Pediatric Nursing, N356
Fall 2014
Schedule Number: 22206-22213
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Days: Tuesday
Class Times: 0700-0905
Class Location: AH2801
Professor: Carolyn Walker
Contact Information: cwalker@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours Days: Tuesday
Office Hours Times (and by appointment): 0915-1115
Office Hours Location: HT 174
Course Overview
Course Overview
This course is designed to provide the student with theoretical content and nursing skills essential for the implementation of
child health nursing. The course content is presented in terms of biopsychosocial stressors that affect the development of the
child. Emphasis is placed upon the utilization of the nursing process to assist the child and family to adapt to the stressors.
Laboratory experiences will be designed to foster competences in the use of the nursing process in assisting children and
families.
Course Description
Pediatric Nursing is the study of stressors affecting the child on the health-illness continuum. Nursing theory and laboratory
focuses on the application of the nursing process in providing preventative, supportive and restorative therapeutic modalities in
a variety of settings. Emphasis is on the child in the family and the necessary interventions to promote adaptation of the child
to attain, maintain, or regain an optimum level of health.
Outcomes
1) Discusses historical perspectives and present trends in child health care, nationally and internationally.
1, 10, 13
1.1 Defines the role of the pediatric nurse and the pediatric advanced practice nurse.
1.2 Analyze the impact of current local, national or international events on the growth, development, and health of
children.
2) Applies knowledge of growth and development to the care of children.
1
2.1 Assesses the physical, mental, and emotional status of children based on the age and stage of growth and
development.
2.2 Applies knowledge of growth and development in providing age-appropriate care to each child.
2.3 Provides anticipatory guidance to parents regarding normal expectations of each stage of growth and
development.
2.4 Discusses and demonstrates the importance of play in enhancing normal growth and development both at
home and in the acute care setting.
3) Incorporates health promotion and disease prevention teaching strategies into nursing care for the child and
8, 10, 12
family.
3.1 Promotes regular, periodic evaluation of the child’s health status.
3.2 Identifies and analyzes causes of common injuries at each developmental stage.
3.3 Incorporates safety precautions to prevent injury in the well child and the hospitalized child.
3.4 Provides anticipatory guidance to parents for injury prevention based on the child's developmental level.
3.5 Describes nursing roles in the identification, treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect.
4) Demonstrates cultural competence and respect for diversity in providing compassionate, caring nursing care to
3
children and their families.
5) Utilizes the nursing process in fostering effective parenting.
1, 2, 4
5.1 Describes social and cultural influences on parenting.
5.2 Explains various parenting behaviors such as parenting styles, disciplinary patterns, and communication skills.
5.3 Identifies evidence of altered parenting and families at risk for child abuse and develops a management plan to
meet the individual family's needs.
5.4 Appreciates sources of parental anxiety related to their role and
responsibilities.
6) Applies the nursing process, critical thinking, and evidence based practice interventions to develop a
1, 2, 3, 4
comprehensive plan for nursing care that will facilitate the adaptation of children and parents to acute illness,
chronic disease, and the experience of hospitalization.
6.1 Assesses the strengths, weaknesses, and adaptive mechanisms of
each family.
6.2 Discusses major stressors caused by illness and hospitalization at each stage of development and carries out
nursing interventions that facilitate adaptation and coping.
6.3 Demonstrates family-centered care in all phases of the nursing process.
6.4 Discusses the differences in providing care to children and families in the ambulatory care settings, school,
hospital, and home.
6.5 Develops awareness of community resources for child health.
6.6 Describes a continuum of care involving home-hospital-community for acute and chronic illnesses.
6.7 Delivers safe, competent, caring nursing care to infants and children.
7) Applies knowledge of the physiological effects of common childhood diseases into a plan of care for each child
and family.
7.1 Recognizes the physiological differences between children and adults.
7.2 Utilizes critical thinking to outline a plan of care for pathophysiological conditions effecting children with
respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, immunologic, neurologic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine,
and hematologic-oncologic dysfunction.
7.3 Evaluates the nursing role in the assessment and management of fluid and electrolyte disturbance in children.
7.4 Utilizes the nursing process and research findings in the assessment and management of infants and children in
pain.
7.5 Describes common genetic and congenital conditions affecting children and the implications for nursing care.
8) Apply knowledge of end of life issues to clinical care of children and families facing death.
8.1 Discuss aspects of suffering for patients and families facing a life-threatening illness or event.
8.2 Identify causes of common symptoms associated with end of life processes.
8.3 Describe assessment of symptoms at end of life.
8.4 Describe interventions that can prevent or diminish symptoms at end of life.
8.5 Explain ethical issues and dilemmas that may arise in end of life care and define the role of the nurse
in supporting ethical practice.
2, 5, 9
1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 7, 10,
13
9) Analyzes the relationship of research to the development of evidence based practices.
9.1 Identifies clinical problems emerging from the nursing process that require further research.
9.2 Evaluates the contributions of research to the practice of parent child nursing.
9.3 Demonstrates beginning understanding of the application of clinical research.
9
10) Demonstrates professional development
10.1 Works in coordination with the interdisciplinary health team to provide comprehensive care to the child and
family.
10.2 Models professional roles in the clinical setting and classroom.
10.3 Demonstrates accountability for one’s own learning
10.4 Consistently utilizes professional values, behaviors and standards in clinical practice.
6, 7, 10,
11
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
Real Life Relevance
Relation to Other Courses
Enrollment Information
Please include information about enrollment for the course including, but not limited to:

Prerequisites: Nursing 300, 302, 304, Child and Family Development 270 or Psychology 230.

Adding/Dropping Procedures: Per University Policy
Course Materials
Please provide information about the materials for the course including, but not limited to:
Required Textbooks
Hockenberry, M.J. Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and
Children, ed.9, St. Louis, Mosby Year Book, 2011.
Janney, C. Calculation of Drug Dosages, ed. 7, San Francisco: Homestead Publishing, 2009.
Highly Recommended Textbook
Hockenberry, M.J. (2011). Study Guide for Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children. St. Louis: Mosby.
Hockenberry, M.J. ed.8, Wong’s Clinical Manual of
Pediatric Nursing, St. Louis: Mosby Year Book, 2011.
Options for Accessing Course Materials (eg., SDSU Library Circulation/Course Reserves)
Videos: Available in in School of Nursing Media Lab
Course Structure and Conduct
Please provide information about the structure of the course including, but not limited to:

Style of the Course: This course consists of lecture and a clinical laboratory experience. The lecture time is mixed
between traditional lecture style, Lecture-Discussion, online, and Classroom Activity. The clinical laboratory
experience takes place at Rady Children’s Hospital on the medical and surgical units.

Individual coursework is required throughout the semester including a research critique and multiple patient care
worksheets.

Technology: Blackboard is utilized for all course materials, communication, and grades.
Course Assessment and Grading
Please explain how the course will be assessed and graded by including, but not limited to:

Exam 1- week 5- 50 points (25%)

Exam 2- Week 10- 50 points (25%)

Exam 3- Finals week- 65 points (32.5%)

Research critique paper due week 7- 10 points (5%)

Patient care worksheets due weekly- 20 points (10%)

Attendance/Participation/Professionalism - 5 points (2.5%)

Grading Scale:
A 186-200 points (93-100%)
A- 180-185 (90-92%)
B+ 174-179 (87-89%)
B 166-173 (83-86%)
B- 160-165 (80-82%)
C+ 154-159 (77-79%)
C 146-153 (73-76%)
C- 140-145 (70-72%)
D 134-139 (67-69%)
F 0-133 (less than 67%)

Clinical evaluation must indicate satisfactory
achievement of clinical objectives. Failure in
clinical constitutes a failure in course.

Assuming that (1) all course requirements are met,
(2) must have an average of 70% on exams, and (3) that clinical has been passed satisfactorily, the grade of the course
reflects the number of points earned.

Excused Absence Make-up Policies: Arrangements must be made with clinical instructor to make up missed hours.
RESEARCH CRITIQUE PAPER
DUE: Week 7
You may select from the recent literature in pediatric nursing a report of a specific nursing research project in an area of
interest to you. Write a report using the following outline as your guide. You will give an oral report of this research to your
lab group in a post-conference scheduled by your lab instructor.
Avoid duplication by giving your instructor the name and reference of the article you have chosen (in writing for her
approval by Feb. 24). Be sure that you select an article that has implications for pediatric nursing practice and include a
copy of your research article with your paper.
Note: Plagiarism is the use of another person's ideas, writings, etc. and passing them off as one's own. Use language that is
your own; do not follow the original work sentence for sentence. You may paraphrase, but you still need to reference it
RESEARCH CRITIQUE
I. Purpose (Why the study was done) (10%)
II. Relevance to pediatric nursing (15%)
III. Results (State major findings) (20%)
IV. Application (40%)
Summarize the author's conclusions and implications.
In addition, describe how you would apply the results of this research, personally and specifically, to the practice of
pediatric nursing. Be creative and convincing.
V. Critique (15%)
Is the sample size adequate and representative of the population?
Does the review of literature indicate the need for such a study and lead to the hypothesis or research question?
Was the methodology clearly presented and reproducible so that one could repeat this study?
Does the discussion include other variables that might have influenced the results?
Be sure to justify your response.
The following are examples of nursing journals likely to contain pediatric nursing research: Nursing Research (some
pediatrics); Maternal Child Nursing Journal; Journal of Pediatric Nursing; Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing;
Western Journal of Nursing Research (some peds); Journal of Pediatric Health Care; Pediatric Nursing; Journal of Pediatric
Oncology Hematology Nursing (JOPOHN)
Other Course Policies
Class Participation
Class participation is the essence of any adult learning experience. The learning experience is enriched by those that actively
engage and not solely influenced or born by faculty. We each share in the responsibility for achieving the defined objectives.
Therefore, student grades will reflect the degree of participation and overall contribution each student makes in achieving the
goals of the course.
Attendance
Starting with the second day of class, I will display a list of about five randomly selected students’ names at the beginning,
middle, or end of class. These students will need to let me know that they are present. Since names are randomly drawn, you
can be chosen more than once. If you are called a second time and you are absent, you will lose half of your points. Do not
come up at the end of class to ask if your name was on the list. Attendance is worth half (2.5 points of your total grade) of your
Class Participation Grade.
Criteria for Measuring Class Participation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Be present and on time
Turn off cellular and/or mobile devises
Come prepared by completing all reading in the text and on blackboard
Complete all in-class assignments
Respect the people and the process
Ask relevant questions
Provide input/insight through personal reference and experience
8.
9.
10.
Share additional information and materials (articles, etc.) that “add value” and enrich the learning
experience for all involved
Attendance will be assessed using class sign rosters and weekly discussion questions.
Absences authorized in advance by the course coordinator can be made up
through the following process. First absence – submit a 1 page essay on
professionalism in nursing with 2 references within 1 week of missed class.
Second absence – submit a 2 page reflective essay on your growth as a
professional nurse during your tenure in nursing school, include at least one
example of when you demonstrated professionalism in your practice.
Honor Conduct with Schoolwork
Definitions:
o Cheating – intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials or information, sharing information about
previously completed tests or assignments or using others’ work during testing. This includes asking questions from another
student, looking at another student’s test or any talking during the exam (other than with faculty). In addition, any student who
provides answers to the test in any way such as showing their answers will be equally responsible for the cheating.
o Plagiarism – the reproduction of ideas, words or statements of another work without acknowledgement. This also includes
the use of past students’ papers. Students are responsible for insuring that they properly credit all work and are consistent with
APA manual and guidelines for what constitutes plagiarism.
o Falsification and Fabrication – intentional and unauthorized falsification of any information or citation is not allowed.
o Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty – permitting or attempting to help another to violate the academic conduct.
o Students who engage in any of the above conduct are at risk for substantial points or zero being given for assignment or exam
and possible failure in that class.
• Academic Misconduct: “…falsely representing a student's academic performance: cheating, plagiarizing, unauthorized
collaborating on coursework, stealing course examinations or materials, falsifying records or data, or intentionally assisting
another individual in any of the above….” This includes such behaviors as using a prior students’ paper or clinical material and
presenting it as one’s own. In addition, falsifying clinical data and not giving proper credit to authors in writing papers,
presentations and other. This holds true for any work submitted to lecture, clinical etc. (It is at the discretion of the faculty
member to document such behavior in student’s file, or to remove as many points as he/she sees fit).
Examples:
1. Plagiarism: Students using other students, teachers or authors’ work or parts of their work as their own is considered an
infraction of policy. Buying of papers on the WEB or other sources to use as one’s own work or using any parts of prior
students’ papers is also considered an infraction. Students should also consult APA manual for further definitions of plagiarism.
2. Cheating: Students are not to engage in sharing answers to exams, looking at other students’ exams, showing their answers
to other students or cheating in any other way. In addition, any student leaving the classroom with the exam is also considered
an infraction.
Students who engage in either of the above conduct are at risk for course failure.
Disclaimer
Information Regarding Off-Campus Course Work
This course requires 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.
Background Policy
Clinical Experience and Background Investigations
In today’s climate most hospitals in our area require background screening on all individuals providing care to patients. In
compliance with this requirement you may be asked to have a background screening completed before the start of any clinical
experience. You may be responsible for the cost of the background check. You must be willing to participate in any investigation
and give permission for the results to be provided to the School of Nursing when requested. If at any time you fail the
screening, you will be removed from the clinical situation and may not be eligible for placement in another hospital institution
for the remainder of the academic semester. The Undergraduate Program Committee will review your case to determine
whether you are eligible to continue the nursing program, and if so, the timeline for returning to the clinical area. Failing a
screening may be grounds for disqualification from the undergraduate nursing program
Students with Disabilities
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.