Fundamentals of Nursing course

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Hi All:

Can you please put forth your opinion about the Fundamentals of Nursing course and what book did you use?  In school there was not a formal course for it, and I have heard that this course is important for the NCLEX exam.....what does this course entail if you had it in your school?  Is it in anyway related to Medical Surgical courses?  We had 2 of them in school.

I am very confused and also scared.  

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Fundamentals of nursing typically is a medical surgical course. I had fundamentals and one med/surg course, so the fact that you have 2 leads me to believe your school simply doesn’t call it fundamentals. Everyone gets fundamentals- it’s those things you learn in your first semester of actual nursing courses. 

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Specializes in N/A.
7 minutes ago, Rose_Queen said:

Fundamentals of nursing typically is a medical surgical course. I had fundamentals and one med/surg course, so the fact that you have 2 leads me to believe your school simply doesn’t call it fundamentals. Everyone gets fundamentals- it’s those things you learn in your first semester of actual nursing courses. 

Thanks for your comments......btw what topics and types of things would be that would be covered in fundamentals by itself?  Can you please provide some examples?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Customer service.

Fundamental of Nursing is a medsurg in my opinion. You'll learn skills. You should keep them by heart and soul. One example, what are you going to do if you found your patient choking who is on trachostomy? If your patient is complaining of SOB and chest pain that your UAP reported to you, do you instruct him or her to assess your patient?  

You'll learn the foundation of basic nursing skills.  It doesn't focus on pathophysiology yet. Wait for it in second semester and so on. It will get exciting and ugly. You either love or hate it or combination of both. 

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Specializes in OB/Peds.

Fundamentals is your Nursing 101 basic course. After you take this course, you have the skills to be a CNA. I agree with what has been said above. Try not to worry about it too much! If you know your nursing basics and skills, and the rationale behind them, you should be fine. My course used this book and this book is really great: https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Nursing-Learning-Collaborative-Practice/dp/0323508642/ref=asc_df_0323508642/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=333728472387&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6717569719485071342&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020906&hvtargid=pla-664740969548&psc=1

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Specializes in N/A.

Thanks for your 

3 hours ago, hhohmann said:

Fundamentals is your Nursing 101 basic course. After you take this course, you have the skills to be a CNA. I agree with what has been said above. Try not to worry about it too much! If you know your nursing basics and skills, and the rationale behind them, you should be fine. My course used this book and this book is really great: https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Nursing-Learning-Collaborative-Practice/dp/0323508642/ref=asc_df_0323508642/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=333728472387&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6717569719485071342&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020906&hvtargid=pla-664740969548&psc=1

Thanks for your comments!

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Specializes in oncology.

Here are the chapter titles for  a Fundamentals Book commonly used in nursing programs. (BTW my nursing program in 1975 did not have a Fundamentals course per se. We used a "Medical-Surgical " Textbook)

Unit 1: Nursing and the Health Care Environment
1. Nursing Today
2. Health Care Delivery System
3. Community-Based Nursing Practice
4. Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
5. Evidence-Based Practice
Unit 2: Caring Throughout the Life Span
6. Health and Wellness
7. Caring in Nursing Practice
8. Caring for Patients with Chronic Illness  NEW!
9. Cultural Competence
10. Family Dynamics
11. Developmental Theories
12. Conception Through Adolescence
13. Young and Middle Adults
14. Older Adults
Unit 3: Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
15. Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
16. Nursing Assessment
17. Nursing Diagnosis
18. Planning Nursing Care
19. Implementing Nursing Care
20. Evaluation
21. Managing Patient Care
Unit 4: Professional Standards in Nursing Practice
22. Ethics and Values
23. Legal Implications in Nursing Practice
24. Communication
25. Patient Education
26. Informatics and Documentation
Unit 5: Foundations for Nursing Practice
27. Patient Safety and Quality
28. Infection Prevention and Control
29. Vital Signs
30. Health Assessment and Physical Examination
31. Medication Administration
32. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies
Unit 6: Psychosocial Basis for Nursing Practice
33. Self-Concept
34. Sexuality
35. Spiritual Health
36. Loss and Grief
37. Stress and Coping
Unit 7: Physiological Basis for Nursing Practice
38. Activity and Exercise
39. Immobility
40. Hygiene
41. Oxygenation
42. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
43. Sleep
44. Pain Management
45. Nutrition
46. Urinary Elimination
47. Bowel Elimination
48. Skin Integrity and Wound Care
49. Sensory Alterations
50. Perioperative Nursing Care

 

I am sure you will cover these in your medical-surgical courses and your M/S textbook probably has the content too. (With a textbook cost of $110 for a book like this, it is much wiser to require a book that can be used over 2 years instead of 1 semester.

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Specializes in Customer service.
5 hours ago, londonflo said:

Here are the chapter titles for  a Fundamentals Book commonly used in nursing programs. (BTW my nursing program in 1975 did not have a Fundamentals course per se. We used a "Medical-Surgical " Textbook)

Unit 1: Nursing and the Health Care Environment
1. Nursing Today
2. Health Care Delivery System
3. Community-Based Nursing Practice
4. Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
5. Evidence-Based Practice
Unit 2: Caring Throughout the Life Span
6. Health and Wellness
7. Caring in Nursing Practice
8. Caring for Patients with Chronic Illness  NEW!
9. Cultural Competence
10. Family Dynamics
11. Developmental Theories
12. Conception Through Adolescence
13. Young and Middle Adults
14. Older Adults
Unit 3: Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
15. Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
16. Nursing Assessment
17. Nursing Diagnosis
18. Planning Nursing Care
19. Implementing Nursing Care
20. Evaluation
21. Managing Patient Care
Unit 4: Professional Standards in Nursing Practice
22. Ethics and Values
23. Legal Implications in Nursing Practice
24. Communication
25. Patient Education
26. Informatics and Documentation
Unit 5: Foundations for Nursing Practice
27. Patient Safety and Quality
28. Infection Prevention and Control
29. Vital Signs
30. Health Assessment and Physical Examination
31. Medication Administration
32. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies
Unit 6: Psychosocial Basis for Nursing Practice
33. Self-Concept
34. Sexuality
35. Spiritual Health
36. Loss and Grief
37. Stress and Coping
Unit 7: Physiological Basis for Nursing Practice
38. Activity and Exercise
39. Immobility
40. Hygiene
41. Oxygenation
42. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
43. Sleep
44. Pain Management
45. Nutrition
46. Urinary Elimination
47. Bowel Elimination
48. Skin Integrity and Wound Care
49. Sensory Alterations
50. Perioperative Nursing Care

 

I am sure you will cover these in your medical-surgical courses and your M/S textbook probably has the content too. (With a textbook cost of $110 for a book like this, it is much wiser to require a book that can be used over 2 years instead of 1 semester.

Identical with my nursing course.

1
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Specializes in N/A.
7 hours ago, londonflo said:

Here are the chapter titles for  a Fundamentals Book commonly used in nursing programs. (BTW my nursing program in 1975 did not have a Fundamentals course per se. We used a "Medical-Surgical " Textbook)

Unit 1: Nursing and the Health Care Environment
1. Nursing Today
2. Health Care Delivery System
3. Community-Based Nursing Practice
4. Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
5. Evidence-Based Practice
Unit 2: Caring Throughout the Life Span
6. Health and Wellness
7. Caring in Nursing Practice
8. Caring for Patients with Chronic Illness  NEW!
9. Cultural Competence
10. Family Dynamics
11. Developmental Theories
12. Conception Through Adolescence
13. Young and Middle Adults
14. Older Adults
Unit 3: Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
15. Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
16. Nursing Assessment
17. Nursing Diagnosis
18. Planning Nursing Care
19. Implementing Nursing Care
20. Evaluation
21. Managing Patient Care
Unit 4: Professional Standards in Nursing Practice
22. Ethics and Values
23. Legal Implications in Nursing Practice
24. Communication
25. Patient Education
26. Informatics and Documentation
Unit 5: Foundations for Nursing Practice
27. Patient Safety and Quality
28. Infection Prevention and Control
29. Vital Signs
30. Health Assessment and Physical Examination
31. Medication Administration
32. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies
Unit 6: Psychosocial Basis for Nursing Practice
33. Self-Concept
34. Sexuality
35. Spiritual Health
36. Loss and Grief
37. Stress and Coping
Unit 7: Physiological Basis for Nursing Practice
38. Activity and Exercise
39. Immobility
40. Hygiene
41. Oxygenation
42. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
43. Sleep
44. Pain Management
45. Nutrition
46. Urinary Elimination
47. Bowel Elimination
48. Skin Integrity and Wound Care
49. Sensory Alterations
50. Perioperative Nursing Care

 

I am sure you will cover these in your medical-surgical courses and your M/S textbook probably has the content too. (With a textbook cost of $110 for a book like this, it is much wiser to require a book that can be used over 2 years instead of 1 semester.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this query.  And how one can compensate for it.  

 

 

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"Fundamentals is your Nursing 101 basic course. After you take this course, you have the skills to be a CNA". It was most definitely not med surg for me. Med surg was 2 semesters. You will cover enough content from nursing fundamentals there.

The key to passing the NCLEX down the road is to continuously work on practice questions. Start answering questions on your cell phone while waiting at appointments, waiting to pick up your kids from school, etc. Read the rationale after answering each time. You will get better and better!

2
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Specializes in N/A.
1 hour ago, 2BS Nurse said:

"Fundamentals is your Nursing 101 basic course. After you take this course, you have the skills to be a CNA". It was most definitely not med surg for me. Med surg was 2 semesters. You will cover enough content from nursing fundamentals there.

The key to passing the NCLEX down the road is to continuously work on practice questions. Start answering questions on your cell phone while waiting at appointments, waiting to pick up your kids from school, etc. Read the rationale after answering each time. You will get better and better!

Many thanks for your kind suggestion!

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On 9/2/2021 at 10:22 AM, londonflo said:

Here are the chapter titles for  a Fundamentals Book commonly used in nursing programs. (BTW my nursing program in 1975 did not have a Fundamentals course per se. We used a "Medical-Surgical " Textbook)

Unit 1: Nursing and the Health Care Environment
1. Nursing Today
2. Health Care Delivery System
3. Community-Based Nursing Practice
4. Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
5. Evidence-Based Practice
Unit 2: Caring Throughout the Life Span
6. Health and Wellness
7. Caring in Nursing Practice
8. Caring for Patients with Chronic Illness  NEW!
9. Cultural Competence
10. Family Dynamics
11. Developmental Theories
12. Conception Through Adolescence
13. Young and Middle Adults
14. Older Adults
Unit 3: Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
15. Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
16. Nursing Assessment
17. Nursing Diagnosis
18. Planning Nursing Care
19. Implementing Nursing Care
20. Evaluation
21. Managing Patient Care
Unit 4: Professional Standards in Nursing Practice
22. Ethics and Values
23. Legal Implications in Nursing Practice
24. Communication
25. Patient Education
26. Informatics and Documentation
Unit 5: Foundations for Nursing Practice
27. Patient Safety and Quality
28. Infection Prevention and Control
29. Vital Signs
30. Health Assessment and Physical Examination
31. Medication Administration
32. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies
Unit 6: Psychosocial Basis for Nursing Practice
33. Self-Concept
34. Sexuality
35. Spiritual Health
36. Loss and Grief
37. Stress and Coping
Unit 7: Physiological Basis for Nursing Practice
38. Activity and Exercise
39. Immobility
40. Hygiene
41. Oxygenation
42. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
43. Sleep
44. Pain Management
45. Nutrition
46. Urinary Elimination
47. Bowel Elimination
48. Skin Integrity and Wound Care
49. Sensory Alterations
50. Perioperative Nursing Care

 

I am sure you will cover these in your medical-surgical courses and your M/S textbook probably has the content too. (With a textbook cost of $110 for a book like this, it is much wiser to require a book that can be used over 2 years instead of 1 semester.

This looks pretty similar to my fundamentals class as well! We did not dive into every topic, but it was mostly broad subjects such as sexuality, spirituality, ethics, development, and nursing history with some basic nursing knowledge like elimination, oxygenation, CNA skills, and vitals.

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