Fall 2012

NURS 3321-01 Transitions in Professional Nursing

This course is Web Enhanced with 
Please be sure to check the Current Computer Requirements

Welcome to 3321 Transitions in Professional Nursing.  This is an on-line course, however, we will schedule three meetings, the first class day, some time around midterm, and another at the end of the semester.  If you have a laptop, please bring it with you to the first class day. This will allow us to go through the course information together on Bb. We will meet in room 2.220 from 1000-1200 on August 30, 2012.  Please feel free to e-mail me at dittmar@uthscsa.edu with any questions.  I look forward to meeting you!

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Vicky Dittmar, RN, MSN, CHPN, CNE
Assistant Professor/Clinical
Office: 2.646
Phone (210) 567-5796 (O); (830) 446-1376 (C)
Office Hours: Per Request-As needed

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course addresses continuing professional role development for Registered Nurses who are returning to school to prepare for advanced generalist roles as Clinical Nurse Leaders or Administrative Managers at the graduate level. The focus is on integrating multidimensional care, skills of inquiry and analysis, and a broadened focus on individuals, families, and populations to inform clinical reasoning in changing health care environments.

CREDIT AND TIME ALLOCATION

3 semester hours (3 hours theory)

PREREQUISITES

Admission to the Alternate Entry Masters Program

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Interpret evolving roles for practicing Registered Nurses based on Differentiated Essential Competencies and AACN Essentials of BSN Programs. (Essential I, VIII)
2. Examine concepts necessary for culturally competent nursing care. (Essential I, VII)
3. Explain concepts of effective patient-nurse, intra-professional, and inter-professional communications. (Essential II, V, VII)
4. Describe evolving ethical and legal issues related to the practice of professional nursing. (Essential, II, V, VIII)
5. Identify the role of the nurse in information management. (Essential III, IV)
6. Describe concepts of health promotion and risk reduction in family systems. (Essential VII)
7. Relate the health impact of family structure and related functions, and intergenerational patterns and issues across the lifespan including vulnerabilities of each family life stage. (Essential V, VIII)

CLINICAL OBJECTIVES

N/A

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION / GRADES

Grade Percentages:
25% - Discussion board 
25% - Knowledge assessment 
50% - Blackboard Assignments (identified in the assignments link on Bb)

100% - Total

Grading Scale:
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = Below 60%

CELL PHONE POLICY

• Respect for classroom and clinical communication processes are necessary for teaching and learning.
• Silence mobile devices / cell phones in classrooms and clinical settings.
• Remove Bluetooth devices prior to entering the classroom and when in ANY clinical setting.
• Failure to do so can / will / may (depending on the faculty) either affect your class participation, clinical or final course grade.
  

TESTING POLICY

1. Examination items are the proprietary intellectual property of the university and are not to be shared by students. Sharing of exam items by students is considered cheating and is subject to disciplinary action. There are no legal test item banks available to students in the SON other than those provided with the ATI NCLEX –RN exam preparation materials.
2. Exams are required.
3. Students are expected to take examinations at the scheduled time.
4. The student must notify the course coordinator prior to the scheduled exam time if they are unable to take the exam as scheduled.  Failure to make this notification in advance will result in a "zero" for that examination.
5. If the excuse is accepted as reasonable and necessary, arrangements will be made for a make-up examination.
6. Exam content is based on course, class, and clinical objectives.  Included are all required readings, lecture and discussion, related material in the course packet, media presented in or required for class, material handed out, and material on Blackboard.
7. Students cannot bring any items into the exam room (including purses, backpacks, cell phones, pagers, water bottles, caps, jackets, or other items).  Students must wear the UTHSCSA ID clearly visible to enter the room.  Pencils, erasers and any other item needed to take the exam will be provided.
8. If students arrive late, no extra time to complete the exam will be given.  If the exam is not surrendered with time is called, a grade of zero will be assigned.
9. Each student is responsible for making sure that he or she has completed the exam before the exam is turned in to a proctor.  Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to retrieve his or her exam materials after turning them in to the test proctor.
10. If the exam uses a scantron form for scoring, only the scantron form will be used for final grade determination.
11. Review of a highlighted key may be provided.  

GRADING POLICY GUIDELINES:

1. To pass the course, a student must have a weighted average of 70% on all exams.  The final exam weighted average will not be rounded mathematically. 
2. Additional graded assignments are included in the final grade only if the weighted exam average is 70% or higher on all exams.
3. To pass the course, a student must have a weighted average of 70% on all graded activities.
4. Students must make a "C" (70) or higher in all nursing courses to progress n the program.

 ROUNDING POLICY:

The final grade will be calculated to two decimal places and rounded mathematically as follows:

• Less than 0.50--Round down to the next whole number-- "89.49" would be rounded to "89"

• 0.50 or greater--Round up to the next whole number--"90.95" would be rounded to "91"

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE

Attendance in class is an expectation of each student.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

1. If written assignments are made in a course they are required.
2. Students are expected to submit written work on the scheduled date and time.
3. The student must notify the course coordinator prior to the scheduled due date and time if they are unable to submit the written work as scheduled. Failure to make this notification in advance will result in a "zero" for that written work.
4. If the excuse is accepted as reasonable and necessary, arrangements will be made for an alternative due date and time.
5. Each student is responsible for making sure that he or she has completed the written work prior to submission.
6. Late work will be accepted with consequences as outlined per course syllabi.

APA GUIDELINES

Effective Fall 2010, the APA Publication Manual 6th edition is required for use in all nursing school programs.

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY

Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." Regents Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

Any student seeking ADA Accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act should contact the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services within the first week of the semester so that appropriate accommodations may be arranged. A Request for Accommodations (Form 100) must be completed. These forms are available in the Office for Students Room: NS 1.106. 

REQUIRED TEXT / REFERENCE

              

Creasia, J.L. & Friberg E.E. (2010). Conceptual foundations: The bridge to professional nursing practice (5th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-06869-7

Polifko, K.A. (2010). The practice environment of nursing: Issues & trends (1st ed.). New York: Delmar. ISBN 978-1-4283-1792-5

     

RECOMMENDED (OPTIONAL) TEXT / REFERENCE

American Nurses Association. (2010). Guide to the Code of Ethics for Nurses: Interpretations and Application. Washington, D.C. ISBN: 978-1558102583

American Nurses Association. (2010).  Nursing’s Social Policy Statement (2nd ed.). Washington, DC. ISBN: 978-1558102149

American Nurses Association. (2010).  Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Washington, DC. ISBN: 978-1558102156

CONTENT OUTLINE

1. Evolving roles in professional nursing practice.
2. Professionalism, political activism, life-long learning
3. Holistic caring and strategies for personal self care
4. Cultural competence: humility, cultural influences on health and illness, globalization, and health disparities
5. Spirituality: concepts of spirituality, religious and spiritual practices, nursing care for spiritual health, and self spiritual journey
6. Professional communications including intra and inter professional collaboration, and organizational communications
7. Information management
8. Professional identity: research and evidence-based practice
9. Health promotion and risk reduction in family systems.
10. Care of families across the life span including intergenerational families and health care systems.
11. Health promotion and risk reduction in health care delivery systems and levels of prevention.
12. Evolving ethical/legal issues in nursing and health care including end of life care
13. Professional role formation in changing health care environments

CALENDAR - 1st Day Only

Please check the schedule for recent updates on Class Dates & Room.

See First Day Announcements Please.

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