UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for New Course
Please attach proposed Syllabus in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number: NUR 216L
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College:
Health and Human Services
4. Academic Unit:
2
Nursing
5. Student Learning Outcomes of the new course. (Resources & Examples for Developing Course Learning
Outcomes)
Clinical Practice and Prevention
 Provides safe, effective nursing care for patients, family, and groups.
 Implement nursing care using psychiatric nursing body of knowledge, theory and
evidence-based research.
Communication
 Integrates psychiatric nursing theories of communication into practice through engaging
in clinical interactions with patients having complex communication difficulties.
 Evaluates patient’s mental health status using therapeutic communication individualized to
the clinical circumstances.
Critical Reasoning
 Synthesizes knowledge of neurobiology, psychological theory, and nursing theories in
order to plan and prioritize nursing care for patients with alterations in mental health
status.
Global Health
 Examines the impact of health equity and social justice on nursing and health care in a
variety of settings.
Leadership
 Collaborates with the members of the interdisciplinary mental health care team to plan for
and manage patient care, incorporating coordination, and procurement of available
resources.
Professionalism and Professional Values
 Assumes accountability for self by practicing according to the legal and ethical principles
of nursing in various clinical and community settings, and by incorporating psychiatric
nursing standards into practice.
 Integrates empathy and therapeutic use of self in the comprehensive care of patients along
the mental health/mental disorder continuum.
6. Justification for new course, including how the course contributes to degree program outcomes,
or other university requirements / student learning outcomes. (Resources, Examples & Tools for Developing
Effective Program Student Learning Outcomes).
The embedded lab is being separated from the lecture per the direction of university
administration.
Effective Fall 2012
7. Effective BEGINNING of what term and year?
See effective dates calendar.
Fall 2013
8. Long course title: PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING PRACTICUM
(max 100 characters including spaces)
9. Short course title: PSYCH/MENTAL HLTH PRACTICUM
(max. 30 characters including spaces)
10. Catalog course description (max. 60 words, excluding requisites):
Supervised clinical experiences working with individuals with mental health and/or psychiatric
diagnoses, simulations, and clinical conferences provide a variety of opportunities to apply
theory into practice with this population. The emphasis is placed upon using nursing
strategies for promoting, maintaining, and restoring mental health utilizing therapeutic
communication and nursing interventions for patients along the mental health/disorder
continuum.
11. Will this course be part of any plan (major, minor or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)?
Yes
If yes, include the appropriate plan proposal.
No
12. Does this course duplicate content of existing courses?
Yes
No
If yes, list the courses with duplicate material. If the duplication is greater than 20%, explain why
NAU should establish this course.
13. Will this course impact any other academic unit’s enrollment or plan(s)?
If yes, include a letter of response from each impacted academic unit.
14. Grading option:
Letter grade
Yes
Pass/Fail
No
Both
15. Co-convened with:
14a. UGC approval date*:
(For example: ESE 450 and ESE 550) See co-convening policy.
*Must be approved by UGC before UCC submission, and both course syllabi must be presented.
16. Cross-listed with:
(For example: ES 450 and DIS 450) See cross listing policy.
Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.
17. May course be repeated for additional units?
16a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
16b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
Effective Fall 2012
Yes
No
Yes
No
18. Prerequisites:
NUR 208, NUR 208L
If prerequisites, include the rationale for the prerequisites.
19. Co requisites:
NUR 212, NUR 212L NUR 216
If co requisites, include the rationale for the co requisites.
20. Does this course include combined lecture and lab components?
Yes
No
If yes, include the units specific to each component in the course description above.
Lorraine Bartlett-Sung,
Flagstaff
Jason Bradley, Yuma
Abbe King, Flagstaff
Laura Karnitschnig, Flagstaff
Elizabeth Kinsworthy, Tucson
21. Names of the current faculty qualified to teach this course: Enid Rossi, Flagstaff
Answer 22-23 for UCC/ECCC only:
22. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, include a Liberal Studies proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
No
23. Is this course being proposed for Diversity designation?
If yes, include a Diversity proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
No
Scott Galland
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
12/10/2012
Date
Approvals:
Department Chair/ Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
Effective Fall 2012
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC/ECCC Approval
Date
Approved as submitted:
Yes
No
Approved as modified:
Yes
No
Effective Fall 2012
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
School of Nursing
Clinical Syllabus
Course Number and Title: NUR 216L/Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
Credit/Clock Hours: Clinical/Lab: 2 cr. Hrs. (90 clock hours)
Clinical Faculty:
Lorraine Bartlett-Sung, Flagstaff
Jason Bradley, Yuma
Abbe King, Flagstaff
Laura Karnitschnig, Flagstaff
Elizabeth Kinsworthy, Tucson
Enid Rossi, Flagstaff
Course Prerequisites: NUR 208, NUR 208L, NUR 390W
Course Co-requisites: NUR 212, NUR 212L, NUR 216
Course Description: Supervised clinical experiences working with individuals with mental health
and/or psychiatric diagnoses, simulations, and clinical conferences provide a variety of opportunities
to apply theory into practice with this population. The emphasis is placed upon using nursing
strategies for promoting, maintaining, and restoring mental health utilizing therapeutic communication
and nursing interventions for patients along the mental health/disorder continuum.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes
Following completion of Nursing 216L the student will be prepared to:
Clinical Practice and Prevention
 Provides safe, effective nursing care for patients, family, and groups.
 Implement nursing care using psychiatric nursing body of knowledge, theory and evidencebased research.
Communication
 Integrates psychiatric nursing theories of communication into practice through engaging in
clinical interactions with patients having complex communication difficulties.
 Evaluates patient’s mental health status using therapeutic communication individualized to the
clinical circumstances.
Critical Reasoning
 Synthesizes knowledge of neurobiology, psychological theory, and nursing theories in order to
plan and prioritize nursing care for patients with alterations in mental health status.
Global Health
Effective Fall 2012

Examines the impact of health equity and social justice on nursing and health care in a variety
of settings.
Leadership
 Collaborates with the members of the interdisciplinary mental health care team to plan for and
manage patient care, incorporating coordination, and procurement of available resources.
Professionalism and Professional Values
 Assumes accountability for self by practicing according to the legal and ethical principles of
nursing in various clinical and community settings, and by incorporating psychiatric nursing
standards into practice.
 Integrates empathy and therapeutic use of self in the comprehensive care of patients along the
mental health/mental disorder continuum.
Course Structure/Approach
NUR 216 clinical practicum offers a variety of clinical experiences with psychiatric and substance
abuse clients. These include: psychiatric acute care, recovery units, outpatient, service learning and
community experiences. Clinical assessment assignments and planned group clinical conferences
provide the opportunity to fully apply psychiatric and substance abuse body of knowledge in nursing
and interdisciplinary practice.
Required Text: Kneisl and Trigoboff. Contemporary Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 3rd Ed
(2009). Pearson.
Recommended Text: Lipson and Dibble, Eds. ( 2005). Culture and Clinical Care. School of Nursing,
University of California, San Francisco Press.
Students should also have a medication handbook, laboratory handbook and nursing diagnosis
handbook as required in previous nursing courses.
Content Outline for Weekly Group Clinical Conferences
Preparation and active participation in each group clinical conference is required for passing
the clinical practicum. Each discussion focus will incorporate application of theory to nursing
practice. Role playing communication approaches will be featured. The exact schedule of topics
covered will be provided by individual clinical faculty. Topics to be discussed in clinical conferences
include, but are not limited to:
Week 1: Clinical Orientation
Week 2: Relaxation techniques
Week 3: Anxiety Disorders
Week 4: Depressive Disorders
Week 5: Bipolar Disorder
Week 6: Psychotic Disorders
Week 7: Alcohol/Drug Addiction & Withdrawal
Week 8: Crisis Risk Assessment/Suicide Risk Assessment & Safety Planning
Week 9: Mental Health & the Legal System
Effective Fall 2012
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
NUR 216L clinical practicum will be graded with a letter grade using the following weighting for each
clinical assignment. Total points possible are 100.
Clinical Assignment
Points Possible
Clinical Case Study #1
25
Clinical Case Study #2
25
Process Communication Recording 20
Simulation & Skills Building
16
Focused Therapeutic Observation
14
Total
100
1. Two Clinical Case Studies (with the option of a third if one grade is at C or less. The top two
grades will then be posted): Each Clinical Case Study will feature a different psychiatric and/or
substance abuse diagnosis and is worth a possible 25 points each. The total possible points are
50.
2. Process Communication Recording: This clinical assignment includes an initial process, individual
consultation with clinical instructor, and a second submission with revised specific, alternative
communication approaches provided. The total possible points are 20.
3. Simulation & Skills Building Activities: Activities related to the following topics will be graded:
Suicide Assessment and Safety Plan; Mental Status Exam; CIWA Assessment for Alcohol
Detoxification; and Psychiatric Drugs Side Effects Assessment. Each simulation/skills building
session is worth a possible 4 points for a total of 16 possible points.
4. Focused Therapeutic Observations by Clinical Instructors: While students are in the psychiatric
acute care unit, clinical instructors will work with students using the clinical practice rubric in a
formative assessment manner to enhance students’ success. This will be followed by a
summative, graded assessment with no cueing provided by the instructor. The total possible
points are 14.
Due dates for specific clinical assignments will be determined by individual clinical faculty as clinical
rotations vary greatly.
Grading System
The clinical course is assessed using the following School of Nursing grading scale:
Effective Fall 2012
A=
93-100%
B=
84-92%
C=
78-83% - Required for passing
F=
below 78%
In addition, the student must pass the following pass/fail clinical assignments. Each has a guideline
with specific criteria to achieve.




Observation and Participation in Two 12-Step Groups with a written reflection required for both.
Outpatient/Crisis Intake Clinical Reflection on Nursing Role with a written reflection required for
each experience.
Attendance, preparation & engagement in all clinical post conference activities.
Additional clinical experiences may be selected by the clinical instructor, for example volunteering
at a shelter.
NAU STUDENT CLINICAL EVALUATION
CLINICAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CRITERIA
PERFORMANCE RATINGS MUST BE 3 OR ABOVE IN ALL CLINICAL EVALUATION AREAS TO
RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE FOR THE COURSE. FAILURE TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT
WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF 216L.
See Criteria Below on Last Page of Syllabus
NAU, School of Nursing and NUR 216L Course Policies:
Important Notice: There is strict adherence to every part of the NAU Student Handbook and the
NAU School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook.
Attendance Policy
Under NAU Policy, students are expected to attend every session of class in which they are enrolled.
Attendance is considered to be essential to the learning process, as the faculty believes that active
participation and engagement facilitate learning. As you will be responsible for the content in the
lectures, it is to your advantage to attend classes. You are expected to attend ALL CLINICAL
sessions (this INCLUDES LAB SESSIONS AND PRE/POST CONFERENCES). Failure to attend
clinical will prevent you from meeting clinical course objectives. Failure to notify faculty of
absence from clinical (INCLUDING LAB AND POST CONFERENCE) prior to missing or being
late will be considered as unprofessional conduct and will be handled as such. Notification
must be made by phone (we do not have access to e-mail at the clinical sites).
Academic Integrity
The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the
academic community, NAU’s administration, faculty, staff and students are dedicated to promoting an
atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the
education process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms
violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for
conducting themselves in an academically honest manner.
Effective Fall 2012
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic
dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in
keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in NAU’s
Student Handbook.
Plagiarism
All forms of student academic dishonesty, including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic
dishonesty and plagiarism are prohibited and subject to disciplinary action. For further explanation of
policies related to academic dishonesty refer to the School of Nursing Undergraduate Student
Handbook and Northern Arizona University Student Handbook.
Confidentiality Statement
Students must maintain client confidentiality at all times. No discussion regarding clients is
acceptable outside the classroom or clinical setting. In clinical conferences and in the classroom
references to actual client experiences, refer to the client by their initials only.
You may not remove from the clinical setting ANY part of a medical record that staff may tell you is
“extra” and “you just have to cross out their name” (i.e. medication administration record back copies).
These forms contain other identifying information on them and therefore should stay in the facility to
avoid violating patient confidentiality. Too, please be careful what you say in halls, elevators and
bathrooms while in clinical.
Client records are not to be photocopied under ANY circumstances.
Failure to adhere to this policy can result in removal from the clinical experience, the course, and/or
referral in accordance with the communication of concerns process in the NAU School of Nursing
Student Handbook.
You can access the NAU Student Handbook via the following link:
http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbookmanagement.htm
You can access the NAU School of Nursing Student Handbook via the following link:
http://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Academic/CHHS/Nursing/BSN_Handbook.pdf
You can access University policy statements via the following link:
http://www4.nau.edu/avpaa/UCCPolicy/plcystmt.html
Effective Fall 2012