Synthesis for Nursing Practice (n451)
Course Number: 451
Credits: 3 or 4
Prerequisites: Current RN license and completion of Health History and Patient Assessment (n317), Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (n341), Introduction to Nursing Research (n434), Management and Leadership (n437), Community Health Nursing (n444), and Community Health Nursing Practicum (n445).
Course Description
Strategies are developed and implemented to enable synthesis of professional nursing roles introduced in previous courses, including the nurse researcher, teacher, manager/leader, advocate, and provider of care. Various theories are analyzed to determine their utility as practice frameworks. The professional nurse's social responsibility is a basic focus, and participation in professional organizations is underscored. Ongoing self-evaluation of professional role synthesis is emphasized.
This course can be taken for 3 or 4 credits. Students registering for 4 credits will meet all the requirements of the 3-credit course plus additional work that will be negotiated between student and instructor. This additional work may include a paper based on readings and/or a book, individualized written work, clinical activities pertinent to the individual student, and/or postings. To register for the 4-credit course, you MUST have approval from your advisor. Discuss your academic plan with your advisor to determine which credit assignment for this course is appropriate for you. Four credit hours will not be assigned to students who have registered for the 3-credit course. Contact the course instructor to discuss activities that will fulfill requirements for the 4-credit course.
Course Objectives
- Enhance professional nursing practice in the roles of advocate, provider, teacher, manager, researcher, and leader.
- Use nursing theory and theory from other disciplines as a basis for the nursing process to promote health and healing.
- Employ critical thinking to challenge professional and organizational assumptions, explore alternatives, and guide nursing actions.
- Use interpersonal, written, and technological strategies to communicate effectively with individuals, and/or groups, and communities.
- Use therapeutic nursing interventions in the treatment of human responses to health and illness enhancing health promoting and health supporting responses.
- Utilize ethical principles to address dilemmas with clients and health care providers.
- Implement professional nursing behaviors consistent with professional standards of practice.
- Engage in culturally congruent care with persons of diverse social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Implement strategies to stimulate and support change needed to improve the quality of health care.
- Instill a commitment for lifelong learning and professional development.