Essentials of Medication Administration Syllabus for 2025-2026
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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.

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Course

VNSG-1227-001 Essentials of Medication Administration

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: BIOL 2401 and HITT 1205 OR BIOL 2402 Corequisites: VNSG 1423, VNSG 1400, VNSG 1331, VNSG 1204, VNSG 1201, and VNSG 1260

Course Description

General principles of medications administration including determination of dosage, preparation, safe administration and documentation of multiple forms of drugs. Instruction includes various systems of measurement.

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; 1 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

ATI Nursing. (2023). PN pharmacology for nursing (9.0 ed.). Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All rights reserved.

Ford, S. M., (2022). Introductory clinical pharmacology (12th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Jones & Bartlett Learning. (2024). 2024 Nurse's drug handbook. Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

OR a drug guide approved by instructors.

Supplies

Student Performance

The student will identify the roles and responsibilities of the nurse in administering pharmacological agents and utilize knowledge of pharmacology to demonstrate the safe administration of medications. The student will identify the unique psychological and sociological differences and healthcare practices within culturally diverse individuals that affect the use of pharmacological agents.

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. Cell phones should be turned off during class, out of eyesight, and off desktops during lectures. Text messaging is not allowed in the classroom. These devices are disruptive and do not answer calls or texts during class. Should a family situation/emergency require your attention, please inform your instructor before class. Students are expected to participate in all activities. Assigned readings should be completed with the module, lectures should be attended to supplement the readings, complete laboratory and medication sheets, and ATI assignments should be completed to be successful. 

Students are expected to conduct themselves professionally, interacting with patients and peers, faculty, and staff.  Students represent the Department of Nursing and the nursing profession; thus, students assume responsibilities toward society.  These responsibilities are delineated in the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses Practice Standards and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, 2015.  The code's statements and interpretation guide nurses’ behavior concerning nursing responsibilities within the ethical decision-making framework. 

Each student will adhere to the Civility Statement, Student Handbook Policies and Procedures, the Amarillo College VN Honor Code Policy, and the Social Networking Policy. Any violation of these policies and procedures may result in failure of the course and possible dismissal from the program.

You may not record class with audio or video recording equipment (phones) without permission; if permission is granted, you agree only to use said recordings for your own personal, educational purposes and will not reproduce, distribute, or publicly post the recordings without your instructor’s permission.

Instructors are available for assistance during office hours. Professional communication may be conducted through e-mail or in person. 

Family and friends are not to visit students while in the classroom or clinical area. Because of concerns of cross-contamination and risk of injury, students are not to visit family or friends on other clinical units. This includes any clinical or class time on campus or at clinical partner sites.

Guidelines for receiving EMERGENCY calls will be given the first day of class.

Student Grievance

Students may report grievances by following the proper chain of command.  First the student will contact: instructor Camille Graves 354-6011 or Liz Maciel 354-6030, program director Aaron Gann 354-3694, Associate Dean of Health Sciences Kim Boyd 354-6060, Dean of Health Sciences Kim Crowley 354-6087, Associate VP of Academic Services Becky Burton 371-5122, and VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Frank Sobey 371-5226.

INSTRUCTORS

Liz Maciel, MSN, RN

Office: Jones Hall 272

Office hours: Posted, Available by appointment

Class days: M-F

Phone: 345-6015

E-mail: lizmaciel@actx.edu

Camille Graves, MSN, RN, CEN

Office: Jones Hall 273

Office Hours: Posted, Available by appointment

Class days: M-F

Phone: 354-6015

 E-mail: camille.graves@actx.edu

Grading Criteria

GRADE SCALE

A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 75-79 D = 60-74 F = Below 60

GRADING CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used to determine your grade: 

1. Exam: 40%

2. Dosage Calculation Exam: 10%

3. Medication Administration Lab: 40%

4. Assignments (includes quizzes): 10%

• Must have a 75 average or above and pass all skills labs to pass the course.

• Must pass Pharmacology (VNSG 1331).

  • VNSG 1331 (Pharmacology) & VNSG 1227 (Medication Administration) are integrated classes. If one course is failed, they both must be repeated.

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 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 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%.

Students who do not achieve a minimum passing score of at least 75% on an exam are required to meet with the instructor and/or a tutor prior to the next scheduled exam. Remediation is required to help students improve their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills and in test-taking techniques. Both the course syllabus and student contract include this requirement. Students who do not complete the required tutoring will receive a 5-point deduction on the exam. The next exam cannot be completed until this requirement is met.

The instructor may schedule test review. These reviews must occur within one week of that exam. Previous exams will not be reviewed. 

Students may also be required to complete a Required Remediation Assignment prior to taking the next exam. The instructor will notify the student of the Assignment and the due date for the assignment. The next exam cannot be completed until this requirement is met.   

Required assignments for a unit may include medication or lab sheets. Grading for such assignments is complete/incomplete. If all assignments are not completed by the due date, there will be a 5-point deduction on the associated exam.

LAB HOURS

Students must complete and document 20 hours of individualized lab time. Activities that qualify include ATI (Time logged in to ATI working on skills modules), PrepU (Time logged into CoursePoint), Skills Practice (Time spent in the NRC to practice skills outside of scheduled class time), active learning activities, and other activities as designated by the instructor. Failure to complete and document the required hours of lab time will result in course failure (VNSG 1227).

TESTS AND MAKE-UP TESTS:

Tests are computerized and will be multiple choice questions.  Make-up tests may be essay/short answer questions and must be taken within one week of the scheduled test.  Make-up exams may result in a deduction of 10 points (this will be at the discretion of the instructor).  Failure to notify instructor of a missed exam may result in a grade of 0 for that exam.

SKILLS LAB

 Students must login to the Skills HUB for labs, practice and check-offs.Skills lab and return demonstrations are conducted in the Skills HUB no clinical uniform required. Students must login and wear their clinical uniform when in the HUB for check-off. Students will perform return demonstrations of skills in the HUB with an instructor. The student must pass all skills labs to pass the course. Upon skills failure, it is the student's responsibility to schedule remediation with HUB staff prior to leaving the HUB. Remediation cannot be completed on the same day as the failed skill. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the second-attempt check-off with their care group leader. Time is limited in this course; remediation and second-attempt must be scheduled within one week of the failed attempt; failure to complete this requirement will result in a zero (0) for the skill. All skills must be completed successfully before clinical orientation. Two failed attempts at a single skill will result in a failure of this course. 

There may be an option to self-record a skill for return-demonstration. Students must sign up for a recording time and have their recorded skills submitted by the due date. It is the students responsibility to ensure all critical steps are visible in the recording. Any critical step that is unclear will be considered unsuccessful, and may result in a failure of that attempt. 2nd attempts must be done in-person. 

Grades will be earned on each skill. Skills Check-off grades will be the following: 

• 1st attempt pass: 100

• 2nd attempt pass: 75

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement, and mandated hours are required by the Texas State Board of Nursing. Therefore, it is the student's responsibility to attend class. 90% attendance of classroom lectures is required. Classroom content is 64 hours, which allows a student to miss 7 hours of classroom content .Attendance contracts will be given to students who miss class. If more than 5 hours of classroom content is missed, students may receive a deduction of 5 points on the upcoming exam and potential failure for the course. Students should expect to be in class, lab, or clinical for 8 hours daily.

Calendar

Additional Information

CO-INSTRUCTORS (Dosage Calculations)

• John Stell, BSN, RN, EMT-P

• E-mail: jpstell@actx.edu

• Phone: 806-354-6019

• Office: West Campus Jones Hall 275

• Office Hours: M/T/Th/F - 0800 to 1700. W - 1300 to 1700.

  • Office hours are subject to change.

LaVon Barrett, MSN, RN

Office: West Campus Jones Hall 276

Office Hours: By appointment

Phone: 806-354-6015

E-mail: albarrett@actx.edu

REQUIRED LAB TIME

Thirty-six (36) hours of lab and clinical are required in this course. Sixteen hours are used for skills lab time. The student must fulfill 20 lab hours. Failure to complete and document the 20 hours will result in failure of the course. 

Activities that qualify include: 

• ATI: Time that students are logged in to ATI working on skills modules.

• PrepU: Time that students are logged into CoursePoint working on assignments.

• Skills Practice: Time spent in the NRC to practice skills. 

• Active learning activities

• Other activities as designated by the instructor. 

Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI)

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

Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) remediation/focused review is used to help nursing students identify and improve knowledge gaps in preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

Each ATI assessment will include a personalized, Focused Review of the specific content to reinforce concepts and strengthen areas of weakness. This will enhance long-term learning and help develop essential knowledge and skills.

Remediation Requirements:

• Failure to complete remediation by the due date assigned by the instructor will result in a 5-point deduction on the ATI exam for which the remediation was assigned.

Refer to the ATI Grading & Focused Review Requirement Table below:

ATI Grading Table/Focused Review Time:

 CLASS SCHEDULE

Students will receive a class schedule on the first day of class. The schedule is subject to change.

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.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The student will:

1. Define pharmacology.

2. Compare the different names assigned to drugs.

3. Distinguish between prescription, nonprescription drugs, and controlled substances.

4. Describe various types of drug activity and reactions produced by drugs in the body.

5. Identify factors that influence drug action.

6. Explain, tolerance, cumulative drug effect, and drug idiosyncrasy.

7. Discuss types of drug interactions.

8. Examine nursing implications associated with drug actions, interactions, and effects.

9. Discuss herbal medications.

10. Describe the five + 1 rights of drug administration.

11. Examine general principles of drug administration.

12. Identify different types of medication orders.

13. Describe the guidelines that should be followed when preparing a medication, and how to reduce errors.

14. Distinguish administration of drugs administered enterally, parenterally, through the skin and mucous membranes.

15. Explain nursing responsibilities using the nursing process for the administration of medications. (Assessment, Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation)

COURSE WORK

To succeed in this course, there will be required assignments. Assignments must be hand-written (unless otherwise specified)  and submitted to the appropriate drop box in Blackboard. Typed assignments will not be accepted. Assignments must be compatible with Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, etc.). Any submission incompatible with the campus computer system will not be accepted and will result in a zero for the assignment. 

If assignments are not completed by the closing date, you will receive a zero for that specific assignment. Students will be provided with a list of required ATI and PrepU assignments. To receive credit, the student must achieve a 90% on all ATI assignments and mastery level 5 on PrepU. 

Students are required to do their own individual work. There may be no sharing of answers for ATI or PrepU. Students are not to write down questions or answers for either of these programs. Students may not take screenshots of any questions for either of these programs. Any cheating in any form will not be tolerated and can result in course failure. 

If there are problems accessing and/or working within PrepU or ATI, the student must contact PrepU or ATI helpdesk. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor before the due date, explain the problem, and include the ticket number given by the helpdesk. 

PARTICIPATION

There will be active learning activities in class. Participation is required. Active learning may include group work. These activities are structured to provide a deeper understanding of the material and gain experience with collaboration. Collaboration is a necessary skill for nurses to provide safe care. 

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.  

QUIZZES, TESTS AND MAKE-UP TESTS:

Quizzes will be scheduled during class time. Quizzes will consist of 20 questions and will be open for one hour. There will be no make-up for missed quizzes. 

Student Testing Policy

Specific to Testing and the Testing Center:

A student will:

1. find the schedule for tests on the class calendar.
2. arrive 10 minutes prior to start of test in the Testing Center.
   1. A student arriving after a scheduled test has started will not be allowed to take the test at that time.
   2. The student will need to reschedule with the course instructor.
   3. A 5-point deduction from the exam will be enforced for students unable to test due to tardiness or failure to comply with testing center procedure.
3. provide picture identification and student ID# at a test (student ID badge will fulfill these requirements).
   1. Students without acceptable identification will not be allowed to test and must reschedule with their instructor.
   2. A 5-point deduction from the exam will be enforced for students unable to test due to tardiness or failure to comply with testing center procedure.
4. sit in the assigned seat as identified by the instructor(s).
5. have no personal belongings (i.e., books, papers, or reading materials) at a testing station.
   1. Scratch paper, pencil, and/or calculator will be provided when necessary.
   2. Students will not be allowed to bring personal calculators or supplies into the testing center.
6. be required to leave hats, scarves, gloves and coats outside the testing room.
   1. Provisions are made for religious and cultural dress.
7. be required to leave all, tablets, smart watches, mp3 players, fitness bands, jump drives, cameras or any other electronic devices outside of the testing room.
   1. Students will be provided a holder for keys and cellular devices in the testing center. 
   2. The student will place these items in the holder prior to the exam.
   3. Students will not be able to access these items during the exam. 
   4. Student may retrieve items only after their exam has been submitted.
8. raise his/her hand to ask a question.
   1. Instructor or Testing Center personnel will come to the student. There will be no other talking during a test.
9. bring no food or drinks in the Testing Center
10. be permitted to take a test one time only.
11. Tests are computerized and will be taken in the nursing testing center and will be multiple choice questions. 
    1. Make-up tests may be essay/short answer questions and must be taken within one week of the scheduled test.  Make-up exams may result in a deduction of 5 points (this will be at the discretion of the instructor). 
    2. Failure to notify instructor of a missed exam may result in a grade of 0 for that exam.
12. Level II: PrepU and assigned ATI must be complete before the exam
    1. Failure to complete assignments will result in a 5-point deduction from the exam grade at the discretion of the instructor.
13. Take all exams including the final, no exemptions.  Students will receive the grade earned on all exams, including the final.
14.  Students may review their exam results with an instructor after any module exam. Appointments should be scheduled within one week of the exam. 
    1. No module exam may be reviewed after the next scheduled module exam is given. The final exam will not be reviewed.
15. demonstrate ethical, professional behaviors and will adhere to this testing policy.
    1. Instructors and/or testing personnel will report to the Nursing Department Chair any incident where there is suspicion or evidence of cheating or infraction of this policy with possible consequences:
       1. Invalidation of test scores for the class or for the individual
       2. Loss of grade for the individual, or
       3. Dismissal of individual from the program

A student will maintain honesty by:

1. not removing any materials, documents, or recordings with any test information from the room after taking or reviewing a test. 
2. not discussing examination items with peers.
3. not giving help to students or receiving help from any student during a test.
4. not sharing any test information with other students between and after testing times.
5. Violations of academic code of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action as per the Amarillo College Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Student Responsibilities During Test Review/Remediation

1. Students may review their individual exam results with an instructor after any module exam. Appointments should be scheduled within one week of the exam.  No module exam may be reviewed after the next scheduled module exam is given unless deemed necessary by the instructor. Final exam will not be reviewed.
2. Cell phones and audio recording equipment are to be turned off. All personal electronic devices should be placed in backpacks or purses.
3. Test questions in any form must not be shared, discussed or copied on social media. Examples include but are not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, etc.
4. Students will not engage in any cheating activities, including but not limited to those scenarios listed above.

Security measures will be taken during tests, between testing times, and during test reviews.

Make-up tests may be essay/short answer questions and must be taken within one week of the scheduled test. It is the student's responsibility to schedule the make-up test. Failure to schedule the make-up exam within one week may result in a grade of 0. Make-up exams may result in a deduction of 10 points (this will be at the instructor's discretion). Failure to notify the instructor before a missed exam may result in a grade of 0 for that exam.

Tests are computerized and will be taken in the nursing testing center. Tests will begin on time; if students are late, they will not be allowed to enter and test. When entering the testing center, do so quietly and respectfully; after the test, you cannot linger in or near the testing center.  Also, students should never discuss the test, test questions, or otherwise with each other.  This is a violation of Amarillo College and is considered cheating. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated and may result in course failure. Measures are taken to avoid the opportunity of cheating:

• No cell phones or smart watches are allowed in the testing room

• Students should use the bathroom before the exam. If the student leaves the room during the test, the test will be stopped, and the grade they earned at that point will be recorded.

• Instructors may screen for cheating opportunities before and during the exams.

• No jackets, long sleeves, hoodies, or multiple layers are allowed in the testing rooms during the test.  Students wearing long sleeves will be asked to keep the arm sleeves up and pulled up to the elbows for test security purposes. 

Make-up tests may be essay/short answer questions and must be taken within one week of the scheduled test. It is the student's responsibility to schedule the make-up test. Make-up exams may result in a deduction of 10 points (this will be at the instructor's discretion). Failure to notify the instructor via email before a missed exam may result in a grade of 0 for that exam.

DOSAGE CALCULATIONS EXAM: Students must achieve a 90% on the dosage calculation exam before attending clinical. The initial grade earned will be the grade recorded. However, if failing to meet the requirement for clinical, the student has one opportunity to retake the exam. The grade earned on a repeat exam will not count toward the course grade. The exam will be given twice in the semester. Failure to pass the dosage exam will result in the student failing to meet VNSG 1232 and VNSG 1227 objectives. Students who do not pass the dosage exam must drop the following courses: VNSG 1331, 1227, 1400, and 1260. 

REQUIRED TUTORING POLICY

The West Campus Tutoring Center is located in Building D. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The telephone number is 806-354-6020. The Tutoring Center is open to all nursing students. Any student may schedule an appointment at the center regardless of their academic progress in a course.

Students who do not achieve a minimum passing score of at least 75% on a unit exam must meet with the instructor and/or a tutor before the next scheduled exam. One hour of tutoring is required for a test grade of less than 75%. Remediation is required to help students improve their critical thinking, clinical reasoning skills, and test-taking techniques. Both the course syllabus and student contract include this requirement. Students not completing the required tutoring will receive a 5-point deduction on the exam. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure confirmation of the tutoring session is given to the instructor before the next exam.

Students may also be required to complete a Required Remediation Assignment before taking the next exam. The instructor will notify the student of the assignment and the due date for it. The next exam cannot be completed until this requirement is met.     

TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING DIFFERENTIATED ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES (DECS)

I. Member of the Profession:

A. Function within the nurse’s legal scope of practice and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the employing health care institution or practice setting.

B. Assume responsibility and accountability for the quality of nursing care provided to patients and their families.

C. Contribute to activities that promote the development and practice of vocational nursing.

D. Demonstrate responsibility for continued competence in nursing practice, and develop insight through reflection, self-analysis, self-care, and lifelong learning.

II. Provider of Patient-Centered Care:

A. Use clinical reasoning and established evidence-based policies as the basis for decision-making in nursing practice.

B. Assist in determining the physical and mental health status, needs, and preferences of culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse patients and their families based on the interpretation of health-related data.

C. Report data to assist in the identification of problems and formulation of goals/ outcomes and patient-centered plans of care in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team.

D. Provide safe, compassionate, basic nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs through a supervised, directed scope of practice.

E. Implement aspects of the plan of care within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters and in consideration of patient factors.

F. Identify and report alterations in patient responses to therapeutic interventions in comparison to expected outcomes.

G. Implement teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well-defined health learning needs.

H. Assist in the coordination of human, information, and material resources in providing care for assigned patients and their families.

III. Patient Safety Advocate:

A. Demonstrate knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act and the Texas Board of Nursing Rules that emphasize safety, as well as all federal, state, and local government and accreditation organization safety requirements and standards.

B. Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others.

C. Assist in the formulation of goals and outcomes to reduce patient risks.

D. Obtain instruction, supervision, or training as needed when implementing nursing procedures or practices.

E. Comply with mandatory reporting requirements of the Texas Nursing Practice Act.

F. Accept and make assignments that take into consideration patient safety and organizational policy.

IV. Member of the Health Care Team:

A. Communicate and collaborate with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team to assist in the planning, delivery, and coordination of patient-centered care to assigned patients.

B. Participate as an advocate in activities that focus on improving the health care of patients and their families.

C. Participate in the identification of patient needs for referral to resources that facilitate continuity of care, and ensure confidentiality.

D. Communicate and collaborate in a timely manner with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote and maintain the optimal health status of patients and their families.

E. Communicate patient data using technology to support decision-making to improve patient care.

F. Assign nursing care to LVNs or unlicensed personnel based upon an analysis of patient or unit needs.

G. Supervise nursing care provided by others for whom the nurse is responsible.

Adopted - 10/2010, reviewed 4/2016, reviewed 5/2018, 8/2019, reviewed 8/21

PROGRAM OUTCOMES BY LEVEL

Level I

The novice Vocational nursing student as a member of the profession will:

1. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the LVN scope of practice, Nurse Practice Act, and the Rules and Regulations of the Nursing profession.

2. Act in a responsible manner and accept responsibility for nursing care provided to patients and families.

3. Exhibit characteristics of professional behavior such as truth, honesty, judgment, integrity and human dignity.

4. Begin to understand use of basic technology/informatics associated with Healthcare delivery.

The novice Vocational nursing student as a Provider of Patient Centered Care will:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the Nursing Process and its implications to nursing care.

2. Discuss health and illness of patients and families across the lifespan.

3. Develop effective communication skills with patients, families and the interdisciplinary team.

4. Implement aspects of care related to pharmacotherapeutic agents.

The novice Vocational nursing student as a Patient Safety Advocate will:

1. Identify and promote a safe care environment for patients and families.  

2. Recognize and report unsafe practice.

3. Integrate measures that promote patient safety.

The novice Vocational Nursing student as a Member of the Healthcare Team will:

1. Understand the role of the LVN as a member of the interdisciplinary Healthcare team.

2. Advocate for patient’s rights and responsibilities.

3. Use evidence-based practice as a guide for quality improvement to support best outcomes.

4. Maintain confidentiality.