MASTER RESOURCE OUTLINE

Credits:  2 lecture  

Semesters Offered:  F, Sp, Su  

Prerequisites:  None  

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to initiate and foster the professional socialization process. Content and activities expose students to issues surrounding the profession of nursing, multiple roles of nursing in society and healthcare, and concepts related to the dimensions of nursing practice: nurse, client, health and environment.  

Course Objectives: The student will:   

  1. Discuss how critical thinking is utilized in nursing practice. (F3)
  2. Analyze selected issues affecting the practice ofprofessional nursing. (F6,8) 
  3. Differentiate the multiple roles of nurses incommunity basedpractice. (F1, 12) 
  4. Discuss how nurses collaborate with other health care providers. (F 9)
  5. Examine the interrelationships of health care professionals, consumers, economics and health care delivery. (F10,11)
  6. Explore the impact of selected historic, political, sociocultural, and other environmental influences on nursing. (F2,10)
  7. Describe the influence of value systems on professional nursing. (F 6)
  8. Assess health related literature for use inevidence basedpractice. (F4,5)
  9. Students will demonstrate behaviors that are congruent with the MSU Code of Conduct, CON Student Handbook,ANA Code of Ethics, Scope and Standards of Practice, and Social Policy Statements in all class related interactions. (F 3-11) 

Course Learning Outcomes 

  1. Students will describe the five steps of the nursing process. 
  2. Students will summarize influential historical events in the development of professional nursing. 
  3. Students will examine contemporary challenges for professional nurses in a variety of practice settings. 

Recommended Content and Concepts

  1. Application of Critical Thinking to Nursing 
    1. Critical thinking process  
    2. Introduction to nursing process, scientific process and clinical decision making  
    3. Comparison with critical thinking  
    4. Critical thinking in ethical dilemmas  
    5. Critical thinking in reviewing articles  
  1. Professional Socialization 

    1. What is nursing? Include definitions:

      Florence Nightingale

      Virginia Henderson

      American Nurses' Association (ANA) policy statement

      others?

    2. Emergence of nursing as a profession  
    3. Social versus professional relationships   
    4. Responsibilities: confidentiality, liability insurance, accountability, critical thinking  
    5. Image of nursing: past/present  
    6. Educational pathways: AD, BSN, MS, etc.  
    7. College of Nursing philosophy and curriculum (theory, research, practice)  
    8. NursePractice Act; Certification;ANA Standards of Care;National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) 
    9. Advocate role  
    10. Nursing organizations: ANA/MNA/MSNA; Sigma Theta Tau/Zeta Upsilon; NationalLeaguefor Nursing/Montana League for Nursing; Specialty organizations  
  1. Selected Issues 
    1. Image of Nursing  
    2. Nursing shortage, aging of nurses  
    3. Entry into practice  
    4. Power/female dominated/via power in organizations  
    5. Autonomy/governance  
    6. Economics as an external force  
    7. Compensation/collective bargaining/unions  
  1. Multiple Roles of Nursing in Society and Health Care 
    1. Advanced Practice RNs  
    2. Post baccalaureate education  
    3. Independent vs. collaborative practice  
    4. Nurse as member of health care team  
    5. Career pathways within nursing; goal setting; research, service, education  
    6. Nurse researcher  
    7. Leadership  
    8. Nursing practice models  
    9. Case manager  
  1. Interrelationships of Health Care Professionals, Consumers, Economics and Health Care Delivery 
    1. Introduction to rural nursing role  
    2. Advocacy: responsibility to client/consumer/community/etc. (Client/Consumer Bill of Rights)  
    3. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs); Prospective Payment System (PPS)  
    4. Medicare; Medicaid  
    5. Economics  
    6. Health delivery systems  
    7. Consumer movement  
    8. Interdisciplinary (in & out of institutions)  
    9. Informed consent  
    10. Advance Directives   
  1. Selected Historic, Political, Sociocultural and Other Environmental Influences onNursing
    1. Selected studies on health care: Flexnor report (as relates to nursing)  
    2. Social Security (Medicare, Medicaid and other health funded programs)  
    3. Cultural changes  
    4. Demographic changes  
    5. Economic influences  
    6. Age spectrum (new born and high tech/elderly and high cost of care)  
    7. Abuse of all kinds  
    8. Pollution (all kinds)  
    9. Changing health problems: increase in communicable diseases  
    10. Historical influences: Wars, pollution, economics, space program, role of women  
    11. Florence Nightingale: War, epidemiology, nursing, hygiene, etc.  
    12. Rural vs. urban settings  
    13. Laws - impact on the profession  
    14. Health care technology  
    15. Genetics  

7. Value Systems 

    1. Values clarification  
    2. Accountability (policy on refusal of patient care)  
    3. Human rights - Hospital Bill of Rights; Nursing Home Residents' Rights  
    4. ANA Code of Ethics  
    5. Ethical dilemmas (introduction)  
    6. Misconduct (e.g. Montana Nurse Practice Act statements)  
  1. Review health related literature  

Suggested Student Learning Activities 

Web-based content modules 

Small group discussions 

Values clarification assignment 

Literature searches/APA utilization  

 

Approved by UAAC: April 20, 2020 

Approved by Faculty: May 11, 2020