NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

 

Course title:  Common Health Care Needs

Course prefix, number, and section number:  RNSG 2404 0180

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2025

Semester start and end dates:  October 20 through December 12, 2025

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid):  Asynchronous

Class meeting location, days, and times:  Health Science Center,  

         Room 2421 on October 22, 2025  at 0900,

                                                                           Online

                                                                     Test review on the Tuesday before a Unit Exam via Webex (see Course

                                                                               Calendar for times)

Lab meeting location, days, and times:  Simulation Center, Thursday, October 23, 2025

Semester credit hours: 4 

Lab hours:  8

 

Course Description: 

Application of clinical reasoning processes and clinical judgment to provide nursing care to diverse patients and families across the lifespan with common health care needs including, but not limited to, common childhood/adolescent diseases, uncomplicated perinatal care, mental health concepts, perioperative care, frequently occurring adult health problems and health issues related to aging. Emphasis on secondary disease prevention and collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary health care team. Content includes roles of the professional nurse and applicable competencies in knowledge, judgment, skills, and professional values within a legal/ethical framework. This course lends itself to an integrated approach.

 

End of course outcomes: 

Apply clinical reasoning processes and clinical judgment when caring for patients and families across the lifespan with common health care needs; discuss collaborative behavior as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team; demonstrate legal and ethical parameters of nursing for patients and families experiencing common health care problems.

 

Course prerequisites: 

RNSG 1300 and RNSG 1327

 

Required course materials: 

Harding, M.M., Kwong, J., Hagler, D., & Reinisch, C. (2023).  Lewis’s medical-surgical nursing:  Assessment and management of clinical problems (12^th ed.).  Elsevier:  St. Louis, MO.

 

Perry, S., Lowdermilk, D., Cashion, K., Alden, K., Olshansky, E., & Hockenberry, M. (2023).  Maternal child nursing care (7^th ed.).  Elsevier:  St. Louis, MO.

 

 

Internet Access:

• Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) access - Web-based learning and
  assessment program includes standardized exam
• Evolve.Elsevier
• Examplify

 

Other Equipment:

• Texas Nursing Practice Act Access www.bon.state.tx.us
• Drug handbook or application of choice
• Laboratory and Diagnostics handbook or application of choice

 

Faculty:

Name of instructor: Cynthia Andrews, MSN, RN
Office location: Health Science Center (HSC) Gainesville, 2428-B
Telephone number: 940-668-7731 Ext.4264 (ADN office)  and Webex (preferred)
E-mail address: candrews@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: By appointment only

 

 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

 

 

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

 

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 

 

List of graded assignments:

75%     Unit Examinations (5)

10%     ATI Quizzes as Tickets to Class (5)

  5%     Simulation Ticket to Class (1) and Simulation Reflection Journal (1)

10%     ATI Level 2 Examination (1)

 

Non-graded assignments (Complete/Incomplete):

1 RNSG 2404 0180 Transition Syllabus Quiz

1 ATI Testing Policy Student Acknowledgement Form

1 ATI Practice Dosage Calculation Practice Quiz

2 ATI Practice Examinations

2 ATI Practice Examination Remediation Assignments (see ATI Proctored Assessments Rubric)

1 ATI Level 2 Remediation Assignment (see ATI Proctored Assessments Rubric)

 

 

 

 

 

There is one (1) pass/fail element in RNSG 2404 0180 (listed below):

 

1 Dosage Calculation Examination:

(score of 100 is required to pass) – (pass/fail course requirement, three (3) attempts given, 0% of grade).  Administered in accordance with testing policy and Dosage Calculation/Skills policy.  Remediation is required after each failed attempt.  Dosage calculation assessment answers shall be recorded as stated I the question in order to be counted as correct.  Example:  if the question asks to label, the answer must be labeled.  If the question does NOT ask for a label, the answer must NOT be labeled, etc.  Additionally, only answers recorded in ATI or Examplify will be considered the final answer.  There will be NO EXCEPTIONS!  The first attempt will be given on the date listed on the course calendar in your course calendar.  Second and third attempts require remediation in accordance with policy and appointments to take second or third attempts will be made with the testing center.

 

Three (3) unsuccessful attempts will result in course failure and students will be withdrawn from their courses by the instructor of record (refer to the Nursing Skill and Dosage Calculation Competency Policy).

 

Final grade scale: 

Grading for the course will follow the nursing policy for grading and evaluation.

 

In order to pass this course, the student must achieve an average of 77% or higher.

Letter Grade = Numerical Grade

 
      A = 92-100%
      B = 83-91%
      C = 77-82%
      D = 65-76%
      F = 65% and below F

 

There is NO ROUNDING of grades in RNSG 2404 0180 per handbook policy, when the course is complete if the student has a 76.9 average, a 76 will be considered the final grade.

Late work policy: 

All assignments listed in the syllabus as well as any additional written
assignments given by the instructor must be satisfactorily completed and submitted on or
before the assigned due date.  Late work WILL NOT be accepted for a grade and WILL result in a ZERO being recorded in the Canvas gradebook. No Exceptions!

 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL. ALL ITEMS LOCATED INSIDE THE CANVAS COURSE ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE RNSG 2404 0180 SYLLABUS.

 

Topical Outline

• Unit 1 

• Labor & Delivery

• Family
• Newborn
• Perioperative Care

 

• Unit 2

• Inflammation
• Immunity
• Infection
• Integument
• Mobility

 

• Unit 3

• Fluid and Electrolytes
• Acid-Base Balance
• Oxygenation

 

• Unit 4

• Cellular Regulation
• Perfusion

 

• Unit 5

• Elimination - Urinary
• Metabolism – Endocrine
• Metabolism – GI
• Sensory Perception
• Cognition

 

 

COURSE POLICIES

 

 

Academic Integrity Policy:   

See Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook

 

NOTE:  All assignments must be completed within the dates specified for the current semester as outlined in this syllabus. According to NCTC's academic integrity policy, submitting the same paper, report, or other assignment for multiple courses without explicit permission from the instructor is considered cheating. Violation of this policy will lead to immediate dismissal from the ADN program.  All matters of Academic Misconduct are addressed through the Office of the Provost/Vice Chancellor  of Instruction.

 

Attendance Policy: 

See Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook

 

Nursing Skill and Dosage Calculation Competency Policy

See Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook

 

Professional Conduct:

See Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook

 

 

 

 

Simulation: 

Simulation is an essential and required component of the Transition to Professional Nursing course, designed to support the development of clinical judgment and professional practice. Failure to complete the simulation ticket to class or the simulation reflective journal by the assigned due date and time will result in a 5-point deduction on the student's next unit exam.  Students are expected to arrive on time for their scheduled simulation day.  Any student who arrives late or is absent for their simulation will incur an additional 5-point deduction on their next unit exam.

 

Testing Policy:
1. All students are expected to test on the assigned date and time. All Unit examinations will be administered on Examplify.
2. Any student absent or missing an examination (ATI is not included. See ATI Testing Policy) will be allowed to make up the first day of missed examinations on the scheduled make-up day (Thursday, December 4, 2025 @ 0900 in the Testing Center (100 Building). Should the student miss more than one day of examinations, all other examinations missed will result in a zero.

3. The make-up examination may be an essay/short answer examination at the faculty’s discretion. Arrival late to an examination (greater than 5 minutes) or after an examination has started will be the student’s responsibility to reschedule.
4. The first day of missed examination (s) must be made up on Thursday, December 4, 2025 @ 0900 in the Testing Center (100 Building). Missed make-up examinations will not be rescheduled.
5. The student is responsible for notifying the faculty of any absence on examination days. The student is responsible for initiating a discussion with the faculty about the reason for missing an examination and scheduling a make-up examination. If more than one examination is missed, the student must make an appointment to meet with the program chair.
6. All personal belongings are to be stowed while testing is conducted.
7. All electronic devices are to be turned off during testing. All electronics should be stowed with personal belongings. This includes, but is not limited to, cellular phones, tablets, and smartwatches.

8. Students will not store, receive, and/or access course materials (lecture notes, textbooks, or learning aids) on a cellular device, computer, or other electronic devices without faculty authorization. Students will not use the internet to search for answers during an examination. Students must understand that test questions are confidential.
Students shall not take pictures of any test questions and shall not record (digitally or in writing) any test questions or answers during the examination.
9. Students will have the opportunity to review their incorrect answers immediately after completing their unit examinations. The review will be limited to 15 minutes for 50-question and 30 minutes for 100-question examinations. No verbal challenging of examination questions will be allowed. Students must complete an Examination Item Feedback form and turn it into their faculty/proctor immediately after their examination review if they wish to challenge an examination item. Failure to place a name on the examination challenge form will forfeit the student's opportunity to challenge, as the faculty cannot determine the student’s form from others. No books or notes will be allowed during examination review.  The faculty has the right to cease examination reviews if students do not follow examination review guidelines.  There is no review of final examination questions.
10. Preliminary examination scores will be released at the completion of the unit exams.
11. Students will receive a strengths and opportunities report after the finalized grades are posted.
12. Students wishing to view their exams should schedule an appointment with their faculty.
13. Two weeks after an examination date, no further review of exam grades or questions will be conducted.

ATI Testing:
Several ATI test examinations and practice examinations are scheduled throughout the semester, and the dates for these examinations can be found on the course outline/calendar. These ATI tests are mandatory, and no make-up will be allowed due to the nature of the material being provided or tested. After each ATI practice examination, remediation must be completed. Failure to complete ATI remediation, as outlined on the ATI Proctored Assessments Rubric, will result in an incomplete or zero for the assignment.  The student will be required to take the ATI examination without exception to grade.

Quizzes:
Individual quizzes will be given as scheduled and administered in ATI and will be used at Tickets to Class.

 

Withdrawal Policy:

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

 

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is:  November 3, 2025

 

 

Student Learning Outcomes and Core Objectives: 

 

Texas Board of Nursing Differentiated Essential Competencies (DECs)

 

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to act as a:

1. Member of the Profession

Provide nursing care within the parameters of professional nursing knowledge, scope of practice, education, experience and ethical/legal standards of care.

2. Provider of Patient Centered Care

Proactively manage priorities in patient care and follow-up on clinical problems that warrant investigation with consideration of anticipated risks.

3. Patient Safety Advocate

Safely administer medications and treatments. Recognize and report unsafe practices

4. Member of the Healthcare Team

Assist patients and their families to communicate needs to their support systems and to other healthcare professionals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLLEGE POLICIES