COURSE SYLLABUS
1. TITLE OF COURSE: Nurse Assistant Clinical Experience
PREFIX/NUMBER: NUA 171 CREDIT HOURS: 1
2. COREQUISITE: NUA 101 and NUA 170
3. RESOURCES NEEDED:
TEXT: Mosby’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants, Latest ed., Sorrentino, Sheila A.
Workbook: Mosby’s Workbook for Nursing Assistants, Latest ed., Relda, Kelly.
SUPPLIES: Pen, penlight stethoscope, gait belt
4. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prepare the student to move toward more independent functioning within the nurse aide scope of practice, in applying knowledge and skills gained in NUA 101 and NUA 170. The student will learn skills that enhance communication, cultural competency , end of life care, critical thinking and organizational skills.
5. COURSE COMPETENCIES:
A. Perform patient care skills with increased independence within the nurse aide scope of practice.
B. Communicate effectively with patients, families and staff.
C. Apply knowledge on cultural diversity to patient care and staff interactions.
D. Demonstrate organizational skills in performing nurse aide duties.
E. Demonstrate beginning skills in critical thinking in caring for patients.
6. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course, students will:
A. Describe the Nursing assistants responsibility in the Care of the Surgical patient.
B. Explain the Nursing assistants’ role in providing supportive measures in the care special populations with special procedures.
C. Discuss the role of the Nursing assistant in Home Health Care.
D. Identify job seeking skills and qualities to success.
7. EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Clinical practice is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Grades on all clinical papers must average 76% or higher. Evaluation of clinical performance must be satisfactory.
All Check-offs must be completed in NUA 101 to attend any clinical assignment.
Grading Scale
Raw Score Range Letter Grade
92 to 100 A
84 to 91 B
76 to 83 C
68 to 75 D
67 or Below F
Special Remarks:
1. Attendance/Withdrawal: College policy states that students may be dropped from enrollment when absent 20% of the scheduled class meetings. If enrolled from the beginning of the term, 15 hours will usually constitute 20% of a four-credit semester course that meets five hours per week. Reinstatement procedures are described in the PCC Nursing Student handbook. If a student wishes to withdraw from a nursing course the student should contact their instructor and then officially withdraw from the course through the records department. Instructors will not administratively withdraw a student unless the student contacts the instructor and formally requests this action. If a student does not withdraw or request a withdrawal, a grade of U will be given.
2. Tardy Policy: A student who is late three times (enters the classroom after the instructor has taken roll) will be charged with one full absence unless the student can provide valid reasons for one or more of these tardies.
3. Assignments/Missed Exams: It is a student’s responsibility, whether present or absent, to obtain all material presented and to complete all course assignments. If prior arrangements are made or extenuating circumstances exist, makeup of tests may be allowed. Late homework papers will not be accepted unless those same extenuating circumstances exist. Makeup of quizzes is to be at the instructor’s discretion.
4. Incompletes: Students requesting an incomplete grade must contact their instructor prior to the end of the course. A minimum of two thirds (2/3) of the course must be completed prior to consideration. Approval of an incomplete will be based on the amount of course work left to complete, the availability of laboratory space/faculty. Each request will be considered individually. Students will not be allowed to continue into the following course until an incomplete is completed.
5. Evidence of Health: Completion of the health summary is due upon entry into the nursing assistant program including proof of Rubella and Rubeola vaccine or titer, Tetanus and Diphtheria toxoid (within past 10 years), TB test (2step and must be done annually), and Hepatitis B vaccine. Students declining the Hepatitis B vaccination must sign the Hepatitis B vaccination waiver form. Students may not begin the course until evidence of health and current immunizations are in the nursing office. Immunizations must be kept up-to-date for the students to continue in clinical practice. Yearly requirements of TB testing (2step) must be active for the duration of the academic year. Expirations occurring mid-course are not acceptable. Students are responsible for keeping original record submitted to the nursing office. The community health department does offer some immunizations at a nominal cost based on income. Failure to maintain current requirements will result in probationary status.
6. CPR: Proof of current CPR certification must be in the students’ file, prior to the beginning of the first clinical course. Mandatory yearly renewal is the students’ responsibility. Evidence of renewal must be submitted to the nursing department prior to the expiration date. CPR must be active for the academic year. Expirations occurring mud-course will not be acceptable.
7. Outside Employment: The nursing assistant program is a concentrated course of study. Outside employment, if necessary, should be kept to a minimum to achieve program success. Work schedule must be arranged to avoid time conflict with class and requirements. If financial aid is needed, the student should consult the Financial Aide office.
8. Transportation: Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to clinical agencies as assigned and are expected to meet all clinical schedules as established.
9. Malpractice Insurance: Each student is required to purchase malpractice insurance through the cashier's office and have on file a copy to prove that it was obtained.
10. Flexibility: Flexibility is essential. Students must be prepared to work any day of the week or any hours due to limited clinical facilities in the community. Due to rapidly changing health care environments, clinical settings may change on short notice. The nursing faculty makes every effort to notify students of changes as quickly as possible.
11. Professional Behavioral Expectations: The following behavioral characteristics are paramount to person in the helping profession of nursing, and students are expected to give evidence of the following characteristics: respect, courtesy, flexibility, adaptability, honesty, patience, cooperativeness and consideration for others. If behaviors are observed as unacceptable in the classroom/lab/campus setting or clinical, the student will be required to meet with the Nursing Department Chair. A determination will be made at that time if the student will be placed on probation and/or dismissal from the nursing program. Students are expected to follow the “chain of command” as outlined in the college student handbook and catalog.
12. Drug Testing: Students are subject to preliminary drug testing before the program begins. Students are responsible for the cost. Students may also be subjected to random, mandatory drug testing at the clinical agency in which they are practice. Students are again responsible for the cost. If results are inconclusive, a mandatory re-test will be required at the student’s expense. Students testing positive will be immediately dismissed from the program and clinical agency.
13. Classroom Civility: Students must attend class regularly and arrive on time. Late arrivals disrupt the class and interfere with other students’ ability to concentrate and learn. No cell phones or pagers are allowed in class or a clinical agency. If present they must be turned off. Sleeping or eating in during class, doing homework for other courses, reading assignments for other courses and repeatedly getting up and leaving class (unless you are sick, of course) communicated indifference towards this subject, your classmates and their commitment to this class. Children of students are not allowed in the nursing classes or the lab areas. Children of students are not permitted to wait in the nursing area while a nursing student is attending class or lab. Students must make arrangements for children prior to class.
14. Laboratory Expectations: Attendance at all laboratory practice sessions is required. Failure to comply may affect your grade.
15. Additional Requirements:
· Students must attain at least a 70% score on each chapter quiz.
· No more than a total of three retakes of quizzes are allowed over the course
· Students must have a pass grade in lab/clinical.
· Students must participate in all classroom and lab learning activities.
· Students may not obstruct the learning of others in class.
· Students may not use crude or vulgar language; appropriate medical terms are to be learned and used.
· Students must have passing grades in the classroom quizzes and have passed and completed all lab assignments before progressing on to the clinical section of NUA 101 as competency must be demonstrated before the student can be allowed to provide care for real patients.
· Students must discuss and correct problems with their skills or grades at the instructor's request.
· Students must be prepared to take the scheduled quizzes/tests for the day even if absent.
16. In addition:
· Students are responsible to schedule their own make-ups when a lab or video is missed. Before or after class is preferred time and must be scheduled ahead of time with the instructor. Please discuss possible makeup time with the instructors before dropping out of a course.
· Students with a health problem will need to bring a physicians’ release slip prior to the start of the clinical experience section. It is suggested that the lab check-off sheet, which clearly lists the tasks that students are expected to perform, be shown to the health care provider who is assessing your condition and limitations.
· Students are expected to meet the physical requirements of the clinical facility used or the student may not be able to meet the requirements of the course.
8. TOPICAL OUTLINE
Outline View:
I. Continuation of skills learned in NUA 170
II. End of life care for patient and family
III. Cultural competency in patient care
IV. Critical thinking skills in provision in a patient care setting.
9. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
To be successful in this course, students are expected to participate in discussions, readings, testing and demonstrate clinical competence.
10. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.
11. ADA NOTICE:
Any student eligible for and needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a disability should inform the instructor during the first week of class and provide the instructor with a copy of the letter of accommodation at the beginning of the semester.