SDSU School of Nursing
NURS 610, Pathophysiology in Adults and the Elderly
Fall, 2014
Schedule Number: 22421
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Day: Monday
Class Time: 1 pm – 3:40 pm
Class Location: LSS 248
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
Physiologic alterations associated with acute and chronic illness in adults and the elderly as a basis for primary
prevention and medical and nursing interventions.
PURPOSE AND COURSE CONTENT
Purpose:
Students refine and/or acquire scientific knowledge of the pathophysiologic alterations associated with the high
volume acute and chronic health care problems encountered in clinical practice as an advanced practice nurse.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1.
Analyze the structure and function of human body systems including the nervous, endocrine,
reproductive, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems.
2.
Analyze the effects of aging on organ/system structure and function.
3.
Analyze the interrelationship between stress and disease.
4.
Analyze the biologic basis for common acute and chronic diseases.
5.
Analyze the pathophysiologic basis for the clinical manifestations of acute and chronic illness.
6.
Analyze organ system responses during acute and chronic illness.
7.
Discuss the interrelationships among organ system alterations during acute and chronic illness.
8.
Analyze current research relevant to select pathophysiologic sequelae of acute and chronic illness.
REAL LIFE RELEVANCE
Students develop their knowledge of the pathophysiologic alterations associated with acute and chronic health
care problems managed by advanced practice nurses in clinical practice. Required for state and national
certification as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife).
RELATION TO OTHER COURSES
Provides a scientific foundation for the diagnosis and management of health care problems encountered in
practice. Required course for graduate students in advanced practice nursing programs.
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COURSE CONTENT, ASSIGNMENTS*
*Required research and evidence based practice articles will be added
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Date
8/25
Content
Orientation, Stress physiology, Renal physiology
Readings
Text: chapts 11, 37
Study Guide: chapts 11, 37
9/1
9/8
University Holiday, Labor Day, No class
Renal Pathophysiology
9/15
Endocrine pathophysiology
Joan Fitzgerald, MSN, FNA
VA Diabetic Nurse Practitioner
9/22
On-line BB assignment
9/29
Gastrointestinal physiology, pathophysiology
10/6
10/13
EXAM I
Pulmonary pathophysiology
10/20
Pulmonary pathophysiology, Acid Base
Text: chapt 34, 35
Study Guide: chapt 35
10/27
Cardiovascular pathophysiology
ASCVD, ACS, Dyslipidemia, HTN
Text: chapts 31, 32
Study Guide, chapts 31, 32
Desani, pp. 237-244
11/3
Cardiovascular pathophysiology
Chronic Heart Failure (CHF)
Dr. Beverly Carlson
Text: Chapts 31, 32
Study Guide, chapts 31, 32
Desani, pp. 237-244
11/10
11/17
EXAM II
Neurologic physiology & pathophysiology
11/24
Neurologic pathophysiology (con’t)
Text: chapts 38
Study Guide: chapt 38
Desani, pp. 153-183
Text: chapts 21, 22
Study Guide, chapts 21, 22
Desani, pp. 190-200
Text: 40, 41
Study Guide, chapt 40, 41
Desani, pp. 212-218
Text: 34, 35
Study Guide: chapt 34, 35
Text: Chapts 15, 18, 17,
Study Guide, chapt 15, 17, 18
Text: chapts 43, 44
Study Guide: chapts 43, 44
Musculoskeletal pathophysiology
12/1
Musculoskeletal pathophysiology (con’t)
Reproductive pathophysiology
Text: chapts 23, 24
Study Guide: chapts 23, 24
12/8
Reproductive pathophysiology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Text: chapt 26
Study Guide, chapt 26
12/15
EXAM III (Comprehensive)
Enrollment Information
Admission to one of the following Graduate Concentration/Specializations:
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Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) of Adults/Elderly: NP-CNS; APN or CNS-NE; Nursing Education: Adult Health;
Midwifery; Women's Health Care NP; Midwifery & Women's Health Care NP. Enrollment should follow a student’s
2 or 3-yr curriculum sequence. Any deviation requires approval of course faculty. Open to SON graduate students
with course faculty consent.
ADD/DROP PROCEDURES
Per University policy in the SDSU General Catalog and class schedule
Course Materials
Course materials (syllabus, lecture outlines, course documents etc.) are accessible via the course Blackboard site.
REQUIRED BOOKS
McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2014). Study guide and workbook. Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for
disease in adults and children (7th ed.). Elsevier Mosby: St. Louis.
McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2014). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (7th
ed.). Elsevier Mosby: St. Louis.
DeSani, S. (2009). Clinicians guide to laboratory medicine. MD2B: Houston, Texas
Current evidence-based practice guidelines, research studies, and risk assessment tools will be introduced as a
foundation for clinical practice.
Course Structure and Conduct
Both lecture and discussion formats are used. Students become familiar with relevant professional literature and
current research associated with the topics discussed. Students are expected to complete all assignments as
minimal preparation for class. Class time will be spent discussing the high volume pathophysiologic alterations
encountered by advanced clinicians. Students are expected to self-study normal anatomy and physiology
pertaining to each body system. Students will critique research and will be introduced to evidence-based clinical
practice guidelines that form the basis of clinical practice. This course is designed to help students synthesize
content in three advanced practice core courses, pathophysiology (NURS 610), pharmacology (NURS 658), and
advanced health assessment and health promotion (NURS 501). Therefore corresponding content will become a
domain in this class.
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 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 essay type test 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 (80 points)
Exam II (80 points)
Exam III (80 points)
Total number of points (240)
33 1/3% of course grade
33 1/3% of course grade
33 1/3% of course grade
100%
Points will be deducted for tardiness, early departures and absences as specified by course policies. Final course
grades are based on the following plus/minus scale:
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Total Points
222-240
215-221
208-214
198-207
191-197
184-190
174-183
167-173
160-166
150-159
143-149
<143
Final %
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: Class attendance is MANDATORY. Students should not make outside commitments that require
absence from class. Work schedule conflicts do NOT justify an excused absence.
If it becomes necessary to miss class, the student must email the course professor before class and request an
excused absence. For a class absence to be excused, the student must provide written documentation justifying
the absence as an emergency. Excused absences will only be granted for emergency situations as determined by
the course professor. Documentation should be submitted before the next scheduled class meeting. Failure to
provide timely appropriate documentation will result in an unexcused absence. Evidence of falsifying documents
will be treated as academic dishonesty and will be subject to University sanctions and may include dismissal from
the University. One unexcused absence will result in lowering of the student’s final course grade by one interval.
For example: A to A-, B+ to B, or C to C- etc. Two unexcused absences will result in course failure. There will be no
exceptions to this policy.
No provisions will be made for an examination that is missed because of an unexcused absence. An unexcused
absence will result in 0 points 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 as previously described. 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 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.
Tardiness: Students are expected to be on time for class. Late arrivals or early departures are disruptive and
discourteous to faculty, guest lecturers, and peers. Class tardiness and early departures may result in a lowering of
the course grade or in course failure. Tardiness and early departures will result in final grade point deductions as
follows: 5-30 minutes late = 1 point penalty; 31-59 minutes late = 2 point penalty; 60 minutes or more (late) or
early departure = 5 point penalty. More than 10 penalty points for tardiness will result in course failure. Students
who leave class early or don't return after break are subject to the loss of points.
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. Lectures may NOT be recorded.
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
course professor in advance of the need for accommodations. This can be best accomplished by making an
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appointment to meet privately with the course professor early in the semester, or as soon as possible in the event
that a disability is diagnosed during the course of the semester.
Program Progression: Please refer to the current SDSU Graduate Bulletin regarding course grades. APN, NP-CNS;
Midwifery and Women's Health Care NP; Women's Healthcare NP and Midwifery students must successfully
complete NURS 610 to enroll in NURS 654. APN, CNS-NE students must successfully complete NURS 610 to enroll in
NURS 751/753. Nursing Education-Adult Health must successfully complete NURS 501, 610 and 658 before
enrolling in NURS 751 or 646.
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 off-campus 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. "