NURS 3010: Concepts of Professional Nursing

Course Description

This course integrates the student into baccalaureate education. Aspects of professional practice provide the framework for this course. Critical thinking, and oral and written communication skills are strengthened. BSN Program Outcomes evaluated in the course: oral and written.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Recognize nursing theory, research, and evidence based practice as frameworks for professional nursing.
Describe the basic elements of holism and systems theory.
Discuss principles of health promotion across the lifespan.
Discuss the relationship between culture and health.
Discuss the impact of health/illness beliefs, values, and attitudes of patients, families, and healthcare professionals on health care.
Recognize the need for personal health and self renewal in order to provide quality care.
Discuss roles and education of the professional nurse.
Identify principles of ethics as a basis for decision-making.
Describe issues in health care influencing professional nursing practice.
Explore the need for safety in all patient interactions.

Prerequisites

NURS 3030: Communication and Information Literacy

Course Materials

Please go to MBS Direct to find the appropriate textbooks for this course. Please be aware when purchasing your textbooks that the International versions of the text may differ from the Domestic (North American) version required for your course.

Click here for more information about textbooks for online courses.

Essential Course Content

Holism
Systems Theory
- Complementary Therapies
Lifelong Learning
Spirituality
Self Care
Ethics
- Approaches
- Frameworks
- Principles
- Ethics Committees
- Ethical Nursing Practice

Health Promotion
Evidence Based Nursing Research
Nursing Theory
Culture
Communication
- Intra/ Interprofessional
- Written
- Oral
Nursing Roles and Education
Current Issues in Nursing and Healthcare
Standards and Regulation

Course Activities

The course will be conducted entirely online. Students are expected to participate in all course activities as assigned by the instructor. Course activities may include readings, presentations, discussions, quizzes, library tutorials, database searches, information literacy exercises, plagiarism paper, oral PowerPoint presentation, Web site evaluation, and/ or an informatics paper. The activities below represent a sampling of potential course activities. However, individual instructors may incorporate other activities such as journals and group work into the course materials.

Readings & Reviews :
All students are expected to read the required readings and be prepared to discuss them in the discussion forum.

Case Studies:
Case studies will be presented for some of the material. Students are expected to participate in the discussion of case studies based on the readings.

Discussions:
There will be numerous discussions in the class throughout the term. You are required to actively participate online for this course and this will be a critical component of your class participation grade. Additionally, each week the instructor will post one or more questions for students to answer. Your participation will be graded on both the quantity and quality of your postings. Specific criteria related to participation in course discussions will be available in the course materials.

Papers:
There are three papers required for this class i.e., Personal Nurse Narrative, Holistic Health Assessment, and a Research Paper. The specific requirements of these activities will be presented to you through your course materials.

Presentations:
There are 2 presentations required for this class i.e., research paper presentation and a complementary therapy presentation. The specific requirements of these activities will be presented to you through your course materials.

Participation:
The instructor reserves the right to drop any student enrolled in the course who fails to participate in class appropriately, e.g., nonparticipation in discussions and/or failure to submit assignments. Specifics participation criteria will be posted in your course materials.

Policy Statements

The course policies follow Webster University policies including online class policies. Non-participation in online discussions and activities will affect your grade. Remember plagiarism concerns are part of this online course and the University's overall academic dishonesty policies. Plagiarism is use of another's idea, opinion, publications, writings, information in one's own publication without proper credit to the original source of the idea, opinion, writing, or information. Please cite whenever appropriate. (see the Undergraduate College Academic Policies and Procedures)

Academic Honesty:
The university is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Students will be held responsible for violations of these standards. Please refer to the Nursing Department’s Academic Honesty policies for a definition of academic dishonesty and potential disciplinary actions associated with it.

Drops and Withdrawals:
Please be aware that, should you choose to drop or withdraw from this course, the date on which you notify the university of your decision will determine the amount of tuition refund you receive. Students may withdraw from courses up to and including the Friday of the sixth week of an eight-week course and the Friday of the twelfth week of a semester course. To withdraw, a student must complete a withdrawal form, which is signed by the advisor. The symbol for course withdrawal (W) is recorded on the student's transcript. Withdrawals after the above dates may occur only under exceptional circumstances, and the withdrawal form must be approved by the instructor, the advisor, department chair and the director of the Academic Advising Center.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog university policies on drops and withdrawals to find out what the deadlines are for dropping a course with a full refund and for withdrawing from a course with a partial refund.

Special Services:
If you are registered as a student with a documented disability and are entitled to classroom or testing accommodations, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor at the beginning of the course of the accommodations you will require in this class so that these can be provided. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations please contact the Academic Resource Center.

Disturbances:
Every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption and all students are expected participate in all online course activities. Disruption of the learning process or inconsiderate behavior is not acceptable. Students are expected to treat the instructor and other students with dignity and respect, especially in cases where a diversity of opinion arises. Students who engage in disruptive behavior are subject to disciplinary action, including removal from the course.

Note: This syllabus may be revised at any time at the discretion of the instructor and without prior notification or consent of the student.

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