Principles of Clinical Decision Making Syllabus for 2019-2020
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Office Location

Amarillo College West Campus 222

 

 

Office Hours

Monday 1000-1400

 Additional: By appointment                            

 

 

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

RNSG-1331-001 Principles of Clinical Decision Making

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: RNSG 1309, RNSG 1105 and RNSG 1301 Corequisite: RNSG 1362

Course Description

Examination of selected principles related to 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 fluid and electrolytes; perioperative care; pain; respiratory disorders; peripheral vascular disorders; immunologic disorders; and infectious disorders. Discussion of knowledge, judgment, skills and professional values within a legal/ethical framework. This course lends itself to either a blocked or integrated approach.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

Brunner/Suddarth:  Textbook of Medical/Surgical Nursing, 14th Edition (The CoursePoint+), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2017.

Cannon, J.:  Course Manual, RNSG 1331 Principles of  Clinical Decision Making, 2018-2019.

.

Students are required to have regular, reliable access to a computer with a stable Internet connection. (Any system older than 4 years may not have the processing power to work with our current version of Blackboard and it’s components.) 

Clinical requirement- Mobile Device with Webcam, Maximum size 10 inch

System

Requirements

Minimum               

Recommended 

Operating System

Windows 7, 8, or 10

Mac OSX 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9

Windows 10

Mac OSX 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9

Processor

1 GHz processor

2 GHz or faster processor

Memory

2 GB of RAM

4 GB of RAM or higher

Monitor Resolution

1024 x 768

1024 x 768 or higher

Free Hard Disk Space

32 GB of free disk space

64 GB or higher of free space

Internet Connection

Broadband (high-speed) Internet connection with a consistent minimum speed of 1.5 Mbps.

Broadband (high-speed) Internet connection with a speed of 4 Mbps or higher

Internet Browser**

Respondus Lockdown Browser and IE8, IE9, Safari 4+, Chrome or Firefox

Respondus Lockdown Browser and Firefox

Java

Java is required to use Blackboard. Download Java.

Macromedia Flash Player

Flash is required to play videos within the Blackboard system. Download Flash  

 


 

 

Supplies

The student will need to bring the required text, course manual, and content handouts if available to class each week.

The student will need to bring additional paper for taking notes, writing utensils (pen or pencil) and highlighter to class each week.

Other Supplies: Two 3 ring binders, manila folder with notebook paper, and sticky tabs to mark pages.

Student Performance

After studying the material presented in this course of study the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program. As outlined in the learning plan, the student will apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the particular occupation and the business/industry; demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, communicating in the applicable language of the occupation and the business or industy.

   

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Upon course completion of RNSG 1331 Principles of Clinical Decision Making, the student will be able to:

 In the Role of Member of the Profession:

1.  Utilize an ethical-legal framework and professional standards while caring for adult and older adult patients.

2.  Utilize personal strengths and weaknesses to promote professional nursing practice.

3.  Implement parameters and guidelines for quality nursing care for patients and families.

 

 In the Role of Provider of Patient-Centered Care:

 

4.   Function as a beginning nursing student to assist in the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health of patients and families during adulthood and older adulthood.

5.   Utilize a systematic process and clinical reasoning to provide holistic patient-centered care to adult and older adult patients and families.

6.   Meet the unique psychosocial needs of adults and older adult patients and families.

7.   Demonstrate basic principles of health teaching for patients and families during adulthood and older adulthood.

8.   Utilize basic nursing skills in the care of adult and older adult patients.

9.   Demonstrate compassionate behaviors and appropriate communication skills for the care of diverse adults and older adults.

10.  Utilize community resources available for meeting the needs of adult and older adult patients and families.

 

In the Role of Patient Safety Advocate:

 

11.  Apply evidence-based practice data to improve safety and quality of patient care for the adult and older adult patient.

12.  Practice according to professional standards and organizational accreditation requirements to promote and ensure patient safety.

 

In the Role of Member of the Healthcare Team:

 

13.  Collaborate with other disciplines to provide holistic patient-centered care to adult and older adult patients.

14.  Demonstrate appropriate communication skills while interacting with other health care team members in the care of adult and older adult patients.

15.  Utilize current technology in the efficient management of holistic patient-centered care for the adult and older adult patients.

16.  Demonstrate the role of the professional nurse in relation to other health care team members.

 

 

 

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/CLASSROOM RULES:

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, unless otherwise approved by the instructor; students are prohibited from engaging in any form of behavior that detracts from the learning experience of fellow students. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom may result in a request for the offending student to leave class.

For additional information see A.D.N. Student Handbook-Professional Conduct, ANA Code of Ethics,  A.C. Student Rights and Responsibilities, and Testing Security Policy .

 

 

Grading Criteria

Grade scale: A = 90-100; B= 80-89; C = 75-79; D = 60-74 and F below 60 (NOTE: There will be no rounding of grades)

 

Attendance

Students must attend 90% of scheduled class periods. 

Students must complete 100% clinical hours.  No more than 1 excused absence will be permitted. That absence will be made up on a set day as designated by the course instructor. The clinical make-up day will be scheduled the last Friday of the semester before final exam week. A clinical absence of more than 1 day may result in course failure.

 

 

Calendar

 The course calendar is posted in Blackboard. RNSG 1331-001 will meet in Room 207 in Jones Hall every Tuesday from 8:15 am to 11:45 am. The first two Thursdays (8/29 and 9/5) students will be required to attend class at 8:15 to 11:45 in preparation of clinical which will begin the third week of the semester.


MODULE 1: Module 1 content will include utilizing critical thinking and the nursing process, performing a systematic physical assessment, and caring for patients with fluid and electrolyte imbalances.

Required Readings: All required readings will come from the Brunner’s Textbook of Medical/Surgical Nursing 

Chapter 3

Chapter 5

Chapter 13

Exam 1 – Week 3


Module 2: Module 2 content will include an overview of the perioperative experience and caring for the preoperative and postoperative patient, caring for the patient with chronic kidney disease, nursing care of the patient with hypertension and peripheral vascular disorders.

Required Readings:

Chapter 17

Chapter 19

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Exam 2 – Week 6

Exam 3 - Week 10


Module 3: Module 3 content will include caring for the patient with lower respiratory disorders, respiratory modalities, understanding and caring for patients with chest tubes, and management of patients with infectious diseases.

Required Readings:

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 71

Exam 4 – Week 13

Evolve Specialty Exam – Week 14


Module 4: Module 4 content will include an overview of immunologic function, caring for the patient with HIV and AIDS, and health care of the older adult patient.

Required Readings:

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 11

Exam 5 – Week 16

Final Exam – Week 17

Additional Information

 STUDENT RESOURCES:

Jordan Fajardo at http://www.actx.edu/resources

 

 

 

Syllabus Created on:

08/20/19 9:37 AM

Last Edited on:

08/21/19 10:43 AM