of preventing and treating them, and the basics of pharmacotherapy for the elderly people. You understand the responsibility and role of nursing in the multiprofessional team and discuss ethical issues related to gerontological nursing.

3- Good

You reflect on the ageing process and risks to health and functional ability from different perspectives. In your learning assignments, you will highlight correctly methods for assessing health and functional ability and promote successful ageing. You will be able to apply evidence-based knowledge of the most common health conditions associated with ageing, prevent and treat them while taking into consideration the characteristics of pharmacotherapy for the elderly people. You will understand the responsibility and role of nursing in the multiprofessional team and discuss ethical issues related to gerontological nursing.

4- Very good

In your learning assignments, you demonstrate that you are able to apply evidence-based information on ageing changes and risks to health and functional ability in different client scenarios. You apply a wide range of methods to assess health and functional capacity and promote successful ageing. You will be able to apply evidence-based knowledge of the most common health conditions associated with ageing, to prevent and treat them while taking into considerations the pharmacotherapy for the elderly people. You analyse the responsibility and role of nursing in the multiprofessional team from different perspectives and discuss ethical issues related to gerontological nursing. You will examine your own competence in the field of gerontological nursing.

5- Excellent

Through learning assignments, you analyse the ageing process and risks for health and functional ability from different perspectives. You critically evaluate the methods used to identify health and functional capacity and promote successful ageing. You will be able to apply evidence-based knowledge of the essential diseases of the elderly, to prevent and treat them in different client contexts, taking into account the distinct characteristics of pharmacotherapy for the elderly people. In the learning assignments, you demonstrate your understanding of the responsibility and role of nursing in multidisciplinary collaboration and analyse ethical issues related to gerontological nursing from different perspectives. You will be able to evaluate your competence and recognize your strengths and development challenges in gerontological nursing.