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B260: Fundamentals of Nursing Practice

Spring, 2015

SYLLABUS

COURSE INFORMATION

 Credit hours: 5 (3 didactic and 2 clinical)

 Placement in curriculum: Fourth semester
 Prerequisite: 3rd semester nursing courses
 Co-requisites: None

FACULTY

Kristen Needler, MSN, RN, CNE

Office: NU W418
812-416-6111 cell
317-278-6051 office
Email: kneedler@iu.edu

Vema Sweitzer, MSN, RN

Office: NU W428
317-274-2886 office
Email: vsweitze@iu.edu

Course Secretary
Cathy Williams

DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on the fundamentals of nursing from a theoretical, evidence base.
Students will gain a knowledge base for, and have an opportunity to apply, fundamental nursing
concepts, skills and the nursing process. The evidence based knowledge gained forms a basis for clinical
reasoning and decision making as students develop their nursing skills.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND COURSE COMPETENCIES
Program Outcomes
At the conclusion of this program, the student
will be:
A critical thinker who demonstrates intellectual
engagement and uses evidence as a basis for
clinical reasoning and decision-making.
A culturally sensitive individual who provides
holistic individual, family, community, and
population-centered nursing care.
A knowledgeable care coordinator who
facilitates access to resources across the
continuum of health care environments in order
to meet the evolving health care needs of
individuals, families, communities, and
populations.
An individual who embodies the professional
identity of the nurse and who translates the
inherent values of the nursing profession into
the ethical and legal practice of nursing.
An effective communicator who collaborates
with interprofessional team members, patients,
and their support systems for improved health
outcomes.
A competent care provider who is prepared to
practice to the full capacity of the professional
nurse role in diverse health care environments.
An accountable leader and manager who
applies principles of systems and organizational
processes and balances resources to promote
quality care and patient safety.
An individual who embraces and employs
innovations in information management and
technology in the delivery of quality patient
care.
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Course Competencies
At the conclusion of the course, the student will be
able to:
1. Apply evidence based clinical reasoning to
fundamental nursing concepts in the
performance of fundamental skills and the
nursing process.
2. Examine the impact of cultural and individual
differences on fundamental nursing concepts,
and in the performance of fundamental skills
and the nursing process.
3. Identify and provide knowledge and resources
necessary to teach patients and/or significant
others fundamental nursing concepts, skills and
the nursing process.
4. Demonstrate accountability and professional
behavior in the classroom/ lab/clinical area.
5. Describe and consider the nurse’s legal /ethical
responsibilities regarding fundamental nursing
concepts, skills and the nursing process.
6. Explore and demonstrate effective
communication in obtaining and conveying
relevant information regarding fundamental
nursing concepts, skills and the nursing process to
faculty, interprofessional team members,
patients and their support systems.
7. Describe and demonstrate steps and rationales in
the performance of fundamental nursing skills
and the nursing process.
8. Identify and follow safety guidelines in the
performance of fundamental nursing skills.
9. Discuss and correctly utilize technology in the
retrieval and reporting of pertinent information
related to fundamental nursing concepts, skills
and the nursing process.
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REQUIRED TEXTS

Lewis, S. M., Heitkemper, M. M., & Dirksen, S. R. (2011). Medical surgical nursing: Assessment and
management of clinical problems (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. (ISBN: 978-0-323-06580-1)

Pagana, K. D., & Pagana, T. J. (2010). Mosby's manual of diagnostic and laboratory tests (4th ed.). St.
Louis, MO: Mosby. (ISBN: 978-0-323-05747-9)

Potter, P. A., & Perry, A. G. (2012). Fundamentals of nursing (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. (ISBN: 978-
0-323-7933-4)

Skidmore-Roth, L. (2013). Mosby's nursing drug reference (26th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. (ISBN: 978-0-
323-08642-4)

Ackley, B. J., & Ladwig, G. B. (2011). Nursing diagnosis handbook (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. (ISBN:
978-0-323-07150-5)

Weber, J., & Kelley, J. H. (2010). Health assessment in nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins. (ISBN: 978-0-7817-8160-2)

OPTIONAL TEXTS

Curren, A.M. (2010). Dimensional analysis for meds (4th ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar
Learning. (ISBN: 978-1-4354-3867-5)

REQUIRED READINGS

As Assigned

SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS

As Assigned

TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES

 Pre-class Quiz Activities

 Lecture
 Class Participation
 Case Studies
 Simulation
 Application of skills and the nursing process in the practicum
 Group interactive learning activities
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EVALUATION

The student's performance in the course will be measured by, as follows:

 4 exams A total of 135 points

 Pre-Class Activities 9 points
 Abbreviation Quiz 2 points
 Group project, cultural diversity 10 points
 Math test 20 points
 Kaplan testing 14 points
 Final examination 60 points

Total 250 points

IMPORTANT NOTE
The combined performance of skills check offs, lab and clinical requirements will be graded
satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactory performance in the practicum portion of this course will
result in a failing grade (C- or lower*) for the course , which will require the student to retake this
course before progressing to 5th semester nursing courses.

*If your didactic score is lower than a C-, you will receive your didactic score.

A Dosage Calculation exam will be given in B260 (in lecture time). Failure to achieve a score of 90% or
higher on the Dosage Calculation exam by the third attempt will result in the student being unable to
continue in the course. The student must withdraw from both the recitation and the lecture section of
B260. The math exam is 20 points, the score achieved on the first exam will be the score of record.
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Lab/Clinical activities

 Practice and check off on fundamental nursing skills

 Simulation / scenarios – put new skills in context; include fundamentals and assessment taught
previously
 Learn normal routine of an acute care nursing unit
 Practice communication (patient, reporting, and electronic health record)
 Navigate health care facility resources to find policies and procedures and retrieve data
 Perform with direct supervision fundamental nursing skills in the care of patients
 Client Information Data (CID) paperwork consisting of the following: Client history and physical
assessment, concept map, care plan (nursing diagnosis with supporting subjective and objective
data, intervention with rationale, measurable patient outcome and evaluation), and med grid
 Student goal setting and evaluation

IUSON Grading Scale

Classroom Points Classroom Course Grade WITH Course Grade WITH

Percentage EXCELLENT or UNSATISFACTORY
SATISFACTORY Clinical Clinical Performance
Performance
242 – 250 96.5 (97) – 100 % A+ C-
232 – 241 92.5 (93) – 96.49 % A C-
224 – 231 89.5 (90) – 92.49 % A- C-
217 – 223 86.5 (87) – 89.49 % B+ C-
207 – 216 82.5 (83) – 86.49 % B C-
199 – 206 79.5 (80) – 82.49 % B- C-
192 – 198 76.5 (77) – 79.49 % C+ C-
182 – 191 72.5 (73) – 76.49 % C C-
174 – 181 69.5 (70) – 72.49 % C- C-
167 – 173 66.5 (67) – 69.49 % D+ D+
157 – 166 62.5 (63) – 66.49 % D D
150 – 156 59.5 (60) – 62.49 % D- D-
149 or lower 59.49 % or lower F F

A grade of “C” is the cut-off for a passing grade in this course, provided that lab/clinical performance is
satisfactory.

BSN final grades will be rounded to the closest whole number using the 0.5 rule. For example, a 485.49
is a 485. A 485.844 is a 486.
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TOPICAL OUTLINE

Week Topic
1 Safety
2 Hygiene
3 Mobility
4 Infection & Dosage Calculation
5 Tissue Integrity & Dosage Calculation
6 Medication Administration
7 Patient Education and Pain
8 Oxygenation & Gas Exchange
9 Elimination
10 Fluid & Electrolytes
11 Fluid & Electrolytes
12 Acid-base Balance
13 Nutrition
14 Happy Thanksgiving
15 Death & Dying, Palliatric Care, and Ethics
16 Post Op care and Clinical Judgment
17 Final Review