Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Leadership and Management for the RN to BSN (Online)

NURS 4551-B30

Course: NURS 4551-B30
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: NURS
CRN: 12767

Course Description

Historical and contemporary management and leadership concepts. High focus is directed towards the RN to BSN student through the development of individual leadership abilities through selfapplication techniques and models in leadership and management in healthcare. This clinical experience uses a faculty guided/student designed model that utilizes critical thinking, problem solving, and clinical decision making while applying leadership and management principles.

Required Texts

Leadership Roles and Management Function in Nursing: Theory and Application, 11th edition By Carol J. Hutson ISBN-13: 978-1-975193-06-5

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 
1. Identify and practice leadership management skills to provide patient centered nursing care and perform nursing interventions safely for a variety of settings; modify care as needed based on client characteristics and needs. 
2. Develop collegial relationships with inter and multidisciplinary team members using management and leadership concepts and therapeutic communication skills while adhering to professional standards and behaviors. 
3. Use appropriate processes and frameworks for care planning, solving problems, managing practice, providing leadership and helping to improve and change health care practice. 
4. Develop personal leadership abilities based on self-assessment and analysis of personal leadership styles. 
5. Use the framework of nursing and personal values and standards to build on knowledge from previous nursing courses to move along the continuum of practice from novice to expert. 
6. Implement course information to improve practice setting dynamics as they relate to leadership and management. 
7. Recognize and employ resource avenues to seek leadership and management actions which compliment information presented in class and future opportunities.

Course Requirements

Acceptance into RN to BSN major.

Course Outline

Online Videos Some modules will include on-line videos to be viewed prior to completing the assignment or discussion for the week. You will be expected to view it and respond as directed by assignment or discussion. 
Assignments Throughout the course you will have assignments, these will be based on weekly readings/videos. You will be expected to complete the assigned reading/video each week in order to apply learning through the assignment. The instructions for each assignment are posted within canvas. It is expected you will be actively engaged in these assignments and do your best work. You may use your textbook or notes to assist in your assignments. You will earn points based on completion of assignment requirements. (see addendum for rubric). 
Discussions Each week you will have to respond to a new discussion prompt. Discussions in this course are meant to be a place of authentic conversation where we can learn from one another. You will be expected to complete the assigned reading/video each week in order to apply learning through the discussion. The discussion prompts are posted on canvas each week. It is expected you will provide your thoughts and observations on the prompt as well as respond to 2 of your peers to receive full points. Responses must be submitted through the MARCOPOLO app no later than the assigned due date. Discussions are meant to be a place of authentic conversation where we can learn from one another. You will earn points based on complete thoughts and effort in participation. Points will be on a 0-7 scale. (see addendum for rubric). 
Personal Development Project You will be expected to choose a personal development project for this course. 15 hours are required for this project. 
Quizzes You will have 7 quizzes in this course. Each quiz will consist  of 5 multiple choice questions. You will have 30 minutes to complete the quiz. You will have 2 attempts at each quiz. If you attempt the quiz a second time, you will have 30 minutes to complete it. Points will be deducted per late policy. You may use your textbook or notes to complete the quiz. 
Leadership Clinical Project You will be expected to design a clinical experience and utilize Change Theory as the framework for planning and implementing your leadership project. You will function as a change agent to plan and implement this project. Leadership Clinical Projects (https://suu.instructure.com/courses/1054067/files/181164766/download?wrap=1)  must be approved by faculty prior to initiation using the clinical project agreement form .(https://suu.instructure.com/courses/1054067/files/181164794/download?wrap=1) (https://suu.instructure.com/courses/1054067/files/181164794/download?download_frd=1) 30 hours are required hours for this project. Points .You will earn points based on completion of project requirements. (see rubric) 
Leadership and Management Paper You will complete a professional paper speaking to information on a topic within leadership and management of your choice from several provided topic options. Paper will be 5 pages in length (including title and reference page), written in APA format. Paper must be submitted no later than the assigned due date. You will earn points based on completion of paper requirements. (see rubric)

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

Late Policy & Make Up Work/Extra Credit Papers/assignments are due at the time designated by faculty on CANVAS either in the calendar or syllabi. If you know you will not be able to meet the due date, submit materials early and discuss this with the instructor. With unforeseen circumstances, you may not be able to submit an assignment on the designated due date, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor and negotiate a reasonable alternate due date prior to the original due date. The instructor will determine, based upon individual circumstances, acceptance of late assignments, knowing points may be lost. Submitting your assignments through CANVAS is the required method. Emailing assignments to the instructor are NOT accepted unless arranged with the instructor. If assignments are emailed without acceptance from the instructor only ½ of the point value for that assignment will be given.

Attendance Policy

Attendance in online courses is evaluated based on completion of assignments, participation in online discussions, and timely response to instructor’s emails. You should notify the faculty in advance if you know you are unable to complete assignments, etc. by the assignment due date.  In the case of emergencies, notify the faculty ASAP.

Course Fees

None. 

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.