Advanced Nursing Concepts Syllabus

Credits

This course is 5 semester credit hours (3 credits theory / 2 credits clinical). Total credit hours are based on a 14 week semester. Our calculations are as follows:

48 hours of project hours are required for research and project work, along with 12 hours of "Give Back" time, and 24 hours planning and implementing a virtual Health Fair clinical project.

Course Description

This course is a guide in caring for individuals through the wellness continuum as it applies to advanced care of patients. The Advanced Nursing Concepts course is designed around three modules: teaching/learning, critical care, and aging populations. The teaching/learning module relates to implementing a variety of teaching strategies appropriate to content, setting, learner needs, learning style, and desired learner outcomes. The critical care module examines approaches to complex clinical issues in critically ill populations. An introduction to aging populations examines the impact of aging on families, caregivers, and health care delivery systems. In each module, students will have the opportunity to design and administer nursing practice from both a conceptual and practical perspective. Students will demonstrate their competence within these modules by meeting accepted evidence-based standards within each module.

Pre-Requisites

Registered Nurse Licensure

Admission to the BYU-Idaho RN to BSN program

Required Materials

Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.

Foreman, M. D., Milisen, K., & Fulmer, T. T. (2009). Critical Care Nursing of Older Adults: Best Practices (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer. ISBN #9780826110961 [accessible electronically, and FREE OF CHARGE, through McKay Library]

American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association

Through VitalSource.com as well can access your textbook through the ISBN 978-0-826-11096-1 ($41.00)

Required Registrations

Students will be required to register for Medscape, a free service that will allow them to complete some required coursework. Registration can be secured by following the instructions at this link.

Technology Requirements

High Speed Internet Connection

Students should have a reliable Internet Service Provider with speeds suitable for streaming video and accessing large files. These speeds are most often delivered by cable, DSL, or satellite. Students with dial-up connections will still be able to use I-Learn, but please be aware that neither system will operate quickly with low speeds. The minimum average connection speed recommended is 640 Kbps.

Software Needed for Submitting Assignments

All assignments must be composed digitally and turned in through I-Learn. This will require productivity software like Microsoft Office or OpenOffice. Assignments can typically be submitted in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Rich Text Format. Assignments should never be submitted in Microsoft Works because faculty members cannot open files created in Works. Students should always check with their instructors concerning acceptable formats before submitting assignments.

For PCs For Macs
Operating System Windows XP or newer Mac OSX 10.5 or 10.6
Browser Internet Explorer 7 or newer Firefox 3 or newer Google Chrome Safari 3.2 or 4.0 Firefox 3.5 or 3.6

Refer to the Online Support Center for additional information regarding technology compatibility.

Learning Model Architecture

The Learning Model is a defining aspect of the BYU-Idaho experience that provides a pattern for continual learning and personal development long after graduation. The Brigham Young University-Idaho Learning Model is utilized in this course. Each week will have information for you to 1) prepare, 2) teach one another, and 3) ponder and prove.

Course Outcomes and Assessment

Course Outcome 1: Evaluate the value of ethical and legal professional standards of nursing care in the meeting the needs of the patient and family. (UO 1, 5; PO 2; BE I, VIII)

Course Outcome 2: Apply evidence to clinical practice through use of inquiry and research. (UO 2, 3; PO 1; BE I, III, IV, VI )

Course Outcome 3: Create comprehensive health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention teaching plans. (UO 4; PO 3; BE III, VII)

Course Outcome 4: Employ safe and effective transition strategies across levels of care for older adults and their families. (UO 6; PO 4; BE II, IV, VI, IX)

Course Outcome 5: Integrate elements of patient-centered care and safety into advanced clinical of patients and their families. (UO 2, 3; PO 1, 4; BE II, V, IX)

Course Outcomes 6: Plan effective intervention for the management of chronic conditions. (UO 2, 3; PO 1, 5; BE III, V, VIII)

Topical Course Outline

Week Topic Week Topic
Week 1 Course Introduction Week 8 Quality and Safety Initiatives: Critical Care Bundles and Sepsis
Week 2

Health vs. Healthcare - Health Fair

 Week 9 Multi-System Alteratoin and Mental Status
Week 3 Learning How to Write Learning Objectives - Health Fair Week 10 Family Responses
Week 4

The Impact of Teaching on Patient Outcomes - Health Fair

 Week 11 Scholarly Research
Week 5 Health Fair Presentations Week 12 Transitions of Care
Week 6 An Introduction to the Critical Care Environment Week 13 Nursing Education Project Presentations
Week 7 The Chronically Critically Ill & End-of-Life Issues Week 14 Course Conclusion

Grading Policies

Nursing Department Grading Schedule

Percentage Range Letter Grade
100% – 93%  A 
92% – 90%  A-
89% – 87%   B+ 
86% – 83% B 
82% – 80%  B- 
79% – 77%   C+ 
76% – 73% C 
72% – 70%   C-  
69% – 67%    D+  
66% – 63% D 
62% – 60%  D- 
59% – 00% F 

All objectives, assignments, and evaluations are the same for distance learners and on-campus students.

Late Assignments

Assignments will be accepted late with 5% taken off the grade for each day the assignment is late. All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. None are considered optional.

Exceptions and Clarifications:

  • Generally, Quizzes and Discussion Board posts cannot be made up after the due date has passed. If you missed the due date for a Quiz or a Discussion Board, contact your instructor. Depending on your circumstances, your instructor may be able to make an exception.

HIPAA violations will result in a score of ZERO for the respective assignment, discussion or activity.

Identification on All Assignments

The expectation for the Department of Nursing is that all assignments submitted online or otherwise are clearly identified with the following information:

Points will be deducted for improperly labeled work.

Evaluation

The final grade is computed by combining individually-earned theory and clinical grades. Approximately 80% of the final grade will come from the theory grade and 20% of the final grade will come from the clinical grade. Assignment grades are not weighted.

Completion of clinical application hours, the clinical application self-assessment, clinical application journal entries, and other required clinical documents comprise 100% of the clinical grade.

Clinical Assignments

All Students (102 points total)

Nursing Education Project (150 points total)

Give Back Project (30 points Total)

Weekly Assignments

Discussion Boards (60 points total)

Scholarly Paper (60 points total)

All Other Assignments (109 points total)

Disclaimers

Overriding Areas of Concern

Overriding areas of concern for the Department of Nursing include: 1) Demonstrating the BYU-Idaho honor code in all behaviors and 2) Providing safety for self and others consistently. Violation of an overriding area of concern will result in dismissal from the program.

The Department of Nursing fully supports the University policy on Academic Honesty (see catalog: Academic Probation, Dismissal). Cheating, dishonesty, plagiarism, or misrepresenting a situation in any way will constitute a violation that will result in dismissal from the nursing program. A student dismissed from the program due to violation of one of the overriding areas of concern is not permitted to reapply to the nursing program.

Material on BYU-I I-Learn and related sites may be protected by US Copyright Law (Title 17, US Code). These materials are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.