University of South Carolina Upstate

Mary Black School of Nursing

Baccalaureate Nursing Program

NURS 410
Health Alterations II
Syllabus
Fall 2014
Faculty
Sonya Blevins, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNE
Suzanne M. Sutton, MSN, RN

The University of South Carolina Upstate provides equal opportunity and affirmative action
in education and employment for qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, age, disability or veteran status.

NURS 410 Syllabus Fall 2014

University of South Carolina Upstate

Mary Black School of Nursing
Baccalaureate Nursing Program
HEALTH ALTERATIONS II: NURS 410
Faculty:
Mailing Address:

Dr. Sonya Blevins, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNE

Mary Black School of Nursing
University of South Carolina Upstate-UCG Campus
225 S. Pleasantburg Drive; Greenville, SC 29607
Office:
UCG Room 120
Office Phone:
864-552-4258/808-291-8349 (no calls between 9pm and 7am EST)
Email:
sblevins@uscupstate.edu
Office Hours as Posted at Faculty Office
Faculty:
Mailing Address:
Office:
Office Phone:
Email:

Cynthia (Cindy) Robbins, MS, RN, FNP-BC

Mary Black School of Nursing
University of South Carolina Upstate-UCG Campus
225 S. Pleasantburg Drive; Greenville, SC 29607
UCG Room 130
864-430-7977(no calls between 9pm and 7am EST)
crobbins@uscupstat

Faculty:
Mailing Address:

Suzanne Sutton, MSN, RN

Mary Black School of Nursing
University of South Carolina Upstate
800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Office:
HEC 3047
Office Phone:
864-503-5497
Email:
ssutton@uscupstate.edu
Office Hours as posted on BB and by appointment
I.

Course Description (6 credit hours) Builds upon Health Alterations I and continues to
focus on evidence-based nursing practice, progressing in complexity, in a variety of
setting with adults experiencing health alterations, moving from simple to complex states
of health and levels of care. Prerequisites: NURS 330, 330P, 340, 340P, 360, 360P, 370

II.

Course Objectives
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1.

Apply previously learned knowledge, and knowledge from current courses, to

propose competent, theoretical, evidence-based, holistic nursing care in simulated
clinical situations for diverse adult clients with selected health alterations. (1)

NURS 410 Syllabus Fall 2014

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

III.

Identify the role of the professional nurse as provider of care, advocate, and
coordinator of care, collaborator, health educator, information manager, and
consumer of research in the care of diverse adult clients with selected health
alterations. (1)
Incorporate therapeutic interventions into professional nursing practice which
may include health promotion, maintenance, restoration, rehabilitation and
prevention and detection of selected health alterations in diverse clients. (3)
Apply principles of decision making and critical thinking in the application of
nursing process in providing and coordinating professional nursing care in the
care of simulated adult clients with selected health alterations. (1, 3)
Evaluate the effectiveness of assessment, diagnoses, outcomes, and interventions
for diverse adult clients with selected health alterations. (1, 4)
Apply ethical and legal professional practice to simulated adult client situations
with selected health alterations. (4)
Identify pertinent research related to selected health alterations that can be used to
problem solve, make clinical decisions, identify interventions, and support
evidence-based practice for selected health alterations. (1, 3)
Identify local, regional, national, and global forces that affect social, economic,
and political systems that influence health care delivery and professional nursing
practice for diverse adult clients with selected health alterations. (3, 4)
Identify nursing implications related to pharmacological and nutritional
interventions used in the care of diverse adult clients experiencing selected health
alterations. (1, 3)
Identify communication skills and therapeutic approaches to provide caring,
competent nursing care to diverse adult clients with selected health alterations. (1,
2)

Required Textbooks and References

Required:
Pellico, L. H. (2013). Focus on Adult Health: Medical-Surgical Nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters
Kluwer, Lippincott. ISBN: 978-1-58255-877-6
Pellico, L. H. (2013). Study Guide Focus on Adult Health: Medical-Surgical Nursing.
Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, Lippincott.
NCLEX-RN 10,000 Powered by PrepU
Lippincott. ISBN: 978-1-451-11601-4

Evolve Case Studies & HESI test purchase access voucher from USC Upstate
Bookstore
Gould, B.E., & Dyer, R.M. (2011). Pathophysiology for the health professions. St. Louis,
MO: Elsevier.

NURS 410 Syllabus Fall 2014

Gulanick, M. & Myers, J. (2012). Nursing Care Plans: Diagnoses, Interventions, and
Outcomes (7th ed.)
Up-to-date medical dictionary, nursing drug reference and diagnostics/laboratory test
references are required. Students may use professional online references. These are
available in the bookstore:
Hodgson, B.B. & Kizior, R.J. (2013). Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook. St. Louis, MO:
Elsevier Saunders.
Mosby-Elsevier. (2011). Mosbys Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Health
Professions (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Pagana, K., & Pagana, T. (2011). Mosbys Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference (10th
ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier
IV.

Methods of Instruction
The methods of instruction may include: lectures, virtual simulations, case studies,
critical thinking exercises, concept mapping, small group discussion, and required
readings.

V.

Methods of Evaluation
The methods of evaluation will include unit tests, PrepU mastery level quizzes, group
teaching-learning projects, clinical performance, patient care maps, medication
administration experience, comprehensive final exam and a standardized exam.
PrepU Mastery level quizzes are assigned by chapter. Students must achieve a mastery
level of 5 for assessment chapters and a masterly level of 4 for chapters discussing health
alterations. Students have unlimited attempts to reach the assigned mastery level.
Grading is based on achievement of assigned mastery level. Failure to reach the mastery
level will result in a 0, successful attainment of assigned mastery level will receive a
100.

VI.

Course Policies
The policies stated in the USC Upstate Catalog, Student Handbook and/or the Mary
Black School of Nursing Student Handbook will be adhered to in this course:
A.

Attendance

Attendance is expected of a professional and roll may be taken. The fact that classes are
scheduled is evidence that attendance is required. Students should maintain regular
attendance in order to attain maximum success in the pursuit of studies. The student is
responsible for all material presented in class, as well as assigned readings and outside
assignments.

NURS 410 Syllabus Fall 2014

Please arrive on time and stay for the whole class. Entering after class has begun is
disruptive. Class starts at the designated time this means be in your seat and ready to
go at that time. The door will be shut at the beginning of class.
B.

Class Behavior

Students are expected to be on-time, attentive, appropriate, and demonstrate professional

behavior. Communication, whether in person, through Black Board or via email, is
expected to demonstrate respect for person and profession, whether fellow student,
faculty, staff or patient.
C.

Withdrawal - See the Mary Black School of Nursing Student Handbook.

D.

Grading Scale and Progression

The grading scale for this course is consistent with the scale in the Mary Black School of
Nursing Student Handbook:
A
B+
B
C+

92-100
89-91
85-88
82-84

C
D+
D
F

75-81
72-74
65-71
Below 65

The student must achieve a grade of C or better in each nursing course to pass
and progress in the nursing sequence.
The final grade will be rounded using the tenth place only. (Example: If the final grade
average is 92.5, the final grade will be rounded up to a 93. If the final grade average is
92.45, the final grade will be a 92).
E.

Standardized Achievement Testing

1. Students must complete case studies by the end of course exam date in order to take
the HESI specialty exam.
2. Students must achieve a minimum score of 850 on the HESI exam. If you do not
achieve a minimum score of 850, you will receive a grade of Incomplete for the
course until you:
a. successfully complete the HESI remediation, and
b. remediate with course faculty, and show evidence of remediation
3. The HESI conversion score will be the score used in the calculation of the
NURS 410 course grade.
4.

Failure to remediate by the specified time, will result in a score of 0 on for the
standardized exam grade, rather than the HESI conversion score.

NURS 410 Syllabus Fall 2014

F.

Late Assignments Acceptance of late assignments in the classroom environment

is at the discretion of the faculty. Clinical assignments will not be accepted after
the designated due date without prior approval from the clinical faculty. A
minimum of 10% will be subtracted for each day or portion thereof late.

G.

Drug Calculation see policy in the Mary Black School of Nursing Student
Handbook, p. 37

H.

Student Code of Conduct see policy in the University of South Carolina

Student Handbook, p. 132

I.

Use of APA Style Manual Students are required to utilize APA stylistics.
Information regarding proper use is available through the most recent APA
Manual, the OWL at Purdue and the APA website.

J.

American Disabilities Act Policy:

USC Upstate supports the ongoing development of an accessible university that
embraces diversity through educational programming, services, resources, and
facilities that are usable by all members of the campus community. In keeping
with University policy, any student with a disability who requests academic
accommodations should contact Disability Services at 503-5199 to arrange an
appointment with a Disability Services staff member. Students are encouraged to
seek an appointment as early in the semester as possible, as accommodations are
not provided retroactively.
Please see the Disability Services webpage for more information

K.

University grading Policy regarding academic dishonesty is as follows:

Students who admit responsibility or who are found responsible through the
Student Code of Conduct will receive the appropriate grade determined by the
professor, which may include an X to signify academic dishonesty. Grades with
an X are not subject to grade forgiveness.
Please see the policy in the University of South Carolina Upstate Student
Handbook, p. 135

NURS 410 Syllabus Fall 2014

IV.

Course Requirements and Course Grade Calculation Content Outline

Unit Exams (3)
Final Exam
HESI Standardized Exam
Teaching-Learning Plan
Concept/Care Map
Medication Experience
PrepU Mastery Level Quizzes
HESI Case Studies
Weekly Clinical Evaluations
Clinical Practice

45% (15% each)

25%
10%
10%
5%
2.5%
2.5%
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

In order to achieve a passing grade in the course students must attain benchmark grades
of 75.0% weighted average on unit and final exams, a 75.0% weighted average on the
HESI Standardized Exam, Teaching-Learning Plan, Concept/Care Map, Medication
Experience and the PrepU Mastery Level Quizzes, and satisfactory grades on the HESI
Case Studies, Weekly Clinical Evaluations and Clinical Practice.
The Final Calculated Course Grade will not be computed unless all benchmark
grades are met. Benchmark grades are computed without rounding. Blackboard is
an unofficial record of your grade. It does not represent the final course grade.
V.

Course Content
Unit I:

Problems related to Urinary Tract Function

Unit II:

Problems related to Neurological Function

Unit III:

Problems related to Digestive, Gastrointestinal, & Metabolic Function

Unit IV:

Problems related to Immune Function and Cancer

Unit V:

Problems related to Hematologic Function

Unit VI:

Problems related to Musculoskeletal Function

Unit VII:

Patients will Male Reproductive Disorders

Unit VIII: Problems related to Sensorineural Function

Please refer to the course calendar or the Black Board course site for specific readings, and due
dates for completion of readings, tests, and other assignments.
Revised SMS SHB 8/14/204
Revised SMS 7/6/2014
Revised SHB 1/9/2014
Revised SHB 8/19/2013
Revised SHB 5/23/2013
Revised SHB 1/10/2013
Revised 12/8/2012
Revised: 8/21/2013 410/410P faculty