Clinical Reasoning for Nursing

Course Syllabus
Gateway Technical College Online

Information
Course Credits

3 credits

Course Number

510-

Instructional Area

Nursing Related

Instructional Level

Associate Degree

Instructor/e-mail

Diane Labanowsky, MSN RN - labanowskyd@gtc.edu

Office

3520 30th Avenue, Kenosha Campus

Office phone 262-564-2746
Office hours: by appointment.

Course Hours

54 Total PHI

Course Location

online

Target Population
This course is designed for nursing student who strive to be more competent in clinical
reasoning, utilizing the nursing process in making patient care decision.

Description
The Clinical Reasoning Course introduces basic concepts of critical thinking to the nursing
student. Identification of critical thinking skills and common characteristics related to these skills
will be applied to the nursing process. The Goal of the course is to enhance clinical reasoning
skills through application and practice. Students will gain skills in critical thinking to use in
everyday life as well as in their student and nursing career.

Prerequisites
Admission to a nursing program

Textbook/Required Materials
Lipe, S. K., Beasely, S. Critical thinking in nursing. 2004. Current Edition ISBN:
9780781740425

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Program Outcomes
ADN: Adhere to professional standards of practice within legal, ethical, and regulatory
frameworks of the registered nurse
ADN: Use effective communication skills
ADN: Assess health of individuals, families, and groups within the context of the
community
ADN: Make clinical decisions to assure safe and accurate nursing care
ADN: Provide caring interventions with diverse populations
ADN: Use teaching and learning processes to promote and restore health
ADN: Collaborate with others to respond to the needs of individuals, families, and
groups across the health-illness continuum
ADN: Manage care to facilitate continuity within and across health care settings

Core Ability Statement and List

Gateway believes students need both technical knowledge and skills and core abilities in order
to succeed in a career and in life. The following nine core abilities are the general attitudes and
skills promoted and assessed in all Gateway programs. Those followed by an asterisk are
promoted and assessed in this course.
1. Act responsibly
2. Communicate clearly and effectively
3. Demonstrate essential computer skills
4. Demonstrate essential mathematical skills
5. Develop job-seeking skills*
6. Respect self and others as members of a diverse society
7. Think critically and creatively
8. Work cooperatively
9. Value learning

Competencies
1. Define and analyze the process involved in critical thinking
2. Utilize problem solving in the nursing process
3. Apply decision making in the nursing process
4. Apply priority setting principles to time management, outcomes, and nursing care.
5. Use clinical reasoning to communicate effectively
6. Describe factors the nurse must consider in the delegation process.
7. Examine how clinical reasoning correlates with the nursing process.
8. Incorporate critical thinking concepts in patient teaching
9. Apply clinical reasoning in patient care in a variety of settings
10. Investigate ethical decision making.
11. Identify the relationship of clinical reasoning to nursing judgment.

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Class Procedure/Requirements:
Class Participation:

Involvement in the class discussion board, assignments, and simulation exercises are
beneficial to acquiring knowledge about course content/competencies.

All students will be asked to participate, share knowledge, experiences and ideas.
Listening to others helps to grow in knowledge, and professionalism.

Class Preparation
It is an expectation that all students are prepared to discuss, and participate in the
course activities.
Some websites, articles and extra reading are provided in Black board to assist with
organizing and understanding the content and preparing for class participation.
Readings in the textbook are noted in the course schedule.

Evaluation: Mid-Term Grades, Grading Scales/

Weight Percentages:
Various assessment activities required throughout the course will determine your
final grade. The entire course is worth 220 points:
All ASSIGNMENTS:

Post-test = 20 points

Ten (10) Discussion Board postings = 30

Eight (8) Application Assignments = 80

Three (3) Simulation Experiences = 90

Discussion Board Postings:

Assignments:

All written assignments are due at 9:00 on Thursdays (see course schedule).
All written assignments are required in order to pass the class.

Any assignments submitted past due date/time will have a highest grade of
80% of the score. No written assignments will be accepted unless the student
makes prior arrangements with the instructor. If an assignment is not
completed the grade is zero (0).

Simulation Experiences:

There are 3 simulation experiences within this course. Attendance at all 3

experiences are mandatory.
Students will be given preparatory questions and be given an opportunity to
sign up to attend the simulation. After the simulation experience, a debriefing

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will be held, and the students will be required to complete a selfreflection

journal.
Grading
A final grade in this course will be determined by the number of points earned.
The grading scale is as follows:
A 204-220
B 189-203
C 160-188
F Less than 159

Grading Scale of Gateway Technical College ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING

PROGRAM
A = 100-93%
B = 92-86%
C = 85-80%
F = below 80% failure in the course; the grade of D has been deleted in the
grading scale in the nursing program.
Student Concerns Regarding Grades:

Any student concerns regarding a grade for any class activity must be
discussed with instructor within one week after receiving the grade.

Once a grade has been given, the student may NOT re-do an assignment in
order to obtain a higher grade.

Midterm Grades

Midterm grades are required per administrative policy.

A midterm grade will be averaged from the class work completed in the
course at that time. The midterm grade is a snapshot of your progress in
the course.

It will not be calculated into your GPA and will not appear in your transcript.

Students not passing at midterm should meet or talk with the instructor to
discuss performance and develop a plan for success.

Academic Conduct Expectations:

If the student wishes to discuss an issue with an instructor, it is expected the
student will call or email the instructor to discuss the issue or schedule a meeting
with the instructor. Communication is expected to be professional and respectful by
all parties.
Information on the Student Code of Conduct is located in the Gateway Student
Handbook. Student Handbook Inappropriate student behavior will not be
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tolerated, and can result in dismissal from the nursing program. Inappropriate
behavior includes, but is not limited to, verbal threatening or intentional
intimidation. If the instructor deems inappropriate behavior is being exhibited, the
instructor may call security or 911. Other incidents of inappropriate behavior may
result in the initiation of a college incident report, and a meeting with the Dean of
Health Occupations.

Assignments are meant to help you prepare and learn content. They are your
assignments, not your peers. All assignments will be checked electronically
for cheating and plagiarism. If found you will receive a zero as well as your
peer.
When you violate this principle, you cheat yourself of the confidence that
comes from knowing you have mastered the targeted skills and knowledge.
You also hurt all members of the learning community by falsely presenting
yourself as having command of competencies with which you are credited,
thus degrading the credibility of the college, the program, and your fellow
learners who hold the same credential.
An expectation for students is to follow the ACADEMIC HONOR CODE.
Students who are not following the Academic Code can be dismissed from the
course as well as the nursing program. A written notation will also be placed
in the student file.
The following behaviors will be subject to disciplinary action:
a. Plagiarism - presenting someone else's words, ideas, or data as your
own work.
b. Fabrication - using invented information or the falsifying research or
other findings.
c. Cheating - misleading others to believe you have mastered
competencies or other learning outcomes that you have not mastered.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
1. Copying from another learner's work
2. Allowing another learner to copy from your work
3. Using resource materials or information to complete an assessment
without permission from your instructor
4. Collaborating on an assessment (graded assignment or test)
without permission from the instructor
5. Taking a test for someone else or permitting someone else to take a
test for you
d. Other: academically dishonest acts such as tampering with grades,
taking part in
obtaining or distributing any part of an assessment,
or selling or buying products
such as papers, research, projects or
other artifacts that document achievement of learning outcomes.

Online Courtesy:

Identify yourself: Begin messages with a salutation and end them with
your name.

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Avoid sarcasm. People who don't know you may misinterpret its meaning.
Respect others' privacy. Do not quote or forward personal email without

the original author's permission.

Acknowledge and return messages promptly.
Copy with caution. Don't copy everyone you know on each message.
No spam (a.k.a. junk mail). Don't contribute to worthless information on

the Internet by sending or responding to mass postings of chain letters,

rumors, etc.
Be concise. Keep messages conciseabout one screen, as a rule of thumb.
Use appropriate language:
Avoid coarse, rough, or rude language.

Observe good grammar and spelling.

Services for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section
504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Gateway special needs staff provide a full range of
support services/
reasonable accommodations at the request of the student with documented
disabilities. This is to
give all students equal access to learning opportunities at Gateway Technical
College in order to
reach their educational goals. Disability support services should be requested
before the start of
classes to allow adequate time to review documentation and to facilitate
accommodations. Any students having special education needs or concerns should
identify themselves to their instructor or contact Disabilities Needs staff.

Pandemic Emergency Preparedness:

Should there be a public health pandemic emergency, the student is responsible
for: Being prepared and able to adapt if there is an unplanned absence (pandemic
emergency); be present when classes are in session and manage your time so that
you can complete your assignments and assessments on or before the date that
they are due. Complete work missed due to an absence within the time frame
determined by the instructor. The alternative delivery method that will be used for
this course is Internet-Bb and policies for late work/Incomplete grade.
The instructor will utilize a variety of strategies to support student success and
mastery of the course competencies. In the event of an incomplete grade, the
instructor will provide an opportunity to complete the coursework prior to the start
of the next semester.
If the college is closed for 14 days or more, the college may extend the semester.
All staff and students will be notified.
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