Concepts of Clinical Decision Making I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

RNSG-1247-001 Concepts of Clinical Decision Making I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: RNSG 1331 Corequisite: RNSG 1263

Course Description

Integration of previous knowledge and skills into the continued development of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, patient safety advocate, member of health care team and member of the profession. Emphasis on clinical decision-making for clients in medical-surgical settings experiencing health problems involving gastrointestinal disorders, endocrine and metabolic disorders, reproductive and sexual disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, eye-ear-nose-throat disorders and integumentary disorders. Discussion of knowledge, judgment, skills and professional values within a legal/ethical framework. This course lends itself to a blocked approach.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(2 sem hrs; 2 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

1. Faculty course syllabus and manual for RNSG 1247 for current semester. You will find this on AC Connect in blackboard in your RNSG 1247 course information. See Content area.
2.  Hinkle, J. L. & Cheever, K. H.: Brunner and Suddarth’s: Textbook of Medical –Surgical Nursing. 13^th Edition. c. 2014. J.B. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ( 1 volume ISBN 978-1-4511-3060-7) or (2 volume ISBN 978-1-4511-4666-0 ).
3. IV Start Kit. You will find this in the AC bookstore.

SUGGESTED:

1. Any Medical Dictionary
2. Any Laboratory & Diagnostic Test Reference
3. Any Drug Guide
4. Any NCLEX reference book or program.

Supplies

Required textbook.

Suggested references (you should have these from Level 1)

IV Start Kit.

Regular access to computer and internet for AC Connect and web sites for book and EVOLVE programs.

Student Performance

STUDENT PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Utilize critical thinking and a systematic problem-solving process as a framework for providing patient-centered nursing care in structured health care settings.
• Discuss concepts related to providing safe nursing care.
• Describe the role of the intra-operative nurse and nursing care of the patient having surgery.
• Discuss the integration of complementary and alternative therapies in nursing care.
• Describe strategies for quality improvement, recognize how informatics can be utilized, and  identify methods to collaborate with inter-professional team members, for the patient with diabetes mellitus, cancer, reproductive disorders, hematologic disorders, eye and ear disorders, upper respiratory disorders, integumentary disorders, and genitourinary disorders.

RNSG 1247 is a classroom course with mandatory lab hours which provides current evidence-based practice information necessary to care safely for adult patients in an acute-care medical-surgical environment. The overall teaching framework will utilize the nursing process, ANA standard of ethics, and the professional nurses’ role in meeting the challenges of patient care.

The topics addressed in this class are divided into modules and sections.

Content outlines are in the student manual. Each area has student outcome goals as published in the student manual.  

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. RNSG 1247: Concepts of Clinical Decision Making I must be taken concurrently with RNSG 1263: Clinical - Concepts of Clinical Decision Making I. Both courses must be satisfactorily completed in the same semester.
2. Regular classroom attendance of at least 90% of classroom hours.
3. Satisfactory grade of 75% or above. This includes module exams, quizzes, case studies, Lab assignments, Class assignments, final exam, EVOLVE exam and class attendance. See grading criteria.
4. Completion of EVOLVE exam and completion before final of evolve exam review.
   1. Course Requirement: All students must access the on-line remediation through HESI Assessment after the course’s Evolve Specialty or Custom Exam.  All students will develop an individualized study packet, and review all areas designated as needing improvement for no less than one (1) hour. Completion of remediation and development of a study packet is due by the Friday before the final exam. If it is not completed as assigned, then the student will fail the course because of a failure to complete this requirement. 
5. Satisfactory completion of all classroom and laboratory components of the course assignments.
6. Satisfactory completion of any student/instructor contracts.

LABORATORY EXPERIENCE:

• Sixteen (16) hours of laboratory experience are required in this course. The lab assignments are outlined in blackboard on AC Connect in RNSG 1247 and on the current calendar for the course.

• The specific requirements for the laboratory hours will be discussed during the first class meeting.
• A class and laboratory schedule will be available starting the first day of class.
• The student must be able to access their EVOLVE account on the web.
• The student must be able to access their textbook’s on-line web account through thepoint.lww.com.
• Computer and internet access is mandatory. The student is responsible for timely completion of the laboratory and classroom assignments.
• If a student does not have home internet access, the student can complete laboratory assignments in the computer center on west campus or in the Library on 9^th at the AC room.  
• Once lab assignments are closed, they will not be reopened for completion.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

• Students are full partners in fostering a classroom environment which is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class students are prohibited from engaging in any form of behavior that detracts from the learning experience of fellow students.
• Inappropriate or disruptive behavior in the classroom may result in a request for the offending student to leave class.
• All cell phones, pagers, noisy devices are to be turned off or put on vibrate. No text messaging in class. Only emergency communications should be answered and students need to quietly leave the lecture hall if necessary.
• Students are expected to maintain high academic standards and not engage in any form of cheating as outlined in ADN testing policy found at:
• http://www.actx.edu/nursing/index.php?module=article&id=226
• See the A.D.N. Student Handbook “Professional Conduct”, ANA code of Ethics for Nurses, and the AC Student Rights and Responsibilities.
• Student injury information for lab and clinical http://www.actx.edu/allied_health/index.php?module=article&op=print&id=33
• Social Services : – Jordan Fajardo and the link is www.actx.edu/resources

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA/GRADE SCALE:

The following criteria will be used to determine your grade.

Why is the grading scale higher? (Passing is 75%)

The National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) has become harder, to reflect the need for nurses who have a high level of critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. The increase in patient acuity and nursing responsibilities is placing greater demand on current entry-level nurses in comparison to their cohorts in the past. The National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) prepares the NCLEX-RN and establishes the minimum passing standard. The passing standard was revised on April 1, 2013, with the implementation of the 2013 Detailed Test Plan and will be in effect through March 31, 2016

The Grading scale for RNSG 1247 is:

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 75-79%*

D = 60-74%

F = below 60%

1. Final Course Grades are NOT rounded.     For example:

• If your average is 74.98 then with NO rounding, your average is a D.
• If your average is 89.98, with NO rounding your average is a B.   

2. The final grade will consist of the grades on three module exams, the evolve exam,  a comprehensive final exam, lab assignments and quizzes and *completion of mandatory review on the evolve exam.

3. Categories and percentages for final grade:

1. Module I                                 22%
2. Module II                                22%
3. Module III                               22%
4. LAB and Quizzes                     6%
5. EVOLVE exam*                        5%
6. Comprehensive Final               23%
7. *Course Requirement: All students must access the on-line remediation through HESI Assessment after the course’s Evolve Specialty or Custom Exam.  All students will develop an individualized study packet, and review all areas designated as needing improvement for no less than one (1) hour. Completion of remediation and development of a study packet is due by the Friday before the final exam. If it is not completed as assigned, then the student will fail the course because of a failure to complete this requirement.

 

1.  If a module exam is missed, the make-up exam must be taken within one week of the scheduled exam (prior to the next class meeting). The instructor must be notified if the student is unable to attend the exam.
2. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor and arrange for any make-up exam within the required time frame.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

• Regular attendance is required for satisfactory achievement in this class.
• It is the responsibility of the student to attend class and required Labs.
• √ Less than 90% attendance of classroom hours may result in failure of the course.
• Class roll will be taken for each class.
• Individuals not present for roll call will be recorded as absent.
• All assigned labs must be completed.
• Any anticipated class/lab absence must be reported to the instructor.

Calendar

Additional Information

First Clas Day:

 

• Students are expected and required to attend the first class day scheduled.
• Please bring your text book this day to class.
• Students need to bring their 1247 syllabus and manual (posted on AC Connect in RNSG 1247) as well as download the power points or outline for Infusion Therapy.
  • The lecture notes for Infusion Therapy will be under the Lesson Tab in AC Connect  for RNSG 1247.
• Lab 1 is due this first week. We will talk about this in class.

√If you have any questions, please contact the instructor. Thank you!