NURS 202, Client Assessment
Spring 2014
Schedule Numbers: 22169, 22170, 22171, 22172, 22173, 22174
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Day: Tuesday
Class Time: 7:10 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Class Location: AH 2108
Laboratory Day & Time: varies by schedule number
Laboratory Location: AH 2122
Professor: S. Hadley, Ph.D., APRN, GNP, ANP-BC
Contact Information: 619-594-2770 (office)
shadley@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours (by appointment): flexible hours to meet the
students’ schedules
Office Hours Location: HT 170
Course Overview
DESCRIPTION FROM THE OFFICIAL COURSE CATALOG
Determining and measuring variables relevant to assessment of psychosocial and physical functioning
DESCRIPTION OF THE PURPOSE AND COURSE CONTENT
This course focuses on the assessment phase of the nursing process. Students develop a beginning awareness of factors that
influence health. This course emphasizes age-specific health promotion recommendations as supported by clinical practice
guidelines and the role of the nurse in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.. Students gain experience in obtaining
health histories, performing nutritional assessment and comprehensive physical assessments.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course the student will:
1)
initiate the assessment phase of the nursing process by the accurate collection of subjective and objective data.
2)
use appropriate interviewing techniques to obtain accurate and complete health histories.
3)
identify family and genetic history, lifestyle factors and other risk factors that increase risk for disease and disability.
4)
formulate a list of client problems and risk factors based on holistic health assessment.
5)
articulate the role of the nurse in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
6)
use evidenced based clinical practice guidelines to identify age specific health promotion recommendations.
7)
perform a nutritional analysis using nationally defined recommendations for weight and nutrient intake.
8)
perform a complete and systematic physical exam using the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion and
auscultation.
9)
demonstrate the skillful use of examination equipment in the performance of the physical exam.
10)
apply appropriate techniques for assessing and monitoring vital signs.
11)
apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology to the assessment of body systems (e.g., skin, hair, nails, head/neck, eye,
ear, nose, mouth, throat, lymphatics, thorax/lungs, heart, peripheral vascular, breast, abdomen, male/female
genitalia, urinary, and neuromuscular systems)
12)
distinguish between normal and abnormal assessment findings.
13)
identify assessment findings that reflect normal developmental changes and changes of aging.
14)
identify assessment findings that are influenced by ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic status.
15)
document assessment findings in an accurate, concise and organized way.
REAL LIFE RELEVANCE
The student will learn to apply assessment skills in the care of the client.
RELATION TO OTHER COURSES
The student will begin to relate liberal educational experiences to core competencies in professional nursing. In the context of
concurrent enrollment in other nursing courses, the student will begin to demonstrate critical thinking, communication,
assessment and technical skills in the provision of nursing care.
Enrollment Information
PREREQUISITES
Admission to the Nursing Program and concurrent registration in NURS 206.
ADDING/DROPPING PROCEDURES
See the University policy for add/drop and withdrawal procedures.
Course Materials
All course materials (e.g., lecture notes, on-line lectures, course documents) are accessible via the course Blackboard site.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Jarvis, C. (2012). Physical examination and health assessment (6th ed.). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
Jarvis, C. (2012). Student laboratory manual for physical examination and health assessment (6th ed.). Philadelphia: W. B.
Saunders.
Important: the lab manual must be new. Used, marked copies will NOT be acceptable.
OPTIONAL TEXTS
Jarvis, C. (2012). Pocket companion for physical examination and health assessment (6th ed.).
Saunders.
WEBSITES
http://caloriecount.about.com
http://calorieking.com
Physical Assessment
http://meded.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed
Heart Sounds
http://depts.washington.edu/physdx/heart.html/tech
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES
Stethoscope
Metric ruler
Watch with second hand
Examination gown
Sports bra or bathing suit for women
Course Structure and Conduct
Philadelphia: W. B.
TEACHING METHODS
LECTURE: The lectures in this course will be offered using a hybrid format. Some lectures will be delivered on-line using the
Captivate software and some lectures will be offered in-class. Most in-class lectures will also be available on-line.
LABORATORY: Weekly laboratory sessions allow for the practical application of knowledge and skills. In-Laboratory
discussions, demonstrations, return demonstrations, documentation and simulation involve students in active learning and
application of knowledge. A Midterm Performance Evaluation (MPE) and Final Performance Evaluation (FPE) are required so
that the student can demonstrate skill competency.
Course Assessment and Grading
Grading Criteria
There will be 4 exams in the course.
Exam 1: 50 questions
Exam 2: 50 questions
Exam 3: 50 questions
Final Exam: 90 questions
To successfully complete the course, the student must:
1) achieve 174 points out of 240 exam points (73%). Extra credit is NOT an option for failure to achieve the minimum points.
2) demonstrate proficiency on the Midterm Performance Evaluation (MPE) and Final Performance Evaluation (FPE).
• Satisfactory achievement is determined by performing ≥ 85% of the physical exam techniques correctly.
• The MPE and FPE may be repeated one time for failure to achieve 85%.
• Failure to achieve an 85% by the second attempt will preclude successful course completion.
• The MPE and FPE are evaluated on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis and will not be calculated in the final grade.
3) demonstrate satisfactory performance in laboratory activities as noted below:
• document weekly assessment data in the laboratory manual
• accurately complete the nutrition self-assessment
• prepare for and participate in the simulation laboratory
• gain proficiency in health assessments/physical exams
Grading Scale:
Final grades will be determined using the following grading scale:
POINTS
PERCENT
GRADE
222-240
93-100%
A
215-221
90-92%
A-
208-214
87-89%
B+
198-207
83-86%
B
191-197
80-82%
B-
184-190
77-79%
C+
174-183
73-76%
C
167-173
70-72%
C-
160-166
67-69%
D+
150-159
63-66%
D
143-149
60-62%
D-
< 143
< 60%
F
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Laboratory Attendance
Attendance is required for all laboratory sessions except for serious or extenuating circumstances. Students are entering a
professional environment where full participation is essential to the acquisition of knowledge and skills required for safe and
effective nursing practice.
Definitions
Definition of an EXCUSED ABSENCE
An absence will be excused ONLY if:
1)
the student notifies the Course Coordinator by email prior to the beginning of the missed lab. The student should
state the nature of the intended absence. If the student would like to discuss the absence with the Course
Coordinator, then contact information should be provided. Excused absences could include personal illness, illness of
an immediate family member, death of an immediate family member and compelling events beyond the students
control.
2)
the student provides written documentation justifying the absence (e.g., a note from a healthcare provider, a letter
from the court, a time/dated receipt showing automobile breakdown en route to lab).
3)
the written documentation for the absence is presented to the Course Coordinator or placed in her mailbox (HT 58)
on the first day that the student returns to school. Documentation placed in the Course Coordinator’s mailbox must
be stamped with date and time.
Note. All three of the above conditions must be met for an absence to be excused.
Definition of an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
An absence which does NOT meet the definition of an excused absence is one in which the Course Coordinator was NOT
notified prior to the start of the clinical lab. In addition, examples of unexcused absences include: routine healthcare or dental
appointments, job interviews, employment/work commitments, child care issues, attendance at family gatherings/events,
oversleeping, etc. Please note that employment and job-related obligations are not to interfere with the laboratory experience.
Please plan accordingly. Failure to present acceptable documentation for the missed lab will result in an unexcused absence
since the reason for the absence cannot be validated.
An unexcused absence will result in the loss of points in the calculation of the final course grade. Two unexcused absences will
result in course failure.
Absences from Lab
1)
Students may NOT attend labs to which they are not assigned as an alternative to missing their lab.
2)
Extra credit is NOT an option to compensate for lost points from unexcused absences.
3)
Evidence of falsifying documents will be treated as academic dishonesty and will be subject to University sanctions
and may include dismissal from the University.
4)
Excessive absences (even if excused) may result in failure to meet course outcomes. Please contact the Course
Coordinator if you are having problems that affect your attendance.
Tardiness
Arriving late to lab is disruptive and adversely affects the professional learning environment. Unless the student provides
written documentation justifying the late arrival to lab (i.e., same as for excused absences), then points will be deducted from
the cumulative grade.
Leaving the clinical laboratory early, without permission, will result in a clinical counseling form being placed in the student’s
file. Multiple occurrences can result in course failure.
An attendance book will be kept in the lab at all times. The lab instructor will document the points deducted for late arrival to
lab and the student will be asked to sign the book.
Examination Attendance
Please note. Exams may not be taken earlier or later than the scheduled date.
No provision is made for examinations that are missed because of unexcused absences. An unexcused absence will result in a
grade of F (0%) for the exam. In order to avoid an unexcused absence, the course coordinator must be notified prior to the
beginning of the exam. For an absence to be excused, the student must provide appropriate written documentation justifying
the absence as noted above.
If a make-up examination is necessary, it may differ in format from the original exam (e.g., essay, short answer, or other test
forms may be given). Please note that examinations are “timed tests”, therefore, arriving late to class on exam days will limit
the amount of time available to complete the exam.
Other Course Policies
PREPARATION FOR THE CLINICAL LABORATORY
Maximizing the clinical laboratory experience requires that the student be prepared for each laboratory session. The student
should complete the required readings, attend lecture or complete the on-line lectures prior to each lab.
The minimal expectation is that the student has read the required readings and has a beginning understanding of the skills
required to perform the required physical assessments in the laboratory. Failure to consistently show adequate preparation for
the laboratory will result in failure to meet course outcomes and subsequent course failure.
Some physical examination techniques require close physical contact (e.g., auscultation of heart and lungs), however, efforts to
protect modesty are encouraged by the use of appropriate examination clothing (e.g., examination gowns). Synthetic breast
models are available for performance of the breast exam.
CLASSROOM/LABORATORY ETIQUETTE
The use of electronic devices (computers, smart phones, IPADs, etc.) may only be used to access course-related information.
These devices may not be used to send or receive text messages/email during class or lab time. Cell phones should be turned
off or on vibrate mode and are not to be used during class or lab. You may use these devices during designated break times.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact
Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact
Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability can not be provided until the Course Coordinator (Dr. Hadley) has received an accommodation letter from
Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
CONFIDENTAIL INFORMATION
In the course of your professional education you will encounter personal and sensitive information about others. It is your legal
and ethical responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of this information and to protect the anonymity of those involved.
This includes, but is not limited to, avoiding discussions that would allow others to identify the subject of the information and
removing patient names from course papers/class assignments. Failure to protect the privacy of others may have serious
repercussions.
LOST OR DAMAGED LABORATORY SUPPLEIS/EQUIPMENT
The student is responsible for the replacement of lost or damaged laboratory supplies and equipment. Final grades will be held
until laboratory items are returned or replaced.