NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
Course Name: Advanced Medical Surgical
Nursing: Promoting Wellness in
the Critically Ill Patient Practicum
Course Number: NURS 481L
Section A:
I. Instructor’s Contact Information, Course Pre and Co-Requisites
Instructor Information: See Virtual Office
Course Prerequisites: NURS 201 and NURS 211L
Course Co-requisites: NURS 480
II. Mission and Outcomes
University Mission: At West Coast University, we embrace a student-centric learning
partnership that leads to professional success. We deliver
transformational education within a culture of integrity and personal
accountability. We design market-responsive programs through
collaboration between faculty and industry professionals. We
continuously pursue more effective and innovative ways through which
students develop the competencies and confidence required in a
complex and changing world.
Institutional Learning Institutional learning outcomes are designed by the University as a whole,
Outcomes: taking into account the role that both instruction and student services
play in contributing to a student’s success. Institutional learning
outcomes assume achievement of the stated programmatic learning
outcomes of one’s discipline. Upon graduating from a degree program
offered by West Coast University, students will be able to:
1. Implement intellectual and practical problem solving skills through
information assessment and critical thinking.
2. Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
3. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
4. Demonstrate computer proficiency and information literacy.
5. Describe ethical standards and legal guidelines associated with one’s
chosen career field.
6. Explain why knowledge of and respect for the societal contributions
of diverse cultures and perspectives is an important quality in one’s
discipline.
7. Articulate the importance of working collaboratively with other
healthcare providers in support of the client/patient.
Program Mission: The mission of the College of Nursing is to provide evidence-based
and innovative nursing education to culturally diverse learners;
preparing nurses to provide quality and compassionate care that is
responsive to the needs of the community and the global society.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 1
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
, NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
II. Mission and Outcomes
Program Philosophy: The philosophy of the College of Nursing is that education is a
continuous process occurring in phases throughout an individual’s
lifetime. Nurses are lifelong learners and critical thinkers.
Program Learning 1. Support professional nursing practice decisions with concepts and
Outcomes: theories from the biological, physical, and social sciences.
2. Plan preventative and population focused interventions with
attention to effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and equity.
3. Support therapeutic nursing interventions for patients and families in
a variety of healthcare and community settings using evidence based
practice.
4. Apply nursing process and critical thinking when providing holistic,
patient centered nursing care to diverse populations.
5. Design health care education for individuals, families, and
communities.
6. Comply with the professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal
conduct in practice.
7. Develop an effective communication style to interact with patients,
families, and the interdisciplinary health team.
8. Model leadership when providing safe, quality nursing care;
coordinating the healthcare team; and when tasked with oversight and
accountability for care delivery.
9. Use patient care technology and information systems when providing
nursing care in a variety of settings.
III. Course Information
Class Length: 9 weeks
Credit Hours: 3 semester credits/15 contact hours per week/135 hours per term. A
minimum of 75% in direct patient care and maximum of 25% in non-
direct patient care which may include: simulation, skills lab, ATI Learning
Resources, and/or community experience as directed by faculty.
For every 1 hour in a skills lab or clinical class, it is expected that
students complete 1 hour of study in preparation for class. For this
course; it is expected that a minimum of 15 hours of study, outside of
class, is completed each week.
Class Required Texts, No new text required
Learning Resources:
Class Required Texts, ATI Dosage & Calculations and Safe Medication Administration in the
Learning Resources from ATI Learning Systems modules.
Previous term(s): American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association. (6th ed.). Washington, DC:
Author.
Carpenito-Moyet,th
L. J. (2017). Nursing diagnosis: Applications to clinical
practice (15 ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Fischbach, F. (2014). A manual of laboratory & diagnostic tests (9th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 2
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
, NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
III. Course Information
Lewis, S. L., Heitkemper, M. M., Dirksen, S. R., O’Brien, P. G., & Bucher,
L. (2014). Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of
clinical problems (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (2013). Adult medical-surgical
nursing RN 9.0: Content mastery series review module. Overland
Park, KS: Author.
Class Recommended
N/A
Texts, Learning
Resources:
Course Catalog Experience in helping critically ill persons effectively negotiate a transition
Description: to wellness, or to lower level acuity nursing care, or to a long-term nursing
facility. Clinical practice of critical care nursing occurs in a variety of
settings. This course allows for comprehensive examination of all aspects of
critical care nursing. Settings with invasive procedures and/or peri-
operative nursing are employed.
Course Learning On conclusion of the course, in order to provide nursing care to
Outcomes: promote wellness in culturally diverse populations, the student will
Course outcomes are be able to:
comprised of the
knowledge, skills, values 1. Describe the practitioner, leader, educator, and researcher roles
and/or behaviors that
students should be able to of the nurse in the management of critically ill patients
demonstrate upon experiencing transitional health states.
completion of the course. 2. State the clinical significance of age-related physiologic changes
Course outcomes map to and expected nursing considerations or interventions used in
the Program Learning caring for the older critical care patient.
Outcomes
3. Evaluate coping mechanisms and support systems utilized by
Must be assessed in the
culturally diverse individuals and families in crisis situations
course to determine if
learning outcomes are met where altered roles, altered family processes, powerlessness,
and self-care deficits become considerable areas of concern.
4. Determine appropriate nursing management of acutely ill
patients by integrating knowledge from pharmacology,
pathophysiology, and nursing and other healthcare disciplines
5. Use the nursing process to formulate appropriate nursing
diagnoses based on clinical assessment findings with specific
interventions and outcome criteria for various health states of the
acutely ill patient.
6. Analyze the rationale behind various collaborative
management interventions that focus on the psychosocial
needs of acutely ill patients and their families including;
pharmacological approaches, nutritional considerations, pain
management, ethical issues, and discharge planning.
7. Analyze evidence based nursing practice related to a specific
health care issue, through a review of the literature, and
determine its’ utilization in the management of acutely ill
patients.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 3
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
, NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
III. Course Information
8. Evaluate the clinical application of evidence-based research
related to the management of patients experiencing complex
acute and critical transitional health problems.
AACN Essentials for The purpose of this section of the syllabus is to guide the student in
Baccalaureate Education understanding how the AACN 9 Essentials are incorporated into their
For Professional Nursing education and to provide guidance to them in developing their individual
Practice: portfolios.
These AACN Essentials noted below meet the criteria for the portfolio
and once completed should be placed in the portfolio under the
designated essential and outcome.
The Essentials that are met in NURS 481L Integration of Nursing Practice
include the following:
Essential I, Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing
Practice
• Outcome 3, Use skills of inquiry, analysis, and information literacy to
address practice issues.
Use research databases and other resources to review and
analyze evidence based nursing practice.
• Outcome 4, Use written, non-verbal, and emerging methods to
communicate effectively
Explore different methods of communication between patients
and nurses used in health care systems with special emphasis on
therapeutic communication.
Use various methods of clinical documentation.
Practice professionally communication with peers and members
of the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Outcome 5, Apply knowledge of social and cultural factors to the
care of diverse populations.
Apply concepts to the care of diverse patient populations.
Report on social and cultural factors impacting patient care in
written care plans.
Discuss case studies, analyzing the influence of social and
cultural factors on decision making regarding nursing care of
critically ill patients.
• Outcome 6, Engage in ethical reasoning and actions to provide
leadership in promoting advocacy, collaboration, and social justice
as a socially responsible citizen.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, applying concepts of
ethics, advocacy, and social justice when giving care.
Discuss cases with ethical issues and advocacy needs and
propose solutions and interventions.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 4
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
Course Name: Advanced Medical Surgical
Nursing: Promoting Wellness in
the Critically Ill Patient Practicum
Course Number: NURS 481L
Section A:
I. Instructor’s Contact Information, Course Pre and Co-Requisites
Instructor Information: See Virtual Office
Course Prerequisites: NURS 201 and NURS 211L
Course Co-requisites: NURS 480
II. Mission and Outcomes
University Mission: At West Coast University, we embrace a student-centric learning
partnership that leads to professional success. We deliver
transformational education within a culture of integrity and personal
accountability. We design market-responsive programs through
collaboration between faculty and industry professionals. We
continuously pursue more effective and innovative ways through which
students develop the competencies and confidence required in a
complex and changing world.
Institutional Learning Institutional learning outcomes are designed by the University as a whole,
Outcomes: taking into account the role that both instruction and student services
play in contributing to a student’s success. Institutional learning
outcomes assume achievement of the stated programmatic learning
outcomes of one’s discipline. Upon graduating from a degree program
offered by West Coast University, students will be able to:
1. Implement intellectual and practical problem solving skills through
information assessment and critical thinking.
2. Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
3. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
4. Demonstrate computer proficiency and information literacy.
5. Describe ethical standards and legal guidelines associated with one’s
chosen career field.
6. Explain why knowledge of and respect for the societal contributions
of diverse cultures and perspectives is an important quality in one’s
discipline.
7. Articulate the importance of working collaboratively with other
healthcare providers in support of the client/patient.
Program Mission: The mission of the College of Nursing is to provide evidence-based
and innovative nursing education to culturally diverse learners;
preparing nurses to provide quality and compassionate care that is
responsive to the needs of the community and the global society.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 1
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
, NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
II. Mission and Outcomes
Program Philosophy: The philosophy of the College of Nursing is that education is a
continuous process occurring in phases throughout an individual’s
lifetime. Nurses are lifelong learners and critical thinkers.
Program Learning 1. Support professional nursing practice decisions with concepts and
Outcomes: theories from the biological, physical, and social sciences.
2. Plan preventative and population focused interventions with
attention to effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and equity.
3. Support therapeutic nursing interventions for patients and families in
a variety of healthcare and community settings using evidence based
practice.
4. Apply nursing process and critical thinking when providing holistic,
patient centered nursing care to diverse populations.
5. Design health care education for individuals, families, and
communities.
6. Comply with the professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal
conduct in practice.
7. Develop an effective communication style to interact with patients,
families, and the interdisciplinary health team.
8. Model leadership when providing safe, quality nursing care;
coordinating the healthcare team; and when tasked with oversight and
accountability for care delivery.
9. Use patient care technology and information systems when providing
nursing care in a variety of settings.
III. Course Information
Class Length: 9 weeks
Credit Hours: 3 semester credits/15 contact hours per week/135 hours per term. A
minimum of 75% in direct patient care and maximum of 25% in non-
direct patient care which may include: simulation, skills lab, ATI Learning
Resources, and/or community experience as directed by faculty.
For every 1 hour in a skills lab or clinical class, it is expected that
students complete 1 hour of study in preparation for class. For this
course; it is expected that a minimum of 15 hours of study, outside of
class, is completed each week.
Class Required Texts, No new text required
Learning Resources:
Class Required Texts, ATI Dosage & Calculations and Safe Medication Administration in the
Learning Resources from ATI Learning Systems modules.
Previous term(s): American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association. (6th ed.). Washington, DC:
Author.
Carpenito-Moyet,th
L. J. (2017). Nursing diagnosis: Applications to clinical
practice (15 ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Fischbach, F. (2014). A manual of laboratory & diagnostic tests (9th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 2
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
, NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
III. Course Information
Lewis, S. L., Heitkemper, M. M., Dirksen, S. R., O’Brien, P. G., & Bucher,
L. (2014). Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of
clinical problems (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (2013). Adult medical-surgical
nursing RN 9.0: Content mastery series review module. Overland
Park, KS: Author.
Class Recommended
N/A
Texts, Learning
Resources:
Course Catalog Experience in helping critically ill persons effectively negotiate a transition
Description: to wellness, or to lower level acuity nursing care, or to a long-term nursing
facility. Clinical practice of critical care nursing occurs in a variety of
settings. This course allows for comprehensive examination of all aspects of
critical care nursing. Settings with invasive procedures and/or peri-
operative nursing are employed.
Course Learning On conclusion of the course, in order to provide nursing care to
Outcomes: promote wellness in culturally diverse populations, the student will
Course outcomes are be able to:
comprised of the
knowledge, skills, values 1. Describe the practitioner, leader, educator, and researcher roles
and/or behaviors that
students should be able to of the nurse in the management of critically ill patients
demonstrate upon experiencing transitional health states.
completion of the course. 2. State the clinical significance of age-related physiologic changes
Course outcomes map to and expected nursing considerations or interventions used in
the Program Learning caring for the older critical care patient.
Outcomes
3. Evaluate coping mechanisms and support systems utilized by
Must be assessed in the
culturally diverse individuals and families in crisis situations
course to determine if
learning outcomes are met where altered roles, altered family processes, powerlessness,
and self-care deficits become considerable areas of concern.
4. Determine appropriate nursing management of acutely ill
patients by integrating knowledge from pharmacology,
pathophysiology, and nursing and other healthcare disciplines
5. Use the nursing process to formulate appropriate nursing
diagnoses based on clinical assessment findings with specific
interventions and outcome criteria for various health states of the
acutely ill patient.
6. Analyze the rationale behind various collaborative
management interventions that focus on the psychosocial
needs of acutely ill patients and their families including;
pharmacological approaches, nutritional considerations, pain
management, ethical issues, and discharge planning.
7. Analyze evidence based nursing practice related to a specific
health care issue, through a review of the literature, and
determine its’ utilization in the management of acutely ill
patients.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 3
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
, NURS 481L – Adv. Med- Surg, Nursing Practicum Spring I 2017
III. Course Information
8. Evaluate the clinical application of evidence-based research
related to the management of patients experiencing complex
acute and critical transitional health problems.
AACN Essentials for The purpose of this section of the syllabus is to guide the student in
Baccalaureate Education understanding how the AACN 9 Essentials are incorporated into their
For Professional Nursing education and to provide guidance to them in developing their individual
Practice: portfolios.
These AACN Essentials noted below meet the criteria for the portfolio
and once completed should be placed in the portfolio under the
designated essential and outcome.
The Essentials that are met in NURS 481L Integration of Nursing Practice
include the following:
Essential I, Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing
Practice
• Outcome 3, Use skills of inquiry, analysis, and information literacy to
address practice issues.
Use research databases and other resources to review and
analyze evidence based nursing practice.
• Outcome 4, Use written, non-verbal, and emerging methods to
communicate effectively
Explore different methods of communication between patients
and nurses used in health care systems with special emphasis on
therapeutic communication.
Use various methods of clinical documentation.
Practice professionally communication with peers and members
of the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Outcome 5, Apply knowledge of social and cultural factors to the
care of diverse populations.
Apply concepts to the care of diverse patient populations.
Report on social and cultural factors impacting patient care in
written care plans.
Discuss case studies, analyzing the influence of social and
cultural factors on decision making regarding nursing care of
critically ill patients.
• Outcome 6, Engage in ethical reasoning and actions to provide
leadership in promoting advocacy, collaboration, and social justice
as a socially responsible citizen.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, applying concepts of
ethics, advocacy, and social justice when giving care.
Discuss cases with ethical issues and advocacy needs and
propose solutions and interventions.
West Coast University Course Syllabus Page 4
Revision Date: January 18, 2017 Term: Spring I 2017
