NURS 654, Advanced Practice Nursing: Primary Care I
Spring, 2015
Schedule Number: 22339
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Day: Tuesday
Class Time: 4 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.
Class Location: AH 2132
Professor: L. Fitzsimmons, PhD, APRN, FNP, ANP-BC
Contact: 619-594-2761 (office), lfitzsim@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hrs (by appt): flexible to meet student need
Office Hr Location: HT 172
Course Overview
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
Primary care management of adults and the elderly with acute and chronic health problems. Role of the advanced practice
nurse in health promotion and treatment of illness in primary care and specialized settings.
DESCRIPTION OF PURPOSE AND COURSE CONTENT
Purpose: Prepares the advanced practice student to use evidence based clinical practice guidelines and standards of care to
manage the common acute and chronic health care problems in primary care and specialized settings.
Course Content: (schedule subject to change)
1/28
2/4
2/11
2/18
2/25
3/4
3/11
3/18
3/25
4/8
4/15
4/22
4/29
5/6
5/13
Course Orientation, Requirements, Seminar: APN Roles/Issues
Review all health promotion, disease prevention recommendations from NURS 501
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Ear, Nose, Throat and Upper Respiratory Problems
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Musculoskeletal Problems
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Lower Respiratory Problems
EXAM I
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Anemia
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Dermatalogic Problems
Management of Women’s Health Issues
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Sexually Transmitted Infections
EXAM II
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with GI/GU Problems
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Diabetes Mellitus
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Hypertension (HTN)
Primary Care Management of Adults/Elders with Dyslipidemia
EXAM III
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course the student shall:
1.
Analyze the autonomous and collaborative practice roles of the Adult-Gerontology or Women's Health advanced
practice nurse.
2.
Identify adult and geriatric clients at risk for select acute and chronic health problems.
3.
Synthesize knowledge of health assessment, pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics in the primary care
management and evaluation of select acute and chronic health problems.
4.
Delineate the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and differential diagnoses associated with select acute and
chronic health problems.
5.
Develop initial and continuing management plans including diagnostic tests and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapeutics for select acute and chronic health problems, including emergency situations.
6.
Identify appropriate indications for referral and patient education for select acute and chronic health problems.
7.
Analyze the role of nutrition in health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease.
8.
Analyze current evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and national standards of care for select adult and
gerontologic health care problems.
9.
Analyze research relative to health promotion, health maintenance, and health restorative interventions.
10.
Analyze community resources and health care delivery systems relative to the provision of primary care.
2
REAL LIFE RELEVANCE
Advanced practice students acquire knowledge and skills needed to diagnose and treat acute and chronic health care problems
in clinical practice. Content required by accrediting agencies and for state and national certification as an advanced practice
nurse (nurse practitioner, nurse midwife).
RELATION TO OTHER COURSES
Required course for graduate students in nurse practitioner, woman’s health, and nurse midwifery advanced practice
programs. For APN, NP-CNS students, NURS 654 is taken concurrently with NURS 655.
Enrollment Information
PREREQUISITES
Admission to the APN of Adults/Elderly: NP-CNS; Midwifery; Women's Health NP; Midwifery & Women's Health NP Graduate
Specializations and successful completion of NURS 501, NURS 501L, NURS 658, NURS 610.
ADD/DROP PROCEDURES
Per University policy in the SDSU General Catalog and class schedule
Course Materials
Course materials (lecture outlines, course documents etc.) are accessible via the course Blackboard site
REQUIRED TEXTS
Buttaro, T. M. et al. (2013). Primary care. A collaborative practice. 4th edition. Elsevier: Mosby: St. Louis.
Buppert, C. (2012). Nurse practitioner's business practice and legal guide. 4th edition. Jones and Bartlett, Boston.
Dains, J., et al. (2012). Advanced health assessment and clinical diagnosis in primary care. Mosby: St. Louis.
Desani, S. (2009). Clinician's guide to laboratory medicine. Pocket. MD2B. Houston, Texas.
Gilbert, D., et al. (2013). The Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrobial Therapy. VT.
Reuben, et al. (2013). Geriatrics at your finger tips. (14th edition). American Geriatrics Society.
Seidel, H., et al. (2011). Mosby's guide to physical examination. 7the edition. Mosby: St. Louis.
Current evidence-based practice guidelines, research studies, and risk assessment tools will be required.
Course Structure and Conduct
NURS 654 builds on content in Pharmacology (NURS 658), Advanced Health Assessment (NURS 501), and Pathophysiology
(NURS 610). Lecture and discussion formats are used. During class, students discuss clinical cases, present homework, write
scripts, and engage in clinical decision making exercises based on evidence-based practice guidelines and national standards of
care. Students read relevant professional literature and current research associated with the topics discussed. Students are
expected to complete all assignments as minimal preparation for class. Students are expected to be prepared for class, and
attend and actively participate in class. Students who are not regularly prepared for class will have their grade lowered by one
interval (example: A to A-). Class preparation is defined as achievement of an average grade of C+-or greater on weekly quizzes.
Questions will be derived from required readings. Quizzes will start the second week of the semester.
Computer Requirements: Students are required to have a computer with internet access, a printer and an active SDSU email
account. Students are responsible for checking their email daily and to responding promptly when requested to do so.
Course Assessment and Grading
Student achievement is evaluated by in-class exams. Exams are closed book timed tests that consist of both objective (multiple
choice, short answer, matching) and case study questions. To successfully complete the course a student must earn a grade of C
or greater. Final course grades will be determined by achievement in the following areas:
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
33 1/3% of course grade
33 1/3% of course grade
33 1/3% of course grade
100%
3
Final Average
93-100%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
60%
Final Course Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C (Lowest grade to pass the course)
CD+
D
DF
Other Course Policies
Class Attendance/Absence: CLASS ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED. Students should not make outside commitments that require
absence from class. An excused absence will be granted by the course professor for serious reasons only. Students are required
to contact the course professor to discuss their absence prior to class. Medical documentation maybe required for illness.
Conflicting work schedules are not grounds for an excused absence. An unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your
course grade by on one interval (example: A to A-). Two unexcused absences will result in course failure. Students are expected
to be on time for class.
No provisions will be made for an exam that is missed because of an unexcused absence. An unexcused absence will result in a
grade of 0 for the exam. There are no makeup exams for unexcused absences. For an absence to be excused, the student must
provide appropriate timely written documentation. If a make-up exam is needed for an excused absence, the exam may differ
in format from the original exam (e.g, essay, short answer, oral exam or other test formats maybe given). The date, time, place
and composition of the makeup exam will be determined by the course professor.
Excessive absences (even if excused) may result in course failure. Please contact the course professor if you are having
problems that affect your attendance in lecture.
Classroom Etiquette: Electronic devices (computers, iphones, ipads etc.) may only be used to access course materials. These
devices may NOT be used to send/receive/check messages or texts during class time. Cell phones should be silenced and text
messaging is not permitted during class time. Audio or videotaping of lectures is not permitted.
Students with Disabilities: Students who need disability accommodations should provide documentation of their disabilities to
Student Disability Services (DSS) (Capulli Center, Suite 3101), and receive authorization for academic accommodations. After
accommodations have been authorized by DSS, students are responsible for notifying faculty in advance of the need for
accommodations. This can be best accomplished by making an appointment to meet privately with the faculty member early in
the semester, or as soon as possible in the event that a disability is diagnosed during the course of the semester.
Other: "Some courses may require students to participate in field trips, research or studies that include course work that will be
performed off-campus. Participation in such activities may result in accidents or personal injury. Students participating in offcampus are aware of these risks, and agree to hold harmless San Diego State University, the State of California, the Trustees of
the California State University and Colleges and its officers, employees and agents against all claims, demands, suits, judgments,
expenses and costs of any kind on account of their participation in the activities. Students using their own vehicles to transport
other students to such activities should have current automobile insurance. "