NUR 301: Baccalaureate Nursing Role

Course Description

The baccalaureate nursing role is examined expanding on the foundations of associate degree nursing education and liberal arts. Based on incorporating liberal education for baccalaureate generalist nursing practice, the course emphasizes contemporary issues related to and including nursing history and theory, ethics, professional development, scholarship, research and evidence-based practice, intra- and inter-professional relations influencing teamwork and collaboration across healthcare delivery settings, population health, and healthcare policy, finance and regulatory environments. Patient assessment that addresses health/illness beliefs, values, attitudes, and practices of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations is emphasized throughout the course. Students are guided to  further consider the links between genetics/genomics and health promotion behaviors such as prevention, screening, and diagnostics.

(3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • Admission to the Program or Permission of the Program Director
  • Submittal of the Nursing Handbook Agreement
  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon completion of this course, the student will have gained knowledge to be able to:

  1. Examine significant events in nursing history that have influenced the profession’s evolution.
  2. Discuss the role of nursing theory in guiding practice within an organization.
  3. Compare the characteristics of research and evidence-based practice.
  4. Evaluate practices of the professional baccalaureate prepared nurse that support resilience in the face of a dynamic and constantly changing healthcare system.
  5. Analyze the importance of written and oral presentation skills.
  6. Discuss the importance of constructive intra-and interprofessional communications in safe, effective patient care.
  7. Evaluate the similarities and differences in nursing care of individuals, communities and populations.

Required Textbooks

Course Activities and Grading

WeekAssignmentsPointsWeight
 1

Introductory Video (ungraded)

0

N/A

 1

Nursing’s Journey Towards a Profession 

75

7.5%

 1

Discussion: Progression towards your BSN

25

2.5%

 2

Peer Editing

75

7.5%

 2Discussion: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors  25 2.5%
 3Personal Health  75 7.5%
3Discussion: Newspaper Article 252.5%
3Check-in252.5%
4Nursing Scope of Practice757.5%
4Discussion: Professional Boundaries 252.5%
 5Culture: When you don’t speak the patient’s language  75 7.5%
 5 Discussion: Social Media  25 2.5%
6Research Article Summary757.5%
6Discussion: Nursing Theory252.5%
 6 Check-In  25 2.5%
7Persuasive Letter757.5%
7Discussion: Acts of Advocacy252.5%
8The Future of Nursing Synthesis Essay22522.5%
8Rose, Bud, Thorn252.5%
 

Total

 1000

100%

 

Notes:

Late assignments will not be accepted unless advance arrangements have been made with the instructor. Contact the instructor to prevent a deduction of 10 percent each day the assignment is late.

Failure to submit an assignment after 8 days of the due date will result in a zero for that assignment.  The assignment must be completed, however, because it needs to be included in the final project.

  

Discussions

Each week students will prepare a well-written, edited reply to the week’s discussion prompt(s) utilizing 2-3 peer-reviewed references (no more than 5 years old), APA format.

Students will respond to at least 2 peer’s initial submission by Sunday offering additional resources or information or contribute questions for clarification. Responses are to be well-written, thoughtful, and helpful to your classmate to further develop their initial post.

The Future of Nursing is Me Synthesis Essay

The final assignment for this course is the Synthesis Essay. Synthesis is drawing together two or more sources to support your writing on the topic. Students will take each of the discussion prompts from Week 1-7, combining them with other peer-reviewed sources into an edited essay on the topic. Students are encouraged to review the feedback from the instructor and peers weekly and continue to develop their discussions for this final project as the course continues.

Late Work Policy

Due to the accelerated nature of the NUR 300 & 400 courses, late work severely limits meaningful engagement with students, peers, and faculty, and jeopardizes collaboration and exchange of ideas.

The following standards relate to late submission of any assignment in this and all other NUR 300 & 400 courses:

  • All Discussion Posts must be posted by the due date/time deadline. Those posted late will be given a grade of zero.
  • All Other Papers/Projects: Failure to turn in, post, or in any way fail to meet the due date/time deadline, will result in a deduction of 10% per day of the total assignment value from the actual grade earned, for up to seven days.
  • Students who submit an assignment eight days late will receive a grade of zero for the assignment
  • If a student anticipates they will be unable to meet a deadline for any assignment regardless of the reason, they should contact the course faculty immediately.

Emergencies/Extenuating Circumstances: The Faculty and Program Director appreciate that emergencies come up in life. Emergencies/ Extenuating Circumstances are not planned activities and/or are not normally work-related.

  • Students will be required to submit reasonable documentation of emergencies/extenuating circumstances to the course faculty.
  • Any request(s) relating to emergencies/ extenuating circumstances requires documentation and approval of the course faculty, the Program Director, and other college personnel as necessary.

The following conditions acknowledge unexpected circumstances that impact students’ ability to submit an assignment by the due date:

  • If a student anticipates they will be unable to meet a deadline due to an emergency/extenuating circumstance, they should contact the course faculty immediately.
  • Students may turn in one assignment up to 7 days after the due date except for a discussion board assignment, a final course project, or other final course assignments, no questions asked.
  • Subsequent late submissions will be managed in accordance with the standards outlined above.

*Note: Students with accommodations in place may not receive an extension that is related to their disability 

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,4,5

Topics: Welcome to NUR 301 and the Journey to Achieve Your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4
  • Complete Introduction Video
  • Read assigned chapters
  •  Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Progression towards your BSN
  • Submit Written Assignment: Nursing’s Journey Towards a Profession

2

2,4

Topic: Applying the Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Core Competencies to the role of the baccalaureate prepared nurse

  • Readings:
    • Mini lecture: The Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Core Competencies, an overview
    • Review Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Core Competencies (course resource) 
  • Read assigned documents
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors
  • Submit Written Assignment: Nurse of the Future  

3

3,7

Topics: Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapter 8
    • Mini lecture: Environmental Health
    • Research at least two workgroups of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)   
    • Join Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation-complete ANA’s Health Risk Appraisal

 

  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Newspaper Article
  • Submit Written Assignment: Personal Health
  • Complete Check-in

4

6

Topics: Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Professional Nursing Practice

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapters 5, 6 & 7
    • Article: Survey of Nurse Employers on Professional and Practice Issues Affecting Nursing
  • Video:
    • Watch presentation: Beyond Appropriate Professional Boundaries: Why Boards Need Clarity in Rules Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Professional Boundaries
  • Submit Written Assignment: Nursing Scope of Practice  

5

6

Topics: Professional Communication and Collaboration

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapters 12 & 13
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Social Media
  • Submit Written Assignment: Culture: When you don’t speak the patient’s language

6

2,3

Topics: Critical Thinking and Developing Critical Thinking

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapters 9 &10
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Nursing Theory
  • Submit Written Assignment: Research Article Summary
  • Complete Check-in

7

5,6

Topic: The Nurse as Advocate

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapter 15

    • Find your legislators
  • Videos:
    • Watch video profiles
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussion
    • Discussion Topic: Acts of Advocacy
  • Submit Written Assignment: Persuasive Letter

8

4,5

Topic: I am the Future of Nursing

  • Readings:
    • Black: Chapter 16
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Submit Written Assignment: The Future of Nursing Synthesis Essay
  • Submit Written Assignment: Complete Rose, Bud, Thorn
  • Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.