Nursing in Health and Illness III

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Class
VNSG 2510

Continuation of Nursing in Health and Illness II.  Further study of medical surgical health problems of the patient including concepts such as mental illness.  Incorporates knowledge necessary to make the transition from student to graduate vocational nurse.  CIP Code 

Description:  51.3901 VNSG 2510 (Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training) 80 Contact Hours, 5 Semester Credit Hours 

Course Learning Objectives

Compare and contrast normal physiology of body systems to pathologic variations in the patient with medical-surgical health problems; evaluate and treat patients with medical-surgical health problems using the nursing process including nutrition, pharmacological therapy, and principles of safety; discuss concepts such as mental illness; and utilize learned skills and knowledge for transition from student to graduate vocational nurse (WECM, 2014).   

  1. Contributing in a plan of care for a patient with complex medical/surgical conditions within the vocational nurse’s legal scope of practice. (DECs I-A, B; II-A, B, C, D, E, G; III-B, C; IV-A, B, D; SCANS C5, 6, 7, 9, 11; F5, 6, 9) 
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the vocational nurse’s role in identifying the patient(s) who suffer from a complex medical/surgical condition in comparison to a patient with a routine uncomplicated medical/surgical illness 
    1. Assist in utilizing the nursing process and recognition of appropriate goals, interventions, and evaluation of outcomes that would facilitate safe and effective patient-centered care 
    2. Identify dietary modifications/tools which may be used for the seriously ill patient 
    3. Assist patients and support systems in identifying therapeutic coping mechanisms during acute, chronic, or lethal health conditions 
    4. Contribute to the plan of care by utilizing effective communication and collaboration skills   with patients, families, and members of the interdisciplinary health care team 
    5. Recognize routes of transmission for common communicable diseases and incorporate health promotion and prevention into nursing practice 
  3. Compare and contrast normal body functioning with that of pathological  variations as it relates to the following: (DECs I-B; II-A, C, E, F; III-B, C, F; IV-A, D, E; SCANS C-5, 6, 7, 9; F-1, 6, 9, 12) 
      • Homeostasis 
      • Neurological  
      • Psychiatric  
      • Reproductive  
      • Sensory 
      • Immune 
      • Hematological 
      • Oncology 
    • Identify and monitor diagnostic tests and/or laboratory results that may be performed on a patient with each disorder of the respective system  
    • Describe nursing responsibilities for diagnostic procedures which are commonly performed on the respective body system. 
    • Perform a focused nursing assessment on a patient with a disorder of the said bodily system 
    • Recognize and report alterations in a patient’s condition 
    • Identify and implement relevant nursing interventions for the health care needs that involve a patient with a disorder of the respective system using established evidence based practice guidelines 
  4. Identify common fluid and electrolyte imbalances. (DECs I-A, B; II-A, B, D; III-B, C; IV-D; SCANS  C-5, 6, 9, 11; F-8, 9) 
    1. Identify common causes of fluid and electrolyte imbalances  
    2. Recognize signs and symptoms of patients with fluid and/or electrolyte imbalances 
    3. Identify and provide interventions to restore patients with fluid and/or electrolyte imbalances using a directed scope of practice 
    4. Assist in monitoring responses to interventions based on expected outcomes and assist in modifying plan of care 
  6. Identify common acid-base imbalances. (DECs I-A, B; II-A, G, III-B, C; IV-A, C, D; SCANS C-5, 6,   7; F-8, 9, 12) 
  7. Identify common causes for acid -base imbalances.  
    1. Identify and implement nursing interventions which may be used for a patient with an acid base imbalance.  
    2. Perform an accurate assessment of the patient’s lab work who is suffering from an acid base problem. 
  8. Demonstrate knowledge of selected mental illnesses to client situations. (DECs II-B, C, E, G; III-B, C; IV-A, C, D; SCANS C-5, 6, 7, 9; F-6, 8, 9) 
  9. Describe the types of major psychiatric illnesses  
    1. Identify medications commonly used to treat psychiatric illnesses  
    2. Recognize factors related to patient’s mental health that place patient at risk for injury 4. Implement appropriate nursing interventions to provide a safe and supportive environment  for a patient with a mental disorder 

5. Collaborate or strengthen education for family who will be involved in managing patients with behavioral disorders

  1. Apply knowledge of selected conditions requiring emergency treatment. (DECs II-A, C; III-B,

C; SCANS C-5, 6, 7, 9; F-9) 

  1. Identify common emergency situations 
    1. Assist in prioritizing care as a provider of patient-centered care 
    2. Contribute to a nursing plan of care for a patient experiencing an emergency related to the cardiac and/or respiratory systems, diabetes, and minor / major trauma, including orthopedic injuries  
Required Textbooks

Foundations and Adult Health Nursing 8th ed., Cooper, K. & Gosnell, K. (2019) 

Foundations and Adult Health Nursing Study Guide 8th ed., Cooper, K. & Gosnell, K. (2019) 

Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Exam 7th Ed; Silvestri, L. & Silvestri, A. (2019) 

Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing: Foundations and Adult Health Nursing, 8th Ed 

HESI PN Case Studies with Practice Test – Classic Version, 1st Ed 

HESI Student Access to take periodic assessment exams-current year 

Computer Accessibility 

Sim Chart

Evaluation Standards
  1. Unit Exams= 50% of final semester grade 
    1. Unit exams should be taken when scheduled.  
    2. No exams will be offered earlier than the scheduled date.  
    3. If absent for an exam, a make-up exam will be offered only when the student first returns to campus (regardless if the return to campus is not during the assigned scheduled class time).  The exam will be in an assigned area by the instructor on the day the student returns to campus.  It is the student’s responsibility to seek out the instructor for the make-up exam. 
    4. Fifteen points will automatically be deducted from the make-up exam score.  
    5. Make-up exams may be short answer, fill in the blank, matching or essay. 
  2. Assignments/Homework = 20% of final semester grade 

Quizzes = 20% of final semester grade

    1. All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period, unless otherwise instructed.  
    2. Papers will only be accepted late if the student is absent.  The assignment must be turned in on the student’s first arrival back on campus for any class.  15 points will automatically be deducted from the assignment grade. 
    3. It is the student’s responsibility to secure assignments if absent. 
    4. Assignments/quizzes that are completed during class time on the day of an absence can be made up on the first day back to campus with an automatic 15 point deduction.  It is the student responsibility to seek out the instructor for the make-up assignment. 
    5. 5) Assignments may be provided by means of Weatherford College website requiring internet access by the student.  
    6. Each assignment/quiz must be original, independent work unless otherwise instructed. 

Neatness and legibility with correct grammar and spelling are also expected.   

    1. If work is taken from a resource, students must cite their sources in APA format to avoid plagiarism.   
    2. On-line assignments must be completed and submitted during the published open time frame.  Failure to submit electronically during the published open time frame will result in a score of “0”.   
  2. HESI = 10% of semester grade 

There are no provisions for individual make-up work or extra-credit in this course.   

Grading:  

Evaluation  

Percent  

Assignments  

20%  

Quizzes

20%

Unit Exam  

50%  

HESI  

10%  

Total Evaluation  

100%  
  1. 89.5-100                              F < 74.5 
  2. 79.5-89.4 
  3. 74.5-79.4 

Final course grades will be calculated to the nearest whole number.  Anything less than a 74.5 will be considered a failing grade. 

D.  A total of 2 absences are allotted for this course for the entire semester.  Anytime a student is not in attendance, in the classroom, during class time for more than 10 minutes, the student will have an absence recorded.  Absences greater than a total of two will result in a 10% reduction of the final course grade.   

Absences

Two absences are allowed for this course. More than two absences will result in a 10% final grade reduction for each additional absence. The clinical instructor and the assigned clinical agency should be notified prior to the beginning of the clinical shift if absent.   

Final course grades will be calculated to the nearest whole number.  Anything less than a 74.5 will be considered a failing grade.   

Clinical experiences may be scheduled between the hours of 5:30 A.M and 11:30 P.M. Times for clinical experiences will vary and may include 8 or 12- hour shifts. When in hospital clinical, the student will have thirty (30) minutes for lunch. Each student must ask permission from the instructor and the charge nurse if he/she wishes to leave the unit. The student is not allowed to leave the 20 clinical unit during the clinical shift, unless otherwise specified by the instructor, failure to do so will result in a section 1 (g) offense. Clinical during the first and second semesters are scheduled for 8-hr shifts, two days per week. Third semester clinical can be 8 or 12-hour shifts, two or three days per week. 3. Clinical experiences require students to travel to sites away from the college campus. Clinical sites include hospitals and other health care facilities in Mineral Wells, Stephenville, Weatherford, Willow Park, Millsap, Fort Worth as well as Decatur, Jacksboro, Granbury and Bridgeport. Other Locations may be used if deemed necessary for student learning. Students must be prepared to drive to any of these locations for clinical. 4. The nursing faculty will determine clinical assignments, depending upon the learning environment, availability of clinical resources and needs of the students. 

Instructional Methods

Classroom instruction shall include student/faculty interactive learning activities, formal lecture, case studies, audiovisual presentations and possibly simulated laboratory instruction in order to meet a variety of student learning styles. 

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.
Hope Statement
Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).
SCANS

Essential Competencies (DECs) & Secretaries Commission of Achieving Necessary Skills  Differentiated (SCANS) will be aligned throughout the syllabus. Differientiated Essential Competencies of Graduates of Texas Vocational Nursing Educational programs and SCANS competencies can be accessed from Texas Board of Nursing.   SCANS information can be obtained from the document Identifying and Describing The Skills Required by Work published by The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Work Skills.   

Texas Board of Nursing DECS     

I. Member of the Profession  

A. Function within the nurse’s legal scope of practice and in accordance with regulation and 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.  

  1. Provider of Patient-Centered Care  
    1. Use clinical reasoning and knowledge based on the vocational nursing program of study and established evidence-based practice as the basis for decision-making in nursing practice. B. Assist in determining the physical and mental health status, needs, and preferences influenced by culture, spirituality, ethnicity, identity, and social diversity of patients and their families, and in interpreting health-related data based on knowledge derived from the vocational nursing program of study.  
      1. 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. 
      2. Provide safe, compassionate, basic nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs through a supervised, directed scope of practice.
      3. Implement aspects of the plan of care within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters and in consideration of patient factors.
      4. Identify and report alterations in patient responses to therapeutic interventions in comparison to expected outcomes.
      5. Implement teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well-defined health learning needs. 
      6. Assist in the coordination of human, information, and physical resources in providing care for assigned patients and their families.
  2. Patient Safety Advocate  
      1. 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.  
      2. Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others.  
      3. Assist in the formulation of goals and outcomes to reduce patient risks.  
      4. Obtain instruction, supervision, or training as needed when implementing nursing procedures or practices. 
      5. 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.  
  3. Member of the Health Care Team 
    1. Communicate and collaborate in a timely manner 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.  
      1. Participate as an advocate in activities that focus on improving the health care of patients and their families.  
      2. Participate in the identification of patient needs for referral to resources that facilitate continuity of care, and ensure confidentiality. 
      3. Communicate patient data using technology to support decision-making to improve patient care.  
      4. Assign nursing activities to LVNs or unlicensed personnel based upon an analysis of patient or work place need.  
      5. Supervise nursing care by others for whom the nurse is responsible. 
      6. Assist health care teams during local or global health emergencies or pandemics to promote health and safety, and prevent disease.