Theories and Concepts: Introduction to Nursing

Course Details

Course Number: NURS 3103  Section Number: 201-2

Spring 2012

Location: Dillard College of Business Administration

Classroom Number: 323

Days & Times:

Tuesday & Thursdays 1-2:20

Course Attachments

2012 Spring Syllabus  SYLLABUS 3103 Spring 2012.pdf

Class Schedule  Calendar3103 Spring2012-20120329-153345.pdf

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Jane Leach   
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Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

NURS 3103 Theories & Concepts: Introduction to Nursing

Spring 2012 Dillard 323

 

Course Coordinator     Jane Leach PhD, RNC, IBCLC 

Office Bridwell 319         Office Phone 940.397.3286

Adjunct Faculty              Pam Bradshaw, RN, CCRN, NE-BC
                        

Email: WebCT is the preferred method of communication for this class and will be used for faculty updates and announcements. If you are unable to access Blackboard feel free to contact me by campus email at jane.leach@mwsu.edu

                                                                                                                                                                      

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to major concepts of concern in the discipline of nursing: person, environment, nursing, and health.  Nursing theories and ethical – legal principles related to professional nursing practice are studied.  Also addressed are the concepts of critical thinking, communication, and cultural awareness in the context of the nursing process. This course will not be teaching any clinical skills.

CREDIT HOURS:  Three (3) credit hours 

PREREQUISITE:  Declared Nursing Major: Sophomore standing

LEARNING EXPERIENCES:  Includes reading and writing assignments, in class and online discussion, interactive learning activities, formal interview paper, lecture, guest presentations, and media.

Differentiated Entry Level Competencies (DELCs): These competencies outline the different expectations for entry levels of nurses. For further information regarding the competencies identified for each Course Objective, refer to the BSN Handbook.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

1.  Describe key "benchmarks” in the historical development of the discipline of nursing.

2.  Describe the ethical-legal and professional parameters for nursing practice.

3.  Explain the philosophy and major concepts of the organizing framework for the BSN program at Midwestern State University.

4.  Compare selected nursing theories with the Midwestern State University BSN program philosophy and organizing framework.

5.  Discuss major theoretical concepts as they relate to the practice of professional nursing.

6.  Explain the interrelationships among nursing theory, nursing process, and nursing practice.

REQUIRED TEXT:

Masters, K. (2009). Role Development in Professional Nursing Practice, (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. - http://nursing.jbpub.com/roledevelopment/

Medical Terminology content is available online with free access at the following website.  Just click on the hyperlink Ver. 2.0 and go to course content.

http://www.free-ed.net/sweethaven/MedTech/MedTerm/default.asp

Suggested:

American Psychological Association Manual or APA Style Helper 5.0 CD or StyleEase.com

COURSE EVALUATION: 

Course requirements and percentages for computation of the final grade are weighted as follows:

 

Unit Exams       5 x 15 points                                              75 points

Interview Paper                                                                     15 points

Discussion Board                                                                    3 points

Patient Education Public Service Announcement           2 points

Ethical Issue Presentation                                                    5 points

Total                                                                                         100 points  

 

An overall course grade for a total of 74 points must be achieved to pass any nursing course. Grades will be based on the above computation, and all assignment/evaluation components must be completed to receive a passing grade. There will be no rounding up of grades in this or any nursing course.

 

MSU Department of Nursing Grading Scale:

90- 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A

80- 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  B

74- 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C

65- 73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  D

64 and below   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  F

UNIT EXAMS (75%)

There will be five unit exams for this course. Exam content will include class content and reading assignments to include medical terminology. Students need to purchase Scantrons. Students must have an MSU ID on the desk during all Exams. Students are expected to bring 5 Scantrons to class the first exam and come prepared with a pencil. No cell phones, purses, hats, drinks (bottled water only) or food are allowed at your desk during exams.

Missing Exams:  If you have to miss an exam for any reason you must notify the course coordinator by phone or email 2 hours before missing an exam, to avoid a zero. Make up exams may be scheduled but students are responsible to email and make arrangements for a makeup on an individual basis as soon after missing the exam as possible. Make up exams may be essay and short answer instead of multiple choices.

 

INTERVIEW PAPER: (15%) See grading rubrics posted online

Part I Conduct your Interview:

  • Each student will interview a registered nurse (Diploma, Assoc., Bachelor’s, Master’s Degree all acceptable) currently practicing in a patient care setting.  You may interview someone you know.
  •  Students should seek information during the interview that address questions on the grading rubric form.
  • Remember to maintain confidentiality, so no reference is to be made, either verbally or in writing, to a specific nurse. Please make up a name. No paper using an individual’s real name will be accepted.

Part II Write the Paper:

  • After you conduct your interview, write your paper using the grading rubric to guide you. Take a look at the current nursing literature and compare and contrast what you read with what you learned from the nurse you interviewed addressing the topic on the grading rubric posted on WEBCT. Be careful as the topic changes each semester. Be sure to cite 2 nursing articles from a professional peer-reviewed nursing journal in your discussion and your textbook as a third reference somewhere in your paper for a total of 3 references. 
  • The paper is to be typewritten according to APA guidelines, double-spaced, and the body of the paper is to be about four to five pages in length. 
  • You will also have a title page and a reference page. You do not need an abstract.  
  • Total of 3 references (2 articles and your textbook). Be sure to cite your sources correctly using APA format.
  • Papers will be submitted in class (stapled; no folders) by scheduled due date at the start of class at 1 pm. If you have an emergency that precludes you meeting this deadline; please negotiate with the faculty for an extension PRIOR to the due date.

Plagiarism may result in failure of the class and/or barring of admittance to the nursing program at MSU.  By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course. The “limited right” shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality, and for educational purposes. Ideas taken from another source, whether quoted or paraphrased must be documented using APA guidelines.

 

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY ONLINE

See handout on Medical Terminology provided in class for a schedule of assigned content. This course is available online with free access at the following website.  Just click on the hyperlink Ver. 2.0 and go to course content.

 http://www.free-ed.net/sweethaven/MedTech/MedTerm/default.asp   Each exam will include questions from each section and a few application questions based on this content.

 

ETHICAL ISSUE PRESENTATION DISCUSSION GROUPS (5 %)   

This is an opportunity for students to share the results of their online discussion of an ethical issue discussed in their discussion group with the rest of the class.  The ethical issues PowerPoint will address an ethical issue associated with the practice of nursing. The issue selected for discussion should have clearly identifiable pros and cons which when analyzed will allow the student to form a defensible position related to the issue. Principles from identified codes of ethics should be examined in relationship to the issue and position. I will post suggested topics online.

 

DISCUSSION BOARD ASSIGNMENTS (3 %)

Faculty will post 2-3 discussion questions on Blackboard during the semester. Students will answer questions in their assigned group online. Each discussion question requires an initial written response and students are expected to read and comment on at least two of your classmates responses for each of the posted discussion questions to receive full credit. See the following grading criteria. Late responses will not receive credit as students have a week to complete each question. Initial responses are worth more points than follow up postings.

Grading Rubric for Discussion Questions

 Criteria

   Non performance

Basic

Proficient

Applies course principles

 

The posting does not reflect the learner understood the content.

Participates with superficial content that does not engage the reader.

Participation includes depth, quality, appropriate content

Responds to two other learners

Fails to respond to other learners.

Only brief comments that do not add to discussion.

Substantive comments posted in response to two other learners 

 

 

PATIENT EDUCATION PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT (2%) Directions will be posted online.

BONUS HOMEWORK / LEARNING EXPERIENCES

At least three or four homework assignments will due at the beginning of class (see homework handout) others homework may be assigned throughout the semester and announced in class.  Homework assignments will be worth two bonus points each on the next scheduled exam. Homework is due only on the day scheduled for the purpose of in-class discussion and cannot be made up.

 

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The following is the ADA/504 statement that the faculty approved on May 9, 1995:

Midwestern State University does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in its admission, accessibility, and employment of individuals in programs and activities. MSU provides academic accommodations and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, as defined by law, who are otherwise qualified to meet academic employment requirements.  For assistance call (940) 397-4618 or (940) 397-4515, TDD. Please see the instructor outside of class to make arrangements involving special accommodations.

 

It is the student’s responsibility to declare any disabilities.  After declaration, preferably at the beginning of each semester, the student needs to contact individual instructors to determine any reasonable accommodations that may be required.

 

CHEATING POLICY: 

The Wilson School of Nursing does not tolerate cheating.  Cheating is considered a serious offense that could result in automatic failure of a class and / or removal from the program. The MSU Student Handbook (available at the Information desk in the Clark Student Center) defines various forms of academic dishonesty and the procedures for responding to them. Please familiarize yourself with this portion of the BSN handbook and note that the penalties for plagiarism and other forms of cheating can be quite harsh. Cheating is defined by the faculty to include dishonesty on examinations and plagiarism. 

Plagiarism is further defined as “the act of using source materials of other persons (either published or unpublished) without following the accepted techniques of crediting, or the submission for credit of work not the individual’s to whom credit is given.” (MSU BSN Student Handbook, Standards of Conduct, Item 10).  Offending material that may constitute plagiarism includes, but is not limited to the following:  bibliography cards, formal papers, book reports, written nursing care plans, etc.  Plagiarism is also defined by the MSU Nursing faculty as failure to follow the APA 5th edition guidelines for citation of quotations and paraphrased material.


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.