4.00 Credits
This course examines the principles of growth and development across the life span. It specifically provides knowledge about biological, psychological, cognitive/intellectual, social, and spiritual needs of patients from the infant to the elderly person so that care can be planned according to these needs. The student will learn about the stages of growth and development and age specific characteristics and needs for the infant, toddler preschool child, school age child, adolescent, early adulthood, middle aged adults, and the elderly. An introduction to Freud's theory of personality and the mind, Kohl berg's theory of moral development, Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, and Piaget's theory of cognitive development. The nursing process is applied to the growth and development characteristics and health care needs across the life span. Health promotion activities for age groups along the continuum of life are identified. It examines loss, grief, and end-of -life care