NURS 433 01: Clinical Practicum III

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Professionally communicate with patients and the health care team.
2. Synthesize knowledge of altered health states and psychosocial needs of patients to develop a plan of care.
3. Utilize a comprehensive evidence-based approach to assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for patients with complex health conditions. 
4. Exhibit professional nursing behaviors when applying skills and knowledge in a clinical setting.
5. Demonstrates independence and interdependence in communication and collaboration within the health care team as a case manager

TOPICAL OUTLINE

1. Mood and Affect
2. Perfusion: Clotting
3. Reproduction/Sexuality
4. Interpersonal Violence
5. Gas Exchange
6. Fluids and Electrolytes
7. Addiction
8. Mobility
9. Intracranial regulation
10. Psychosis
11. Inflammation
12. Infection/Immunity
13. Perfusion: Shock/Trauma

TEACHING/LEARNING STRATEGIES

1. Onsite Clinical Experiences
2. Pre and post clinical conference discussions, guest speakers
3. Written patient care assignments
4. Concept-based learning activities, case studies
5. Required and recommended readings
6. Student Led Post Clinical Discussion
7. Clinical Simulation Experiences
8. Clinical Performance Evaluation

Required Resources

Technologies Institute. RN adult medical surgical nursing edition 11.0. Overland Park, KS: Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. 

Giddens, J.F. (2021). Concepts for nursing practice. (3^rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Trakalo, K., Horowitz, L., & McCulloch, A. (Eds.) (2019). Nursing: A concept-based approach to learning. (3^rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Pagana, K., Pagana, T., & Pagana, T. (2022). Mosby’s manual of diagnostic and laboratory tests. (7^th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Kizior, R.J., & Hodgson, K. (2023). Saunders nursing drug handbook. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING

Learning will be assessed using a standardized clinical performance evaluation tool. Learning activities will include clinical activities, assigned readings, in-class discussion, seminar, written assignments, videos and instructional media, student presentations, virtual assignments, and simulations.

Method of Evaluation*

Grades are earned in clinical courses based on the student's ability to apply knowledge and skill to client care, to meet the clinical objectives for the course, and to give safe, competent nursing care.

Final Grade Scale

> 92.00% A

83.00-91.99% B

74.00-82.99% C

66.00-73.99% D

< 65.99% F

I - Incomplete

Grading Policies

According to CNPD procedure # 403a:

1. Students must earn a minimum grade of “C”. A final grade of “D” or “F” is considered to be a course failure.
2. According to University policy, grades cannot be given over the telephone or discussed over e-mail. Please make an appointment with course faculty to discuss grades.
3. There will be no rounding up of grades or extra credit offered for any reason.
4. Incomplete grades will be given in accordance with UND policy.
5. A student may challenge a grade on an assignment within five school days of the date the grade was given.
6. *Graded activities will use a rubric to provide grading consistency and expectations. Rubrics are posted in Blackboard.
7. Students are responsible to know what their grades are during the course and are expected to review the gradebook frequently. Students should contact course faculty to discuss a plan to improve, if appropriate.
8. Clinical Grades:
   1. Students must attain a Satisfactory Final Clinical Performance Evaluation, 74% average on weekly clinical assignments, and a total point average of 74% or above in order to pass the course.
   2. Responsible members of the health team may also contribute their observations of students' performance to be added to the evaluation of students.

CLINICAL SIMULATION EXPERIENCES

Students must come prepared to clinical simulation experiences by completing assigned readings and a simulation worksheet prior to each learning experience.  This work will serve as your “ticket” into the simulation experience.  Unprepared students will not be allowed to participate and will earn a zero for that assignment.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

In the N433 Clinical Practicum, as in all nursing courses at the University of North Dakota, students are representatives of the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines.  As such, students are expected to display professional behaviors including honesty, integrity, and respect in their interactions with peers, colleagues, agency personnel, faculty, and clients. This includes verbal and non-verbal communication.  Unsatisfactory professional behavior can result in failure of the course or dismissal from the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines. 

Expectations for professional behavior in classroom and clinical experiences include the following:

• Students will arrive prepared for clinical on time and will remain alert and attentive throughout those experiences.
• Students will be appropriately dressed in accordance with policies outlined in syllabus and UND dress code; students will also abide by dress code as dictated by clinical agencies.
• Students will not engage in text messaging, e-mailing, searching the web, or accepting or making phone calls during clinical time unless these activities are related to the clinical experience. Cell phones are to be turned off and stored in locker or bag, except for break and lunch time, unless prior approval of the clinical instructor has been obtained.
• Students will not read any materials, such as textbooks, assignments, newspapers, or magazines not related to the clinical experience during clinical time.
• Students will not bring food into the clinical setting unless approved by instructor and/or clinical agency. Lunches may be brought to clinical for break time/lunch time.
• Students will demonstrate accountability and responsibility for their own professional behavior and development.

CLINICAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

The clinical instructor evaluates student performance after each clinical experience.  Periodic written evaluations on student progress will be individually reviewed and signed by the student and faculty during student evaluation sessions.  Responsible members of the health team may also contribute their observations of students’ performance. 

Students must attain a Satisfactory Final Clinical Evaluation based on the N403 Clinical Performance Evaluation Tool Objectives and Competencies.  However, failure to meet the Critical Behavior Objectives and/or Competencies related to patient safety, medication administration and/or professional accountability & responsibility will result in a failing clinical grade.

Attendance 

1. Attendance in clinical is mandatory.  An excused absence may be given for reasons of illness, death of a family member, or other serious need determined by the clinical instructor (vacations, weddings, family reunions, etc. will not be given an excused absence).
   1. Students must contact their clinical faculty member at least one hour prior to the expected absence or it will be counted as an unexcused absence.
   2. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the faculty by sending an email through the UND e-mail system of their inability to be present. Phone calls and text messages are not acceptable means of notification.
   3. Excused absences from clinical will require makeup.  Specific requirements for the make-up will be determined by the clinical instructor. 
2. Any unexcused absence will result in an unsatisfactory grade for professional development on the Clinical Evaluation Performance Tool, which will result in a failure of the course.
3. Absences during orientation week or in the last week of the semester will result in up to a 10% reduction in the final course grade.

Grading/Professional Behavior Criteria

1. Students are required to use your UND e-mail address for communication and are responsible for information posted on the course blackboard site or sent via e-mail.
2. Due dates for assignments will be determined by your Clinical Instructor.  Late work will not be accepted, and the student will receive a 0, unless the late submission has been approved by the course faculty.
   1. Extensions of assignment due dates is not the norm.  Any extension of an assignment must be discussed with the clinical instructor at least 24 hours prior to the assignment due date/time and will be determined by the clinical instructor – the maximum amount of any extension will be no greater than one day.
   2. Written assignments shall be typed in Microsoft Word (or a Microsoft Word compatible program) and submitted through the designated Blackboard drop box in a Word document format.  Proper spelling, grammar, and APA format are expected.
   3. Individual student work is the expectation of all clinical assignments, unless otherwise specified by the clinical faculty.  All written assignments will be run through an online plagiarism detection tool called Safe Assign.
   4. It is a good practice to make sure your assignments are submitted well before the due date to avoid last minute technical issues that may interfere with submission of the assignment.  If an assignment is not noted in the student’s gradebook on Blackboard, it is then treated as though the student did not complete the assignment. The student must provide written documentation as proof of submission for the assignment to be considered for acceptance.
3. Invasive skill procedures are to be practiced only in supervised settings.
4. Students may not leave the hospital premises during clinical hours.
5. The use of electronic devices (cell phones, etc.) during clinical hours is prohibited according to Altru Hospital policy, except for educational purposes and only in specifically designated areas of Altru Hospital.  You will not be allowed to carry your cell phone during hands on patient care clinical hours.
6. All medications given need to be looked up PRIOR to administration.  This is a safety issue.  Failure to do this is considered unsafe nursing practice and may result in failure of the course.
7. No photocopying/picture taking of client records is allowed.  This is considered a breach in confidentiality and may result in failure of the course.  Any computer-generated documents with client name and identifying information are not to be removed from the clinical agency.

Academic Integrity

​Academic dishonesty is defined in the UND Code of Student Life and Nursing Policy 257. This includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, and collusion.  In this course, there is a ZERO TOLERANCE policy; we uphold behaviors reflective of individual responsibility, mutual trust, professional values, and standards.  Any student observing academic dishonesty is required to report the incident to the course instructor.  Infractions may result in failure of the assignment, a maximum grade achievement of “C”, and/or failure of the course.  Alternatively, the instructor may refer the case as a disciplinary matter to the assistant dean of students.

Dress Code

• The UND green scrub top and bottom nursing uniform along with your UND photo identification must always be worn in the clinical agency.  Professional dress is expected at all times (no vests, no sweatshirts, no sweatpants, etc.). 
• Students may wear black, white, gray, or light pink solid color t-shirt under scrubs.  Students may wear UND green scrub jacket over scrubs.

Equipment Requirements

• Students are required to have purchased the following equipment for use in the clinical setting: watch (with second hand), stethoscope, bandage scissors, and pen light.  Hemostat is optional.

Student-Faculty Conferences

• Faculty are available for conferences and should be consulted for any concerns the student has related to the clinical expectations and performance. Students are asked to make appointments to see faculty. 

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING POLICIES

1. Students who do not have the required verifications documented will not be allowed to participate in clinical learning activities until such verification is on file and will receive an unexcused absence for missed clinical experiences. 
2. Students must earn a “C” or better in all nursing courses to progress to the next nursing course.
3. Students may be required to attend workshops pertinent to the course.  Students are required to pay the registration fee and other workshop expenses (Policy #243).

Starfish

Important information is available to you through Starfish, which is an online system used to help students be successful. When an instructor observes student behaviors or concerns that may impede academic success, the instructor may raise a flag that notifies the student of the concern and/or refer the student to their academic advisor or UND resource. Please pay attention to these emails and take the recommended actions. They are sent to help you be successful!

Starfish also allows you to (1) schedule appointments with various offices and individuals across campus, (2) request help on a variety of topics, and (3) search and locate information on offices and services at UND. You can log into Starfish by clicking on Logins on the UND homepage and then selecting Starfish. A link to Starfish is also available in Blackboard once you have signed in.