GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY
College OF HEALTH SCIENCES
School of Nursing
Undergraduate Courses
Summer 2014
Course Prefix and
Number
NRSG 3140
Prequisite
Admission to GCSU and Licensure as a
Registered Nurse
Course Title
Health Assessment
Lecture Hours
2
Lab Hours:
2
Contact Hours:
Online % 95
Face-to Face % 5
Faculty
Leslie Moore, PhD, RN, CNE, MBA
4 hrs/week
Credit Hours:
3
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
204 Parks Memorial
(O) 478 445-3910
Email: Georgia View Vista
Leslie.Moore@gcsu.edu
Faculty Office Hours
Online by appointment
Required Text(s)
Required text
ISBN#: 978-0-7817-8160
Author(s) or Editor(s): Janet Weber & Jane Kelley
Title: Health Assessment in Nursing, 4th edition
Publisher: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
Required electronic resource
ISBN#: 9780323049627
Mosby's Nursing Video Skills: Physical Examination & Health Assessment
Publisher: Mosby/Elsevier
NOTE: This is not a textbook, it is a CD-Rom
Catalog Description:
Program Outcomes:
This course provides the student with a systematic method to assessment
of health status and promotes critical thinking skills through comparative
analysis of findings across race, gender, and ethnicity.
1. Use effective situational communication.
2. Incorporate best current evidence with clinical expertise and client
preferences and values.
3. Apply principles of leadership, quality improvement, and client
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safety to monitor and improve outcomes of nursing care.
4. Demonstrate professional nursing values of altruism, autonomy,
human dignity, integrity, and social justice.
5. Provide culturally and spiritually sensitive care.
6. Apply principles of health promotion, disease and injury
prevention to maximize health outcomes.
7. Recognize the need for advocacy in regulatory, legislative, and
public policy that influences the health care system.
8. Collaborate with the client and health care team in providing
compassionate and coordinated care.
9. Demonstrate competent use of informatics to support decision
making, mitigate error, and improve outcomes.
10. Synthesize concepts from liberal arts and sciences, clinical
reasoning, and nursing to form the basis for professional practice.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
Program
Objectives
1
Course Objectives
1. Use effective situational communication for the
4
2.
5, 10
3.
6
4.
5.
6.
Topic Outline
purpose of conducting a holistic health assessment.
Demonstrate professional nursing values of altruism,
autonomy, human dignity, and integrity when
conducting a health assessment.
Employ a systematic process to conduct a health
assessment that is culturally and spiritually sensitive.
Analyze assessment data to form appropriate nursing
diagnoses for individual clients.
Apply concepts from liberal arts, social, and natural
sciences, clinical reasoning, and nursing science t
differentiate normal from abnormal physical
examination findings.
Use critical thinking to relate subjective data from
health history to objective findings in physical
assessment.
Unit 1. Interviewing and the Health History
Unit 2. Physical Assessment Techniques and Nutrition
Unit 3. Examination of the Integument
Unit 4. Examination of the Head and Neck
Unit 5. Examination of the Thorax and Lungs
Unit 6. Examination of the Heart and Peripheral Vasculature
Unit 7. Examination of Abdomen
Unit 8. Examination of Musculoskeletal System
Unit 9. Examination of Neurological System
Unit 10. Examination of the Breast and Lymph Nodes
Unit 11. Examination of Genitalia and Rectum
Unit 12. The Complete Health History and Physical Examination
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Teaching/Learning
Methods
This is a web-based course. Students will be expected to interact with the
instructor as needed through the course web site and by appointment online.
Evaluation Methods
Evaluation Method
%
Relationship to Course Learning
Outcomes
HESI Exam
35%
Course Outcomes 1-6
Physical Exam check-off
35%
Course Outcomes 3-6
Pre-Lab Quizzes
20%
Course Outcomes 1-6
Clinical Discussion
Postings
10%
Course Outcomes 1-6
Grading Scale
A = 91-100
B = 83-90
C = 75-82
D = 66-74
F = < 65
Course Policies
All policies in the current Georgia College & State University
Undergraduate Catalog and the Undergraduate Nursing Student
Handbook are applicable. Please consult web site for handbook at the
following sites: http://www.gcsu.edu/registrar/catalog.htm and
http://info.gcsu.edu/intranet/health_sciences/bsn
handbook/bsnhndbk.doc. In addition to these University and School
policies, students are expected to comply with the following course
policies:
 All students must regularly check eCats email to receive official
communication from university faculty and staff.
 All students must have an activated Bobcat identification card. The
Bobcat card is required to use all library services, including the
computer lab for testing.
 Rounding Policy: Rounding for this course will occur only with the
final average grade for the course. There will be no rounding of exam
grades or other written assignments during the semester. If the final
course average to the nearest tenth is .5 or more, the final course
grade will be rounded up to the next whole number (i.e. 88.5 would
be rounded to 89) (i.e. 88. 45 would not be rounded).
EXAMS:


Exams for this course will be administered electronically in a computer
laboratory setting to simulate the NCLEX environment.
No personal belongings, books, or notes can be taken into the computer lab.
All hats will be removed for the testing period.
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
There will be no scheduled make-up exam dates for this course.
ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY:

Instructors will verify attendance at the first class for the Registrar’s
purposes. Students should refer to the attendance policy in the GCSU
Nursing Program undergraduate handbook.
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT CHECK-OFF: Students will record their
performance of a head-to-toe physical assessment at the end of the course
(see calendar for dates). Students must score an 85 or better to pass the
check off. Students will be allowed one time to repeat their physical
assessment check off. The recorded grade will be the average of the two
check-offs (if a second check off is required).
NO FOOD OR DRINK WILL BE PERMITTED IN CLASSROOMS OR
THE CLINICAL LABORATORY PER COLLEGE OF HEALTH
SCIENCES POLICY.
Technology
Requirements
The minimum technology requirements:
http://www.gcsu.edu/technology/campustech/recommendations.htm
Microsoft on-line training resource: http://office.microsoft.com/enus/support/training-FX101782702.aspx?redir=0
Academic Honesty
The integrity of students and their written/oral work is a critical
component of the academic process. All written work submitted in this
course will be individual work unless otherwise instructed. The
submission of another’s work as one’s own is plagiarism and will be
dealt with using the procedures outlined on pp. 64-67 in the
Undergraduate Catalog. Remember that allowing another student to copy
one’s own work is considered cheating. Also see the student Honor Code
at the website below:
http://www.gcsu.edu/studentlife/handbook/code.htm
Religious Observance
Students are permitted to miss class in observance of religious holidays
and other activities observed by a religious group of which the student is
a member without academic penalty. Exercising of one’s rights under
this policy is subject to the GC Honor Code. Students who miss class in
observance of a religious holiday or event are required to make up the
coursework missed as a result from the absence. The nature of the makeup assignments and the deadline for completion of such assignments are
at the sole discretion of the instructor. Failure to follow the prescribed
procedures voids all student rights under this policy.
The full policy and prescribed procedures are found at:
http://senate.gcsu.edu/prod/motions/support_docs/499/1295533007_Reli
gous%20Observance%20Policy%20for%20senate.docx
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Fire Drill Procedure
Fire drills will be conducted annually. In the event of a fire alarm,
students will exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the
nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan and exits of the building. Do
not use elevators. If you encounter heavy smoke, crawl on the floor so as
to gain fresh air. Assist disabled persons and others if possible without
endangering your own life. Assemble for a head count at the designated
assembly area for this building.
For more information on other emergencies, please visit
http://www.gcsu.edu/emergency/actionplanmain.htm
Request for
Disability
Modifications:
If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be
eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and
physical accessibility. Disability Services, a unit of the GCSU Office of
Institutional Equity and Diversity, can assist you in formulating a
reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing
appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GCSU
programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but
accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements. For
documentation requirements and for additional information, we
recommend that you contact Disability Services located in Maxwell
Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478-445-4233. Any student requiring
instructional modifications due to a documented disability should make an
appointment to meet with Dr. Moore within in the first week of classes. An
official letter from GCSU documenting the disability is expected in order to
receive accommodations.
Interlibrary Loan
Students are encouraged to use the GCSU Library and the interlibrary loan
services (http://www2.gcsu.edu/library/ill/) to obtain journal articles relevant
to this course.
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