NURS5270

Care of Adult &

Gerontology Populations

Course Description

This course focuses on comprehensive care of adult-gerontology (AG) populations. Examines

common acute and chronic health problems using a body system scheme and a physical,
emotional, psychosocial, spiritual, intellectual and cultural approach. Advanced
pathophysiology, assessment and diagnostic strategies, and evidence based-practice specific to
common acute and chronic conditions are emphasized. Prerequisites: NURS5100, NURS5143.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Utilize a theoretical and research base to support health promotion and
health or illness management.
• Synthesize health assessment data (including subjective, objective,
radiology and laboratory findings) in order to formulate differential diagnosis and
holistic management plans (including pharmacological and non-pharmacological
management).
• Integrate preventative health services into a management of common
health problems in adults.
• Acknowledge cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual differences and
influence on perception of health promotion and participation in management of
health.
• Critically analyze risk factors that influence wellness and illness states
using research findings as a basis for analysis.
• Apply principles of health promotion that support healthy behaviors and
patient involvement in decisions that affect health and well-being.

Instructor Information:

Lara Landreneau, AGACNP-BC

lara3@graceland.edu
Communication

A variety of technologies are used to facilitate communication among faculty, staff and peers. Students
are expected to be familiar with and able to use the following communication technologies. Please allow
24-72 hours for a response. If a response is not received within 72 hours, contact the SON Graduate
Programs Office at songraduateprograms@graceland.edu or 816.423.4677.

o Announcements
 Posted by faculty on the course home page as needed
 Check for new announcements every time course is accessed
o Virtual Office
 Asynchronous discussion board available in Course Home
 Preferred means of communication between faculty & students enrolled in online
courses
 Q & A available to all students enrolled in course
 Check frequently for updated information
o Virtual Classroom
 Synchronous online chats
 Q & A in real-time
 Attendance and participation may be required or optional
o Email
 Email communications sent from Brightspace and all official communications
from the SON are sent to your GU Outlook account
 Check your GU Outlook frequently
 Do NOT use a personal email account (yahoo, gmail, etc.) to send or receive
messages with GU Outlook.
o Tele/Video Conferencing
 Voicemail
 Teleconference (leading or joining a conference call for participants in multiple
locations)
 Live Videoconference (Skype, Google Hangout)
 Tele/Video Conferencing

Students are expected to communicate effectively and professionally with faculty and staff to resolve any
problems or concerns encountered during the program of study. Questions or concerns regarding
academic issues should initially be discussed and preferably resolved at the course instructor level.
Course Lead Faculty and then the Specialty Track Coordinator/Faculty Advisor may be contacted if
further assistance is required. Faculty advisors will consult with or refer students to SON administration as
needed. Staff are available to assist with non-academic issues such as registration, enrollment, financial
aid, programs of study, withdrawals, contracts, agreements, etc.

Term and Academic Year

All semesters

Course Materials

Required Texts

 Bate’s Guide to Physical Examination of History Taking

  The Book of Critical Care Medicine 8th Edition
 Any reference materials from 5192/5195

Program Student Learning Outcomes

 Synthesizes research, theory and principles of scientific inquiry to support evidence-

based practice
 Demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills in selected functional role
 Provides ethical, culturally sensitive care collaboratively with professionals from multiple
disciplines
 Advocates for access to affordable , cost-effective, quality healthcare community
resources within scope of practice
 Communicates effectively and uses information systems/technology to evaluate
programs of care and/or facilitate learning.

Course Credit

Three Semester Hours

Place of Course in Curriculum

Fourth Semester of Full time study

Requisites and Prerequisites

NURS5440, 5100, 5193, 5194

Course Schedule

see course schedule

Estimated Learning Time

On average, students should expect to spend 3-5 clock hours (ch)/ semester hour (sh)/ week (wk) of a 15
week trimester engaged in learning activities for all graduate level nursing courses. Learning activities and
distribution of ELT may vary from course to course and student to student.

Technology
PCs are recommended. Macintosh computers may be used, but in some situations a Mac will
not support the requirements of a specific college course online. It is the student’s responsibility
to ensure that they can access a PC in such situations. Recommended systems & software
include Windows 2000 or XP, 64 MB RAM, 28.8 kbps modem (56K), sound card & speakers,
and Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox 1.x with JAVA enabled.

University, SON, and Course Policies

Students are responsible for information posted in the syllabus and on the course website. Be sure to
familiarize yourself with the layout and organization of the course website before you begin working
through learning activities and course requirements. Post any questions about the syllabus in the Virtual
Office under Week 1.

GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are responsible for the policies and procedures posted in the Graduate Student Handbook. This
handbook is updated on a regular basis, so please refer to the online version posted on the SON website
for the most current information.

Graceland University's School of Nursing highly values academic integrity and is committed to the
fundamental value and obligation of preserving academic honesty among our faculty, students and
graduates. Students agree that by taking this course all written assignments including research papers,
case studies and discussion posts may be subject to submission, at the discretion of the faculty member,
for text comparison by Turnitin.com, a plagiarism detection service, and other means of detecting
plagiarism. All papers submitted to Turnitin.com will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com
reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of future papers. Use of the
Turnitin.com service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on www.Turnitin.com. Turnitin
is an integrated feature in Brightspace. Any assignment requiring Turnitin will automatically be processed
through Turnitin upon submission. You can follow the Turnitin Similarity Score instructions to view the
similarity report generated upon submission of the assignment.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Academic integrity is a highly valued principle that undergirds all facets of academic life at Graceland
University. Adherence to principles of honesty is a requisite for preparing students as competent
responsible persons. Students admitted to the university are expected to uphold standards of academic
integrity, i.e. the avoidance of fraud, plagiarism and cheating in any form.

1. FRAUD. Fraud is the act of deceit or misrepresentation.

The following list describes ways to avoid the most common forms of fraud.

1. Do not alter or falsify or misrepresent an academic document.

2. Do not help someone alter or falsify an academic document.
3. Do not communicate false information whether oral, written, electronic or nonverbal.
4. Do not forge signatures.
2. PLAGIARISM. Plagiarism is representing someone else’s work as your own.

The following list describes ways to avoid the most common forms of plagiarism.

1. Set off all direct quotations within quotation marks or within the text in a block quote form.
To fail to indicate direct quotations by one of these two methods is to commit plagiarism
 even if the failure is accidental and even if you give the source of the quotation. In a
speech you must also indicate the beginning, ending and source of all direct quotations to
the audience.
2. If you derive an idea from another source, cite the source unless the idea is common
knowledge, that is, unless people familiar with the subject you are discussing are aware
of the idea.
3. Cite the source of paraphrased material and avoid excessive paraphrasing. Too much
paraphrasing minimizes your contribution.
4. Submit papers that consist substantially of your own work. Do not buy, borrow or use
complete, or nearly complete, papers from any source, electronic or otherwise.
3. CHEATING.

The following list describes ways to avoid the most common forms of cheating.

1. Do not give assistance to, or receive assistance from, another person, or use
unauthorized notes, books, etc., when an examination or assignment is supposed to be
your own work.
2. Do not falsify research results or violate codes for the treatment of human or animal
subjects.
3. Do not violate the policies of proctors, preceptors or supervisors.
4. Do not use an electronic copy of another person’s work as the starting point of your own
work without the instructor’s permission.
5. On collaborative works, include the names of all participants on any copies that are
submitted for evaluation.

An instructor may assign a grade of "F" for the course in cases of fraud, plagiarism and/or cheating. When
an "F" grade is assigned, the student may not drop the course. All cases of fraud, plagiarism and/or
cheating will be reported to the respective dean or division chair, and dean of faculty. Violation of the
academic integrity policy may have additional consequences including sanctions or dismissal from a
program or from Graceland University.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Graceland University is committed to full compliance with the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)
and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations will
complete the Graceland University Accommodation Request Form online
(https://www.graceland.edu/academics/accommodation-request-for-disabilities). Next, the
student needs to submit disability documentation to the Student Disability Services office.
Documentation can be submitted in person by visiting the SDS office, located in the 2nd Floor
Staff Office Suite, by emailing SDS-Info@graceland.edu, or faxing information to 816-833-
2990.

ONLINE ASSESSMENTS

Maintaining the integrity of online assessments is a challenge and major concern for both students and
faculty working in online environments. Students enrolled in this course are held to a professional
standard and are required to comply with the following regulations. Failure to comply with these
regulations is in direct violation of the Graceland University Academic Integrity Policy.
 1. It is expressly prohibited to disclose, publish, reproduce, or transmit any part of a quiz/test/exam
or written assignment in any form, by any means, verbal or written, for any purpose.
2. Graded learning and assessment activities must be completed by the enrolled student logged-on
to the course site.
3. The completion of any course requirement on behalf of someone else is strictly prohibited.
4. You may not obtain improper access to any part of the assessment (quiz, test, exam, etc.) or
assignment (case analysis, research paper, etc.) prior to completing the activity yourself (e.g.,
observing someone else complete the assessment, reviewing work previously submitted by
another student).
5. Use of course materials (books, notes) and additional resources during quizzes/texts/exams is
permitted unless specified otherwise.

IOWA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

2.5(5), chapter 2, nursing educational programs, curriculum: Nursing courses with a clinical component
may not be taken by a person:

1. who has been denied licensure by the board,

2. whose license is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in any United States
jurisdiction,
3. whose license/registration is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in another
country due to disciplinary action.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, be punctual, and complete all work whether present or
not. Whenever possible, the opportunity for making up coursework missed as a result of an excused
absence is to be worked out between the instructor and the student upon the student’s initiative.

Excused absences include the following:

1. The student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence due to a University
sponsored activity,
2. The student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence and the faculty
member concurs that the absence is unavoidable and legitimate.
3. For Lamoni students, the Dean of Students (or faculty member) determines that the
student has missed classes/assignments due to factors beyond the student’s control (i.e.
illness, family misfortune, etc.) and the faculty member concurs.
4. For non-Lamoni students, the faculty member makes the determination and, when
appropriate, the Dean of School, or his or her designate, concurs that the absence was
unavoidable and legitimate.

All other absences are considered unexcused, in which case the instructor is not obligated to provide an
opportunity for making up coursework for credit.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

All classes will meet during final examination week for a meaningful, educational experience, i.e.,
examination, presentations, discussion, lecture, etc. Scheduled examination times will be published in
each course syllabus and the Schedule of Classes. Students having more than two final examinations on
a single day, as evidenced by the Final Examination Schedule, should be permitted to reschedule their
examinations so as not to exceed two examinations on a single day. However, rescheduling will not be
permitted for the first two exams on a single day based on the final exam schedule. The rescheduling
needs to be determined before the last day of classes for the semester. If arrangements cannot be made
on an informal basis, the Dean of Faculty will initiate a request for the student to be granted relief from
having to take more than two exams on a single day. Travel arrangements are not justification for
requesting changes in the final examinations schedules.

Late Assignment Policy

Assignment Guidelines:

1. Due dates for graded learning activities (participation, written assignments, quizzes/exams, etc.)
are clearly posted on the course schedule within this course.
2. Learning activities are due by midnight of the posted due date, unless otherwise indicated.
3. The time stamp in Brightspace officially documents date and time of submission. The default
time zone setting for all of our Brightspace courses is Central Time since that is where our
campus is located.
4. Submission of assignments for faculty to review prior to grading or for re-grading is not permitted
unless otherwise specified in the assignment guidelines.
5. Rubrics for evaluation are posted for each graded assignment. Feedback is provided for any
deduction of points.
6. All written assignments are to be submitted via the Assignment submission folder.
7. Students should expect feedback within 7 days of the posted due date. Faculty will notify
students of any expected delays in response time.
8. Students are expected to review feedback on graded assignments and seek clarification of any
questions within 1 week of the grade posting.
9. Ten percent (10%) per day will be deducted from the earned score for all graded learning
activities submitted past the posted due date.

Due Date Extensions:

1. Students should submit requests for due date extensions to faculty in writing at least 24 hours in
advance of the specified due date. Extensions are usually only granted for a maximum of one
week.
2. Extensions are granted at the discretion of course faculty in emergency or extraordinary
circumstances such as the following:
o Medical illness: a medical certificate may be requested by faculty.
o Compassionate grounds: those situations for which compassionate leave is normally
granted in employment.
o Unexpected misadventure, hardship or trauma: documentation may be requested by
faculty
3. Work or other study commitments, computer crashes or printer failures are NOT valid
reasons for an extension.
4. No penalty will apply if an extension is sought and granted by the responsible person or
delegate. If the assignment is handed in after the extension period then established penalties will
apply.
5. Students whose circumstances require extensions longer than one week are advised to meet with
faculty to discuss available options including course withdrawal or incomplete grade assignment.

Course Methodologies
This is an on-line course. Instructional methods include required readings, graded assignments, critiques
and on-line discussions.

Learning Experiences and Evaluation

Grading Scale

A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89.99%
C = 70% - 79.99%
D = < 70%