Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
NURS 501 Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
NURS 501
HEALTH POLICY/ETHICS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines policy decisions and related issues that shape the organization, financing,
and implementation of health care services and delivery systems. Ethical, social, and political
issues that affect the provision of health care, nursing services, communities, and society are
critically analyzed. Dynamics related to the roles and influences of health care providers and
consumers, government, and law are discussed. Advanced nursing practice and its impact on
policy decision making and health care is emphasized
RATIONALE
This course prepares students for leadership roles and active involvement in the political process
relevant to the development, implementation, and evaluation of health policies that are
economically and ethically sound and designed to promote health and access to health care for
individuals, families, communities, and society.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASE
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)
D.
Access to Printer/Scanner
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A.
Identify major influences that have an effect on health care policy and the health
care system in the United States.
Page 1 of 4
NURS 501 Syllabus
V.
B.
Compare legislative and regulatory processes involved in the development and
implementation of health policy.
C.
Discuss economic implications of health planning, organization of personnel and
resources, payment methods, and cost-effectiveness of various health care
delivery systems.
D.
Critique socioeconomic, legal, ethical, and political issues relevant to policy
making and provision of equitable, safe and quality health care at the local, state
and national levels.
E.
Analyze common ethical dilemmas and their impact on patient care and
population health outcomes.
F.
Evaluate ethical decision-making from personal and organizational perspectives,
while discussing potential for conflicts of interest that may arise and proposing
actions to resolve conflicts.
G.
Interpret the value and importance of the advanced practice nursing role(s) to
policy makers, health care professionals, and consumers.
H.
Analyze issues relevant to health policy from a Christian world view and biblical
perspective.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the
related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (3)
For each required Discussion Board Forum, the student will submit a thread of at
least 500 words. The student must post 2 replies of at least 250 words each. The
student must support his/her thread and each reply with at least 1 citation in current
APA format.
D.
Legislative Letter
The student will conduct an Internet search, select a current federal bill relevant to
nursing, patient care or health care, and then write a 1–2-page formal business
style letter expressing his/her views on the issue. In addition, the student must
include a title and reference page in current APA format. The student must
support his/her letter with at least 1 citation in current APA format.
E.
Article Summary and Critique
The student will write a 2–3-page article critique discussing health care reform
and implications for financing healthcare, payment methods, cost effectiveness or
healthcare delivery systems. The article must be a peer-reviewed, scholarly
Page 2 of 4
NURS 501 Syllabus
journal article written in the last 4 years. The student must support his/her critique
with at least 1 citation from the article and textbook.
F.
Interactive Internet Assignment
The student will log into the internet site for The National Institute of Health
Office of Extramural Research: Protection of Human Research Participants and
complete all modules/weeks and quizzes. The student will be awarded a
Certificate of Completion that will be submitted as a scanned PDF.
G.
Health Policy Issue Paper Bibliography
The student will submit a bibliography with 8–10 references based on the
bill/topic for the Health Policy Issue Paper in current APA format.
H.
Health Policy Issue Paper
The student will write a 12–15-page paper, using current APA, and addressing a
state or federal health bill/policy that has been introduced but not passed, already
exists, or is in need of revision or elimination.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirement Checklist
Discussion Board Forums (3 at 100 pts ea)
Legislative Letter
Article Summary and Critique
Interactive Internet Assignment
Health Policy Issue Paper Bibliography
Health Policy Issue Paper
Total
B.
10
300
100
100
200
50
250
1010
Scale
A = 940–1010 A- = 920–939 B+ = 900–919 B = 860–899 B- = 840–859
C+ = 820–839 C = 780–819 C- = 760–779 D+ = 740–759 D = 700–739
D- = 680–699 F = 679 and below
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
Page 3 of 4
NURS 501 Syllabus
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
class will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
Page 4 of 4
COUR ### Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
NURS 501
Textbook: Mason et al., Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care (2014).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Mason et al.: chs. 1–9
1 presentation
1 website
Course Requirements Checklist
Class Introductions
Legislative Letter
Program Overview Quiz
10
0
100
0
2
Mason et al.: chs. 13–22
1 presentation
3 websites
Article Summary and Critique
100
3
Mason et al.: chs. 39–44
1 presentation
1 website
Interactive Internet Assignment
200
4
Mason et al.: chs. 47–51
1 presentation
3 websites
DB Forum 1
100
5
Mason et al.: 63–66, 72–73
1 presentation
Health Policy Issue Paper
Bibliography
50
6
1 presentation
1 website
DB Forum 2
100
7
Self-Selected Readings
1 presentation
1 website
Health Policy Issue Paper Draft
(Optional)
Health Policy Issue Paper
0
250
8
Mason et al.: chs. 81–83, 91–
92
Self-Selected Readings
1 presentation
DB Forum 3
100
TOTAL
1010
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday
night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.