Course Title:	NR426 - Advanced Health Assessment
Department:	Nursing
Instructor:	James E. Johnson, MD E-Mail - Vita
Hours/Credits:	75 contact hours (5 semester hours)

PREREQUISITES:

Applicants must be a licensed registered nurse, or have completed a formal program in nursing and be currently scheduled to take the NCLEX-RN exam, or the appropriate state licensure exam. We do make exceptions based on a student’s prior employment and educational experience.

Students should have an understanding of human anatomy.

INSTRUCTOR COMMUNICATION:

In all communication, please include as a minimum your
1. first and last name
2. class name or number (e.g. NR426)

I am available to you on an ongoing basis throughout your time spent in this course. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, issues, etc. I am here to assist you and mentor you to achieve your goals and experience success in this class.

E-Mail: JJohnson@canyoncollege.edu
Phone: 615-523-2136
Fax: 615-523-2136

I prefer that whenever possible you contact me by e-mail which is the quickest method. I generally response within 3 business days to emails.

If you would like to communicate via telephone or Internet chat, please e-mail me and we will arrange a day and time that is convenient for both of us.

Again, do not hesitate to contact me. I am here for you and look forward to working with you.

COURSE OVERVIEW:

I am happy to provide you with information and instructions regarding this online undergraduate Advanced Health Assessment course. As you know, you have a time limit to complete this online class. This time limit is 8 weeks at our Canyon College nursing school. You may study at your own pace, and can progress through this course as quickly as you desire. (If you desire our graduate Assessment class, go to NR534 Advanced Health Assessment II (click here) at the Canyon College web site. NR426 is an exciting class and I am sure you will learn some of the most interesting principles related to the area of assessment for the nurse. This includes health history and physical examination for adults, youth, and children. This course also provides education for the health assessment nurse. After successful completion of the course, you will have a much greater understanding of Nursing Assessment, as well as some of the most current and pressing issues of Nursing Assessment.

It is formatted to be self-directed, along with one-on-one mentoring by your faculty. As your instructor, you and I communicate throughout your time spent in this important study. Communication can be by e-mail and fax.

You must be prepared to operationalize the concepts learned into the reality of today's nursing environment. The readings in the text, the analysis of case studies, our discussions, and your weekly assignments will assist in meeting this broad-based goal.

You will find the textbooks for this course to be of the best available for the study of Nursing Assessment. They are packed with information.

Some of the topics/ subjects covered include;

(1) Interviewing and the Health History

(2) Assessing Children: Infancy Through Adolescence

(3) Clinical Reasoning, Assessment, and Plan

Students are encouraged to submit questions, discuss issues, and discuss problems related to Health Assessment for the Nurse. Reading assignments from the textbooks are assigned with supporting objectives. There may be weekly written responses to related questions that are to be turned into the school instructor as detailed by the professor.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand and know the techniques of the health history and interview.
2. Understand and know the techniques of the physical examination.
3. Be able to apply objective number 1 and 2 to adults, youth, and children.
4. Be able to apply clinical reasoning to objective number 1 and 2 above.
5. Be able to explain each italicized phrase, figure, table, and box in the textbooks. Focus on assessment as you read.
   Memorization is not necessary.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:    Online Bookstore

Medical-Surgical Nursing; Clinical Management for Positive Outcomes, 6th edition. Authors: Black, Hawks, and Keene. W. B. Saunders Company; 2001. ISBN: 0721681980 (single volume) or ISBN: 0721681972 (2 volume set).

Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, Eighth Edition with Bonus CD-ROM Plus Case Studies Book. Authors: Bickley and Prabhu. Lippincott, July 2004. ISBN: 078175948X

Please order your books as soon as possible. Earlier and later editions are acceptable with instructor's prior approval.

EXAMINATIONS:

There are two examinations for this course. There is a mid-term examination and a final examination.

The examinations are of the subjective and objective type. The examinations are "open" book. They thoroughly test knowledge in key areas of course content. While open book, they require thought and knowledge of the related content for successful completion.

Both examinations are taken "online." The examinations are accessed through the web site for Canyon College. When you are ready to take the examinations, please e-mail me directly and request authorization to take your exam. I will in turn notify the College that you may have exam access. You will receive a notice from the College's administrative offices that you are permitted to have access to the examination.

When you are ready to take the examination, access the web site, and take the examination. Access each exam only once. If you have technical problems, please notify the technical support office of Canyon College immediately and notify your instructor. The examinations are graded after completion.

Within 3 business days of the completion of your exam, you will receive its score.

Please plan to take the midterm exam by the middle of the time period of the course. The final examination must be taken by the last day of the final week of the course.

GRADING:

You will receive a letter grade, based on your over all score achievement. The grading scale is as follows:

90% - 100%
=	A
80% - 89%
=	B
70% - 79%
=	C
60% - 69%
=	D
Below 60%
=	F

You will receive a percentage score for the midterm exam and the final exam. I will e-mail these to you. You will receive a letter grade for the midterm period. I will e-mail this to you and the Administration will send you an e-mail. Your final letter grade will be an average of the midterm exam and final exam scores you achieved. You will receive two e-mails about the final course grade, one from me and one from the Administration.

Required assignments are graded as Pass or Fail.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

1. Order your textbook(s) prior to enrolling in this class. If you need assistance, click on the Bookstore link or contact me.



2. During the first week of the course, please e-mail your instructor and provide some basic information about yourself, including;
1. your primary contact e-mail address
2. your goals for this course
3. your overall goals for a career in Nursing
4. your past and current work experiences
5. your past and current educational experiences
6. any experiences you have had in Nursing


3. During the first week, start your Assignments.



4. During the first half of this course;



1. Read Medical-Surgical Nursing, Unit 3.



2. Read Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, chapters 1 - 9 and use the supplemental material.



3. When ready, request to take the Midterm exam.



4. When instructed, proceed to take the Midterm exam.




5. During the second half of this course;



1. Read Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, chapters 10 - 18 and use the supplemental material.



2. When ready, request to take the Final exam.



3. When instructed, proceed to take the Final exam.

There may be other assignments for reading, case studies, and care plans throughout the class time.

Contact your instructor any time you would like to discuss the readings, have questions, require clarifications or further explanations, etc.
Share with your instructor current event issues related to the Health Assessment Nurse that you identify in the news media, etc. In turn, your instructor may share such information with you for discussion and analysis.

Have fun!   Be positive!   Achieve your goals!