Course Syllabus

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NURS 242 Syllabus

MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING III

Winter 2021

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Course Information

  • 5 Credits practicum
  • Class time 6:30 am to 4:00 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, or Friday
  • Class location is Evergreen Hospital
  • Last day to withdraw is January 24th
  • Advising day is Tuesday, February 9th (students will be in clinical advising date/time TBD)

 

Due to current and changing events as a result of COVID-19, please be prepared for unexpected closures and make-up days that may occur outside of the currently published schedule. The schedule as listed above may change. The college appreciates your flexibility during this unprecedented situation.

Professor Contact Information

  • Monday: Tessa Blomberg Phone: 206-331-2727 Email: tessa.blomberg@lwtech.edu (please text or email)
  • Tuesday: 
  • Friday: Terri Fredlaw 843.425.2127; Terri.Fredlaw@lwtech.edu
  • Canvas Inbox (http://lwtech.instructure.com)
  • Professor office hours are by appointment only and may be via Zoom or telephone.
  • Preferred method of contact: canvas messaging, email or phone
  • Response time expectation for contact made via Canvas or email is 24 to 72 hours.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

This course provides opportunities for students to combine, integrate and relate critical thinking skills, knowledge of the nursing process, communication techniques, and technical skills in an acute care setting with clients manifesting multi-faceted physiological, mental, and social health disturbances.

 

This course teaches to the Global Outcomes of: 

Communication

Teamwork

Technical and Information and Literacy

Intercultural Appreciation

Critical Thinking

 

PREREQUISITE(s):  NURS 221, NURS 222, NURS 225, NURS 226

COREQUISITE (s):   NURS 241, NURS 240

STUDENT OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES 

Upon successful completion of this course students will:

 

  • Construct an approach for culturally competent care that elevates patient wellness and human dignity while supporting the therapeutic relationship within the medical-surgical, critical care and emergency settings.  (GO- Communication; GO- Intercultural Appreciation; QSEN - Patient centered care)

 

  • Investigate and evaluate technical and communication strategies to obtain, organize, analyze and record data that convey information pertaining to health education and multidisciplinary treatment for patients in medical-surgical, critical care and emergency settings. (QSEN – Informatics, Teamwork and Collaboration GO- Teamwork)

 

  • Analyze signs and symptoms of unpredictable/unstable physiologic, mental and social health disturbances to help formulate appropriate nursing diagnoses and combine these with advanced clinical knowledge and skills to develop a comprehensive plan of care. (GO- Technical and Information and Literacy; GO- Critical Thinking)

 

  • Examine, critique and evaluate the implementation of prescribed interventions per nursing plan of care for scientific value, safety, proficiency, while supporting patient and family advocacy. (GO- Technical and Information and Literacy; GO- Critical Thinking; QSEN- Safety; QSEN - Evidenced based practice; QSEN - Patient centered care; GO- Teamwork)
  • Execute an array of organizational skills that will effectively deliver care to a caseload of patients while maintaining personal and professional responsibility and self-direction in pursuing short-term and long-term opportunities for learning. (QSEN-Safety; GO-Critical Thinking)

 

*Commit to using global outcomes of Teamwork, Information and Technical Literacy, and Critical Thinking.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION 

  • Guided Practice in Clinical Setting: Students are actively engaged in practicing and mastering skills under the supervision of the instructor. This category of instruction could include but is not limited clinical experiences, computer-mediated learning, hands-on projects, or other skill building activities. Instruction may be individualized or group-focused and include skills assessment.  Clinical preparation the afternoon or evening before will be completed and emailed to faculty no later than 8:00pm.  This provides the student with the opportunity to prepare for the clinical experience in advance of being on the clinical unit.  Students will work with the faculty and/or nurse on the unit to provide direct patient care including but not limited to: care of the acutely ill adult including assessment, documentation, safe medication administration, and other nursing care duties within their scope of practice.   

 

TEXTBOOK(S) AND REQUIRED TOOLS / SUPPLIES /MATERIALS

  • Lewis, S., Heitkemper, M., Dirksen, S. Medical surgical nursing; assessment and management of clinical problems. Mosby 10th edition

 

Recommended Reference Materials:

  • Deglin, J., Vallerand, A. (2015/2017) Davis’s drug guide for nurses. Philadelphia; F.A. Davis
  • Schnell, Z., Van Leeuwen, A, Kranpitz, T. (2015) Davis’s comprehensive handbook of laboratory and diagnostic tests with nursing implications Philadelphia F.A. Davis Company 7th edition
  • Ackley, B. J.., Ladwig, G.B., Makic, M. B., Martinez-Kratz, M. & Zanotti, M. Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care. St. Louis, Elsvier Inc. 12th Edition (earlier editions okay to use)
  • Lippincott Williams
  • ATI Medical-Surgical Nursing RN edition Review Module

 

Textbook is available for purchase in the LWTech bookstore.  (lwtech.edu/bookstore).

See Canvas modules for additional resources: handouts, scanned documents, YouTube videos, power points, etc.

 

REQUIRED ATTIRE, TOOLS, UNIFORMS, ETC.

Students are expected to be in full uniform (scrubs, shoes, name badge) for clinical.  The student must provide; stethoscope, pen light, watch with second hand, safety goggles or eye protection for glasses. White or black leather or vinyl (closed toe and heel) shoes. Reminder all clinical facilities are scent free.  Failure to do so can result in dismissal from class. Clinical equipment is also outlined in the nursing handbook. Student will wear either their LWTech scrubs or business casual as defined in the student handbook to obtain their assignment the night before clinical.

Nursing program grading scale

Grading for the course will follow a 4.0 grading system used for the nursing program (see below). Nursing theory course, lab and clinical must be passed with a cumulative score of 80% to progress to the next quarter. 

Nursing Program Grading Scale: Updated Fall 2020

98.5-100 = 4.0                                    84.00-84.99 = 2.9

97.00-98.49 = 3.9                             83.00-83.99 = 2.8

95.50-96.99 = 3.8                             82.00-82.99 = 2.7

94.00-95.49 = 3.7                             81.00-81.99 = 2.6

92.50-93.99 = 3.6                             80.00-80.99 = 2.5

91.00 – 92.49 = 3.5                          79.00-79.99 = 2.4

89.50-90.99 = 3.4                             78.00-78.99 = 2.3

88.00-89.49 = 3.3                             77.00-77.99 = 2.2

87.00-87.99 = 3.2                             76.00-76.99 = 2.1

86.00-86.99 = 3.1                             75.00-75.99 = 2.0

85.00-85.99 = 3.0

Key Criteria for successful grade; the student will

  • Employ safe and competent nursing care
  • Demonstrate clinical reasoning skills utilizing nursing process
  • Practice appropriate communication and psychomotor skills in the care of healthy, acute and chronically ill individuals across the lifespan
  • Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for his/her nursing practice and growth/learning development.
  • Abide by the policies and procedures of Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Evergreen Hospital
  • Abide by the ANA code of nursing ethics at all times (see ANA website for details).
  • Attend all scheduled clinical days or re-schedule with instructor.
  • Complete all care plans/assignments satisfactorily.

Medication Math

Students must pass the math calculation quiz and be validated on the use of the ADDD machine in N240 skills lab prior to going to clinical.  This/these test(s) must be passed with a score of 100% for a student to receive a passing grade for this course, regardless of other grades earned in the course. The medication math exam must be passed before being allowed to give medications. Please refer to the medication and med math policy in the LWTECH Nursing student handbook.

ASSESSMENT METHODS:

  • Skill demonstration
  • Faculty/Staff Observation
  • Instructor written and verbal evaluation
  • Assignments, care plans, concept maps
  • Post-clinical participation
  • Clinical case presentation* as determined by faculty
  • Self-evaluation

ASSIGNMENTS (Please see Canvas for details):

In addition to attending all clinical days, satisfactorily caring and documenting care for their assigned patients, students are required to complete the following satisfactorily:

  • Complete clinical preparation weekly: Pathophysiology, Nursing Care Plans or Concept Maps, and MARS
  • Complete Electronic clinical Portfolio of all clinical prep assignments.
  • Midterm and Final written evaluation.  It is the student responsibility to gain familiarity with clinical evaluation tool and understand the requirements and expectations for a satisfactory clinical experience.
  • Provide pathophysiology, etiology, risk factors, sign/symptoms, and interventions for specific acute care conditions
  • Perform assessment and medication administration competence to patients with direct supervision from instructor and/or staff
  • Develop proficiency in basic and advanced skills as allowed by facility with direct supervision from staff and/or instructor. *Please refer to RN Student and Clinical Instructor Scope of Practice policy at Evergreen

Course Policies and Procedures

Zoom Meetings

Zoom is a video conference tool that you can use to interact with your professor and fellow students by sharing screens, chatting, broadcasting live video/audio, and taking part in other interactive online activities. We will be utilizing this tool to hold post-clinical sessions and individual meeting outside of clinical time.

Illness:  

  • Students should not go to clinical if they are ill. Students should notify the professor in advance via email or phone if they will miss a clinical day and notify the nursing unit charge nurse no later than 5:30am.
  • Students who miss a clinical day are still responsible for clinical hours which will be made up using ATI virtual clinical as determined by faculty.  
  • Late assignments will receive a 25 % reduction in grade.

 

Students who will be absent from course activities due to reasons of faith or conscience may seek reasonable accommodations so that grades are not impacted. Such requests must be made within the first two weeks of the quarter and should follow the procedures listed online (https://www.lwtech.edu/about/policies-procedures/absence).

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS EXPECTATIONS:

The student will adhere to the Student Responsibilities, Professional Behavior/Personal Accountability and Essential Abilities as stated in the Nursing Programs Student Handbook. Students are expected to adhere to the ANA Code of Ethics, expectations addressed in the LWIT Student Handbook and the policies and procedures of outside clinical institutions. Students will follow the  RCW: 245 840 519: https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-840-519

 

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Students are responsible for information on course outline and schedule. Instructor is not responsible to remind students of deadlines.
  • Schedule is tentative. Instructor reserves right to change schedule as necessary to accommodate need to cover content areas and any circumstance that arises.  It is your responsibility to keep track of your unit and assignment scores.  The instructor must give at least 7 days change notice to graded items/written assessments
  • Attendance and punctuality are an expected professional behavior. This is a graded portion of the course.  Please refer to the Nursing Student Handbook for details.

Additional course specific expectations:

  • Students are responsible to maintain their clinical passport and all facility requirements in current standing through the duration of the clinical experience. Students can be sent home from clinical by the facility for missing requirements.
  • Arrive to clinical facility day before to collect patient information for Clinical Preparation Worksheet. Student to turn in this paperwork to instructor prior to start of clinical day.
  • Arrive to clinical on time: greater than 5 minutes late is considered tardy.  If a student is tardy 2 times it is equal to an absence. Punctuality is an expected professional behavior.
  • Attendance at all clinical days is mandatory. If student is absent from clinical for any reason, he/she will need to meet with instructor to discuss circumstances and ability to achieve course objectives.  
  • Students are expected to provide safe nursing care
    • Correctly utilize all safety measures/devices (i.e., transfer belt for transfers, ambulation, etc.)
    • Demonstrate 8 rights in medication administration (right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right client, right reason, right response, right documentation)
    • Accurately and completely document in patient record assessment/interventions and evaluation of patient care
    • Demonstrate knowledge of patient limitations, allergies
    • Demonstrate understanding of relationship between diagnosis**/medications/lab results and assessment
    • Evaluate all nursing actions
    • Understand facility emergency policies and procedures
    • Report immediately any significant changes in patients’ condition to primary nurse, and instructor
    • Follow all policies and procedures of Evergreen Hospital and LWTC nursing program
  • Self-evaluate all actions and participate in mid-term and final course evaluations
  • Communicate professionally with staff, classmates and instructors
  • Demonstrate professional behavior in all nursing activities
  • Be accountable and positive in all actions
  • Be respectful to clients, colleagues, staff and instructor

**It is an expectation that students come prepared to clinical understanding common acute care conditions and medications. The unprepared student may be sent home and/or required to complete a remediation assignment and an educational plan may be initiated.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION:

Student should not be left alone on the unit. If assigned RN goes to lunch or break, student must communicate with the nurse that temporarily takes responsibility of patient assignment. 

Observational experiences will be determined by faculty as permitted by health system.  

Academic Integrity

Complete the description below, ensuring that the consequences of academic dishonesty in your class are very clear.  All incidences of academic dishonesty (plagiarism and cheating) should be submitted via the Academic Dishonesty Documentation form (bookmark the form).

Students should review the Academic Dishonesty and Classroom, Lab, Clinic Conduct section of the Student Code of Conduct (WAC 495D-120, beginning on p. 22). Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication.  RCW: student conduct

Violations of academic honesty as defined in the Student Code of Conduct, including plagiarism, may result in a zero for the assignment or assessment in question. A second violation of academic integrity will result in failure of the course and dismissal from the nursing program. Please refer to the Nursing Student handbook and Lwtech college website. All violations of academic integrity shall be reported to the college's confidential database, which may result in additional investigation and corrective action through the student conduct process.

Computer and Cell Phone Usage

  • Cell phones may be used only when directed by the professor for class activities.
  • Utilize laptops and classroom computers for class activities only.

Community Standards

It is expected that you will respect the rights and dignity of classmates, faculty, and all others on campus and online at all times. This includes doing your part to create a safe, distraction-free, and collaborative learning environment. Homophobic, racist, sexist, and other demeaning language and/or actions are not permitted.

Non-Discrimination

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is committed to equality of educational opportunity. LWTech does not discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability (RCW 49.60.215).

Title IX

LWTech provides a safe learning environment for all students that is free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.  If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know that you are not alone.

As an institution of higher learning that receives federal funds, LWTech is required to abide by Title IX, which states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” For more information on Title IX, including contact information, go to the college’s Policies and Procedures, Title IX webpage (https://www.lwtech.edu/about/policies-and-procedures/title-ix-and-sexual-misconduct).

In many cases, such discrimination violates state and federal law. The Title IX / Equity Coordinator, James Wagner (james.wagner@lwtech.edu) has been designated to handle inquiries regarding LWTech’s non-discrimination policies.

Campus Public Safety

Your safety and security are taken seriously at LWTech. All incidents of confirmed or suspected crimes are reported. If you require assistance or would like to report an incident, please dial 425-739-8224 to reach Campus Public Safety. In an emergency, call 911 and then Campus Public Safety.

  • Safety Procedures – Review LWTech’s Safety Procedure Videos on Lock Downs, Run. Hide. Fight., Earthquakes, Fire Safety & Evacuation, and Medical Emergencies.
  • Evacuation procedures—posted in each classroom
  • School closures – Please check Emergency Communications in case of inclement weather
  • Campus Security Location: Room E145
  • If You See Something, Say Something: In support of the college safety plan, the Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) team uses collaboration, information collection, risk assessment, and intervention to create a safe campus community. Based upon reports of student behavior, the CARE team plans preventive strategies and interventions to assist students, faculty, and staff in supporting students who may be at risk. Please use our online reporting form to contact us.

Support Services During LWTech Remote Operations

eLearning – Canvas Support

The Office of eLearning is here to help with Canvas-related questions and issues. The best way to get help with Canvas is to use the Canvas Help link in the left-hand, blue menu any time you are logged into Canvas. Click on the “Get help with Canvas” option when you are on the page where you are having trouble. You can also email eLearning (elearning@lwtech.edu) for support.

Counseling Services

Visit the Counseling Services website for resources for dealing with anxiety related to COVID-19, as well as other mental health resources. To schedule a counseling appointment, contact Katie Peacock via email (katie.peacock@lwtech.edu) or by phone at 425-739-8362.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the 24-Hour Crisis Clinic hotline at 866-427-4747, TTY: 206-461-3610.

Disability Support Services

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, you may request accommodations and apply for services through DSS Online (https://cascade.accessiblelearning.com/LWTech/ApplicationStudent.aspx).

After you provide documentation of a disability, the office will coordinate directly with your faculty to ensure you are given reasonable accommodations to support your success. All information and documentation is confidential. You can reach DSS by phone at 425-739-8300 or by email (dssinfo@lwtech.edu). For additional information please refer to lwtech.edu/dss.

Financial Assistance: Financial Aid and Workforce Development

Financial assistance is available for students for tuition, living expenses, and emergency needs through the Financial Aid Office (lwtech.edu/financial-aid/). Contact Financial Aid by phone at 425-739-8106 or by email (financialaid@lwtech.edu). Scholarships are also available twice yearly through the LWTech Foundation. Information about scholarships can be found on the LWTech Foundation webpage (lwtech.edu/about/foundation/scholarships).

Additional funding for tuition, books and supplies, testing fees, and childcare may be available to eligible students from Workforce Development (WFD). To see if you qualify for WFD funding and to sign up for an orientation, take the survey at www.lwtech.edu/wfd or contact us via email (wfd@lwtech.edu) or phone at 425-739-8339. 

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction provides students with additional learning opportunities related to course content. Study sessions are hosted online. If you would like to be added to the Canvas site for one of the following subjects, contact Sally Heilstedt via email (sally.heilstedt@lwtech.edu).

  • Writing
  • Math
  • Computing and Software Development (CSD)

Look for emails from Sally Heilstedt about support with other subjects as the sites become available.

Tutoring

Contact The Learning Lab (thelearninglab@lwtech.edu) for information about tutoring services.

Library-Learning Commons

lwtech.edu/library

Librarians are available to help individual students with any part of research, including determining a topic and information need, finding and accessing sources, evaluating information, and citation. Please email library@lwtech.edu with your requests. If you know which librarian your class is working with, you can contact them directly.

Bookstore

lwtech.edu/bookstore

Counseling Services

Visit the Counseling Services website (lwtech.edu/counseling) for resources for dealing with anxiety related to COVID-19, as well as other mental health resources. To schedule a counseling appointment, contact Katie Peacock vie email (katie.peacock@lwtech.edu) or by phone at 425-739-8362.

 

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Student Signature  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­________________________________________________

Quarter _________________

Date  _________

 

 

 

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due