Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Influencing Quality in Healthcare for the RN to BSN (Online)

NURS 4421-A30

Course: NURS 4421-A30
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: NURS
CRN: 32881

Course Description

This course introduces theory, concepts, and practices related to influencing change in policies, systems, and environments with an emphasis on health care organizations. Course concepts include organizational change theory, identification of resources and barriers to change at organizational and systems level, and adoption of evidence-based models of care at all levels of the ecological framework. This course is designed for the student enrolled in the RN to BSN program. Must be completed with a grade of ā€œCā€ (2.0) or better. (Fall - 1st Session, Spring - 1st Session, Summer - 1st Session) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): NURS 3101 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Registration Restriction(s): Acceptance into RN to BSN major

Required Texts

Joint Commission Resources. (2022). Fundamentals of Health Care Improvement: A Guide to Improving Your Patients' Care (4th ed.). Joint Commission and Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe different models of quality improvement in healthcare organizations.
2. Discuss the role of professional nurses in influencing change to improve quality in healthcare.
3. Explain how continuous quality improvement is an essential part of the daily work of professional nurses.
4. Discuss the importance of measurement in assessing quality of care.
5. Describe approaches for changing processes of care and use of measures to evaluate the effect of change.

Course Requirements

Admission into the RN to BSN program

Course Outline

D i s c u s s i o n s - 3 0 %
There will be 6 discussions total in this course. The discussions will be weekly the first 6 weeks.

Q u i z z e s - 2 1 %
There are 7 quizzes total throughout the 7-week course. Week 1-5 include the first 5 quizzes. The last 2 quizzes are
scheduled week 7. There is a required commenced attendance quiz (in addition to the 7 quizzes) that is due within the first
week.

A s s i g n m e n t s - 9 %
Assignment includes an article (Gwande 2012 August 13 Big Med Can Hospital Chains Improve the Medical Industry _ _
The New Yorker) that is to be read, and corresponding questions answered.

Q u a l i t y  I m p r o v e m e n t  p r e s e n t a t i o n - 4 0 %
This includes the 20-point quality improvement presentation topic selection, along with the 380-point quality improvement
presentation itself.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Papers/assignments are due at the time designated. If you know you will miss an assignment due date in advance, submit materials early. Most assignments/discussion posts are due by 11:59pm MST on the due date. Be aware of any time zone differences. At the due date and time, the assignment will close, and late submissions are subject to not being accepted. If unforeseen circumstances, make it so you are unable to submit an assignment on the designated due date - it is your responsibility to notify me and negotiate a reasonable alternate due date. I retain the option of not accepting late papers or assignments and/or may deduct points for late work.

Make up work for extra credit or in place of missed assignments will not be provided.

Attendance Policy

Online asynchronous

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.