YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY

Department of Nursing
NURSG 2610 - 02
CRN: 42515
Fall Semester 2014

Course Title:

Contemporary Nursing
MW: 13:00 14:30
Cushwa Hall, Room 3341

Faculty:

Cynthia Daniels, MSN, RN

cdaniels@ysu.edu
Office: Cushwa Hall, Room 2502
Phone: 330-941-1795
Cell #: 330-651-1296

Office Hours:

Mon:
Tues:
Wed:

8:00 10:00 a.m.

15:30-16:30 p.m.
12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m.
14:30 p.m.-15:30 p.m.

Catalog Description:
Concepts related to professional nursing practice including nursing as a developing profession;
educational perspectives and patterns; legal and ethical accountability; economic and political
aspects; health care delivery systems; and nursing management and leadership roles. This
course is open to nursing and non-nursing majors. 3 s.h.
Course Objectives:
1. Describe the historical evolution of nursing as a developing profession within the
healthcare system. (SLO1)

2. Describe the contribution of research and theory to nursing practice. (SLO4)

3. Explain the interrelationships between person, health, environment, and nursing.
(SLO7)
4. Identify the compositions and functions of nursing organizations. (SLO1)
5. Describe the historical evolution of nursing education in the United States. (SLO1)
6. Cite examples of legal, ethical, political, economic, and cultural issues that impact the
healthcare system and the profession of nursing. (SLO9)
7. Define the healthcare system and its components. (SLO1)
8. Describe the nursing process. (SLO1)
9. Describe the nursing roles within the healthcare system including leadership and
management roles. (SLO6)
10. Describe critical components of the communication process. (SLO1)
Topic Outline:
The Development of Nursing
Current Issues in Health Care
Leadership and Management in Nursing
Career Management
Teaching Strategies:

Course Requirements:
Class Attendance:

Lecture/Discussion/Experiential Learning Activities

Class Activities / Presentations/Paperwork
Audio Visuals

Class attendance is highly recommended for successful completion of this course.

Students are expected to attend class and participate in discussions. In the event of a
class absence, the student is responsible for any assignments, notes, handouts and/ or
important announcements (i.e. Exam dates and Learning Activities/Assignments) that
were covered in class.

Exams:
The course will consist of two exams and one final exam. All content-lecture, required
readings, and class discussions will be considered for the exams. All students are
expected to take exams on the scheduled date and time. The only acceptable excuse for
missing an exam is a written medical excuse. A make-up of any exam will result in an
automatic 10% reduction in exam grade. Arrangements for a scheduled exam make-up
must be made with the course instructor within 72 hours of testing time. The final exam
is during finals week according to the university schedule (December 13, 2013 at 15:1517:15).
Disability:
In accordance with University policies and procedures, if you have a documented
disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course please
contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. You must be registered with the
Center for Student Progress, Disability Services at 36 West Wood Street and provide a
letter of accommodations verifying your eligibility. You can reach the Disability Services
Office at 330-941-1372.
Cheating and Plagiarism:
Students and faculty share joint responsibility to prevent cheating and plagiarism by
reporting any act of academic dishonesty. The student may receive a failing grade for a
test, written assignment, or the course for participating in such acts. This action may
affect the students ability to progress in the nursing program. Refer to the Student
Academic Policies for the BSN Program, the Academic Honesty Statement in the
Youngstown State University Undergraduate Bulletin, and Article 1 of the Code of
Rights and Responsibilities from the YSU Student Handbook.
Class Cancellation:
Notice that this class is being cancelled for any one day because of

instructor illness, or other reasons, will be sent to the student

address <@student.ysu.edu> and/ or via Blackboard as soon as possible.
University-wide closure or class cancellation is a decision made
through the Presidents office, and officially announced via the
YSU homepage and on WYSU-FM radio.

Required Texts:
Black, B. P. (2014). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges (7th edition.). St. Louis
Missouri: Elsevier
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.

Optional Texts:
DeWit, S.C. (2009). Saunders student nurse planner: A guide to success in nursing school,
version 4 (6th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
Dunham, K.S. (2008). How to survive and maybe even love nursing school: A guide for
students (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Evaluation: Course grades will be based on the nursing department standard scale as
follows:
A = 93 100
B = 86 92
C = 78 85
D = 70 77 *
F = below 70*
* Requires repetition of the course

Weighting of Course Requirements for course grade:

Exam I
25%
Exam II
25%
Final Exam
25%
Paper
10%
Presentation
10%
Activities/Quizzes 5%
Total
100%

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE*

Week 1
Aug 20

Week 2
Aug 25
Aug 27

Course Introduction

Nursing Today
History & Social Context of Nursing

Class Activity

Black, Chapter 1
Black, Chapter 2

Week 3
Sept 1
Sept 3

No Class (Labor Day)

Professionalization of Nursing History

Black, Chapter 3

Week 4
Sept 8
Sept10

Legal Aspects of Nursing

Ethical Aspects of Nursing

Black, Chapter 4
Black, Chapter 5

Week 5
Sept 15
Sept 17

TEST 1 Chapters 1 5
Defining Nursing

Class Activity
Black, Chapter 6

Week 6
Sept 22
Sept 24

Educational Patterns
Nursing Process

Black, Chapter 7
Black, Chapter 8

Week 7
Sept 29
Oct 1

Nursing Process
Communication

Black, Chapter 8
Black, Chapter 9

Week 8
Oct 6
Oct 8

Illness, Culture, & Caring

Illness, Culture, & Caring (cont)

Black, Chapter 10
Black, Chapter 10

Week 9
Oct 13
Oct 15

Evidenced-Based Practice
Evidenced-Based Practice

Black, Chapter 11
Black, Chapter 11

Week 10
Oct 20
Oct 22

TEST 2 Chapters 6 10
Concept/Philosophical Bases of Nursing

Black, Chapter 12

*Oct 25* Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W"

Week 11
Oct 27
Oct 29

Concept/Philosophical Bases of Nursing

Nursing Theory

Black, Chapter 12
Black, Chapter 13

Papers Due (10% of your grade)

Week 12
Nov 3
Nov 5

Nursing Theory
Health Care Delivery System: Finances

Black, Chapter 13
Black, Chapter 14

Week 13
Nov 10

Health Care Delivery System: Nursing Roles

Black Chapter 14

Nov 12

Political Activism

Black, Chapter 15

Week 14
Nov 17
Nov 19

Political Activism
Nursings Future Challenges

Black, Chapter 15
Black, Chapter 16

Week 15
Nov 24
Nov 26

Nursings Future Challenges

No Class

Dec 1
Dec 3

Presentation Day
Presentation Day

Black, Chapter 16

FINAL EXAM Chapters 11 16

Final Exam week Begins Monday, December 8, 2014 (Test Date Scheduled on
12/10/14 from 08:00-10:00)

* Class schedule (including exams) is tentative and may be modified as needed*