This course provides the conceptual basis for understanding acute physical health alterations in adult clients. This class addresses the roles and responsibilities of nurses and the physical, mental, emotional, social and environmental factors in regard to patient care. Students will learn to provide adult nursing care in a variety of settings. Four credit hours (four classroom hours per week). (Fall, Spring)

• 1. Hinkle, J., Cheever, K., & Overbaugh K.J. (2022). Medical-Surgical Nursing. (15th ed.) Wolter Kluwer
  The eBook is included in your required Lippincott CoursePoint+ access. You do not need to purchase the hard copy of the textbook
• 2. ATI. RN Adult Medical Surgical Nursing. (Distributed in Level 1.)

1. Students will apply factors that create a culture of caring and advocacy in providing safe & high-quality patient-centered care for diverse individuals, families, and communities experiencing acute and chronic health problems.
2. Students will utilize the nursing process, clinical judgment, interprofessional perspectives, and patient preferences in assessing, planning, and implementing comprehensive nursing care in the acute setting that aligns with ethical and legal principles standards.
3. Students will apply critical thinking and evidence-based practice to make and prioritize informed clinical decisions and nursing interventions in the care of adult populations with acute and chronic health conditions.
4. Students will demonstrate competency to successfully pass the NCLEX as it pertains to medical surgical nursing.
5. Students will appropriately analyze patient data and assessments and collaborate with the healthcare team to identify and intervene on potential or actual health problems.

Grading

TOTAL: 100%

PASSING GRADE: A cumulative score of 74% or higher is needed to successfully complete all nursing courses.

For policies regarding incomplete or withdrawal, please refer to the current university catalog.

Grading Scale

Description of Graded Assignments

• 1. ATTENDANCE/PROFESSIONALISM/PARTICIPATION – Grade Weight 10%

  Expected Outcome: Learn and demonstrate collaboration, critical thinking, and coordination of care.

  General Description: You will be responsible for attending class, arriving on time and staying for the duration of class. Those arriving late or departing early will lose participation points for the day. A loss of points will occur for internet surfing, game playing on your computer, or any other unacceptable/unprofessional behavior. Lack of participation in class assignments will also result in loss of points.

• 2. TICKET TO CLASS WEEKLY QUIZZES-- Grade Weight 10%

  Expected Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge of the diseases, body systems, patient populations, nursing skills, and professionalism each week.

  Directions: Quizzes will be given during the first 15 minutes of class each week and will be based on the previous week’s material. You must be in class to take the quiz.

• 3. ATI RN TARGETED M/S PRACTICE AND ATI TICKET TO TEST - Grade Weight 15%

  Expected Outcome: Become familiar and comfortable with ATI - NCLEX type testing and demonstrate knowledge of the diseases, body systems, patient populations, and nursing skills required for the subject being tested.

  Directions: You will have at least one ATI test due most weeks of the semester. These tests will be found on the ATI website. Specific instructions for finding each test is in the assignment instructions. You will also have an ATI Ticket to Test practice test before each scheduled ATI Test. You must pass each ATI Ticket to Test with a 90% or higher to take the ATI Midterm and Final.

  Please make sure you are using your time wisely each week so that you do not become overwhelmed. This is a heavy course and will require a lot of time each week. Tests are to be done INDIVIDUALLY.

  Group work on tests is cheating. Your practice as a nurse is yours, just as the knowledge you gain is yours. Doing tests together does not translate into success as an individual nurse. You are expected to do the reading, study lecture notes and take the quiz using your own critical thinking skills. Using the internet to answer questions will not help you learn to take NCLEX type questions, nor will it help you learn the foundational material you need to practice safely as an RN. DON’T DO IT!

• 4. COURSE TESTS- GRADE WEIGHT 30%

  Expected Outcome: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the material learned from textbooks, lecture, and in class activities.

  Directions: Participate in classroom activities, take adequate notes during lecture, read textbook and study outside of class. Exam 1 and 2 will cover the material prior to each test. The final exam will cover material from the course of the semester.

• 5. ATI TESTING (LEVEL STATEMENT) - Grade Weight 25%

  Two ATI Assessment Exams will be administered during the semester.

  • Please note that a “ticket in” will be required to take the ATI exams. A score of 90% on the practice exam will be required prior to testing.

  Exams begin promptly on time as listed in the schedule. You will not be allowed to begin the exam late. Doors are locked prior to testing. Any student not in their seat when the doors are closed will not be allowed to take the exam and will receive a zero and a "Below Level 1" on their exam.

  ATI reading is expected outside of class and as adult learners, students are held accountable to do the reading.

  Current ATI Proficiency levels for the RN Adult Medical-Surgical exam are:

  Level 3: 81.1% - 100%
  Level 2: 68.9% - 81.0%
  Level 1: 56.7% - 68.8%
  Below Level 1: 0.0% - 56.6%

  Scoring for proficiency level are:

  For students that reach Level 3 their grade will be
  93.7% - 100.0% proficiency equals 100%
  87.4% - 93.6% proficiency equals 97%
  81.1% - 87.3% proficiency equals 94%

  For students that reach Level 2 their grade will be
  76.3% - 81% proficiency equals 92%
  72.6% - 76.2% proficiency equals 88%
  68.9% - 72.5% proficiency equals 84%

  • ATI levels are subject to change per ATI

  For students that reach Level 1 their grade will be
  64.1% - 68.8% proficiency equals 81%
  60.4% - 64.0% proficiency equals 78%
  56.7% - 60.3% proficiency equals 74%

  Students who get below Level 1 receive a Zero. If they achieve a Level 1 on either ATI their ATI score for the below level 1 exam will be adjusted to the score they received on that exam. If they achieve a level 2 or higher on the final ATI, 5% will be added to the midterm ATI grade.

  Any student that gets a Level 1 or Below Level 1 proficiency score on an ATI exam must do remediation. Remediation for ATI exam #1 must be complete prior to taking the final ATI exam. Failure to complete remediation will result in a ZERO score for the ATI exam and failure of N3230.

• 1. ATTENDANCE/PROFESSIONALISM/PARTICIPATION – Grade Weight 10%
  
  
• Expected Outcome: Learn and demonstrate collaboration, critical thinking, and coordination of care.
  
  
• General Description: You will be responsible for attending class, arriving on time and staying for the duration of class. Those arriving late or departing early will lose participation points for the day. A loss of points will occur for internet surfing, game playing on your computer, or any other unacceptable/unprofessional behavior. Lack of participation in class assignments will also result in loss of points.
• 2. TICKET TO CLASS WEEKLY QUIZZES-- Grade Weight 10%
  
  
• Expected Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge of the diseases, body systems, patient populations, nursing skills, and professionalism each week.
  
  
• Directions: Quizzes will be given during the first 15 minutes of class each week and will be based on the previous week’s material. You must be in class to take the quiz.
• 3. ATI RN TARGETED M/S PRACTICE AND ATI TICKET TO TEST - Grade Weight 15%
  
  
• Expected Outcome: Become familiar and comfortable with ATI - NCLEX type testing and demonstrate knowledge of the diseases, body systems, patient populations, and nursing skills required for the subject being tested.
  
  
• Directions: You will have at least one ATI test due most weeks of the semester. These tests will be found on the ATI website. Specific instructions for finding each test is in the assignment instructions. You will also have an ATI Ticket to Test practice test before each scheduled ATI Test. You must pass each ATI Ticket to Test with a 90% or higher to take the ATI Midterm and Final.
  
  
• Please make sure you are using your time wisely each week so that you do not become overwhelmed. This is a heavy course and will require a lot of time each week. Tests are to be done INDIVIDUALLY.
  
  
• Group work on tests is cheating. Your practice as a nurse is yours, just as the knowledge you gain is yours. Doing tests together does not translate into success as an individual nurse. You are expected to do the reading, study lecture notes and take the quiz using your own critical thinking skills. Using the internet to answer questions will not help you learn to take NCLEX type questions, nor will it help you learn the foundational material you need to practice safely as an RN. DON’T DO IT!
• 4. COURSE TESTS- GRADE WEIGHT 30%
  
  
• Expected Outcome: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the material learned from textbooks, lecture, and in class activities.
  
  
• Directions: Participate in classroom activities, take adequate notes during lecture, read textbook and study outside of class. Exam 1 and 2 will cover the material prior to each test. The final exam will cover material from the course of the semester.
• 5. ATI TESTING (LEVEL STATEMENT) - Grade Weight 25%
  
  
• Two ATI Assessment Exams will be administered during the semester.
  
  
• • Please note that a “ticket in” will be required to take the ATI exams. A score of 90% on the practice exam will be required prior to testing.
  
  
• Exams begin promptly on time as listed in the schedule. You will not be allowed to begin the exam late. Doors are locked prior to testing. Any student not in their seat when the doors are closed will not be allowed to take the exam and will receive a zero and a "Below Level 1" on their exam.
  
  
• ATI reading is expected outside of class and as adult learners, students are held accountable to do the reading.
  
  

Late Assignments

Due dates and times are designated by faculty and posted in Canvas. Late assignments are accepted with a 10% deduction per day.

Make-Up Work

Make-up work for extra credit WILL NOT BE PROVIDED.

Communication

Preferred method of communication outside of the classroom is text if you need an immediate response. Email communication will be responded to within 48 hours during regular business hours. Open office hours are posted on my office door and on the syllabus and may be subject to change. I will not respond to text messages or emails from Friday after 5:00 until Monday at 9:00, unless it is for Monday morning clinical questions.

Regular class attendance and participation is strongly recommended and is part of your grade. Success in nursing courses is achieved with active participation; this means modeling positive communication skills that are civil and non-disruptive. There is NO texting or internet surfing allowed during class. Laptop computers and ipad devices are acceptable for note taking. If it is discovered that you are using applications other than note taking during class/lab time you will be asked to turn the device off and not bring it into class.