Clinical-Nursing in Health & Illness I Syllabus for 2025-2026
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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. 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

VNSG-1260-001 Clinical-Nursing in Health & Illness I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: BIOL 2401 and HITT 1205 OR BIOL 2402 Corequisites: VNSG 1423, VNSG 1400, VNSG 1331, VNSG 1227, VNSG 1204, and VNSG 1201

Course Description

A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional.

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

(2 sem hrs; 7 clinical hrs)

Class Type

Clinical

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Swearingen's All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health. (6th ed). Snyder, J. S. & Sump, C. A. (2024). Evolve. 

Drug Book of Student Choice

Supplies

• Stethoscope
• Pen Light
• Clinical Uniform
• 3-ring binder with dividers
  • Clinical instructors may ask for your paperwork to be handed in in a simple folder
• All required clinical paperwork
• Clipboard
• AC name tag
• Analog watch with secondhand
  • Smart watches (Apple, Fitbit, etc) are NOT allowed in clinical

Student Performance

Course Description:  A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional.

End-of-Course Outcomes:  As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriate written and verbal communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry.

Course Objectives: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the nursing process and apply it to individualized patient care.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of safe medication administration and accurate dosage calculation.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of asepsis and importance of a clean, safe environment.

4. Demonstrate an understanding of standard precautions.

Students 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

The Vocational Nursing Program is an adult program.

Adult and professional behavior is expected in both the classroom and clinical areas.

Each student will adhere to the student handbook policies and procedures, the Amarillo College VN Honor Code Policy, Social Networking Policy, and all agency policies, including HIPAA. Any violation of these policies and procedures may result in failure of the course and possible dismissal from the program.

Cell phones and smart watches are not permitted in clinical areas. Telephones on the clinical unit are not to be used by students for personal calls.  It is suggested that you leave your cell phone at home; AC and the faility are not responsible for lost or stolen items. In addition, you cannot have your phone turned on and left to ring in your bag since this can disturb patients and staff. Texting or talking on cell phone is NOT permitted during the clinical day except during lunch/breaks. DO NOT use your cell phone while walking the halls to or from break.  Walking around the facility, texting is not allowed and looks unprofessional. Please refrain from using your phone until you have sat down for your break. Failure to comply with cell phone policy may result in a clinical warning and failure of the course.

Students are required to have a watch with a second hand. NO "Smart watches" are allowed. 

An Amarillo College picture I.D. name tag must be worn and visible at all times. 

Additional Clinical Policies are addressed in the Vocational Nursing Student Handbook.

Grading Criteria

A:  90-100      B:  80-89     C:  75-79   D:  60-74     F:  59 & below

Students must have a minimum grade of 75 in order to pass the course.

CPEC (1 per rotation): 50%

Assignments: 50%

All clinical must be made up in the semester it occurred. Students may only miss and make-up two clinical days. ATI tests are considered clinical experiences and if a student misses an ATI exam they will be counted absent in clinical. 

Attendance

Regular and ON TIME attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. 100% clinical attendance is required; therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend all clinical.

The clinical schedule will be handed out during clinical orientation. Clinical days for this course are on Thursday & Friday. You will be at clinical for a full 8 hours. Please do not schedule any events during this time frame. Absence of any part of the clinical day will result in a full clinical make-up day.

You will have two days to make up clinical absences for all courses in Level One. Absences are cumulative for the semester for all clinical courses with the maximum number of days you can miss being two days. If you leave during your clinical shift, this will count as a clinical absence.  Any student that leaves the clinical site or assigned area without permission will fail the course. This is considered abandonment of patients and falls under the TXBON rule 15.6 A nurse's duty to patient.

If you need to call in sick, please do so prior to your scheduled meeting time. Follow the protocols listed in your course. Send an email to your clinical educator. If you are late and the clinical group has already left the meeting point, you will be counted absent for the day. 

Students are responsible to report to the assigned clinical area on time and to be dressed
according to “Student Dress Code Policy for Clinical”.
• Clinical experience is an essential component of the program. Absenteeism jeopardizes the
opportunity for successful completion of the course.
o Absences must be reported to the instructor before the scheduled meeting time.
Failure to notify the instructor will result in a Clinical Warning and possible failure for
the course. (NO Call NO Show is a serious infraction).
o Students who arrive late to the clinical area (even after properly notifying instructor)
will be dismissed from the clinical site for the day and be counted as absent and may
be given a clinical warning.
o Two (2) Clinical absences in each Level, regardless of reason, will be made up to allow
the student to meet clinical objectives.
o More than two clinical absences in one Level, regardless of reason for absence, cannot
be made up and may result in failure of the clinical course.
o It is the responsibility of the student to contact the respective instructor regarding
make-up assignments. Failure to do so will result in failure to meet the course
objectives.
o Students may not leave the clinical site early for any reason. If a student misses any
portion of the clinical day they will be counted as absent for the full day and be
required to make up the missed time. Student may also be given a clinical warning.
o Clinical orientation and simulation dates are considered clinical time. Students who
fail to attend these dates will be counted as absent, be required to make up the
missed clinical time, and may be given a clinical warning.

o Clinical time for each Level is cumulative. A student may only miss two (2) clinical
days total in a semester regardless of the number of clinical courses in which the
student is enrolled.

Clinical Absence Procedure:
1st absence: Verbal contract with student
2nd absence: Student required to sign documentation
3rd absence: Required to drop the course in which the absence occurred and the concurrent didactic course.

If you need to call in sick, you should do so before your assigned meeting time that morning. Contact your clinical instructor. If you are late and the clinical group has already left the meeting point you will be counted absent for the day.

Any absence without notification BEFORE the scheduled clinical begins will result in corrective action for rule violation resulting in a point deduction from the overall grade.  Please note: corrective action write-ups for rule violations and poor performance are placed in the students' file.

Students that are not in compliance with the dress code, required supplies, and/or on time are sent home for the day. Students must make up the absent day, and will also receive a clinical warning with point deductions. 

All clinical must be made up in the semester it occurred. ATI tests are considered clinical experiences and if a student misses an ATI exam, they will be counted absent in clinical. A missed ATI exam must be made up within a week of the scheduled exam.

Calendar

Additional Information

All Clinical Paperwork is located on Blackboard under clinical paperwork. This is to be printed off prior to clinical.

There are required weekly assignments that must be completed. Typed assignments must be compatible with Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, etc.). Any submission that is incompatible with the campus computer system will not be accepted and will result in a zero for the assignment.

Students are to be prepared for the clinical setting with the appropriate supplies and materials. Supplies include, but are not limited to, textbook, care map packet for specific clinical area, clinical portfolio, black ink pen, stethoscope, pen light, and watch with a second hand and clipboard. 

Family and friends are not to visit students while in the clinical area. Because of concerns of cross-contamination, students are not to visit family or friends on other clinical units.

Additional Clinical Policies are addressed in the Vocational Nursing Student Handbook.

When a clinical warning is given, the instructor will follow procedural guidelines. Examples of warnings include:

Verbal Warning: First time being late, chewing gum. No grade deduction.

Class I Warning: Dress Code violation, body piercings. Competency value lowered to ‘1’

Class II Warning: Insufficient work or preparation for clinical. 5-point deduction

Class III Warning: Medication or non-medication error that jeopardizes patient safety, HIPPA violation, absence without notification. 10-point deduction.

**Subsequent warnings will be advanced to the next class warning. The instructor has the option to fail the student after 3 clinical warnings or ONE class III warning in one rotation.

Student resources are located at http://www.actx.edu/resources/index.php?module=article&id=9

SKILLS COMPETENCY: 

Students must complete 25 skills, as listed on the skills sheet during the semester. Failure to complete 25 skills may result in course failure. The skills sheet can be found in Blackboard. 

STUDENT DRESS CODE POLICY FOR CLINICAL

When in the role of a student in any clinical setting, the student is to be professional in appearance.  Students are discouraged from wearing the clinical uniform out in public when consuming alcoholic beverages.  When you wear the uniform, you are representing Amarillo College.  In addition, students must leave the clinical area/facilities after clinical and may not wear the uniform if visiting friends or family after the rotation has ended.  Please change clothing before visiting.  

The Student Uniform is to include:

• Standard navy nursing uniform that fits properly is clean and neatly pressed with AC LVN patches sewn onto the garment.  Cherokee Infinity Navy Scrubs (may be purchased at Stacy’s Uniforms)

• No visible undergarments.

• Solid color socks of white, black, navy, or gray.

• Appropriate footwear should be worn at all times.  Closed-toe shoes and Crocs with holes are not allowed.  

• Athletic shoes and clogs are allowed in solid colors, mostly white, black, gray, or navy blue.  No rainbow, bright colors, or prints are allowed. 

•  Students may wear a white, black, or gray long sleeve collarless t-shirt under the blue uniform top.

•  Navy blue scrub jacket – with AC LVN patch.  Scrub jackets are purchased from Stacy’s Uniforms and are approved by the program Faculty.  Only the approved scrub jacket may be worn.  Students may not wear other jackets, sweaters, or sweatshirts over the student uniform.

The Student Uniform should not include

• Uniform that is too baggy or too tight.

• Underwear that is visible or thong underwear.

• High-top tennis shoes, Crocs (with holes), sandals, open toes, or backless shoes.

• Students may not SMOKE in the student uniform at any time. 

• Smelling like smoke/perfume/body odor while in the student uniform – will result in a Clinical Warning, and the student will be   sent home with a clinical absence.

Amarillo College School of Nursing patches, purchased from the Amarillo College Bookstore, are to be visible at all times on a student's clothing.  

The patch is to be firmly attached:

• to the upper left chest 4 inches from the shoulder seam on the navy blue scrub jacket. 

• to the left upper shoulder 3 inches from the shoulder seam on all scrub tops.

• An Amarillo College picture ID name tag must be worn and visible at all times.

Hair, Jewelry, and Make-up:

• Hair is to be fashioned to prevent it from falling into any patient areas.

• Hair MUST be secured away from the face and groomed so that vision is not hampered.

• Hair longer than collar length must be secured in a ponytail or bun to maintain hair above shoulder level. 

• Hair clips and headbands less than 2 cm in width may be worn.  Approved colors are white, black, gray, and navy blue. Hair bows may not be worn. 

• Conservative hair color (not blue, purple, green, pink, bright red, or any other non-natural color).

• A student may wear wedding rings, watches, and one small pair of stud earrings (one in each earlobe).

• Earrings should be no larger than 5 mm.

• Tongue, eyebrows, nose rings or studs, or multiple earrings are not allowed and must be removed or replaced with a clear spacer. Band-Aids are not to be used to cover facial piercings.

• Make-up is to be used conservatively. 

• Tattoos that are considered vulgar, crude, offensive, or gang-related (which shall be up to the sole discretion of the program director) to patients, visitors, and fellow co-workers must be covered. No gang-related symbols are permitted.

• No facial tattoos are permitted.

• Students with non-approved tattoos may not wear “sleeves” to cover arm tattoos.  A long-sleeve white, black, or gray t-shirt must be worn under the scrub top.

• Fragrances should not be worn in the clinical setting. 

• NO GUM permitted in clinicals including SIM

• Fingernails need to be clean and not extend over 1/4 inch past the fingertip.  It is recommended that NO nail polish may be worn due to infection risk.  Clear polish is allowed if it is not chipped.  Artificial/Gel and shellac nails may not be worn in the clinical setting.

A student may wear wedding rings, watches (EXCEPT in OB rotation, NO JEWELRY or WATCHES are allowed on the hands and wrists), and one small pair of stud earrings (one in each earlobe).  You will need to bring a watch, please pin it to the front of your uniform with a safety pin. 

 “Street Clothes” are only to be worn when approved by the Clinical Instructor.  

If approved, the student should wear 

• Conservative clothes; dresses, skirts, and tops, or slacks and shirts. 

• Students may not wear blue jeans, shorts, Capri pants, sweat pants, athletic wear, or form-fitting clothing in any clinical area. 

• Socks or hose must be worn with pants, and hose must be worn with dresses. 

• Baseball caps should not be worn. 

• The navy blue scrub jacket with the Amarillo College patch and name tag is to be worn over street clothes.

An Amarillo College picture I.D. name tag must be worn and visible at all times.  

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is defined as the following: the use of someone else’s exact word(s) that are neither quoted nor cited; paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them; or citing someone else’s research without citing it.  

Copying any part of another student’s work and submitting it as original work is plagiarism. Plagiarism may receive a penalty of zero. Submitting work that another student completed for you is plagiarism, as well as completing work for another student. 

SYLLABUS STATEMENT

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for the 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 your advisor, 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.

Anything not covered in this course manual can be found in the Vocational Nursing Student Handbook, and/or the corresponding Online Course Syllabus.

VIRTUAL DAYS

In the event virtual days must occur, work will be assigned in ATI. Assignments will be open and due on the virtual day between the hours of 7am-5pm. ANY uncompleted assignments will result in the student having to make up the full day in the ‘live’ clinical make-up days scheduled on the units, and you will receive a zero in the gradebook.  You may come to the school to complete your assignments and use the wi-fi and/or computers to ensure you have a good signal.