This module is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to conduct a health assessment of any patient across the lifespan. Students acquire approaches and techniques for history taking and physical examination to gather the health information needed to guide the diagnostic process and plan holistic care. The module also builds skills in documenting clinical data accurately using the clinical documentation tools commonly used in the Rwandan health care system (SOAP notes, vital signs charts, nursing care plans). Learning combines knowledge acquisition, skills practice in the simulation/skills lab, and application to patient scenarios.
This module prepares the student to use nursing process for providing care that meets basic health needs of the individual, family and community. The concepts of wellness and caring are presented as they relate to the individual client needs as well as specific roles of the nurse. The student will be introduced to theoretical foundations of nursing, the provision of holistic care and to assess and intervene in emergency situations.