Heartland Community College
Master Syllabus
Division for Health & Human Services
COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: NURS 241
COURSE TITLE: Nursing Care of Individuals with Acute Health Problems I
DATE PREPARED: July 1, 1997
DATE REVISED: January, 2006
PCS/CIP/ID NO: 12-51.1601
IAI NO. Not Applicable
EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST CLASS: October 14, 1998
CREDIT HOURS: 4
CONTACT HOURS: 6
LECTURE HOURS: 2
LABORATORY: 4
CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Include prerequisites):
Prerequisites: Successful completion of NURS 122, NURS 240, BIOL 182, ENGL 101 and PSY
101; concurrent enrollment or successful completion of NURS 232, BIOL 191 and ENGL 102.
This course in medical-surgical nursing focuses on clients with alterations in mobility, regulatory
processes, sensori-neural processes and sensory deprivation. Orem's self-care model will be
utilized by the student to apply critical thinking pathways to the individual with acute health
problems. Scientific principles and clinical skills increase in complexity. Campus laboratory
experiences enhance the development of increased dexterity and proficiency of techniques.
Planned faculty-supervised experiences in acute care facilities provide students with the
opportunity to implement their accrued knowledge and skill in providing nursing care. Clinical
experiences are completed by observational experiences in specialty areas.
TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS:
REQUIRED:
Carpenito-Moyet, L. J. (2010). Handbook of nursing diagnosis (13th ed.). Philadelphia:
Lippincott.
Deglin, J. & Vallerand, A. (2009). Davis's drug guide for nurses (11th ed.) Philadelphia:
Davis.
Dudek, S. G. (2009). Nutrition essentials for nursing practice (6th ed.). Philadelphia:
Lippincott.
Fishbach, F. (2009). A manual of laboratory & diagnostic tests (8th ed.). Albany NY:
Delmar.
Gahart, B., & Nazareno, A. (2012). Intravenous medications (28th ed.). St. Louis:
Mosby.
Hockenberry, M., & Wilson, D. (2009). Wong's essentials of pediatric nursing (8th ed.).
St. Louis: Mosby.
Lilley ,L., Harrington, S., & Snyder, J. (2011). Pharmacology and the nursing process
(6th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby
Lewis, S., Heitkemper, M., & Dirksen, S. (2007). Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment
and management of clinical problems (7th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
Morris, D. (2010). Calculate with Confidence (5th ed). St. Louis: Mosby
Perry, P., & Potter, A. (2009). Clinical nursing skills & techniques (7th ed.). St. Louis:
Mosby.
Mosby’s dictionary of medicine, nursing, and health professions (2009). (8th ed.). St.
Louis: Mosby.
Recommended:
Hockenberry, M., & Ward. (2009). Study guide for Wong’s essentials of pediatric
nursing. (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TRANSFER:
NURS 241 fulfills 4 semester hours of credit in the associate degree program. This course was
designed to meet the specific needs of an Associate of Applied Science degree or certificate
program and not necessarily as a transfer course, particularly in relation to the Illinois
Articulation Initiative. This course may transfer to various institutions in a variety of
ways. Please see an academic advisor for an explanation concerning transfer options.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
Outcomes
1. Examine effective therapeutic communication in
provision of care to individuals with acute health
problems.
2. Examine components of the nursing process based on
Orem’s self-care model with emphasis on care to
individuals with acute health problems.
3. Employ evidence-based practice in performance of
technical skills to individuals with acute health
problems based on Orem’s self-care model.
4. Practice roles of the nurse within the parameters of
legal practice while providing care to individuals with
acute health problems.
5. Incorporate cultural variations in delivery of care to
individuals with acute health problems.
6. Employ teaching/learning concepts to enhance selfcare ability of individuals with acute health problems.
7. Employ professional behavior in the clinical setting
while caring for individuals with acute health
problems.
8. Employ critical thinking skills in complex situations
while caring for individuals with acute health
problems.
9. Use self to maximize learning in care
of
individuals with acute health problems.
GEO
CO5
DI5
CT3
Range of
Assessment Methods
Clinical evaluation tool
Process recording
Examinations
Concept Map
Examinations
Clinical practice
Concept Map
Examinations
Clinical practice
Poster-Paper Presentation
Concept Map
Examinations
Clinical practice
Clinical evaluation tool
Class presentation
Examinations
Homework Assignments
Concept Map
Examinations
Clinical practice
Clinical evaluation tool
Examinations
Self-reflective Journal
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
Unit I
Unit III
Deprivations
Assessment and Nursing Care of the Individual with Alterations in
Mobility
Unit II
Assessment and Nursing Care of the Individual with
Alterations in Regulatory Processes
Assessment and Nursing Care of the Individual with Sensory
Unit IV
Assessment and Nursing Care of the Individual with
Alterations in Sensori-neural Processes
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Students must achieve a “C” grade or better for satisfactory completion of a nursing course taken
at Heartland Community College. The grading system will be as follows:
A=90-100%
B=80-89%
C=75-79%
D=70-74%
F=Below 70%
Theory consists of:
Exam 1 – 20%
Exam 2 – 20%
Exam 3 – 20%
Homework Assignments – 10%
Paper & Poster Presentation – 10%
Comprehensive Final Examination – 20%
Clinical/lab skills will be tested and must be performed at a satisfactory level to pass the
course. Clinical grades will consist of satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U). Students must pass
both the theory and lab/clinical with a 75% or better, if a student's performance is unsatisfactory
in the clinical area, the student will receive an “F” for the course. If the student’s performance in
the clinical area is satisfactory but theory average is less than 75%, the student will receive a “D”
or an “F” for the course.
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
Weekly self-reflective journal of the clinical experience.
One (1) process recordings with assigned client.
Concept map of nursing care plans as assigned.
Individual paper and poster presentation.
All papers must be legible. If writing, the student needs to write in black ink. Typing papers is
the preferred method. The papers must be doubled spaced and adhere to APA format. All
citations must appear in the reference list. Cite references accurately, completely. All references
should be pertinent to the topic.
Textbook assignments and handouts are to be read before class