NURS320 - Course Overview

Course Title	NURS 320 Alterations in Physiological Functioning
Credit Hours	3
Placement	Prior to or concurrent with first clinical course in baccalaureate-completion program
Prerequisite	Admission to the School of Nursing

This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of pathophysiological changes that occur within the internal environment of the individual. Understanding these alterations is basic to providing quality nursing care. System variations across the life span are addressed.

Course Objectives

Describe the difference in structure and functions of selected systems in fetuses, children, pregnant women, adults, and the elderly.

Relate the signs and symptoms of common pathological states to the physiological changes associated with the states and to changes that might be found on assessment.

Describe the differences in signs and symptoms of selected pathological states in children, adults, and the elderly.

Instructor

Methodology

This course is entirely web-based, except for four (4) on-campus, in-class exams (check the schedule for each exam on the course calendar to find the location). Instruction is delivered via the World Wide Web and complemented by a written syllabus. Class interactions are mainly through online threaded group discussions. The online discussion group serves as a virtual chat room, where we exchange ideas and help each other in the learning process. To participate in the group discussions, you can initiate a topic for discussion or click on an existing topic to give your input. (See important information below about how to get extra credit for your participation)! You are strongly encouraged to use the discussion group regularly, asking questions and helping each other with answers. Of course, if you wish to communicate with me privately, please use email instead of the discussion group.

Timely completion of readings and exercises for each module is extremely important. Please guard against procrastination to ensure successful completion of the course. (See important information below about how to get extra credit for completing and submitting the exercises)! Go to the Modules page or the calendar page to find the calendar and timelines for activities.

There is a tutorial available to assist you in building up the computer competency for taking this Web-based course. Please let me know if you have questions that this tutorial does not cover.

At the end of the semester, you will be encouraged to complete evaluations and tell us what you think about the course. Your answers to the course evaluations are treated anonymously and used only to meet your learning needs.

Grading Policy

Extra credit opportunities: 25 points total if you participate completely in the discussion group (14 points) and exercise opportunities (11 points) discussed below.

Exam grades will be posted on Blackboard, so that you can monitor your own progress in the course..

You may earn from 1 - 14 points by class participation in the discussion group. To earn all of the 14 extra credit points that reflect class participation, you must participate regularly in the discussion group, posting at least one entry for each of the 11 modules by the deadline listed in each of the modules. If you fully participate (a substantive entry for each of the 11 modules), you will automatically receive the extra 3 points that earn you the maximum of 14 points. Think of those as a reward for sharing your knowledge with your peers on a consistent basis! Otherwise, you get 1 point for each module for which you post a substantive entry. The main intent of the discussion group is interaction among the students enrolled in the course. As the course instructor, I will monitor the discussion regularly, but will expect you to address each other's issues.

What is a substantive entry? A substantive entry (or entries) in the discussion group can, for example:

State the most important thing you learned from the module, indicating how it builds on prior knowledge and why it's important to your practice.

Ask a thought-provoking question that reflects something you wish you knew about the material in that module.

Provide answers and ideas regarding other students' questions.

Share other resources such as web sites that you have found helpful--Be sure to include an accurate URL!

Share pertinent observations you've made in practice or in your life experiences.

Share something related to that module that you have read outside of the assigned class reading (including popular literature such as news articles).

The entry in the discussion group must be substantive and the instructor reserves the right to determine what is substantive. The entry for each module must be completed by midnight on the Sunday of the week before the exam that covers that module. (Important discussion deadline dates are: Modules 1, 2, and 3, Sept. 17, 2006; Modules 4, 5, and 6, Oct. 22, 2006; Modules 7 and 8, Nov. 12, 2006; Modules 9, 10, and 11, Dec. 10, 2006). Of course, you are encouraged to enter your ideas as often as you wish and to respond to your classmates' entries, but only entries submitted prior to the deadline will count for extra credit. Remember, your ideas count!

To earn the 11 points for completing class exercises, you must complete and submit each of the exercises found near the end of each of the 11 modules. On each module, look for the sections labelled "Exercise" near the bottom of the page. Some of the modules have more than one exercise to complete, but look for the indication of the one which counts toward extra credit. You will earn 1 point for each module for which you complete and submit the exercise(s), regardless of the number of correct responses on the exercise. When you click on the "submit" button, your completion is automatically recorded in the Gradebook in Angel (our new learning management system). You'll also be able to see the correct responses. You can submit the exercise more than once, but the last entry is the one that will be acknowledged. Below are directions for logging in to Angel, in case you're not familiar with that.

4) Once inside the course, select Lessons from the left side menu. Find the appropriate module, click on it to find the appropriate exercise and go for it!

Final grades will be computed according to the following standard, based on a total of 400 points:

Exams generally have between 60 and 100 questions, and exam scores will be converted to percentages. At the end of the semester, your extra credit points will be added to your sum of exam scores and that total will be divided by 400 to compute your final percentage. Obviously, your extra credit points can make a real difference in your grade!

General Guidelines

All exams must be taken on campus* on the assigned date and time (in room B018 SON) unless the faculty member approves a delay in testing in advance. Such a request will only be approved for illness, family crisis, etc. and it is expected that the student will contact the faculty member prior to the examination. If a student is excused from an examination, a make-up exam will be given; this make-up exam may be an essay or oral examination instead of the usual multiple choice format. Students who have an unexcused absence from an exam will receive a grade of 0% for that exam. All testing employs an honors system in relation to personal integrity.

*If you reside and work more than 60 - 75 miles from the campus, please inform the instructor, as you may want to arrange for proctored exams closer to your residence.

Professional Integrity System (PROFITS)

In 1995, the faculty of the School of Nursing voted to adopt the Professional Integrity System (PROFITS). All students sign the PROFITS Pledge:

"I pledge that I will not give, receive, nor tolerate unauthorized aid, nor will I abuse academic resources while I am a member of this academic community."

PROFITS upholds behaviors reflective of individual responsibility, mutual trust, professional values, and standards. PROFITS values an academic environment free of academic misconduct or abuse of academic resources. When in doubt, the student must clarify with the instructor the appropriateness of behaviors that may violate PROFITS. The following are examples of academic misconduct (unacceptable behaviors) in NURS 320: Cheating on examinations or quizzes whether by a student on his/her own behalf or by giving to another student or receiving from another student unauthorized aid on examinations or quizzes. This includes behaviors such as positioning an examination paper so that others can see the answers to the questions or passing/sharing answers on an examination in any way. Occurrences of suspected misconduct will be addressed according to the procedures of the PROFITS guidelines.

Disability Statement

Learning assistance, academic performance enhancement, and psychological services at KUMC are free, confidential, and available at Student Counseling & Educational Support Services by calling 913-588-6580 or visiting G116 Student Center.

Any student in this course who needs an accommodation because of a disability in order to complete the course requirements should contact the instructor or the Equal Opportunity/Disability Specialist (913-588-7813, TDD 913-588-7963) as soon as possible.

Required Text and Required Written Syllabus:

Porth, C.M. (2007) Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States, 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.

**Wingate, A. (2006). Course Syllabus: NURS 320 Alterations in Physiological Functioning.

**This "hard-copy" course syllabus is very helpful in directing your reading and in preparation for exams. Failure to use the written syllabus in conjunction with the online material is likely to result in frustration and confusion about what material is considered important. The printed syllabus is meant to complement the on-line materials.

Course Description