THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOOL OF NURSING COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: NURS3608 Family Developmental Stressors COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on normal stressors and commonly experienced illness, injury or mental health alterations throughout the family life cycle. OVERVIEW: N3608 involves the application of the nursing process to assess the health needs, as well as planning and implementing care of families across the life span. Nursing care focuses on alleviating or modifying stressors, facilitating adaptive behaviors, and promoting or maintaining health. Clinical practicum is provided in area in Maternal-Child in-patient settings. N3608 is designed to expand the student s knowledge and experience in preparation for a career in nursing. PREREQUISITE: NURS 3303 and 3604; successful completion of previous semester courses. CREDIT ALLOCATION: 6 Credit hours (3-9-0) NURS3608 Family Developmental Stressors Course Objectives: 1. Describe family structural/cultural variations. 2. Relate current research to family functioning. 3. Apply knowledge of normal growth, development and the family life cycle in assessing families. 4. Identify common stressors in families relating to affective support, roles/responsibilities and communication patterns. 5. Plan, implement and evaluate family oriented interventions to facilitate coping with illness, injury or mental health alterations commonly experienced at various stages of the life cycle. 6. Apply knowledge of normal pre-natal, intrapartum and postpartum expectations in the planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions for childbearing clients. NURS3608 Family Developmental Stressors Clinical Objectives: 1. Improve the level of skill performance for those skills learned in Nurs3303 and Nurs3604. 2. Demonstrate the ability to accurately calculate and administer medications safely, including appropriate documentation and follow-up. 3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and the appropriate nursing care and/or interventions associated with medications administered during the course, including action, safe dose, side effects, and contraindications. 4. Communicate effectively with patients, family, and agency staff, as well as with peers and UTEP College of Health Sciences staff. 5. Observe and practice the principles of safety for self and when caring for patients and families. 6. Utilize the nursing process to prioritize, plan, and provide care reflecting the individual patient and family needs. 7. Demonstrate ability to formulate goals and a plan of care in collaboration with patients, families, and other health care professionals. 8. Document the etiology of problems experienced by the patient and family, utilizing rationale to explain nursing interventions delivered to patients across the life span, including possible related complications. 9. Demonstrate critical thinking in determining nursing diagnoses, possible complications, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. POLICIES A. Course Policies: 1. Review Academic Regulations and Services in UT El Paso Undergraduate Studies Catalog and the College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook for the following policies or services: Class Attendance Absence for Religious Holy Days
Scholastic Integrity Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO) 2. Students are required to log in to NURS3608 Course WebCT for class information, individual grades, email messages, bulletin board postings, and online class chat at least three times per week. Official communication will be through in-class announcements and through WebCT email. Students are accountable for all announcements made in class and in Web-CT. If students need assistance with WebCT, contact the Independent Learning Center staff or call the HELP desk at 747-4357 (calling from on campus) or 747-5257 if calling from off campus. 3. Student Success /Retention Action Plan (RAP): a. Students are expected to attend all classes, laboratories, and clinical experiences and to arrive on time. b. Students are responsible for all lecture and clinical skills lecture/demonstration content. Students will benefit from preparation and participation in classes and clinical skills lecture/ demonstration sessions. c. No question is inappropriate or "dumb". Students are encouraged to ask questions, and to seek assistance when needed. d. All assignments must be turned in at the designated date and time. Penalty points, e.g., 5 points/day, will be deducted for late assignments. e. Students who are not successful on any exam will make an appointment with faculty to discuss learning strategies, time management, use of tutorials and visual aids, and evaluation for special learning needs. Mandatory academic coaching is required for any exam failure. The Didactic Retention Action Plan form will be utilized to specify coaching activities and time lines. The student, coach, and course manager will sign the form within a week of posted exam grades. Students who fail to comply with mandatory coaching requirements will not be permitted to repeat the course if their final didactic grade is less than 75. f. Retention Action plans will be negotiated with faculty for unsatisfactory performance in the clinical practicum. 4. Communication is the responsibility of both students and faculty. The faculty will keep students informed of progress in both didactic and clinical. Students with questions or concerns should: Step #1: First go to the appropriate faculty member. If the concern is not resolved then, Step #2: Go to the NURS3608 course coordinator. If still not resolved then, Step #3: Ask for a student-faculty team meeting to discuss the issue together. If not resolved at the faculty team level, then, Step #4: Request to meet with the Director of the Undergraduate Nursing Program for the School of Nursing. Step #5: Request to meet with the Associate Dean, College of Health Sciences & Director School of Nursing. B. Didactic policies: 1. Preparation for classroom experiences will optimize student ability to succeed in this course. Class time is limited and cannot be devoted to content covered previously. Therefore, students are required to review necessary materials in order to accomplish the objectives prior to class presentation. Students are strongly urged to read their assigned materials prior to class. 2. Quizzes are administered during the majority of scheduled class periods at the discretion of the faculty conducting the class. 3. Examinations are scheduled during the semester with a comprehensive final. The questions are written from the course and class objectives, and are based primarily on hypothetical clinical situations. Examination questions are directed toward the synthesis and application of knowledge.
4. All students are expected to take the quizzes and examinations at the specified time. If a student is unable to take a quiz or exam as scheduled, the student MUST call the course coordinator/instructor prior to class time to make alternative arrangements. Failure to do so will result in receiving a zero (0) for the quiz or exam. (see University catalog, Academic Regulations, Class Attendance: Absence from Examinations). No make-up exams will be given unless instructor has been contacted prior to class time. Students have the remainder of the exam week to complete a make-up exam. Students arriving late for quizzes or examinations will only have the remaining time to complete the exam. 5. All personal items including books, backpacks, purses and briefcases will be left at the front of the room during examinations. No caps or hats may be worn during examinations. Items at individual desks are limited to #2 pencils (not mechanical pencils) and a blank piece of paper. A calculator will be supplied if necessary. No one may leave the room during the exams. 6. Time allotted for unit examinations is 75 minutes. Only answers on the scantron at that time plus any dosage calculations will be scored for the examination grade. 7. To relieve students anxiety and provide immediate feedback, students will be provided an opportunity to review the examination answer key. Students may challenge examination questions; however, the student must provide written validation of the item challenged within 24 hours. The examination grades will NOT be final until faculty has reviewed the statistics and student comments. Student copies of the exams will not be allowed outside of the classroom at any time. During test review sessions, students will be allowed to take sparse notes for general review purposes only. Test items are the property of the faculty, and thus the university; therefore, writing down specific test items or answers is NOT permitted. 8. Students are required to take and pass at or above the national average the Comprehensive Achievement Profile (CAP) Maternal-Children provided by Educational Resources, Inc. (ERI) for successful completion of this course and to progress in the nursing program. Students who do not pass the examination at or above the national average must go to the Independent Learning Center (ILC), do the remedial CD-ROM, retake the examination, and provide the NURS3608 Course Coordinator with a copy of the report showing passing at the National average in order to complete the course and progress. Any student who does not achieve the national average by the date grades are due in Goldmine will receive an incomplete. Students are responsible for making arrangements with the ILC in the CHS for remediation and to retake the examination. 9. Cellular telephones or beepers are not permitted in class or during examinations. For emergency calls please have persons call Campus Police at 747-5611 and they will get a message to the classroom. C. Clinical Policies: 1. Students are required to have complete clinical clearances that are valid through the end of the semester verified with the Student Health Center before the first day of class. Students will supply data if requested by their clinical instructor for individual clinical agencies. Any student who is not cleared for clinical will be disenrolled per Undergraduate Nursing Program policy. 2. The Drug Dosage Calculation Proficiency Exam will be given during the first week of classes. Each student must pass the drug dosage proficiency test with a minimum of 90% prior to beginning clinical practicum. Review and remediation opportunities will be provided as needed. This grade is not included in calculation of the course grade. 3. The Self-Study Module Exam will be given at the end of the second week of class. Each student will carry a copy of the relevant Clinical Objectives and Self-Study Module in clinical. 4. Competency in skills is the responsibility of each student before caring for patients. The Simulation Laboratory staff and faculty are available at designated times and by appointment to assist students to gain required competency. Students are responsible for competency in all techniques from NURS3303 Foundations of Nursing Practice.
5. Statement on Pregnancy: It is the responsibility of the student to inform her instructor of a pregnancy. Written guidelines (i.e., lifting limitations) from her health care provider should also be submitted to appropriate clinical faculty and course coordinator. 6. Students must be prepared for each clinical session, including: a. Students are expected to substantiate the NURS3608 concepts that each patient assignment exemplifies. Prior to some clinical experiences, the student is required to prepare a physiology/patho-flowsheet (PFS) for each assigned patient based on the reason for the hospitalization. The PFS must include the physiology of the altered health status involved, major interventions, possible nursing diagnoses, and potential complications. A preliminary nursing plan of care is expected. Other clinical experiences may require other forms of preparation or evidence of having completed assignments in the clinical area. b. Students are responsible for knowledge of the nursing implications of all medications the patient is receiving, including all scheduled and PRN medications whether or not administered by the student. Dosage calculations must be checked with faculty or staff before administration of drugs to the patient. c. Review the assessment appropriate for assigned patients. For the Pediatric and Intermediate Care Nursery rotations, students are required to collect and review patient data the day prior to clinical. Students must present themselves in appropriate attire including a lab coat with college nametag. Students should introduce themselves to the staff and patient whom they'll be working with the next day. Faculty permission is needed to visit the hospital units at other than designated times. 7. Students who have clinical experiences that begin or end when it is dark are strongly urged to enter or leave the facility in groups of three or more. If you must leave alone, please contact the facility s security personnel for an escort to the parking facility. 8. Daily/weekly clinical assignments are due Thursday during the clinical experience. Clinical assignments will be critiqued using the evaluation form in Clinical Practicum Guidelines. Nurses notes are due each day at the beginning of post conference. 9. Family Interview/Analysis: Each student is required to interview a client and write a formal paper in APA format (5 th ed.) as described by the criteria in the Clinical Practicum Guidelines. Students are required to select a patient/family member during the first three weeks of their NURS3608 clinical rotation and request permission to ask them questions about their family. A statement of purpose and confidentiality is to be presented to the family spokesperson (must be an adult) and consent obtained prior to conducting the interview. 10. Teaching plan/ Oral Presentation: Each student is required to develop and implement a teaching plan based on a national standard of care or guideline from a nationally accepted healthcare organization, including applicable recent research findings, for a client cared for during the clinical rotation. The student will present the client s case and teaching plan to the clinical group during clinical conference time. Due dates for this presentation will be specified during the clinical rotation. Details and grading criteria for both the teaching plan and oral presentation are included in Clinical Practicum Guidelines. 11. All clinical is mandatory. This includes: city wide orientation, computer orientation as required by the agency, orientation to clinical facilities, pre &/or post conferences, simulation laboratories, and direct patient care. If, for any reason, a student must be absent, faculty notification and approval is required before the absence. In case of illness, a release from a health care provider may be required to return to clinical. Faculty reserves the right to drop students from the course who are absent from clinical (See Undergraduate Catalog: Class Attendance). 12. Students are expected to do mid-term and final self-evaluations. Mid-term self-evaluation are formative and the final self-evaluation is summative. The final self-evaluation and student s check-off skill list become part of student s permanent file. 13. Removal from Clinical Setting: Any student who is not adequately prepared will not be allowed to care for patients if doing so would violate the departmental safe nursing practice policy (see Safe and Effective Nursing Practice Policy that follows). Failure to meet the safe nursing practice policy is cause for clinical failure in the course. A student's lack of daily preparation will be documented and reflected in the clinical evaluation. First
documented incidence lack of daily preparation will be noted as a verbal warning. Second documented incidence of lack of preparation will be noted in writing with a plan for improvement that is agreeable to both faculty and student. Third documented incidence of lack of preparation will result in clinical failure, and thus failure in the course. SAFE AND EFFECTIVE NURSING PRACTICE POLICY The following Safe Nursing Practice Policy is a revision of a similar policy that has been in effect since the nursing program became a part of the University of Texas System (1973). This policy must be adhered to in order for a student to succeed in clinical nursing courses. All overt and covert acts which compromise the nursing process must be directed toward quality care for the patient/client/family, which promotes health. Safe and Effective Nursing Practice is Defined as: --Ability to demonstrate knowledge about patient/client status. --Ability to observe, report and record signs and symptoms. --Ability to accurately interpret, report and record changes in patient s condition. --Demonstrates through overt and covert acts assurance of the delivery of quality nursing care. --Ability to set priorities and carry through with appropriate nursing interventions. --Ability to evaluate and make substantive judgments relative to the quality of nursing care. --Ability to calculate and administer drugs safely, including documentation of administration. As professional nurses with a commitment to the welfare of clients/patients, the nursing faculty reserve the right to refuse the opportunity to a student to care for patients if the student s health interferes with performance or if the student gives evidence of unsafe and/or ineffective nursing practice. A student may not render care when under the influence of prescribed or over-thecounter medication which may affect judgment, or if the student imbibes in/or is under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. A student who is deemed to demonstrate unsafe practice will fail the course and be dropped from all clinical courses enrolled in at that time. Further progression in the nursing major will be evaluated. Since the faculty student ration in the clinical area is 1:10, it is impossible for a faculty member to be present continually with each student to observe every situation. It is therefore imperative that each student assumes personal responsibility to be prepared for each clinical practice experience. Each student is expected to check immediately with the instructor or agency staff if in doubt about patient care or a patient s condition, and to report to the instructor or staff when leaving the clinical area to assure continuity of care for patients. Students who come un-prepared for clinical may be sent to the simulation laboratory for practice before they are allowed to return to the clinical site. Adopted by Faculty Organization Committee Meeting. Revised February 13, 1985 and December 14, 1994. D. Grading Policies: 1. Students must pass didactic with a minimum average grade of 75%. No quiz scores are dropped. 2. The clinical instructors will provide examination reviews and grade feedback during clinical pre/post conferences. 3. If any assignment is unacceptable in grammar or format by the clinical instructor will be returned for revision. The revised copy is due in one week from the date the student receives the critique. Penalty points will be deducted from the total assignment grade. 4. Clinical Evaluation: Verbal feedback will be provided during each clinical experience. Clinical evaluations will be conducted at midterm and the end of the clinical rotation using the Clinical Evaluation form. Students will complete mid-term and final self-evaluations as scheduled. The clinical instructors will review and add their comments and grades to these self-evaluations. The final self-evaluation becomes part of the student s permanent record. The clinical practicum must be completed with a minimum grade of 75% before the Teaching Plan/ Presentation and the Family Paper are calculated in the overall clinical grade. 5. Once all course requirements are completed with a grade of 75 or greater achieved in each component, didactic and clinical, the final course grade will be calculated. If the student fails to meet these requirements, the student will not pass the course and cannot progress. Grades are not rounded up. Final fractional points
will be dropped. See Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook: Grade Scores. 6. Students who achieve or exceed the national average on initial testing of the CAP Maternal-Children exam will have one point added to her/his course grade if she/he is passing the course with a 75 or better. Grade Calculation: a. Didactic: b. Clinical: Exam I---------------------------20% Dosage Calculation Exam------ P/F Exam II--------------------------20% Self-Study Module Exam--------------10% Exam III-------------------------20% Clinical Family Paper-------------------15% Class Assignments/Quizzes--10% Clinical Teaching/Oral Presentation--15% Comprehensive Final Exam--30% Clinical evaluation of practicum-------60% 100% 100% c. Course Grade: d. Grading Scale: 93-100 = A Didactic-----70% 84-92 = B Clinical------30% 75-83 = C Comprehensive Achievement Profile (ERI) 67-74 = D 100% less than 67 = F TEXTBOOKS REQUIRED: Kneisel, C.R., Wilson, H.S., & Trigoboff, E. (2004). Contemporary psychiatric mental health nursing. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Hockenberry, M. J. (2004). Wong s clinical manual of pediatric nursing (6th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby. Lemone, P., & Burke, H. (2004). Medical-surgical nursing: Critical thinking in client care (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Pillitteri, A. (2003). Maternal & child health nursing: Care of the childbearing and childrearing family (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. OPTIONAL: Johnson, J. Y., & Boyd-Davis, E. (2003). Study guide to accompany Pillitteri s maternal and child health nursing: Care of the childbearing and childrearing family (4 th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS: American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Textbook required for Nurs2401, a laboratory tests and diagnostic procedure manual; pathophysiology text; pharmacology text; health assessment text and a current drug guide Carpenito-Mojet, L. J. (2004). Nursing diagnosis: Application for clinical practice (10 th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.
Kozier, B., Erb, G., Berman, A. J., & Synder, S. (2004). Fundamental of nursing: Concepts, process and practice (7 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Health. Nugent, P. M., & Vitale, B. A. (2000 or most recent edition). Test success: Test-taking techniques for beginning nursing students (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Smith, S., Duell, D., & Martin, B. C. (2004). Clinical nursing skills: Basic to advanced skills (6 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Health. OTHER RESOURCES: Instructors: Conferences with the faculty may be scheduled as needed at the discretion of the student and/or individual faculty member. If a student desires a conference, he/she may see the instructor during the instructor s posted office hours or by appointment. Independent Learning Center: (747-7211) The ILC is located on the first floor of CHS. Computers are available for word processing, Internet access and e-mail accounts. Personnel are available to assist students who are not computer literate. School of Nursing Tutors: to be announced. Simulation Laboratory: (747-2211) Simulation Laboratory personnel are available to assist students with skill performance as well as nursing care plans. Students who have difficulty with particular skills in the clinical area may be asked to return to the simulation lab for additional practice and check-off. Tutorial Services: (747-5366) The Tutoring and Learning Center is located in the UTEP Library, 3 rd floor. Free services are available including peer tutoring and individual assistance. Student Health Center: (747-5624) The Student Health Center documents immunization and other student data required for clearance to participate in nursing clinical practicum. Assistance with stress management and other health concerns is available. School of Nursing Academic Advisor: (747-7268) Ms. Nina Williams, ninaw@utep.edu SGW, JW, VF & TM: 01/05