Principles of Clinical Decision Making Syllabus for 2022-2023
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p>Jones Hall Office 232</p>

Office Hours

Office Hours: Mondays 0900-1200, Wednesday 0900-1500, or by appointment

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

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

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

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

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

Administrative Drop Policy

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

Student Withdrawal Procedures

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

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

Privacy Statement

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

Course

RNSG-1331-002 Principles of Clinical Decision Making

Prerequisites

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

Course Description

Examination of selected principles related to the continued development of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, patient safety advocate, member of health care team and member of the profession. Emphasis on clinical decision making for clients in medical-surgical settings experiencing health problems involving fluid and electrolytes; perioperative care; pain; respiratory disorders; peripheral vascular disorders; immunologic disorders; and infectious disorders. Discussion of knowledge, judgment, skills and professional values within a legal/ethical framework. This course lends itself to either a blocked or integrated approach.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

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

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

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

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

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Lewis's Medical-Surgical Nursing, Harding, Elsevier - 2-Volume Set, 11th Edition, Copyright 2020, ISBN: 9780323552004

Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing for Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing,(EAQ-Next Generation), 11th Edition, Copyright 2021, ISBN:  9780323755818: Evolve Access: 24 month

Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, Makic & Martinez-Kratz, 13th Edition, Copyright 2023, ISBN: 9780323776837

EHR Tutor through ATI

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

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

System

Requirements

Minimum               

Recommended 

Operating System

Windows 7, 8, or 10

Mac OSX 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9

Windows 10

Mac OSX 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9

Processor

1 GHz processor

2 GHz or faster processor

Memory

2 GB of RAM

4 GB of RAM or higher

Monitor Resolution

1024 x 768

1024 x 768 or higher

Free Hard Disk Space

32 GB of free disk space

64 GB or higher of free space

Internet Connection

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

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

Internet Browser**

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

Respondus Lockdown Browser and Firefox

Java

Java is required to use Blackboard. Download Java.

Macromedia Flash Player

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

Supplies

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

The student will need to bring their electronic device to class each week (lap top computer etc.).

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

Student Performance

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

COURSE OUTCOMES:

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

 In the Role of Member of the Profession:

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

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

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

 

 In the Role of Provider of Patient-Centered Care:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

In the Role of Patient Safety Advocate:

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

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

 

In the Role of Member of the Healthcare Team:

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

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

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

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

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS/CLASSROOM RULES:

Students are full partners in fostering a classroom environment which is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor; students are prohibited from engaging in any form of behavior that detracts from the learning experience of fellow students. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom may result in a request for the offending student to leave class.

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

Grading Criteria

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

EXAMS:

  • Four Module Exams: 60% of grade, each module exam is 15% of your grade and makes up a total of 60%
  • Final Exam: 20% of grade
  • Evolve Specialty Exam (HESI): 5% of grade

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Elsevier Weekly EAQ: 5% of grade
  • Evolve Case Studies: 5% of grade
  • Reflective Journals: 2.5% of grade
  • In Class Assessments: 2.5% of grade

Attendance

Students must attend 90% of scheduled class periods and are now required to record their attendance in AVISO

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

Calendar

Link to Course Calendar : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gAaBxusy-bS0jBEwurrGToysBfqE9BLx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112383418533350934706&rtpof=true&sd=true

(note: some weekly assignments are due to be determined)

According to the Instructors discretion, weekly assignments, course material, and due dates are subject to change.

Changes will be posted under the announcement tab in the Course Black Board or through your email.

Additional Information

Before attending class the first day, all students must be up to date with their COMPLIO Requirements:

Documentation of specific immunizationsTB skin testing, and CPR certification.  

TB Skin Test
All students must present documentation of a negative tuberculin skin test (PPD) administered within one year of beginning clinical activities involving direct patient care or present evidence of a negative chest x-ray for tuberculosis (TB) taken within the last year. The tuberculin skin test must be repeated yearly while the student is enrolled in the nursing program. The TB test must be current on the first day of class each semester.  
If a student’s TB skin test is positive, evidence of a normal chest x-ray within the last year must be submitted. When first turning in a positive TB skin test and each semester thereafter, the student must fill out the Positive TB Test Follow-up Form provided by the Level Immunization Coordinator. This form will be passed from one Level’s immunization coordinator to the next, following the student throughout the program. Repeat chest x-rays are not needed during nursing school unless signs and symptoms of TB appear.
CPR Certification
All students must be certified in American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Healthcare Providers prior to clinical experiences. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Healthcare Providers courses are offered in the community. Students are expected to show proof of current CPR certification prior to participating in the clinical coursesExpiration date to exceed expected graduation date.  CPR must be current the first day of class each semester.

Syllabus Created on:

08/10/22 5:14 PM

Last Edited on:

08/10/22 5:20 PM