NURS 5012
Nursing Science and Patterns of Knowing in Advanced
Nursing Practice
School of Nursing
Syllabus – FALL 2015
Excluding materials for purchase, syllabus information may be subject to change. The most up-todate syllabus is located within the course in HuskyCT.
Course and Instructor Information
Course Title: Nursing Science and Patterns of Knowing in Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 3. A grade of B or better in this course is required for progression to the next course.
Format: online
Prerequisites: Graduate status or permission of instructor
Professor: Amy L. Kenefick, PhD, CNM, FNP-BC, APRN
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
Associate Professor, School of Medicine
University of Connecticut
Email: amy.kenefick@uconn.edu
Office Hours/Availability: Mondays 3-5PM, Storrs Hall 311. Best way to reach me is at
amy.kenefick@uconn.edu. I will respond to your email as soon as possible, certainly within 48 hrs.
Course Materials
Required course materials should be obtained before the first day of class.
Texts are available through a local or online bookstore. The UConn Co-op carries many materials that
can be shipped via its online Textbooks To Go service.
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2015). Philosophies and Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice (2 ed.).
Burlington MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Kaakinen, J. R., Coehlo, D. P., Steele, R., Tabacco, A., & Hanson, S. M. (2014). Family health care
nursing: theory, practice, and research (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.
Additional course readings and media are available within HuskyCT, through either an Internet link or
Library Resources
Course Description
An historical, contemporary and futuristic exploration of the art and science of nursing praxis including
patterns of knowing: empirical, ethical, aesthetic, existential and emancipatory. Theories and models
derived from nursing and the social sciences are synthesized for their usefulness in advanced practice
nursing care for individuals, families, and communities to promote health and manage a variety of
problems such as health threats, acute and chronic illnesses, and transitions. Opportunities are provided
for students to synthesize family health concepts for use in clinical practice, scholarship, and research.
Course Objectives
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
1. Examine how personal, professional, societal and cultural values influence the development of the
nurse practice act and a code of ethics.
2. Explore the patterns of knowing in nursing and their integration with contemporary advanced nursing
praxis.
3. Analyze the foundations of traditional and emerging grand and midrange theories and their relevance to
contemporary advanced nursing praxis.
4. Integrate relevant knowledge in nursing and other disciplines as a basis for contemporary advanced
nursing praxis including care of patients, families, and communities.
Course Outline and Calendar
Week of
Module #
Topic
Readings, worksheets and discussions
August 31
1
Foundations of Nursing
Science
Sept 7
2
The Structure and
Function of Theory
Sept 14
3
Interdisciplinary
Philosophies and
Theories
Sept 21
4
Interdisciplinary
Philosophies and
Theories continued
Sept 28
5
Interdisciplinary
Philosophies and
Theories continued
Oct 5
6
Interdisciplinary
Philosophies and
Theories continued
Oct 12
7
Select Nursing Models
and Theories
Oct 19
8
Select Nursing Models
and Theories continued
Butts and Rich text
Ch 1 Philosophy of Science: An Introduction
Ch 2 The Evolution of Nursing Science
Ch 3 The Essentials of the Doctor of Nursing
Practice
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Sept 8
(one day extension because Labor Day is Sept
7)
Ch 4 Theory as Practice
Ch 5 Components and Levels of Abstraction
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Sept 14
Ch 6 Complexity Science and Complex Adaptive
Systems
Ch 7 Critical Theory and Emancipatory Knowing
Ch 8 Feminist Ethics: Some Applicable Thoughts
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Sept 21
Ch 9 Theories and Models in Ethics
Ch 10 Educational and Learning Theories
Ch 11 Health Behavior Theories
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Sept 28
Ch 12 Theories Focused on Interpersonal
Relationships
Ch 13 Environmental Philosophy and Theories
Ch 14 Economic Theories
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Oct 5
Ch 15 Theories of Organizational Behavior &
Leadership
Ch 16 Theoretical Approaches to Quality
Improvement
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Oct 12
Ch 17 Models Focused on Nursing Goals&
Functions
Ch 18 Models Focused on a Systems Approach
Ch 19 Models of Human Existence and Universal
Energy
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Oct 19
Ch 20 Models Focused on Competencies and
Skills
Oct 26
9
Select Nursing Models
and Theories continued
Nov 2
10
Tools for Integrating
and Disseminating
Knowledge
Nov 9
11
Foundations in Family
Health Care Nursing
Nov 16
12
Families Across the
Health Continuum
13
Nursing Care of
Families in Clinical
Areas
Nov 23
Nov 30
Dec 7
Ch 21 Theories Focused on Caring
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Oct 26
Ch 22 Models Focused on Culture
Ch 23 The Praxis Theory of Suffering
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Nov 2
Ch 24 Theory Testing and Theory Evaluation
Ch 25 Using Theory in Evidence-Based Advanced
Practice
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Nov 9
Kaakinen et al. text
Ch1. Family Health Care Nursing: An Introduction
Ch 2. Demography and Family Health
Ch 3. Theoretical Foundations for the Nursing of
Families
Ch 4. Family Nursing Assessment Models
Ch 5. Family Social Policy and Health Disparities
Worksheet and discussion due by Nov 16
Ch 6. Culturally Sensitive Nursing Care of Families
Ch 7. Canadian Context of Family Nursing
Ch 8. Genomics and Family Nursing Across the
Lifespan
Ch 9. Family Health Promotion
Ch 10. Families and Chronic illness
Ch 11. Families in Palliative and End-of Life Care
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Nov 30
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Ch 12. Family Nursing with Childbearing Families
Ch 13. Family Child Health Nursing
Ch 14. Nursing and Families in Adult MedicalSurgical Settings
Ch 15. Gerontological Family Nursing
Ch 16. Family Mental Health Nursing
Ch 17. Families and Community/Public Health
Nursing
Ch 18. Nursing Care of Families in Disaster and
War
Ch 19. Advancing Family Nursing
Worksheet and discussion due by noon on Dec 7
There are no more assignments
.
Course Requirements and Grading
Summary of Course Grading:
Course Components
Weight
Online worksheets
50%
Online discussion posts
50%
Links to worksheets are found in the modules. They are closely linked to the reading assignments. You
may spend as long on them as you want. You may enter and leave the worksheet before submitting it, but
make sure to save your work each time. Worksheets must be completed by the due date or 10% will be
deducted for each day late.
Online discussion posts are also linked to the reading assignments. Questions to start the discussion are
found for each module on the discussion board. Discussion posts must be uploaded to the discussion
board at least one each week by the due date or no credit will be earned.
This is the rubric to be used to grade the discussion posts
Grading rubric for postings: (Thanks to Dr. Robin Miller)
0 Points – Not completed on time
1 Point – The posting is lacking in two areas--thoughtfulness, substance, and/or pertinence.
2 Points – The posting is lacking in one area--thoughtfulness, substance, or pertinence.
3 Points – The posting is thoughtful (indicating careful consideration of the material with reference
to other students’ postings), substantial (has an adequate amount of valuable content – usually 23 paragraphs), and pertinent (relevant to a previous discussion; its connection to a previous
discussion is made clear).
Grading Scale:
Grade
Letter Grade
GPA
93-100
A
4.0
90-92
A-
3.7
87-89
B+
3.3
83-86
B
3.0
80-82
B-
2.7
77-79
C+
2.3
73-76
C
2.0
70-72
C-
1.7
67-69
D+
1.3
63-66
D
1.0
60-62
D-
0.7
<60
F
0.0
Due Dates and Late Policy
All course due dates are identified in the topical outline, posted on the Course Overview and Syllabus
page in the HuskyCT site. Deadlines are based on Eastern Standard Time; if you are in a different time
zone, please adjust your submittal times accordingly. Worksheets must be completed by the due date or
10% will be deducted for each day late. Discussion posts must be uploaded to the discussion board at
least one each week by the due date or no credit will be earned. Please advise the instructor if you
believe you are experiencing extraordinary circumstances. The instructor reserves the right to change
dates accordingly as the semester progresses. All changes will be communicated in an appropriate
manner.
Feedback and Grades
I will make every effort to provide feedback and grades in 48 hours from the assignment due date. To
keep track of your performance in the course, refer to My Grades in HuskyCT.
Student Responsibilities and Resources
As a member of the University of Connecticut student community, you are held to certain standards and
academic policies. In addition, there are numerous resources available to help you succeed in your
academic work. This section provides a brief overview to important standards, policies and resources.
Student Code
You are responsible for acting in accordance with the University of Connecticut's Student Code Review
and become familiar with these expectations. In particular, make sure you have read the section that
applies to you on Academic Integrity:
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Academic Integrity in Undergraduate Education and Research
Academic Integrity in Graduate Education and Research
Cheating and plagiarism are taken very seriously at the University of Connecticut. As a student, it is your
responsibility to avoid plagiarism. If you need more information about the subject of plagiarism, use the
following resources:
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Plagiarism: How to Recognize it and How to Avoid It
Instructional Module about Plagiarism
University of Connecticut Libraries’ Student Instruction (includes research, citing and writing
resources)
Copyright
Copyrighted materials within the course are only for the use of students enrolled in the course for
purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.
Netiquette and Communication
At all times, course communication with fellow students and the instructor are to be professional and
courteous. It is expected that you proofread all your written communication, including discussion posts,
assignment submissions, and mail messages. If you are new to online learning or need a netiquette
refresher, please look at this guide titled, The Core Rules of Netiquette.
Adding or Dropping a Course
If you should decide to add or drop a course, there are official procedures to follow:
● Matriculated students should add or drop a course through the Student Administration System.
● Non-degree students should refer to Non-Degree Add/Drop Information located on the registrar’s
website.
You must officially drop a course to avoid receiving an "F" on your permanent transcript. Simply
discontinuing class or informing the instructor you want to drop does not constitute an official drop of the
course. For more information, refer to the:
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Undergraduate Catalog
Graduate Catalog
Academic Calendar
The University's Academic Calendar contains important semester dates.
Academic Support Resources
Technology and Academic Help provides a guide to technical and academic assistance.
Students with Disabilities
Students needing special accommodations should work with the University's Center for Students with
Disabilities (CSD). You may contact CSD by calling (860) 486-2020 or by emailing csd@uconn.edu. If
your request for accommodation is approved, CSD will send an accommodation letter directly to your
instructor(s) so that special arrangements can be made. (Note: Student requests for accommodation must
be filed each semester.)
Blackboard measures and evaluates accessibility using two sets of standards: the WCAG 2.0 standards
issued by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act issued in the
United States federal government.” (Retrieved March 24, 2013 from
http://www.blackboard.com/platforms/learn/resources/accessibility.aspx)
School of Nursing Policies
As a student in the School of Nursing, you are expected to abide by the following School policies:
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Policy and Procedures for missed exams/coursework (PDF)
Grade Rounding Policy (PDF)
Religious Observant Conflict Policy (PDF)
Cell Phone Usage (PDF)
Social Media Policy (PF)
Procedure for Taking an Exam (PDF)
Clinical Practicum Courses (PDF)
Dress Code Policy (PDF)
Policy Regarding Math Competency (PDF)
Laptops: All students are required to have their own laptop computer with wireless capability
prior to the start of second semester sophomore year for baccalaureate students and prior to the
start of the CEIN program.
Clinical Agency Dismissal Statement: "Removal from clinical by agency personnel is grounds for
failure in the course."
The School of Nursing reserves the right to make final decision regarding clinical assignments
and to modify such clinical assignments to facilitate the student's completion of the course
objectives.
Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Inappropriate Romantic Relationships
The University is committed to maintaining an environment free of discrimination or
discriminatory harassment directed toward any person or group within its community – students,
employees, or visitors. Academic and professional excellence can flourish only when each
member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. All members of the
University community are responsible for the maintenance of an academic and work
environment in which people are free to learn and work without fear of discrimination or
discriminatory harassment. In addition, inappropriate Romantic relationships can undermine the
University’s mission when those in positions of authority abuse or appear to abuse their
authority. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits
discrimination and discriminatory harassment, as well as inappropriate Romantic relationships,
and such behavior will be met with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal
from the University
More information is available at http://policy.uconn.edu/?p=2884.
Sexual Assault Reporting Policy
To protect the campus community, all non-confidential University employees (including faculty)
are required to report assaults they witness or are told about to the Office of Diversity & Equity
under the Sexual Assault Response Policy. The University takes all reports with the utmost
seriousness. Please be aware that while the information you provide will remain private, it will
not be confidential and will be shared with University officials who can help.
More information is available at http://sexualviolence.uconn.edu/.
Evaluation of the Course
Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University's
standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness
(OIRE). Additional informal formative surveys may also be administered within the course as an optional
evaluation tool.