NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Pediatrics
Course prefix, number, and section number: VNSG 1234 0180
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025
Semester start and end dates: October 20, 2025-December 13, 2025 (2nd 8 weeks)
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous online/Hybrid
Class meeting location, days, and times: Online didactic/Testing on campus Thursdays, 0900-1030
Lab meeting location, days, and times: No lab
Semester credit hours: 2
Course description: Study of the care of the pediatric patient and family during health and disease. Emphasis on growth and developmental needs utilizing the nursing process and clinical judgement model.
Course prerequisites: Successful completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or better for the following LVN courses including VNSG 1420, VNSG 1227, VNSG 1323, VNSG 1360, VNSG 1400, VNSG 1331, VNSG 1363, VNSG 1509. May be currently taken with VNSG 1219, 1230, 1510 2460.
Required course materials:
Internet access
ATI access: ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) - Web-based learning and assessment program includes standardized exam.
Evolve resources: Sherpath for Leifer Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing, 9th Edition Access via your learning management system By Elsevier Inc ISBN: 9780443104909
ATI: Content Mastery Series Review Module (PN Maternal Newborn Nursing Edition 11.0).
Leifer, G. (2023). Introduction to Maternity & Pediatric Nursing, Textbook and Workbook, (9th Ed.), St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Elsevier EAQs for Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing
Name of instructor: Jana Arant, BSN, RN
Office location: 1525 W. California St. Gainesville, TX 76240 Office 2411-I
Telephone number: 940-668-3393
E-mail address: jarant@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: Tuesday, all other days 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:
# of Graded Course Elements Graded Course Elements Percentage Values
4 Exams 60%
7 Assignments 20%
(2) ATI Practice A & B Quizzes
(4) Evolve EAQs
(1) Discussion Board
1 ATI Content Mastery Exam 10%
1 Comprehensive Final 10%
(Optional if qualified-see instructions)
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 77.0 or higher. There will be no rounding up of grades. Decimals will be included to the hundredths only. (If you make a 76.99, this will not round up to a 77)
Numerical Grade Letter Grade
90-100 A
80-89.99 B
77-79.99 C
66-76.99 D
65 and below F
Final Exam: ATI Content Mastery Medical Surgical Nursing Exam is a required assessment which is worth 10% of your total course (final) grade. As long as the student is passing the course with a minimum 77 after this score is entered into the gradebook, the student may opt out of taking the Comprehensive Final Exam which is also worth 10% of the total course grade. This exam grade will be entered as the Final Exam grade to equal 20% of the final course weight.
If the student is not passing the course with a minimum 77 after this score is entered into the gradebook or the student wishes to take the comprehensive final exam, the student will take this following the ATI Content Mastery Exam. This score will be averaged in with your comprehensive final exam grade which also counts as 10% of overall course grade.
Late work policy:
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.
LATE WORK will NOT be accepted in theory or clinical courses. A grade of zero (0) will be recorded for work not submitted when due. Quizzes are daily assignments and cannot be made up. One exam per course, per semester may be made up at a time determined by the instructor.
If the student notifies the instructor by email two hours prior to the due date and time with proof that there was a technology issue (screenshot of the issue), then the instructor has the right to allow additional time or accept the late work but this is at the discretion of the instructor and not required.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
AI STATEMENT
Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.
When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.
Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.
Academic Integrity Policy:
Nursing students, as well as licensed nurses, inherit the responsibility to adhere to the standards of ethical practice and professional conduct that is expected in the nursing profession. It is important to learn the LVN’s scope of practice in order to maintain patient safety and to protect their right to practice nursing. These standards involve (but are not limited to):
o Safeguarding confidential patient/client information (according to HIPPA laws).
o Providing health care to all patients regardless of race, creed, cultural background, gender, disease, or lifestyle.
o Upholding the highest standards in personal appearance, language, dress, and demeanor.
o Staying informed/ updated about issues affecting nursing practice and the delivery of healthcare. This includes political voting and/or involvement as an advocate for positive healthcare changes and quality nursing care.
o Accepting responsibility for safe nursing by keeping oneself mentally and physically fit and educationally prepared to practice.
Unacceptable personal conduct may result from complaints by faculty members or clinical agency members. These may indicate that the student does not possess those personal qualities and characteristics which the faculty deem necessary for nurses. Unacceptable personal conduct complaints from a faculty member or clinical agency member will result in a student conference and/or clinical warning or dismissal from the Vocational Nursing Program.
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB (LOCAL) for consequences for academic dishonesty that may include:
1) A zero (0) for the assignment.
2) Failure of the course.
Attendance Policy:
Lecture:
Students are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for all announcements and course content. Students may be absent a maximum of twice during the semester per course, unless the course meets for only 8 or 10 weeks in which case students may only miss one class.
Students who miss more than the allowed absences will need to schedule a meeting with the program's division chair and provide physical evidence as to why those exceeded absences occurred. A meeting with the APA committee will be conducted and review the students performance in the class and physical evidence for missed classes. The APA meeting will determine whether the student will be allowed to continue. If the student is not allowed to continue, the student will have the option of withdrawing from the program in the Registrar’s office by the official drop date or receiving course grades of “F” on the final grade reports.
Documentation for any absences is required. Individual professors will determine appropriate documentation to be submitted. There are no partial absences; if you miss part of the class, an absence will be recorded. However, it is important to attend even part of the class to learn the material that is presented.
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: April 28, 2025
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Identify safety principles related to childcare;
- Discuss primary nursing care of the pediatric patient and family during health and disease;
- Apply concepts of growth and development to the care of pediatric patients utilizing the nursing process and clinical judgement model.
COLLEGE POLICIES
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Cathy Carney, MSN RN
Office location: HSB 2411-B
Telephone number: 940-668-7731 ext. 4371
E-mail address: ccarney@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Diane Neu, MSN RN
Office location: HSB 2428-R
Telephone number: 940-668-7731 ext. 4381
E-mail address: dneu@nctc.edu