Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology

Fall 2014

Course

Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology (NRSG 6300)

3 Credit Hours (45 class hours)
Fall 2014

Faculty
Deborah MacMillan Ph.D., APRN, BC- CNM
Home (478) 994-9354
Office (478) 752-1074
Cell (478) 747-0986
email debby.macmillan@gcsu.edu
Sheryl Winn DNP, ANP, APRN-BC
Office (478) 752-1074
Cell (478) 397-1739
email sheryl.winn@gcsu.edu
Course Description Provides understanding of relationship between normal processes of
the human body and alterations during disease and disorders in
adults and children. Both cellular and organ system functions are
examined.
Course Topics
See Calendar

MSN Program Outcomes with Relationship to Program Concepts

Concept
1. Communication
2. Evidence-based
Practice
3. Leadership
4. Ethics
5. Cultural Diversity

MSN Program Outcomes Specialist

Practice
Demonstrate effective communication through
collaboration, partnerships, presentations, and scholarly
writing.
Improve healthcare outcomes using scholarly inquiry and
analysis of evidence.
Demonstrate advanced practice leadership and management
principles to mitigate risk and enhance healthcare delivery
systems.
Model use of legal & ethical professional standards in the
advanced practice role.
Partner with the client in the provision of compassionate and

Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology
Fall 2014

Concept

6. Health Promotion &

Disease Prevention
7. Advocacy
8. Collaboration
9. Informatics
10. Professional Role

MSN Program Outcomes Specialist

Practice
coordinated care, based on respect for the clients
preferences, values, and needs.
Use data to monitor and improve the quality and safety of
health promotion & disease prevention outcomes.
Advocate for social justice and equity in healthcare by
supporting improvements in regulatory, legislative, and
public policy development.
Collaborate within nursing and inter-professional team
members to foster open communication, mutual respect, and
shared decision-making.
Demonstrate essential informatics competences to analyze
data and evidence-based care practices.
Demonstrate the competencies associated with the advanced
practice role.

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

Program
Course Outcomes
Outcomes
2
Describe environmental factors both physiological and
psychological, which may alter the homeostatic balance
along the health-illness continuum.
2
Describe the relationship between abnormal structure
and dysfunction on chemical, cellular, organ, and
system levels.
2
Link clinical and laboratory test findings with the
epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis and
symptomatology of specific disease processes.
3,6,10
Apply diagnostic reasoning to the assessment and
evaluation of case study situations.
3,6,10
Identify goals and general principles of treatment for
selected disease processes.
3,6,10
Demonstrate effective communication through
collaboration, partnerships, presentations, and scholarly
writing.
Teaching/Learning Methods: Reading assignments, weekly case study discussions,
weekly quizzes, case narratives, and lectures.

Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology
Fall 2014

Required Textbook: McCance, K. & Huether, S. (2010). Pathophysiology: The biologic

basis for disease in adults and children. (6th ed.) Mosby. ISBN-13: 978-0323065849
Older edition is acceptable.
Suggested Textbook: APA
Computer Competency: This is an online course. All classes will be conducted using
either synchronous Collaborate class format or asynchronous online class format.
Students must have access to Internet and ability to use WebCT and Collaborate. Basic
computer competency with Microsoft office is expected. Attendance and active
participation is a course expectation.
Grading:

Quizzes (10) 50%

Case Narratives (1) 20%
Case Study Discussion Leader 10%
Final Exam 20%

Grading Criteria:

The grading scale for this course is as follows: 91-100 (A), 83-90
(B), 75-82 (C), 66-74 (D), and 65 or less (F).

Quizzes - Individual Work (50% Course Grade)

Students will have 10 quizzes during the semester on the assigned readings and recorded
lectures. These quizzes are to be completed by the assigned date on the calendar.
Quizzes are meant to serve as feedback to the student and provide formative assessment
about the mastery of the concepts related to advanced pathophysiology. Each quiz is work
5% of the total course grade.
Case Narrative - Individual Work (20% of course grade)
During the course of the semester the student will complete a Case Narrative. The case
narrative will utilize a patient seen at Daybreak Clinic /or a clinical topic of interest to the
student that is relevant to the Educator/APRN role. The tentative schedule for Daybreak
will be discussed the first day of class. The student will follow the outline provided for
this narrative.
1.
Summary of common diseases/illnesses seen in selected body system
pertinent to family practice. 20%

Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology
Fall 2014

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Pertinent subjective data

10%
Pertinent objective data
10%
Diagnosis with differential (Include pathophysiology of the specific diagnosis, as
well as diagnostic tests and labs needed to confirm) 25%.
Management plan, including Rx, education, prevention, and follow-up (Discuss the
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of the drug treatment) 20%
Guidelines and research pertinent to disease 15%

Case Study Discussion Leaders - Group Work (10% of course grade)

Each week a group of students will be assigned to present a topic for discussion that is
related to that weeks readings. The group will select a clinical problem of importance for
primary care. The students will develop a presentation for class that presents a case study,
basic information about a clinical decision that needs to be made and discussion
question(s) about the management of this clinical problem for their peers. The discussion
leaders will do the presentation during class time and the class will then respond to these
questions during the week. The Case Study Leaders will moderate the discussion during
the week.
Weekly Discussion Posting Each student is expected to respond to the discussion
questions. (S/U)
Final Exam (20% of Course Grade)
The final exam for this course will be cumulative and cover the material from the entire
course. It will be a combination of multiple choice and case study questions.

Course Policies

All policies in the current Georgia College & State University Graduate
Catalog and the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook are applicable.
Please consult web site for these documents at the following sites:
http://catalog.gcsu.edu/grad/index.htm
http://info.gcsu.edu/intranet/health_sciences/gradforms.htm
Rounding Policy: Rounding for this course will occur only with the
final average grade for the course. There will be no rounding of exam
grades or other written assignments during the semester. If the final
course average to the nearest tenth is .5 or more, the final course grade
will be rounded up to the next whole number (i.e. 88.5 would be
rounded to 89)

Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology
Fall 2014

Attendance: Attendance at all scheduled class meetings enhances the

learning of all class participants. Students are expected to attend all
classes and to notify the faculty member if unforeseen events occur that
prevent attendance. Students are expected to arrive promptly for class.
Students are to be present for all exams. NO makeup exams will be
given. If a student has notified the faculty member of an excused
absence such as hospitalization or death in the family prior to the
regular schedule exam beginning, the student will have the missed exam
percentage added to the final exam percentage.
Cell phones and beepers are to be turned off during class, clinical and
other professional activity.
In addition to these University and School policies, students are
expected to comply with the following course policies:
All students must regularly check bobcats email to receive official
communication from university faculty and staff.
All students must have an activated Bobcat identification card. The
Bobcat card is required to use all library services, including the
computer lab for testing, and to access the classrooms in the Macon
Center.
Graduate Testing Policy for online courses

Verification of Student Identity in Online Education

A new federal requirement has been put into place by the U.S. Department of
Education requiring schools to verify the identity of online students. In response
to this requirement, Georgia College Graduate Nursing Program has adopted the
following policy to ensure that:

The student who registers in online education course or program is the same
student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the
credit by verifying the identity of a student who participates in class or
coursework.

The student who registers for an online course may elect either of the following
Student verification options that are offered by GC Graduate Nursing
Program
o Face to Face testing at the Macon Graduate Campus
o Proctored Examinations

Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology
Fall 2014

Technology
Requirements

The minimum technology requirements:

http://www.gcsu.edu/technology/campustech/recommendations.htm
Microsoft on-line training resource: http://office.microsoft.com/enus/support/training-FX101782702.aspx?redir=0

Academic Honesty

The integrity of students and their written/oral work is a critical

component of the academic process. All written work submitted in this
course will be individual work unless otherwise instructed. The
submission of anothers work as ones own is plagiarism and will be
dealt with using the procedures outlined on pp. 64-67 in the
Undergraduate Catalog. Remember that allowing another student to
copy ones own work is considered cheating. Also see the student
Honor Code at the website below:
http://www.gcsu.edu/studentlife/handbook/code.htm

Religious
Observance

Students are permitted to miss class in observance of religious holidays

and other activities observed by a religious group of which the student
is a member without academic penalty. Exercising of ones rights under
this policy is subject to the GC Honor Code. Students who miss class in
observance of a religious holiday or event are required to make up the
coursework missed as a result from the absence. The nature of the
make-up assignments and the deadline for completion of such
assignments are at the sole discretion of the instructor. Failure to follow
the prescribed procedures voids all student rights under this policy.
The full policy and prescribed procedures are found at:
http://senate.gcsu.edu/prod/motions/support_docs/499/1295533007_Rel
igous%20Observance%20Policy%20for%20senate.docx

Fire Drill Procedure

Fire drills will be conducted annually. In the event of a fire alarm,

students will exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the
nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan and exits of the building. Do
not use elevators. If you encounter heavy smoke, crawl on the floor so
as to gain fresh air. Assist disabled persons and others if possible
without endangering your own life. Assemble for a head count at the
designated assembly area for this building. For more information on
other emergencies, please visit
http://www.gcsu.edu/emergency/actionplanmain.htm

Georgia College & State University

School of Nursing - NRSG 6300 Pathophysiology
Fall 2014

Request for
Disability
Modifications:

If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be
eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and
physical accessibility. Disability Services, a unit of the GCSU Office of
Institutional Equity and Diversity, can assist you in formulating a
reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing
appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GCSU
programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but
accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements. For
documentation requirements and for additional information, we
recommend that you contact Disability Services located in Maxwell
Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478-445-4233. Any student requiring
instructional modifications due to a documented disability should make
an appointment to meet with Dr. Debby Macmillan within in the first
week of classes. An official letter from GCSU documenting the
disability is expected in order to receive accommodations.