Syllabus for NURSING 2222-Online  
Summer 2008

Welcome to  Pathophysiology and Pharmacology  Online 
Instructor:  Mary Stephens, RN, MSN
Course Web site:  D2L hosted by the Century Server

You have been working as a CNA in a hospital for 4 years. On several occasions you have heard clients tell you that they are experiencing chest pain. As you have watched bizarre lines and beeps create a cardiac monitor pattern, you have developed a curiosity to understand the body processes that are causing this and many other disease states. You are motivated to become an active learner. Welcome to Pathophysiology 2222.

This course is designed for students pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing.
This course analyzes the progressive changes that take place in the human organism when normal adaptive processes are influenced by chemical, microbial, genetic and/or psychological stress. The course focuses on the pathophysiology of major health problems that lead to mortality and morbidity. This course connects the interrelationship between pathophysiology and pharmacology, emphasizing the importance of pharmacology to these major health problems. This knowledge is applied to the planning of holistic nursing care and pharmacologic interventions of patients with these health problems.
This is a 3 credit course. The course is  taught online . Students who elect to take an online course  should be self motivated,  independent learners. This class is intended to be creative, stimulating and relevant to your nursing practice. The student will need to become engaged in the learning process. Besides completing the modules, the student will be required to  complete  written case studies, quizzes,  and participate in discussions/activities online with other students. The student will be encouraged to utilize the WWW to  enhance learning.
Students will be required to come to class for the 4 main written  exams.
It is strongly recommended that any student who is not familiar with D2L,  attend the optional on campus orientation during the first week of class.
 

Specific topics :
Topics in this course include holistic nursing care for patients experiencing:
1) Alterations in the: Stress Response, Inflammatory Response, Immune Response .
2) Neurological, Respiratory, Cardiac, Shock, Renal, and Hepatic Disease
3) Alterations in Cellular proliferation
4) Pharmacology content relates to the following categories: ANS, GI, antiinfectives, analgesics, cardiac, renal, respiratory, anticoagulants, and endocrine.

Course  Outcomes:
At the completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Examine levels of prevention as they relate to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality.
2. Discuss the registered nurse's role as critical thinker when applying pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in clinical practice.
3. Explain the registered nursing roles of teacher, advocate, and critical thinker when analyzing the concepts of disease and the effects of pharmacology upon disease processes.
4. Explain the role of the professional nurse as critical thinker and teacher while administering drugs for various categories of disease.
5. Explain the importance of life long learning in understanding the interrelationships of pathophysiology & pharmacology..
6. Discuss ethical issues involved in selected disease states and potential pharmacologic therapy.
7. Discuss the use of therapeutic communication while caring for persons experiencing selected disease and drug therapy.
8. Promote healthy lifestyles based on the knowledge of how a person’s environment impacts health and wellness.
9. Examine the use of holistic nursing assessments, therapeutic nursing interventions, and pharmacologic therapies for patients across the lifespan that are experiencing acute illness or disease.
10. Demonstrate collaboration with other healthcare disciplines when providing holistic nursing care and pharmacologic therapy for patients experiencing acute illness or disease.
11. Examine current trends in healthcare and healthcare delivery as they relate to patients experiencing major health problems and concurrent drug therapy..
12. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity related to the needs of patients experiencing acute illness and disease.
13. Examine the nursing practice roles for the registered nurse when promoting the health of the community.  
14. Analyze the role of the registered  nurse when involving the patient and family in clinical decision making.

 Prerequisites

Computer Requirements    

This course is taught via D2L ( stands for Desire To Learn course management system ).
Course content and activities (other than the  proctored exams and the orientation session) will be accessed at this D2L site.
 Students must have access to a computer with Internet access. 
Is your computer Correctly Configured  for this web class? Click on the link to find out.

All students have access to computers on campus in the computer labs as desired. These are  well maintained.
Be sure to take advantage of the campus computers whenever the need exists.
Access to this course site is through the Century college home page web site. The course content is housed at Century.

Required References                 
Adams,P.A., Holland,L, & Bostwick,P.  ( 2008) 2nd Ed. Pharmacology for Nurses - a pathophysiological approach. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Pearson Prentice Hall. (Required for the entire nursing program)

Heuther, S, & McCance, K. (2008).Understanding Pathophysiology.  4th Ed.  St Louis. Mosby

Lewis, Heitkemper,& Dirksen. (2008). Medical Surgical Nursing.  7th Ed.   St. Louis. Mosby. (Use the edition that you purchased for the entire nursing program)  

Suggested References

WWW - Students will utilize the WWW for class information

Grading Criteria           

Grading will be based upon  multiple choice exams,   case studies, quizzes, and participation in discussions online.
A student must achieve a cumulative score of 78 % in order to pass the course.

A = 92- 100%        85- 91 % = B        78 - 84 %= C       Less than  78%  is failure

Mary Stephens, RN, MSN
E Mail : mstephe@inverhillls.edu
Office Phone: 651 450 8603
Office: IHCC Science Bldg 114
Home (for  important reasons): 651 437 2572

Campus Office Hours:   
Since this is a WEB Based course, help is available via the web site, E Mail or Phone. 
I am available on exam days at the Century campus, and would be very willing to help you in person.
I am on the IHCC campus intermittently during the summer.
IHCC campus phone and voice mail: 651 450 8603. Office is: Science 114 at IHCC.

Class Expectations:

Point distribution  for  Pathophysiology/Pharmacology N2222 - Online Section

 Multiple Choice Exams
There will be four multiple choice exams. 
They will be taken via computer, in a proctored setting at the Century Campus .

The testing technology allows for feedback, on the testing site, after the exam is submitted for grading..  
Make up  exams, taken after the scheduled exam,  will be in an alternate format that includes short answers.

Each question earns one point.
See the course home page for Testing  Dates and Room Assignments 

Discussion Board Points
0 points means you did not participate by the due date and time.
1 point means that you made a minimal effort and contributed little to the discussion.
2 points means that your contribution is accurate, informative and insightful. Correct grammar and spelling is used.
3 points means that you made a fine contribution to your discussion group and also made a response   to a second discussion group of your choice. Correct grammar and spelling is used.
Feedback will come from your peers, on a ongoing  basis, as the discussion takes place.
 
Case Study Points
Up to 20 total points may be earned from case study responses.
Every student is also required to submit 2 of the 4  case studies presented. (worth up to10 pts for each case study)
You may choose  2 case studies from case studies 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Look at the due dates and decide which date or which content fits your needs and interests.                           
Extensive answers to the case studies will be posted on the content page, to the entire class, after the due date. 
You are responsible for reading and understanding the case study answers for all  case studies.
Some exam questions will be taken from these case studies.
Case studies will be graded as to accuracy, creativity and insight.
Correct grammar and spelling is expected for all aspects of this course.
Lack of submission of the case study  by the due date earns zero points.
Scores will be given for
1) accuracy, spelling, and  grammar
2) creativity in problem solving the situation 
3) in depth explanations and insight
 
Please send your case study to the D2L course drop box  by the due date. I can not award any points after the due date as the answers will have already been posted on the class site. Plan ahead for  unexpected events such as "The dog ate my computer". I anticipate being able to provide feedback on your case study, via the drop box feedback area, within 10 days of the due date. If you are not submitting via Microsoft Word, please see the FAQ for important information on how to submit via rtf format.

Quizzes
There will be one pharmacology quiz this semester. It can be taken from home. The quiz must be taken independently. You may not ask others for assistance. It is an open book quiz. However, you will have only  9 minutes for 9 multiple choice questions. If you do not study ahead, you will not be able to complete the quiz in the assigned time. D2L will show a clock. Watch your time and finish on time. I will deduct one point for every extra minute taken to complete the quiz.

Figure out your grade:

To figure out your current percentage in the course, take the number of possible points earned to date, and divide by the total possible points.
For instance,  at the end of Test # 1, you have a possible total of: 10 case study pts, 9 quiz points, 3 discussion pts and 70 test points to =  92 possible points.
If you have earned 87 pts, divide 87 by 92 to reach a percentage of 94.5 %  so far in the course. 

You must achieve a 78% in order to pass this course. Those students who do not achieve 78% must meet with the Nursing advisory committee if they wish to request continuing status in the nursing program.

Academic Honesty
All work done in this class must be done by you. Case study responses, contributions to the discussion board, quizzes taken at home, and exam responses must be your own work. It is unacceptable to submit the work of another person as your own.  If you quote, summarize, paraphrase, or use the ideas of another, you must accurately attribute that information.  If you do not acknowledge the source, you are plagiarizing.  In this course, plagiarism/cheating will result in a grade of F.  Cheating will result in the initiation of the Student Code of Conduct Disciplinary Process. Please see the college policies website for further details.

Special Needs:  ADA Statement:
I would like to accommodate any reasonable accommodations that you might need for this course. I have tried to make all materials, discussions, and activities that are part of this web course are accessible for nursing students. Students  with disabilities should contact  the Disability Services for information on accommodations. Please contact me to discuss your needs.

Religious Accommodation Statement:
The Inver Hills/Century nursing program  strongly supports the principles of free expression and respect for the diversity of beliefs, including religious observances, among our academic community.  It is the policy of the college to provide reasonable accommodations for students when religious observances conflict with classroom activities or course requirements.  It is the responsibility of students to inform instructors in a timely fashion of such conflicts.  If a mutually agreed accommodation is not possible, students may initiate an appeal.  The procedure for this appeal is the same as the Grade Appeal Policy described in the college policies.