SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
NURSING FUNDAMENTALS – N 206
SPRING 2015 COURSE SYLLABUS
Lecture: Thursdays 10:15am - 12:55pm
Clinical Days: M, W, or F
Lecture Room: Adams Humanities 2108
Campus Labs: Adams Humanities 2132
Clinicals: San Diego County Hospitals
Course Coordinator: Prof. Nancy Lischke
Email: nlischke@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Location: Adams Humanities 3183
Office Hours: Thursday after lecture, TBA
Office Phone: 619-594-6341
Clinical Instructors: Blackboard – Faculty
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Catalog Description
NURSING 206, Nursing Fundamentals (5 unit course)
LECTURE: two hours and 40 minutes per week
LABORATORY/CLINICAL: 90 hours
PREREQUISITES: Admission to the nursing program and
concurrent registration in Client Assessment (N 202)
Purpose and Course Content/Real Life Relevance/Relation to Other Courses
An essential component of the professional nursing role is the designing of approaches to safe and
compassionate patient care. This course provides the student with basic knowledge of the components
of the nursing process. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking with differentiation of assessment
variables and their impact on diagnosis, planning, and implementation of care. Integrated throughout
the course are principles of skill performance, patient safety, health teaching, and pharmacology.
Hospital clinicals include experiences with patients having a variety of nursing diagnoses requiring
determination of differential priorities in planning and implementing care. Nursing Fundamentals
provides the foundation for patient care practice and theory upon which the core of all other nursing
courses is built.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Develop awareness of the professional discipline of nursing.
2. Exhibit behavior consistent with that of the beginning professional nurse.
3. Communicate appropriately in the clinical area.
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply the nursing process.
5. Implement the principles of teaching/learning.
6. Exhibit awareness of the significance of nursing research.
7. Apply principles of asepsis appropriately.
8. Apply knowledge of pharmacology and medication administration to the clinical area.
9. Utilize appropriate nursing interventions to ensure a safe and comfortable patient environment.
10. Utilize appropriate nursing interventions to maintain or restore integumentary integrity.
11. Demonstrate principles of correct body mechanics while caring for patients.
12. Demonstrate knowledge of nursing interventions necessary to promote or restore
musculoskeletal integrity.
13. Apply the principles necessary to promote and support adequate elimination.
14. Understand the principles of optimal nutrition.
15. Apply knowledge o adequate oxygenation for patient who do not require ventilatory assistance.
16. Demonstrate the ability to care for patients who require surgical intervention.
17. Apply knowledge of fluid requirements.18. Demonstrate the ability to care for patients with sleep
disorders.
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
Admission to the University and the School of Nursing Program are necessary in order to attend the
lecture class and participate in the campus labs and hospital clinicals. “Crashing” the course is not
allowed. Auditing permission must be obtained from the Course Coordinator.
Add/Drop Procedure: Adding the class is coordinated with the SON Undergraduate Advisor.
Add/drop deadlines are consistent with the University Add/Drop Policy.
See University Policies in the General Catalog .
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Hard Copy References
Ackley, B. & Ladwig, G. (2014). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidenced-based guide to planning care.
(10th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby/Elsevier
Janney, C. (2009). Calculation of drug dosages. (7th ed.). Templeton: T J Designs
Lewis, S., Dirksen, S., & Heitkemper, M. (2014). Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of
clinical problems. (9th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby/Elsevier
Pagana, K. & Pagana, T. (2014). Mosby’s manual of diagnostic and laboratory tests. (5th ed.),
St. Louis: Mosby/Elsevier
Taylor, C., Lillis, C., LeMone, P., & Lynn, P. (2011). Fundamentals of nursing. (7 th ed.),
Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Clinical Syllabus: ready week 7
DVD access – See Blackboard for information on videos and SDSU Library Reserves
Nursing Central Software Resources – F.A. Davis Publisher - Infomatics (N 200)
Starter Kits Items for Campus Labs – purchased through CNSA
OPTIONAL COURSE TEXTBOOK
Nugent, P and Vitale, B. (2012). Test success: test-taking techniques for beginning nursing students. (6th ed.),
Philadelphia: FA Davis
COURSE STRUCTURE
Traditional Lecture and Lecture-Discussion
Blackboard and Nursing Central app
Campus Lab:
Discussion/Demonstration
Individual and Group Activity Scenarios
Management of Hospital Equipment/Technology
Clinicals:
Individual and Teamwork Patient Care Delivery
Electronic Charting
EVALUATION AND GRADING
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Evaluation of student progress in the course will be determined by exams, quizzes,
homework assignments, nursing care worksheets, and attendance.
A minimum of 350 points must first be obtained from all exams to pass the course.
Once the minimum criteria of 350 points is met, all points earned will be added for a total.
Both a passing grade in theory and a satisfactory clinical evaluation are necessary to pass.
Extra credit is not an option in this course
No additional points will be given because of clinical performance.
Students receiving a course grade of C- (minus), D, or F cannot progress to second semester.
There are no plus or minus course grades given except in the case of a C minus.
C minus means that the student’s total points fell within the C range of 455-519 but
that the minimum criteria of 350 points for the four exams was not met.
Point Distribution
Abbreviation/Conversion Quiz
Medication Administration Record Assignment
Drug Calculation Assignment
IV Drug Calculation Assignment
Comprehensive Drug Calculation Assignment
Drug Calculations Quiz
Medication Quiz
Student Care Plan
Nursing Care Plan
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
Final Exam (Comprehensive)
650 Points Total
30
given during first campus lab
0/5
due second campus lab
0/5
due second campus lab
0/5
due third campus lab
0/5
due third campus lab
25
given fourth campus lab
25
given last campus lab
25
due during hospital clinical
25
due during hospital clinical
100
100
100
200
Course Letter Grade Point Ranges: Points will not be changed to a percentage
A = 585-650 points
B = 520-584 points
C = 455-519 points
D = 390-454 points
F = 389 or less points
Theory Grade: Any student who has an average of 60 points from Exams 1 and 2 will not be allowed to
continue to the clinical portion of the course. The major fundamental nursing interventions, rationales,
and theory pertinent to safe patient care will have been covered by these two exams. Inability to
comprehend theory in these areas makes it unsafe for any student to participate in patient care without
constant instructor supervision. This is not a realistic option due to the number of students in each
clinical. Therefore, the student will be given a grade of C- and dropped from the course.
Point Deductions
Clinical Journal: Late journals will not be accepted and 5 points will be deducted each time a journal is
late. Late journals can make the difference of a letter grade in the course!
Unprofessional Behavior: 15 points maximum will be deducted for unprofessional behavior. This point
deduction will be per instructor discretion. See examples of Professional Behaviors
Exams
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Exams include content from lecture, assigned readings, videos, and campus laboratory.
Scantrons will be needed for the exams.
Exam I: Full ParSCORE Student Enrollment Sheet (Form No. F-288-PAR-L)
Exams II, III, and Final Exam: Half ParSCORE Test Form (Form No. F-289-PAR-L)
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No provision will be made for exams missed because of unexcused absences. Unless a prior
arrangement for an excused absence is obtained, a grade of F (0%) will be given for the exam that
is missed. To be excused, a written physician’s note is needed for an absence related to illness.
On the day of return, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the course coordinator to arrange
the exam make-up.
Study Guides: See student outcomes at the beginning of each lecture outline
Final Exam: The final exam will not be given to students who fail the clinical
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Drug Calculations Quiz
1. 100% must be achieved on this quiz to administer medications to patients.
2. No calculators are allowed during quizzes or exams.
3. The Drug Calculations Quiz will be given at the beginning of the Wound Lab
4. Your drug calculation assignments are preparation for this quiz.
5. The grade you receive on this quiz counts toward you course grade
Drug Calculation Quiz Retakes
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Retakes are required for students not achieving 100 % on the official quiz.
Retakes will be taken in the Skills Lab N 397. Retake schedule is on Blackboard.
Homework assignments will be given for retakes. The homework must be submitted
immediately before taking the “retake.”
If a third retake is necessary, discuss this with your clinical instructor.
Students not passing the 3rd retake cannot participate in the total patient care experience.
Medication administration is not allowed unless the student shows drug calculation
competency. A mandatory requirement for passing the hospital clinical is the ability to
prepare and administer medications safely
Examples of Professional Behaviors (not inclusive)
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Respectful behavior and appropriate verbal/non-verbal interactions with instructors, patients,
hospital staff, peers.
Completed assignments show quality work and are submitted on time.
No laptop, texting, or cell phone usage in lecture, campus lab, or the hospital
Adherence to SON dress/hygiene code for clinical.
Technical skills preparedness for patient interventions learned in campus lab.
Adherence to patient confidentiality (HIPAA) and patient safety measures
Prompt replies to emails sent by instructors
Student Contract: A student contract will be initiated upon the discretion of the course
coordinator or clinical instructor for any student behaviors considered unprofessional during
lecture, campus labs, or hospital clinicals. The student must meet the outcomes agreed upon by
the instructor and student by the date designated in the contract for successful completion of the
course.
ABSENCE / TARDINESS/MAKE-UP POLICIES
No make-up in another section is allowed for campus lab or hospital absences
Tardiness/Absence Policy for Campus Labs and Hospital Clinicals
a.
a student is considered “tardy” if arrival to campus lab or the hospital clinical is
more than 5 minutes past the designated arrival time
b.
it is the instructor’s discretion to send the student home from the hospital with an
unexcused absence if any tardiness interferes with a smooth transition of
patient care responsibilities from the night shift such as a missed change of shift
report, taking morning vital signs “late,” a “late” initiation of patient assessment
c.
first time tardinessreminder; second time  signed statement to be placed in
student file; third time unexcused absence
d.
if the student receives an unexcused absence during campus lab, then the student
will remain in campus lab so as not to miss the material being presented
e.
if the student receives an unexcused absence while in a hospital clinical, the student will
be sent home; there is no make-up for missed clinical days
f.
any combination of campus lab and hospital absences (excused or unexcused) totaling
two will constitute failure in the clinical portion of N 206
Campus Laboratory - Weeks 2-8: Lab begins promptly at 0700 and may go until 1400-1430
Guidelines for Missed Content
a.
The student must assume sole responsibility for campus lab content missed.
b.
The student must submit detailed notes on all videos pertinent to the campus lab missed.
If no videos were assigned for that campus lab, then the student will be given an
individual assignment from the clinical instructor.
c.
The student must make two skills lab practice appointments to return demonstrate
skills that were practiced in the lab that the student missed. The student must come prepared
to these practice sessions understanding the rationales and the procedures as described in the
fundamentals textbook.
Hospital Clinical – Weeks 8-15: Clinical begins between 0630-0700 and ends at 1500
a.
Hospital Orientation is mandatory
b.
Clinical Orientation Exercise, Nursing Care Worksheets, Care Plans (See Clinical Syllabus)
1. Clinical Orientation Exercise: Failure to complete the entire exercise will result in an unexcused
absence.
2. Nursing Care Worksheets: Students will select their own patient the day before clinical and
complete a worksheet on their patient. Worksheets must be completed prior to the morning
of clinical, or an unexcused absence will be given and patient care not allowed.
3. Care Plans: Two care plan exercises are to be submitted during the clinical portion of this
course.
OTHER COURSE POLICIES
Plagiarism: Students caught in the act of plagiarizing will have their course grade dropped by
two letter grades such as from a B to a D. As defined by the Webster New College Dictionary, to
plagiarize is “to steal and use (the ideas or writings of another) as one’s own.” Refer to the
Undergraduate Student Handbook: http://nursing.sdsu.edu/miscfiles/undergradhandbook.pdf
Students Repeating N 206
The course coordinator reserves the right to change the clinical lab placement selected in the online registration process by students who are repeating N 206.
Student Dress Code for Campus Lab: Clean hair, clean and conservative clothes: no “revealing” tops or bare
midriffs and no shorts, no wearing caps/hats, no flip-flops
Student Dress Code/Hygiene Guidelines for Hospital- see Undergraduate Student Handbook
Clearance Form: Submit this form to your clinical instructor no later than week 6. This form is obtained
from the Admissions Coordinator and clears you to participate in the care of patients. It verifies that your
malpractice insurance, CPR, HIPAA, immunizations, health history requirements, etc. have been met.
You may not attend hospital orientation or take care of patients without this clearance. Any absences
incurred as a result of not being “cleared” will be considered unexcused absences.
Student Disability
Students who need disability accommodation should provide documentation of their disability
to Student Disability Services (Calpulli Center, Suite 3101; 619-594-6473), and receive
authorization for academic or clinical accommodations. After accommodations have been
authorized by SDS, students are responsible for notifying faculty in advance of the need for
accommodation. This can best be 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.
N 206 Off-Campus Activities
This course requires students to participate in activities that are performed off campus (such as
trips to health care facilities and medical library research) in order to satisfy course requirements.
Participation in such activities may result in accidents or personal injury. Students participating
in the event 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.
Readmission to the School of Nursing
Students who fail two concurrent nursing courses the first semester of the nursing major will not be
readmitted to the nursing program.
Students who do not pass one nursing course first semester will be considered for readmission the
following semester on space available basis if requested. See the Undergraduate Student Handbook for
further readmission information. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Undergraduate Advisor.