Course Design Guide
NUR/391 Version 8
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Course Design Guide
College of Nursing
NUR/391 Version 8
Professional Nursing Practice
Copyright © 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
Course Description
This course focuses on the professional role and discipline of nursing. Students will examine the image of
nursing and develop strategies for improvement. Standards of professional practice will be discussed in relation
to the profession, role, and value behavior.
Policies
Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained
within the following two documents:
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University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.
Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.
University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies
may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed
modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.
NUR/391 Policies
Students are required to achieve a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in this course. Students who fail to earn a
minimum grade of “C” in this course will be scholastically disqualified from the university.
Course Materials
Blais, K. K. & Hayes, J. S. (2011). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives (6th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall.
Chitty, K. K. & Black, B. P. (2011). Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO:
Elsevier Saunders.
All electronic materials are available on the student website.
Week One: The Nursing Profession
Details
Objectives
1.1 Explain how historical events and persons have contributed to
the advancement of the nursing profession.
1.2 Differentiate characteristics between a profession and an
occupation.
1.3 Complete the HIPAA tutorial.
Readings
Read the Week One Read Me First.
Read Ch. 3 of Professional Nursing Practice.
Due
Points
Course Design Guide
NUR/391 Version 8
2
Read Ch. 2, 3, 7, & 12 of Professional Nursing.
Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
2
Nongraded
Activities and
Preparation
Begin the Historical Figures of Nursing Presentation due in Week
Two.
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Learning Team
Instructions
View the Historical Figures of Nursing Timeline multimedia
presentation.
Submit your selection of two historical figures to the instructor
for approval this week.
Review the objectives from Week One and discuss additional
insights and questions that may have arisen.
Read the following items, available at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu:
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Learning Team Toolkit
Toolkit Essentials
Why Learning Teams?
Team Basics
Getting Started
Getting to Results
Project Planning
Decisions/Conflict Resolution
Team Learning
Create the Learning Team Charter.
Begin working on the Historical Timeline of Nursing Presentation
due in Week Two.
Individual
Personal Philosophy
of Nursing
Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Personal Philosophy of
Nursing Worksheet
Complete the Personal Philosophy of Nursing Worksheet.
Submit your worksheet to the instructor.
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Individual
HIPAA Tutorial
Complete the HIPAA (1996) tutorial located on the student website.
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Submit the results of the assessment to your instructor.
Prepare to discuss the HIPAA (1996) tutorial in class.
Week Two: Role Transition and Professional Development
Details
Objectives
2.1 Select time and stress management techniques that address
personal and professional challenges.
Due
Points
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NUR/391 Version 8
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2.2 Employ critical thinking in addressing client care issues.
2.3 Compile resources for personal and professional development.
Readings
Read the Week Two Read Me First.
Read Ch 1, 2, & 21 of Professional Nursing Practice.
Read Ch. 6 & 8 of Professional Nursing.
Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
2
Individual
Historical Figures of
Nursing
Presentation
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Identify three time-management skills you plan to implement to
help you achieve your personal and educational goals.
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What resources might you have available to use for professional
and personal development?
Resources: Historical Figures of Nursing Timeline multimedia
presentation; Grading Criteria: Historical Figures of Nursing
Presentation
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Review the Historical Figures of Nursing Timeline multimedia
presentation available on the student website.
Select two historical figures that were presented in the historical
timeline.
Submit your selections to the instructor for approval.
Research additional information on your selected historical figures.
Prepare a 6- to 8-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation in
which you present detailed information about the historical figures
and how they contributed to the advancement of nursing.
Include a minimum of two research sources in your presentation.
Week Three: Legal and Ethical Concepts of Professional Nursing
Details
Objectives
3.1 Relate the ANA Code of Nursing Ethics to common ethical
issues faced by professional nurses.
3.2 Explain how societal and personal values influence ethical
decision making.
3.3 Describe the fundamental legal aspects of professional liability,
informed consent, and potential death-related issues.
3.4 Describe the purpose of the Nursing Practice Act.
Due
Points
Course Design Guide
NUR/391 Version 8
Readings
Read the Week Three Read Me First.
Read Ch. 4 & 5 of Professional Nursing Practice.
Read Ch. 5 of Professional Nursing.
Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
2
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What is the purpose of the Nursing Practice Act? How do
regulations in the Nursing Practice Act guide nurses facing legal
or ethical patient care issues?
Nongraded
Activities and
Preparation
BSN Student PreProgram Academic
Questionnaire
Complete the questionnaire at the link provided.
Individual
Personal and
Professional
Challenges Matrix
Worksheet
Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Personal and
Professional Challenges Matrix Worksheet
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Identify personal and professional challenges.
Identify time and stress management techniques along with
personal development resources that help a nurse overcome
personal challenges.
Identify time and stress management techniques along with
professional development resources that help a nurse overcome
those challenges.
Submit the completed worksheet to your instructor.
Learning Team
Questions for
Critical Thinking
Caps Worksheet
Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Questions for Critical
Thinking Caps Worksheet
Read the description of the six caps and the “Case Study for Six
Caps” on p. 175 of Professional Nursing.
Answer the questions on the Questions for Critical Thinking Caps
Worksheet individually.
Discuss your answers in your Learning Team forum online.
Compile a group response to each question and document your
answers on the Questions for Critical Thinking Caps Worksheet.
Submit the completed worksheet as a Learning Team assignment.
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Week Four: Theoretical Basis for Nursing Practice
Details
Due
Points
Course Design Guide
NUR/391 Version 8
Objectives
4.1 Explain the relationship between nursing theory and
professional nursing practice.
4.2 Describe the relationship between nursing research and
evidence-based practice.
4.3 Describe the nurse’s role in research.
Readings
Read the Week Four Read Me First.
Read Ch. 6 & 10 of Professional Nursing Practice.
Read Ch. 11 & 13 of Professional Nursing.
Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
2
Learning Team
Ethical and Legal
Issues in Nursing
Paper
Resource: Grading Criteria: Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing
Paper
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Review the Case Study for Six Caps on p. 175 of Professional
Nursing that was discussed in the Learning Team last week.
Read the “Critical Thinking Exercise” on p. 91 of Professional
Nursing Practice.
Compose a Learning Team paper that is 750 to 1,250 words in
length exploring the ethical and legal issues of both of these case
studies.
Include a minimum of two references.
Describe the following in your paper:
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How the American Nurses Association Code of Nursing Ethics
would influence a final decision in each case study
How personal and societal values can influence ethical decision
making
The fundamental legal aspects of each case study
The legal responsibilities of nurses in the work setting
Week Five: Trends in Nursing
Details
Objectives
5.1 Identify current trends in health care and nursing practice.
5.2 Describe new role opportunities for the professional nurse.
Readings
Read the Week Five Read Me First.
Read Ch. 7, 8, 24, & 25 of Professional Nursing Practice.
Read Ch. 1, 14, & 16 of Professional Nursing.
Due
Points
Course Design Guide
NUR/391 Version 8
Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
2
Individual
Vision for the Future
of Nursing
Resource: Grading Criteria: Vision for the Future of Nursing
20
Create a presentation (8 to 10 slides) or speech for a professional
nursing organization conference or a statewide advisory committee
for healthcare that outlines a vision for the future of nursing.
The vision presented must include the following:
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Trends: How evidence-based practice will influence trends in
healthcare and the future of nursing
Nursing theory: How the application of nursing theory will
continue to influence professional nursing practice
Roles
o
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The nurse’s current role in research
How new roles and opportunities will benefit nursing and
healthcare in general
Optional Discussion Questions
Week One Discussion Questions
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Identify and describe one major historical event you feel had a key effect on the development of nursing.
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Discuss the characteristics of a profession you feel nursing fulfills adequately. If there are any you feel
nursing does not fulfill well, what are your suggestions for change to meet professional characteristics?
Explain your rationale for each.
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Compare the American Nurses Association Code of Nursing Ethics to your nursing practice. Explain why
you feel you do or do not meet all the criteria.
Week Two Discussion Questions
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What kinds of stress management techniques can assist you in coping with stressors that might affect your
educational and professional pursuits?
Week Three Discussion Questions
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How can nurses assist patients and their families clarify their own values when they face making a decision
related to an ethical issue?
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A colleague who has just started their shift with you appears to be impaired by either alcohol or illicit drugs.
How would you respond to working with this colleague?
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Course Design Guide
NUR/391 Version 8
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How would you respond to working with a colleague who is lacking the ability or knowledge necessary to
their duties?
Week Four Discussion Questions
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Compare and contrast the conceptual approach of selected nursing theorists—must include Jean Watson.
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What contributions has nursing research made to nursing practice and health care?
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Compare and contrast principles of inductive and deductive reasoning.
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At your present level of education, how would you perceive nurses applying nursing theory?
Week Five Discussion Questions
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What is the importance of nurses belonging to a professional organization? How does it enhance
professionalism?
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How have changes in medical practice and cost containment strategies affected nursing practice?
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What do you project for the nursing profession in the future?
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