Advanced Nursing Systems Administration Practicum - NURS 726
Spring 2015
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Days: Thursday
Class Times: 0940-1210
Class Location:
Professor: Dorothy Zirkle, PhD, PHN
Contact Information: dzirkle@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: By appointment M-F Office AH 3181
858-414-8131 Mobile
Course Overview
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION: This course provides observation and guided administrative experience specific to the role and
function of Nurse Manager or Director in a selected health care system. Needs and individual objectives of the student are
integrating into the experience.
COURSE OVERVIEW
NURS 726 provides the student with a guided experience and opportunity to examine the role of the Healthcare Manager, Director,
or Executive depending on the student’s level of experience. The student is encouraged to observe the Manager or Director in
his/her role in decision making, strategic planning, team building, conflict resolution, directing and managing change, and managing
financial and human resources. The student should observe the Nurse Manager, Director, or Executive’s interaction with his/her
professional colleagues and peers.
In addition to the participant field observation, the student will be required to:
•
Maintain a journal of observations and their inferences for the Nurse Manager, Director or senior level nursing leadership
role
•
Present your preceptor learning outcomes, insights and experience in a formal PowerPoint presentation to his/her
colleagues
The field experience will include:
•
•
•
Guided observation in a healthcare setting working in partnership with an experienced Preceptor
Seminar discussions of observations and the student’s interpretation of the observation.
Analysis of the articulation or function/interaction of the Nurse Manager, Director or senior level nursing leadership role
with others on the healthcare team and among members of the nursing management team (preceptor)
Identification of the operationalization of management functions
Review the literature for best available evidence to guide leadership practice at all levels
Analysis of the organization’s culture and climate in the support of professional nursing and a healthy work environment
•
•
•
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Throughout this course students will work with a preceptor at the Nurse Manager, Director or senior level nursing leadership
within a hospital or community setting. The Preceptor will facilitate the personal learning experience and outcomes, but the
student is expected to inform the preceptor of the class and his/her personal learning objectives. The student and the preceptor
must plan for approximately 8 hours of field experience per week for 13 weeks totaling 100 hours. In class debriefing,
presentations and case analysis will contribute to the remaining 35 hours. The field experience, class debriefing, case analysis,
presentations should represent a total of 135 clinical hours. The student will maintain an on-going weekly journal of observations
and impressions and develop critical thinking inferences about the experiences. The student will present his/her findings and
impressions to the class and facilitate scholarly discussion regarding the experience at the end of the semester.
Upon completion of the practicum, the student will be able to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Describe how change theory can guide nurse leaders’ decisions and actions related to organizational change
Describe a situation where the nurse leader used change strategy to advance the organization’s and nursing’s agenda
Identify how nursing leaders overcome significant barriers to accomplish change and accomplish major goals within the
organization
Compare and contrast how different leaders manage interpersonal conflicts to establish a collaborative interdisciplinary
work environment
Discuss implications of clear leadership in health care organizations
Analyze what changes leaders must direct to affect the journey to Magnet designation.
Describe how the Magnet components affect organizational, professional and patient outcomes
Develop a change strategy to implement patient-centered care in an organization
•
•
Analyze how the leader interfaces with others to promote teamwork, partnerships or collaborative relationships to
accomplish unit goals
Identify ways that a leader can motivate lifelong learning and leadership at all levels of nursing as described by the Future
of Nursing report
Enrollment Information
Prerequisites: NURS 724
Instructor communication: Dr. Dorothy Zirkle can be contacted at the phone number/location/e-mail address listed above. All
meetings are by appointment and can be scheduled directly with the professor. Students are encouraged to use e-mail for
scheduling appointments and communicating with the professor between class meetings.
Adding/Dropping Procedures
Registration period for the Spring 2015 semester opens on January 7. January 30, 2015 is the last day to add, drop, or change
grading basis for the course (11:59 p.m. deadline). You are responsible for initiating action for your own schedule adjustments and
for setting your schedule by this deadline. Dropping and adding of classes must be done through your WebPortal account. Check
your schedule in the WebPortal to make sure you are enrolled in the right classes before the schedule adjustment deadline.
Course Materials
Required Textbooks and Readings:
• ANCC (2008). Magnet Model Components and Sources of Evidence. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Credentialing Center
• Bushe, G.R. (2010). Clear Leadership. Boston, MA: Davies-Black.
• Johnson, S. (2002). Who Moved My Cheese. New York: NY Penguin Putnam, Inc. ISBN 0-399-14446-3
Additional Readings will be assigned to support class discussions and assignments.
Hardware and Software requirements: Hardware and software needed for NU726 include access to a good Windows or Macintosh
multimedia computer. Preferably one that meets the SDSU minimum computing standard (see http://wwwrohan.sdsu.edu/~mwssls/nws.html) In addition, the following will be needed to support course participation:
• E-mail system
• Internet browser such as Internet Explorer with which you can download files
• Microsoft Word, version 7.01 or higher, as your word processing software
• High-speed (cable or dsl) connection to the Internet
Course Structure and Conduct
This class uses a hybrid of Lecture-Discussion in Seminar or online format using both in face and online discussion boards using
Blackboard technology; Directed readings and discussion; journaling from participant observations with online faculty discussions
regarding student inferences; audio-visual presentations; written and oral assignments; individual counseling with faculty-student.
Course Assessment and Grading
In the event of absences caused by illness or emergency, please contact the professor directly for make-up assignments and
information.
The student's letter grade for the course will be derived as follows:
5 Personal Learning Objectives for Practicum
5
January 29 preceptor agreement
Change Interview Presentation
20
February 26
Weekly On-Line Journal Observations
20
Weekly On-Line
Practicum Attendance
20
Seminar Discussions
20
Case study analysis and participation
Preceptor Evaluations
5
May 1
PowerPoint Presentation
10
May 7
Total Points Possible
100 points
Grades will be assigned as follows if the specified criteria are met:
A 93 - 100% (93-100 points)
A- 90 - 92% (90-92 points)
B+ 87 - 89% (87-89 points)
B 83 - 86% (83-86 points)
B- 80 - 82% (80-82 points)
C+ 77 - 79% (77-79 points)
C 73 - 76% (73-76 points)
C- 70 - 72% (70-72 points)
D 63-69% (63-69 point)
F
Less than 62% (62 points or less)
The grading system for this course will be administered according to the policies contained in the SDSU General Catalog and the
School of Nursing policies and procedures outlined in the Graduate Handbook. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in order to
remain in the graduate programs.
Other Course Policies
Academic Dishonesty
As stated in the SON Undergraduate Handbook: “The School of Nursing follows the University policy on academic
dishonesty/student discipline as identified in the San Diego State University General Catalog which states that any student may be
expelled, suspended, placed on probation, or given a lesser sanction for several campus related causes. Such sanction shall include
cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic program at a campus. The above policy applies to both on-campus and offcampus activities. It includes such off-campus activities as falsifying clinical records or public documents.” See the SON
Undergraduate Handbook for further information and definitions of cheating, plagiarism, and disruptive behavior. Referral to the
Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities will be made as appropriate.
Disability Accommodations
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact
Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact
Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student
Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Blackboard Student Support
http://www.rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/its/blackboard/student/
Netiquette
http://www.rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/its/blackboard/student/gettingstarted/netiquette.html
WEEK
1
DATE
Jan 22
Class
TOPIC
Course Overview
LEARNING
OUTCOME
ASSIGNMENT
1-3
Meet with your Preceptor and Identify 5 Personal Learning
Objectives for the Practicum Agreement
Discuss Practicum Learning Objectives
READ & Discuss this Week:

Read & Discuss Change Theories you have found on the
internet.
Introduction to
Organizational &
Personal Change
Change Theories
2
Jan 29
Class
Organizational &
Personal Change
Overcoming Barriers
to Change
3
Weekly Journal
READ & Be Prepared to Discuss:

Johnson, S. (2002). Who Moved My Cheese. New York: NY
Penguin Putnam, Inc. ISBN 0-399-14446-3
3
Feb 5
Online
Field experience
Online discussion
2
Weekly Journal
4
Feb 12
Online
2
Weekly Journal
5
Feb 19
Online
Field experience
Leading
Organizational Change
Online discussion
Field experience
Clear Leadership
Online discussion
4
Weekly Journal

6
Feb 26
Class
Field experience
Clear Leadership
Online discussion
4-5
7
Mar 5
Online
Field experience
Clear Leadership
Online discussion
4-5
8
Mar 12
Online
Leadership
Online discussion
6-7
Weekly Journal
READ and Be Prepared to Discuss:

Strategic Thinking and Planning
Choose one change theory and describe how that theory can be
used to guide and organizational change – Place on Blackboard
Case analysis
Weekly Journal
READ and Be Prepared to Discuss in Class March 19:
Clear Leadership, Chapters 1-4
READ and Be Prepared to Discuss In Class March 19:

Clear Leadership, Chapters 5-8
Weekly Journal
Clear Leadership discussions on Chapters 1-8
9
Mar 19
Class
Field experience
Online discussion
Organizational Change
1-2
10
Mar 26
Online
Field Experience
Online discussion
1
Apr 2
Spring Break
Weekly Journal
Class Presentation – Interview a CNO or senior level nursing leader
and describe an organizational change that they led, the barriers
they faced, the strategies they used and how they created a sense of
urgency. Discuss what you might have done differently using a
change theory or after reading the assigned books on change.
Case analysis
Weekly Journal
WEEK
DATE
TOPIC
LEARNING
OUTCOME
11
Apr 9
Class
Magnet
8
12
Apr 16
Online
Field experience
Online discussion
9
13
Apr 23
Online
Field experience
Online discussion
1
14
May 7
Class
Student Presentations
ASSIGNMENT
Weekly Journal
CLASS DISCUSSION:
1. What are the outcomes associated with Magnet?
2. How does leadership need to change to meet the Magnet
criteria? How does nursing staff need to change to meet
Magnet?
3. What are signs of Magnet readiness and barriers to
implementation?
4. How does the organization need to change for Magnet?
Case analysis
Weekly Journal
READ: articles summarizing the Empirical Outcomes for Magnet –
Post summary online
Weekly Journal
Weekly Journal
Final Log with Field experience and Class Hours =135/hours
Personal Learning Objectives – 5 points
Requirements:
You are expected to write 5 personal and measurable objectives that you wish to accomplish by the end of the semester. 5 points
are for the preceptor’s evaluation of your learning experience.
Field Attendance – 20 points
Requirements:
You are expected to attend sessions with your preceptor for a total of 52 hours. You can do it all in one or two weeks if you wish or
incrementally through-out the semester.
Weekly Journal Discussion – 35 points
Purpose:
The purpose of the weekly journal discussions is to succinctly record the student’s observation in the health care setting and to
stimulate thinking about how the student can enhance their own personal journey in leadership. The student should address their
own personal objectives for the course and address the assigned practicum questions or observations. The journals are confidential
and should only be shared with the instructor. The journals must be done monthly and submitted online to the faculty course
advisor on Sunday evening at 6 pm.
Requirements:
The format includes a succinct summary of the observations, the student’s interpretation of the experience, and the implications
for their own leadership development. The summary should be no more than 3 pages in Microsoft Word and attached to an e-mail
or placed in the digital drop box. All e-mail attachments must be formatted in the following fashion:
last name_N724_Journal observation_semester week_date
Example: Zirkle_N724_Journal observation_week2_13015
Preparation:
Familiarize yourself with Course outcomes and key guided observations to use as a framework for your observations. These
concepts can be developed from the required and recommended readings and from the seminar discussions.
Grade:
The evaluation of this portion of the course will be based on the on-line receipt of the student’s journal, the formal summary
presentation, and the student's application of formal observations, critical thinking, and relevant theories or evidence-based
articles to support their interpretations and inferences. 1 point will be deducted for every day late.
Seminar Discussion Participation – 20 points
Requirements:
Your active participation and discussion of assigned case analysis is expected in all immersion seminars. This will be reflected in
discussions of outside readings assigned as well as additional related readings you find relevant to seminar topics. The quality of
your participation determines the number of points you will receive.
Seminar Presentation – 10 points
Requirements:
You are expected to present a summary of your practicum experience using PowerPoint presentation. Please include your learning
objectives, your observations in the field, and your moments of insight that may affect your own leadership in the future. Do not
include your preceptor’s name or organization anywhere in your PowerPoint or reveal any confidential information. You should
reflect the assigned readings as a foundation for your observations and inferences and include a reference list for the presentation.
Criteria:
•
PowerPoint format – introduction, background, learning objectives, lessons learned from readings/practicum, conclusion,
recommendations, references.
•
Presentation style – able to articulate clearly; adds content beyond slides; supplements practicum lessons learned with
references.
Please send copies of you PowerPoint and references to your fellow students and instructor 1 day before the class.