Healthcare Concepts II Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Office Location

West Campus Jones Hall 224

Office Hours

Monday and Tuesday 1130 -1430

 

Or by appointment

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. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

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-1433-001 Healthcare Concepts II

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, ENGL 1301, EDUC 1100, HITT 1205, RNSG 1216, RNSG 1128, RNSG 1430, RNSG 1161, RNSG 1201, any SPCH course Co-requisites: RNSG 2262, RNSG 1125, RNSG 1126, PSYC 2301

Course Description

In-depth coverage of health care concepts with application through selected exemplars. Concepts include acid-base balance, coping, clotting, cognition, fluid and electrolytes, gas exchange, immunity, metabolism, nutrition, comfort, and perfusion. Provides continuing opportunities for development of clinical judgment skills. This course lends itself to a concept-based approach.

Student Resources Student 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; 4 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

  1. Pearson (2022). Nursing: A Concept-based Approach to Learning 4th edition Volume 1 (ISBN: 9780136906346)& 2 (ISBN: 978013688395)
  2. Pearson (2022).  Clinical nursing skills: A concept-based approach to learning, 4th edition, Volume 3 (ISBN: 9780136909507)
  3. ATI Testing: Online https://www.atitesting.com/

Supplies

Students are required to have a computer with a full operating system for class.

 

MOBILE DEVICE REQUIREMENTS:  

Students are required to have regular, reliable access to a computer with a stable Internet connection. (Any device older than 4 years may not have the processing power to work with Blackboard ATI, or Respondus)

Check your internet speed sites:

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

Amarillo College IT Department Assistance

Microsoft Office 365 free download @ https://products.office.com/en-us/student/office-in-education

Student Performance

Student Performance:

The student will utilize critical thinking and a systematic problem-solving process as a framework for providing care for patients in structured healthcare settings, and integrate the roles of the associate degree nursing student in the provision of care for patients and families.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)

SLO #1 Practice nursing within a legal and ethical framework

SLO #2 Utilize a systematic process and clinical reasoning to promote, maintain, and restore the health of patients and their families within communities across the developmental lifespan.

SLO #3 Students will utilize evidence-based data to reduce patient risks and promote a safe and quality patient-care environment

SLO #4 Students collaborate with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary health-care team to promote and provide quality, holistic patient-centered care.

 

COURSE OUTCOMES:

MEMBER OF THE PROFESSION:

  1. Discuss an ethical-legal framework in accordance with the regulation and applicable legal scope of practice professional standards and requirements in caring for adults with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  2. Describe own personal accountability, professional responsibility, and professional development in the role of the advanced medical-surgical nurse.
  3. Identify activities that promote the development and practice of professional nursing and nursing competence in holistic care as an advanced medical-surgical nurse.

PROVIDER OF PATIENT-CENTERED CARE:

  1. Summarize the role of the professional nurse in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health of adult patient with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  2. Utilize a systematic process and clinical reasoning to plan comprehensive, holistic patient-centered care for adult patient with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  3. Explain nursing concepts specific to meeting unique psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs of adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  4. Outline the principles of health teaching in the care of adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  5. Identify basic nursing and advanced nursing skills used in the care of culturally diverse adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  6. Discuss compassionate behaviors and appropriate communication skills used in the care of diverse adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems. 
  7. Identify community resources in meeting the needs of adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.

PATIENT SAFETY ADVOCATE:

  1. Analyze evidence-based practice data with patient-centered data to promote safety and quality in care of the advanced medical-surgical patient.
  2. Identify governmental and organizational requirements and professional standards and requirements to patient safety situations on medical-surgical units.

MEMBER OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM:

  1. Describe strategies to effectively identify the role of the professional nurse and work with other disciplines to provide holistic patient-centered care to adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  2. Discuss appropriate communication skills with other health care team members in writing, verbally, non-verbally, and electronically in the care of adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  3. Evaluate information systems and technology in the efficient management of holistic patient-centered care for adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.
  4. Discuss the role of the professional nurse in relation to other health care team members.
  5. Summarize the professional nursing role within the health care team during local and global health emergencies in the provision of care to adult patients with advanced medical-surgical health problems.

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

Expected Student Behavior:

  1. Students are full partners in fostering a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.  Students are expected to participate in the in-class activities.  To assure that all students can 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 from the offending student to leave the class.
  2. See the A.D.N. Student Handbook, Professional Conduct, ANA Code of Ethics, and Amarillo College Student Rights and Responsibilities. 
  3. Students have signed many contracts that are in the Student Handbook.  One of these policies is the two-strike policy which states:  A student is ineligible to continue in the program when they have two or more course failures.  A course failure means a grade of "D" or "F" and when a student withdrawals (drops) from a course.
  4. Students will have outside-of-class time assignments and studying that will need to be completed prior to the next scheduled class.
  5.  Academic integrity and honesty are central components of a student’s education.  Every student has a role in maintaining the academic reputation of Amarillo College and the Division of Nursing.  Students are to refrain from engaging in plagiarism, cheating on exams (including discussion of test questions following exams), falsifying work, assisting other students in completing graded work, and/or recording exam reviews and tutoring sessions with an instructor.  Cheating in any form is strictly prohibited, and may result in dismissal from the program.
  6. 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.

Grading Criteria

Grading Schema:

  • 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 a whole number from 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 75%, letter grade of C 
  • 74.38% will be rounded to 74%, letter grade of D 
  • 79.77% will be rounded to 80%, letter grade of B 
  • 79.499% will be rounded to 79%, letter grade of C 
  • 89.87% will be rounded to 90%, letter grade of A 
  • 89.478% will be rounded to 89%, 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 Evolve Specialty Exam, 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%. 

Course Average Weights:

The following criteria will be used to determine the course grade:

  • 4 Module Examinations = 68% of the course grade.
  • ATI Practice Exams and ATI RN Concept-Based Assessment Level 2= 6 %  
  • All assignments: ATI assignments, Lab assignments, Assigned Quizzes, My Lab assignments, entry or exit tickets = 6&
  • Final Exam = 20%

*Mandatory Tutoring for Failed Exams are as follows:

  • If a student scores less than 75% on a module/major examination, the student will be required to attend mandatory tutoring.
  • If a student fails to attend tutoring, the student will not be allowed to take the next exam, which will result in a zero.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Students must attend 90% of class meetings. This means 90% of the total number of hours that is allotted to this class.

Calendar

  • A detailed course calendar will be provided in the Blackboard course.
  • Tentative Schedule

    Week 1 - 4 MODULE 1 - Acid/Base balance, Gas Exchange (Oxygenation), Fluid and Electrolytes

              Week 5 - Module 1 EXAM

    Week 5 - 8   MODULE 2 – Coping, Metabolism, and Elimination

              Week 8 - Module 2 EXAM

    Week 8-12 MODULE 3 - Perfusion, Clotting, and Immunity

              Week 12 - Module 3 EXAM   - ATI Specialty Exam

    Week 13-15 MODULE 4 - Comfort, Cognition, and Nutrition      

               Week 15 - Module 4 EXAM

    Week 16 - Final Exam

Additional Information

Academic Grievances

A student who has a grievance concerning an academic course in which he or she is enrolled should utilize the chain of communication in the following order:

  1. Instructor: Marianne Jones (806) 354-6028
  2. Associate Degree Nursing Assistant Program Director/Coordinator: Kerrie Young (806) 467-3002
  3. Associate Degree Nursing Program Dean - Kim Crowley (806) 354-3621
  4. Dean of Health Sciences: Kim Boyd (806)354-6060
  5. Associate VP of Academic Affairs:  Becky Burton (806) 371-5122
  6. VP of Academic Affairs: Dr. Frank Sobey (806) 371-5226

Syllabus Created on:

08/24/25 7:36 PM

Last Edited on:

08/24/25 8:03 PM