Nursing (NURS) 401
Professional Practice with Adults Experiencing Health Alterations (Revision 4)

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Delivery Mode: Paced study online with practicum component
Credits: 6
Area of Study: Applied Studies
Course start dates: September, January, and April
Prerequisite: This course is open only to post LPN BN program students. NURS 400 and Professor approval required. Program Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 required. Post LPN BN students registering in NURS 401 must be prepared to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and clinical behaviours outlined in the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta competency profile. Students are required to seek self-remediation as needed prior to registration in NURS 401.
Faculty: Faculty of Health Disciplines
Centre: Centre for Nursing and Health Studies
NURS 401 is not available for Challenge.
Overview
Nursing 401: Professional Practice with Adults Experiencing Health Alterations is a 6-credit paced study online with a clinical practicum component. The course is paced over 14 weeks and includes 8 learning units including a four week clinical practicum. The course gives you the opportunity to integrate and apply concepts from prior learning in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and the theoretical concepts of NURS 400, in the provision of nursing care for adults experiencing acute and/or chronic alterations in health. The Nursing 401 clinical practicum is based on nursing competencies as outlined in the College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta: Entry-to-Practice Competencies for the Registered Nurses Profession.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of NURS 401, the student will achieve or exceed the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate nursing theory, primary health care principles, and health promotion strategies in the care of adults with health alterations.
- Demonstrate cultural competence in the delivery of nursing care.
- Demonstrate professional nursing behavior by practicing safely, using evidence-based practice, clinical judgement, critical thinking, and innovation.
- Adhere to legal and ethical standards in nursing practice by incorporating the clients' values, beliefs, and rights within the mandate and the role of the profession, namely the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) Nursing Practice Standards and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Code of Ethics.
Course Structure
Introduction and Orientation to Clinical Agency Practicum Guidelines.
Evaluation
NURS 401 is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. To receive credit for NURS 401, all clinical practice and evaluation assessment criteria requirements must be successfully completed. All papers submitted must follow the guidelines of the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.) (2010). The required assignments are as follows:
Medication Safety, and Calculation Midterm Exam: We strongly recommend the exam be taken using Proctor U online invigilation. The first attempt should be taken within the first week of the course (one supplemental exam allowed). If a second and final attempt is needed, the request should be entered immediately upon receiving the initial exam mark as the results are required prior to the end of the first month of the course. Instructions on exam registration will be included in the permission to enroll letter. Students who are not able to demonstrate safe medication administration and calculation, by achieving a minimum passing grade of 80% on one exam, will receive a grade of F (failure) in the course and will not be permitted to continue to the clinical practicum. Course withdrawal will not be permitted after first exam attempt. | Pass/Fail Minimum to Pass 80% on one quiz |
Demonstration of Nursing Assessment and Clinical Nursing Skills (Clinical Days 1 and 2 prior to patient contact). Students who are not able to safely demonstrate will receive a Fail and will not be permitted to continue in the clinical practicum. | Pass/Fail |
Student Learning Documentation | Pass/Fail |
Theory to Practice Application | Pass/Fail |
Formative Evaluation: Post LPN Clinical Evaluation Tool | Pass/Fail |
Interprofessional Collaboration Activity | Pass/Fail |
Summative Evaluation: Post LPN Clinical Evaluation Tool | Pass/Fail |
Group Led Forum Discussion | Pass/Fail |
Total | Pass/Fail |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
The Medication Safety, and Calculation Midterm Exam for this course must be taken online with an AU approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators that can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
Course Materials
Textbook
There is no required textbook for NURS 401.
NURS 400 resources including the medical surgical nursing textbook.
Other Materials
A variety of open education resources, electronic journals, are used in the course and paper copies are not included in the course package. Students will also use resources related to pharmacology for nurses, medication math, and health assessment from previous courses and their LPN program.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 4, July 19, 2017.
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