San Diego State University School of Nursing
NURS 608 Syllabus
Nursing in the Healthcare System
Spring 2015
Faculty:
Willa Fields, DNSc, RN, FHIMSS
Home/Office: 858-756-5642
Mobile: 619-925-0450
Email: willa.fields@sbcglobal.net
Do NOT text the instructor
12/22/2014
Nursing in the Healthcare System
N608
Spring 2015
Schedule Number: 22334
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Days: Thursdays
Class Times: 7:00 to 9:40
Class Location: Hardy Tower 183
Professor: Willa Fields, DNSc, RN, FHIMSS
Contact Information:
Office Hours Days: Thursdays
Office Hours Times (and by appointment): 4:00-6:30
Office Hours Location: Adams Humanities 3151
Home/Office: 858-756-5642
Mobile: 619-925-0450
Email: willa.fields@sbcglobal.net
Do NOT text the instructor
Course Overview
Examination of current and evolving health care issues and policies. Analysis of ethical,
political, and social forces underlying delivery of health care. Focus on role of professional
nursing.
The course examines the role of the professional nurse in today’s society. The focus is on the
specific concepts, theories, and issues that confront the nurse in the dynamic health care system.
Emphasis is on the right and responsibility of the professional nurse to be informed about and an
active participant in the development of nursing and the health care system.
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
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Utilize concepts and theories from nursing and other disciplines in the analysis of issues
in nursing and health care systems.
Describe the development and structure of the health care delivery system in the US.
Analyze and critique current models for organizing nursing care delivery across health
care settings.
Analyze the implications for nursing of the changing role of women in society.
Analyze principles of ethical decision-making in nursing practice and health care.
Examine the activities of professional nursing organizations.
Analyze social, economic, cultural and political factors in contemporary society that
affect the practice of nursing, the delivery of health care, and the formation of healthcare
policy.
Synthesize knowledge of power and the political decision-making processes as they
relate to nursing and healthcare policy and reality.
Using theories of leadership, problem solving, and decision-making, identify strategies
for achieving changes in nursing and health care.
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10.
Analyze current roles and contemporary issues in advanced practice nursing.
Enrollment Information
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the School of Nursing graduate program.
Course Materials
Required Textbooks
 American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.) Washington, DC: Author.
o APA Publication Manual Online Tutorials:
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/index.aspx
 Mason,D.J., Leavitt, J.K., & Chaffee, M.W. (2012). Policy & Politics in Nursing and
Health Care. 6th Ed. St.Louis: Saunders.

Required Hardware and Software
 Access to a Windows or Macintosh multimedia computer. Preferably one that meets the
SDSU minimum computing standards (see http://edweb2.net/ldt/currentstudents/computer-requirements/ ) In addition, the following will be needed to support
course participation:
 E-mail system
 Microsoft Word
 Microsoft PowerPoint
 High-speed connection to the Internet
Recommended Hardware and Software
 Backup system for computer files
 USB headset for participating in remote sessions
Blackboard Student Support: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/its/blackboard/student/
Netiquette: http://wwwrohan.sdsu.edu/dept/its/blackboard/student/gettingstarted/netiquette.html
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Course Structure and Conduct
This is a discussion/seminar course with directed readings and discussion; audio-visual
presentations; guest speakers; written and oral assignments; and role playing. Students are
expected to come to class prepared to discuss the topic of the day. Spirited debate, based on
facts, is both expected and desired.
All students are expected to attend the first class session, and at least four additional sessions on
campus. If you are unable to attend a session on campus, you can remotely participate through
Blackboard (USB headset required to verbally participate) or listen to the recorded session at a
more convenient time. Participation will be monitored through Blackboard discussions and
recorded session data.
This course 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 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.
Web Sites of Interest:
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California Healthcare Foundation: http://www.chcf.org/
Commonwealth Fund: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/
Health Care Reform: http://www.healthcare.gov/
Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/
Pew Charitable Trusts: http://www.pewtrusts.org/
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: http://www.rwjf.org/
Portal for Federal rulemaking: www.regulations.gov
The American Nurse Project: http://americannurseproject.com/
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Assignments
Current Events Oral Report
Purpose: The purpose of the current events report is to facilitate the student’s application of
course content to what is being reported in the news (print, radio, TV, or internet based).
Requirements: Review news related to weekly class content. The student is expected to
summarize and critique a current event related to the week’s course content. Critique to include
source, summary of issue, impact on health and health care, and ethical considerations.
Grade: 5% Pass/Fail. Evaluation will be based on the student’s ability to analyze, synthesize,
apply, and critique discussed concepts.
Outside Session
Purpose: The purpose of attending an outside session is to expose the student to the broad range
of public policy and health care issues available beyond NURS 608.
Requirements: Attend at least 2.5 hours of a professional conference, webinar, governmental
hearing, or other education on a topic related to public policy and health care issues. Email a
brief summary of the presentation, length of session, what you gained from the experience, and
how the session related to the course content to willa.fields@sbcglobal.net.
Grade: 5% Pass/Fail. Evaluation will be based on completeness of summary information.
Grading will be pass/fail.
You are strongly encouraged to complete the assignments throughout the semester. Summaries
are due no later than 7:00 PM on the last class.
Late assignments will not be accepted. Students not submitting a letter by the due date will
receive no credit for the assignment.
Policy Letter
Purpose: The purpose of the Policy Letter is to facilitate the student’s ability to analyze,
synthesize, apply, and critique a specific health care policy at the local, state, or federal level.
Requirements: Identify a health care policy/bill/issue currently progressing through the state or
federal government. Write a persuasive letter to an elected official on your position which may
include encouraging the passage or defeat of the policy/bill. Include evidence to support your
position which may include economic, ethical, and societal implications of the policy/bill.
Include any changes you recommend to the policy/bill and your rationale.
You are encouraged to use references beyond the professional literature such as the
Congressional Record or Congressional Committee Testimony.
A copy of your letter and an email receipt from the elected official must be emailed to the
instructor on or before the due date.
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Grade: 5% Pass/Fail. The letter will be evaluated on the clarity and persuasiveness of writing.
Evidence of critical thinking and analysis is expected, as well as your own interpretation,
inferences and rationale about the policy/bill.
You are strongly encouraged to complete the assignments throughout the semester. Summaries
are due no later than 7:00 PM on the last class.
Late assignments will not be accepted. Students not submitting a letter by the due date will
receive no credit for the assignment.
Comment on Federal Rule
Purpose: The purpose of requiring students to comment on a Federal Rule is to facilitate the
student’s ability to analyze, synthesize, apply, and critique a specific health care policy at the
federal level.
Requirements: In a group of no more than three students, identify a Federal Rule open for
public comment at www.Regulations.gov, identify a rule of interest that is open for public
comment, and submit your well thought out comments.
Email the instructor a copy of your submission, with group member names, no later than the last
day of class.
Grade: 5% Pass/Fail. The submission will be evaluated on the clarity and persuasiveness of
writing. Evidence of critical thinking and analysis is expected, as well as your own
interpretation, inferences and rationale about the Federal Rule.
You are strongly encouraged to complete the assignments throughout the semester. Summaries
are due no later than 7:00 PM on the last class.
Late assignments will not be accepted. Students not submitting a letter by the due date will
receive no credit for the assignment.
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Paper
Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to facilitate the student’s ability to analyze, synthesize,
apply, critique, and answer ethical questions and current issues in nursing and health care with
professional experience and literature based evidence and thought.
Requirements: Choose a nursing/health care issue that you consider important. In
approximately ten pages, introduce the topic, state your purpose and position, describe the ethical
system upon which your position rests, and provide a reasoned, logical argument for your
position that also addresses opposing opinions. Provide evidence to support your position from
the professional literature. Your purpose is to persuade others to your point of view using fact,
logic, and ethical decision making. Follow guidelines in the APA Publication Manual.
The paper must be submitted by email to the instructor on or before the due date.
Grade: 60% The paper will be evaluated on the clarity of writing, presentation of the overall
concept to be discussed, organization of the content into topical sub-headings, and incorporation
of evidence-based literature addressing the problem/issue. Evidence of critical thinking and
analysis is expected. Correct spelling, punctuation, sentence/paragraph construction, and APA
style are expected. See grading rubric for specific point allocation.
Late papers will be accepted, but the overall grade of the paper will be dropped five points for
each day late.
Editorial
Purpose: The purpose of the Editorial is to facilitate the student’s ability to analyze, synthesize,
apply, and critique an opposing view to a current issue in nursing and health care.
Requirements: In two double spaced pages or less, on the topic written about in your paper,
write a persuasive editorial arguing the opposite point of view. Include the editorial at the end of
your paper, after the references and on a new page
The editorial must be submitted by email to the instructor on or before the due date.
Grade: 5% Pass/Fail. The editorial will be evaluated on the clarity and persuasiveness of
writing. Evidence of critical thinking and analysis is expected, as well as your own
interpretation, inferences and rationale about the issue. Correct spelling, punctuation, and
sentence/paragraph construction are expected. Since this assignment is an editorial, you do not
need to use APA style.
Late assignments will not be accepted. Students not submitting a letter by the due date will
receive no credit for the assignment.
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Presentation
Purpose: The purpose of the student presentation is to facilitate the student’s speaking ability to
analyze, synthesize, apply, and critique a specific aspect of the course content.
Requirements: In no more than 15 minutes, utilizing PowerPoint slides, students will present on
an assigned topic related to health policy, nursing, and the health care system.
Grade: 10% Letter Grade. Evaluation will be based on instructor and peer ratings of the
presentation. Peers will use the Peer Evaluation Form. A half letter grade will be deducted for
going over the time limit.
You are strongly encouraged to complete the assignments throughout the semester. Summaries
are due no later than 7:00 PM on the last class.
Course Assessment and Grading
For successful completion of NURS 608, students are required to complete the course
requirements listed below. Grade determination and due dates are specified. For late written
assignments, the grade will be dropped a half letter grade for each day late unless prior faculty
approval for an extension has been obtained.
GRADING SCALE
A = 93-100, A-=90-92
B+=87-89, B=83-8, B-=80-82
C+=77-79, C=73-76, C-=70-72
D+=67-69, D=63-66
F=62 or less
Rounding points are at the instructor’s discretion.
REQUIREMENT
Current Events
Outside Session
Policy Letter
Comment on Federal Rule
Paper
Editorial
World Café
Presentation
PERCENT OF GRADE
5% (pass/fail)
5% (pass/fail)
5% (pass/fail)
5% (pass/fail)
60%
5% (pass/fail)
5% (pass/fail)
10%
DUE DATE
arranged
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/7
arranged
All assignments are due by 7:00 PM. Assignments submitted on the due date and after 7:00 PM will be
considered late. Five points will be deducted from grade for each day late.
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Other Course Policies
STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES
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 I cannot provide
accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from
Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
PLAGIARISM
Students are responsible for abiding by the University policy on plagiarism, written below and
found at http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/catalog/2013-14/Graduate/060070_University%20Policies.pdf. Papers with plagiarized content will have the grade reduced by
25 points. I also strongly encourage you to take the paraphrasing and plagiarism tutorials on the
SDSU library website: http://library.sdsu.edu/guides/sub2.php?id=336&pg=354.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of
another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the
university as one's own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit to the
appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work,
either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas,
statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks
when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof;
(d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another
person's artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings,
or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one's own work papers purchased from research
companies.
Disciplinary Action
Cheating and plagiarism in connection with an academic program at the university may
warrant two separate and distinct courses of disciplinary action that may be applied
concurrently in response to a violation of this policy: (a) academic sanctions, such as
grade modifications; and (b) punitive sanctions, such as probation, suspension, or
expulsion.
Academic sanctions are concerned with the student's grades and are the responsibility of
the instructor involved. Punitive sanctions are concerned with the student's records and
status on campus and shall be the responsibility of the university president or designated
representative. The Coordinator of Judiciary Procedures shall be the president's
representative in matters of student discipline.
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WEEKLY SCHEDULE
All web sites tested and functioning on December 22, 2014
DATE
TOPIC/CLASS ACTIVITIES
Introductions
ASSIGNMENT (to be completed prior to
class session)
Bring to class:
 Personal goals and priorities for N608
Course Overview
Identify personal goals and priorities
for N608
Ethical Theories for Biomedical
Decision Making
1/22
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 1
ANA Code of Ethics:
http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategori
es/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses.
aspx
Policy, Politics, and Nursing
Current Events
Epstein, E.G., Delgado, S., (Sept 30, 2010)
"Understanding and Addressing Moral
Distress" OJIN: The Online Journal of
Issues in Nursing Vol. 15, No. 3,
Manuscript 1.
doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol15No03Man01
Available at:
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCa
tegories/EthicsStandards/Courage-andDistress/Understanding-MoralDistress.html
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 1 continued
Historical Perspective on Nursing
Political exercise
1/29
The Future of Nursing Report
How Government Works
2/5
Guest Speaker: David Roberts, San
Diego County Board of Supervisor
The Future of Nursing IOM Report
 http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/TheFuture-of-Nursing-Leading-ChangeAdvancing-Health.aspx
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 5
Current Events
View School House Rock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nKyih
oV9z8
Student Presentations
Bring peer review forms to class.
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DATE
TOPIC/CLASS ACTIVITIES
Current Events
2/12
ASSIGNMENT (to be completed prior to
class session)
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 6
State Boards of Nursing
Bring peer review forms to class.
Professional Nursing Organizations
Student Presentations
Current Events
2/19
Advanced Practice Nursing/Nursing
Education
APRN Consensus Model
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 7
View APRN Consensus Model
Information:
http://www.nursingworld.org/consensusmo
del
Student Presentations
2/26
Attend an outside session, webinar, or
some other forum during the semester
on an issue related to course content.
Current Events
3/5
Population Health and Health
Disparities in the USA
Student Presentations
Health Insurance in the United States:
Affordable Care Act/Covered
California
3/12
Nora Vargas, Planned Parenthood of
the Pacific Southwest
Current Events
Bring peer review forms to class.
Submit a brief summary of presentation,
what you gained from the experience, and
how the session related to the course
content.
Email summary to
willa.fields@sbcglobal.net.
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 2
Bring peer review forms to class.
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 2 continued
Take ACA quiz: http://kff.org/quiz/healthreform-quiz/
Review video: http://kff.org/healthreform/video/health-insurance-explainedyoutoons/
Student Presentations
Bring peer review forms to class.
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DATE
TOPIC/CLASS ACTIVITIES
Current Events
ASSIGNMENT (to be completed prior to
class session)
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 2 continued
ICD-9/ICD-10
3/19
Bring peer review forms to class.
Medicare
Prescription Drugs
Bring peer review forms to class.
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 3
Student Presentations
Current Events
3/26
Research and Politics
Bring peer review forms to class.
Student Presentations
4/2: Spring Break
Current Events
4/9
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 2 continued
International Health Systems
Bring peer review forms to class.
Student Presentations
Current Events
4/16
Nursing Workforce Issues
Student Presentations
Current Events
4/23
Bring peer review forms to class.
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 4 continued
Nursing Unions
Student Presentations
Current Events
4/30
Mason, Leavitt, & Chafee
 Unit 4
Bring peer review forms to class.
Bring peer review forms to class.
Nurse-Physician Relationships
Viewing the movie Wit
Student Presentations
Health Policy: The World Café
Review course materials.
Bring snacks to share with class.
5/7
Paper and Editorial due by 7:00 PM.
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N608 Paper
Grading Rubric –
Student:
Description
Pts
APA
Citations written correctly per APA Manual
5
References listed correctly per APA Manual
5
Paper formatted per APA Manual
5
Content
Introduction
5
Clear, concise purpose statement
5
Well developed, referenced, body of paper
20
Ethical discussion
5
Pro/Con discussion
5
Clear, concise conclusion
5
Paper logically developed
10
Clear writing style, use of good grammar and punctuation
10
Synthesis of material
10
Content grounded in current evidence
10
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS:
100
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Your
Score
Peer Evaluation Form
Class Presentations
Presenter: ______________________
Date: _______________
Presentation Title: _____________________________________________
Please complete the following information about your classmate’s presentation. This information
will be used to provide positive feedback and areas for growth for executive level presentations.
Thank You.
Needs
Improvement
Please rate the presentation in the
following areas.
1
2
Excellent
3
Innovative ideas
Logically and clearly developed
Synthesized classroom and evidenced-based
materials
Included relevant and current references
Professional and articulate presentation
PowerPoint slides enhanced material
Answered questions well
Please comment on what you particularly liked about the presentation?
What areas could the presenter improve upon?
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4
5
NA