Healthcare Concepts IV Syllabus for 2024-2025
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. <strong>The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. </strong>

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 Enrollment Center, Suite 700. 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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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-2439-001 Healthcare Concepts IV

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, ENGL 1301, EDUC 1100, HITT 1205, RNSG 1216, RNSG 1128, RNSG 1430, RNSG 1161, RNSG 1201, RNSG 1433, RNSG 2262, RNSG 1125, RNSG 1126, RNSG 1438, RNSG 2363, RNSG 1137, PSYC 2301, any SPCH course Pre or Co-req: Any Langu

Course Description

In-depth coverage of advanced health care concepts with nursing application through selected exemplars. Concepts include, cognition, immunity, clotting, fluid and electrolyte balance, gas exchange, metabolism, nutrition, perfusion, tissue integrity, and interpersonal relationships. Continuing development of clinical judgment with integration of all health care concepts. This course lends itself to a concept-based 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

(4 sem hrs; 2 lec, 6 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required:

1. Course Manual for RNSG 2439 and RNSG 2360: available online
2. Pearson Text: A Concept-Based Approach to Learning 4th Edition. Volumes I, 2, & 3
3. Huff, ECG Workout: Exercises in Arrhythmia Interpretation, 8th Edition, Philadelphia: Lippincott, 2023. 
4. ATI Testing: Online and Printed Resources 

Suggested:

1. Any Nursing Care Plan Book-Concept based is best for this curriculum.
2. Any Medical Terminology Dictionary (Taber’s is the best and most used in Nursing)
3. Any Laboratory & Diagnostic Test Reference
4. Any Drug Guide

 

Supplies

Textbooks, course manual, computer with stable internet (see Student Handbook for specific devise requirements).

A laptop or tablet that meets the systems requirements below. A word of caution…there are some MacBooks that are not compatible with the testing systems from ATI. Please visit the ATI website @ https://www.atitesting.com to check for your computer/device compatibility.

Amarillo College Appropriate Use Policy for Information Technology

Windows 10 or 11

• 10th or 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4 Core, 12M cache, base 2.8GHz, up to 4.7GHz)
• 16GB of memory or more
• 256GB or 512Gb of Hard-Drive

 Apple Mac

•  MacOS Big Sur or Monterey
• i5 or M1(new Processor)
• 16GB of memory or more
• 256GB or 512Gb of Hard-Drive

Mobile Device Requirements (Chromebooks, iPads, and Android devices not supported)
System Requirements	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows 10 or later; Mac OSX 10.15 or later; iPad 11.0 or later	Windows 10; Mac OSX 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9
Processor	1 GHz processor	2 GHz or faster processor
Memory	4 GB of RAM	16 GB of RAM or higher
Monitor Resolution	1024 x 768	1024 x 768 or higher
Free Hard Disk Space	Windows OS: 75MB permanent space on hard drive Mac OS: 120 MB permanent space on the hard drive	64 GB or higher of free space
Internet Connection	Broadband (high-speed) Internet connection with a consistent minimum speed of 5 Mbps.	Broadband (high-speed) Internet connection with a speed of 10 Mbps or higher
Web camera + microphone	Internal or external
Internet Browsers	Apple iOS® - Safari, Chrome Windows 10 and 11 - Chrome, Firefox, Edge Windows and Apple OS - Respondus Lockdown Browser
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC	Free download @ https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Microsoft Office	Microsoft Office 365 free download @ https://products.office.com/en-us/student/office-in-education

Student Performance

Passing course grade: 75% or higher

Rationale: 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.

Upon completion of this, the student will:

1.Utilize a systematic process to analyze selected advanced health care concepts for patients
across the lifespan.
2. Critique nursing management for selected advanced health care concepts.
3. Relate the learned concepts to a variety of health care situations.
4. Analyze the interrelatedness of health care concepts to make clinical judgments for optimum
patient care outcomes

  Member of the Profession

1. Identify an ethical-legal framework and applicable professional standards, regulation and requirements for nursing practice in critically ill patient situations who require mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, hemodynamic monitoring and other lifesaving treatments. 
2. Identify avenues for continuing competence in critical care nursing practice.
3. Discuss characteristics of quality nursing care for the critical ill patient and ways to promote evidence based critical care nursing practice.

Provider of Patient-Centered Care

1. Discuss strategies, processes and procedures to promote, maintain, and restore the health of the critically ill patient and incorporating their families in the process.      
2. Utilize a systematic process and clinical reasoning based on analysis of comprehensive assessment data to plan holistic patient-centered care for critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, hemodynamic monitoring and other lifesaving treatments in the critical care environment.
3. Articulate nursing concepts specific to meeting unique psychosocial needs of the critically ill      patient and their families.
4. Formulate effective health teaching strategies for critically ill patients and their families.
5. Identify both basic and advanced nursing skills relevant to the care of critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, hemodynamic monitoring and other lifesaving treatments.
6. Demonstrate respects and compassionate behaviors using appropriate communication skills in the care of patients and their families within the critical care environment regardless of culture, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, identity, spirituality or disability.
7. Determine appropriate human, information and physical resources to meet the needs of the critically ill patient and their families for comprehensive, quality care.

Patient Safety Advocate

1. Locate evidence-based practice data to improve the safety and quality of patient-centered care for the critically ill patient who require mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, hemodynamic monitoring and other lifesaving treatments.
2. Discuss regulations of the Texas Nursing Practice Act and Texas Board of Nursing that pertain to the promotion of patient safety in critical care environments.

Member of the Healthcare Team

1. Explain various approaches to coordinate, collaborate and communicate in a timely manner with patients, families and the interdisciplinary team to promote and provide quality holistic patient-centered care to patients who require mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, hemodynamic monitoring and other lifesaving treatments.
2. Discuss the need to participate with health care teams during local or global health emergencies or pandemics to promote health and safety, and prevent disease.
3. Summarize how to utilize information systems and technology to efficiently manage and improve holistic patient-centered care critically-ill patients who require mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medications, hemodynamic monitoring and other lifesaving treatments.
4. Discuss principles and practices of effective assignment, delegation of nursing activities and supervision in the critical care environment.

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

1. 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.
2. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior in the classroom may result in a request for the offending student to leave class.
3.  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.
4. 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
5. The student must:
   • Comply at all times with all college and Nursing Program policies.
   • Be present and on time for class and clinical experiences.
   • Wear the student uniform during clinical experiences and meet the minimum dress code standards of the healthcare agency.
   • At all times, be in good mental and physical health. A student may be required to obtain a physician’s statement attesting to his/her mental and/or physical health to remain enrolled in a nursing course and/or the Nursing Programs.
6. At all times comply with the policies of the healthcare agency in which clinical experiences are obtained.
7. See the A.D.N. Student Handbook “Professional Conduct”, ANA code of Ethics for Nurses, and the AC Student Rights and Responsibilities.

*The instructor reserves the right to ask students to leave the classroom for any disruptive, aggressive, or unprofessional behavior issues.

Grading Criteria

The course grade will consist of  4 Module Exams, Final exam -  ATI CBC Specialty Exam, Assignments, and Quizzes.

The following criteria will be used to determine your grade:

The Grading scale for RNSG 2439 is:

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 75-79%*

D = 60-74%

F = below 60%

Rounding of grades:

The final course average will be rounded to the tenth place. For example, a course average of 79.50% would be rounded to 80%. Additional examples of final course averages rounded to the tenth place include:  

• 74.62% will be rounded to a letter grade of C 
• 74.38% will be rounded to a letter grade of D 
• 79.77% will be rounded to a letter grade of B 
• 79.499% will be rounded to a letter grade of C 
• 89.87% will be rounded to a letter grade of A 
• 89.478% will be rounded to a letter grade of B 

There will be no rounding of individual assignment, quiz, or examination scores earned during a semester. This includes all didactic (classroom and online) and clinical scores as well as ATI Specialty Exam scores. For example, a 79.50% Module exam score will not be rounded to 80% and a Module Exam score of 79.499% will not be rounded to 79%. 

7. Any make-up exam should be taken within one week of the scheduled exam; makeup exams maybe essay, short answer and/or multiple choice.

8. Assignments and quizzes will not be accepted after the due date. Any assignment or quiz not submitted by the due date will be given a grade of zero (0). 

9. All tutoring and remediation requirements must be completed in order to take the next Unit Exam or the Final Exam.

10. Any student that makes less than 75 on an exam will be assigned mandatory tutoring and test review.

ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGIES INSTITUTE (ATI) 

ATI assessments will be done throughout the semester. These assessments are utilized to establish readiness for National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX).  All students will be required to complete the focused review based on the results of these assessments.

The Focused Review must be completed by the due date listed on the respective course calendar(s) in which the student is enrolled. If the focused review is not completed, then the student will not be allowed to sit for the Final Exam and will receive a grade of zero (0) for the Final Exam. Please see the ATI grading and focused review requirement table below:

 

ATI GRADING TABLE/Focused Review Time:

Level	Conversion Score (%)	Focused Review Time
Level 3	100	1 hour
Level 2	88	2 hours
Level 1	75	3 hours
Below Level 1	65	4 hours

Grading matrix for RNSG-2439

Module Exams 1-4 (20% each)	80%
Quizzes	5%
ATI assignments (including the Practice exams), Tickets to Class, Exit Tickets, Quizzes	5%
Final Exam -  ATI Specialty Exam	10%
Total	100

Attendance

Attendance Policy

1. Regular attendance is required for satisfactory achievement in this class.
2. Less than 90% attendance of classroom hours may result in failure of the course.
3. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class and end of class..
4. Individuals not present for roll call will be recorded as absent.
5. Individuals late to class will be recorded as tardy.  2 tardies will be counted as an absence from class. Tardy is counted after the first 10 minutes after the start of class.
6. All assigned labs must be completed on time.  No late work will be accepted after posted due dates.
7. Any anticipated class/lab absence must be reported to the instructor via email.

Calendar

Additional Information

Academic Grievances

 

A student who has a grievance concerning an academic course in which he or she is enrolled should make an appeal in the following order to the:

1.   Instructor: Verena Johnson 806-356 -3630

2.   Assistant Director: Teresa Herrera 806-467-3002

3.   Dean/Division Committee: Kim Crowley 806-354-6087

4.   Associate VP of Academic Affairs:  Becky Burton 806-371-5122

5.   VP of Academic Affairs:  Dr. Frank Sobey 806-345-5518