This course introduces nursing students to the nursing process and reinforces basic nursing skills, professionalism, communication, and critical thinking skills utilized in basic nursing care. It will also provide concepts of basic nursing care for acute physical health alterations in adult clients.

• Openstax Medical-Surgical Nursing (https://openstax.org/details/books/medical-surgical-nursing) (Free online textbook)
• RN Adult Medical Surgical Nursing. (Disturbed by the SUU Department of Nursing in level 2)

1. Students will apply factors that create a culture of caring and advocacy in providing safe & high- quality patient centered care for diverse adults 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.

Grade Scheme

Grades will be determined in the undergraduate programs using the following grading scale. To progress in the undergraduate program, students must pass each course with a C (74%) minimum.

Assignment Outline

Attendance/Participation/Professionalism - 10%

You are responsible for attending class, arriving on time and staying for the duration of class. Those who do not attend, arrive late or depart 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 during in class assignments and activities will also result in loss of points.

Assignments - 10%

Class assignments help solidify class content and encourage critical thinking. Instructions on individual assignments are found in Canvas.

ATI Assignments - 15%

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.

Your practice as a nurse is yours, just as the knowledge you gain is yours. Completing ATI assignments together does not translate into success as an individual nurse. Using the internet or a friend 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.

Ticket to Class Quizzes - 10%

Closed book quizzes will be given during the first 15 minutes of class each week and are based on the previous week’s material. You must be in class to take the quiz.

Class Exams (3 Exams) - 30%

You will take three class exams during the semester which include the material we cover in class. The class final exam will include new material and will also be comprehensive.

ATI - 25% Midterm (10%) Final (15%)

Exams begin promptly on time as listed in the schedule. Doors are locked prior to testing. You will not be allowed to begin the exam late.

The Midterm ATI is comprehensive. You may want to study the ATI chapters that are covered at the end of the semester prior to taking the Midterm ATI exam.

The current ATI levels are:

• Below level 1 0.0% to 60.4%
• Level 1 60.5% to 71.0%
• Level 2 71.1% to 83.6%
• Level 3 83.7% to 100.0%

• ATI levels are subject to change per ATI

Below are the ATI levels with corresponding class grade.

For students that reach Level 3 their grade will be

• 94.6% - 100.0% proficiency, equals 100%
• 89.1% - 94.5% proficiency, equals 97%
• 83.7% - 89.0% proficiency, equals 94%

For students that reach Level 2 their grade will be

• 79.5% - 83.6% proficiency, equals 91%
• 75.3% - 79.4% proficiency, equals 88%
• 71.1% - 75.2% proficiency equals 85%

For students that reach Level 1 their grade will be

• 67.5% - 71.0% proficiency, equals 82%
• 64.0% - 67.4% proficiency, equals 79%
• 60.5% - 63.9% proficiency, equals 75%

Students who get Below Level 1 for any ATI receive 0%. If they receive at least Level 1 on either the midterm or the final ATI, the ATI they received Below Level 1 will be adjusted to 70%. Students who receive Below Level 1 on both the midterm and final ATI will receive 0% for both exams and will fail the course.

Any student that gets a Level 1 or Below Level 1 proficiency score on the midterm ATI exam must do 8 hours of remediation. Remediation instructions are found in Canvas in the Remediation assignment. Remediation 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 the course.

Students must take both ATI exams to pass the course.

Late Assignments

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

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.

Recommended

• Drug Reference Handbook such as Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses

Supplemental Resources

• Face to Face Student Handbook (https://www.suu.edu/nursing/pdf/f2f.student-handbook-2025.pdf)
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The Essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education. Accessible online at https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf
• American Nurses Association (2021). Nursing: Scope & Standards of Practice. Washington DC: Nursesbooks.org ISBN: 978-0999308868

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

Emails from students in semester-long classes must be responded to within three business days (Definition of business day: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and does not include holidays). All assignments must be graded within seven calendar days of due date for semester-long courses. If faculty need an extension to grade assignments because of assignment length, holiday, or other circumstances, faculty will notify students in advance. Assignments need to be graded in sufficient time to allow students to improve and build upon their learning for subsequent assignments.

Statement of Safety or Risk Assumption

You are expected to manage your own transportation and assume your own risks when traveling to and from class, labs, or clinical experiences and when performing duties in class, labs, or clinical experiences. There are inherent risks involved in travel and in lab and clinical experiences. The most obvious risks are accidents, contracting infections or other communicable diseases or workplace violence. Please take precautions to avoid risks and provide for your safety.