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Course Syllabus

RNSG1146 - Legal and Ethical Issues for Nurses

Catalog Description: Study of the laws and regulations related to the provision of safe and effective professional nursing care; attention given to the development of a framework for addressing ethical issues; and topics to include confidentiality, the Nursing Practice Act, p

Semester Credit Hours: 1
Lecture Hours per Week:
Contact Hours per Semester: 16
State Approval Code: 5116010000

Course Subject/Catalog Number: RNSG 1146
Course Title: Legal and Ethical Issues for Nurses

Course Rationale:

The intent of this course is to work in close collaboration with the courses RNSG 2331 and RNSG 2362 in order to give students experience in making sound clinical management decisions. The legal and ethical responsibilities of the professional nurse will be emphasized. The role of a professional nursing association in changing policy will be examined. Students will participate in community service with clients from diverse backgrounds. Lifelong learning as a professional nurse and participation in professional nursing organizations will be emphasized.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize the impact of selected laws and regulations on the provision of safe and effective professional nursing care; explore key ethical concepts regarding the provision of health care; and identify the roles and responsibilities of the nurse in provision health care within the legal parameters of the State of Texas.

Coarse Objectives:

  1. Recognize the value of lifelong career management and participation in community and professional organizations.
  2. Utilizing the nursing process internalize the Standards of Professional Nursing Practice, Nursing Practice Act for the State and principles from the Code of Ethics into safe and ethical practice as an A.D.N. student and new graduate.
  3. Utilize teaching/learning principles to communicate the role of professional nursing associations in representing nursing in legislative, political and practice matters.
  4. Examine the role of the A.D.N. graduate nurse (GN) in today’s workplace utilizing critical thinking skills to manage the delivery of therapeutic and caring interventions to clients from diverse background.

Course objectives have been keyed to reflect the scans competencies, basic skills and workplace skills, that are incorporated into this course.  These competencies are either introduced, developed, or assessed in an effort to provide the student the student success in the workplace.

SCAN 1, 2, 3 – Basic Skills

  • 1. READING
  • 2. WRITING
  • 3. MATHEMATICS

SCANS 1, 2, 3 – Workplace Skills

  • 4. RESOURCES
  • 4.1 ALLOCATES TIME
  • 4.2 ALLOCATES FINANCIAL RESOURCES
  • 4.3 ALLOCATES MATERIAL AND FACILITY RESOURCES
  • 5. INTERPERSONAL
  • 5.1 PARTICIPATES AS MEMBER OF A TEAM
  • 5.2 TEACHES OTHERS NEW SKILLS
  • 5.3 SERVES CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS
  • 5.4 EXERCISE LEADERSHIP
  • 5.5 NEGOTIATES
  • 5.6 WORKS WITH DIVERSITY
  • 6. INFORMATION
  • 6.1 ACQUIRES AND EVALUATES INFORMATION
  • 6.2 ORGANIZES AND MAINTAINS INFORMATION
  • 6.3 INTERPRETS AND COMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION
  • 6.4 USES COMPUTERS TO PROCESS INFORMATION
  • 7. SYSTEMS: UNDERSTANDS COMPLEX INTER-RELATIONSHIPS
  • 7.1 UNDERSTAND SYSTEM: SOCIAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY
  • 7.2 MONITORS: DISTINGUISHES TRENDS, AND CORRECTS PERFORMANCE
  • 7.3 IMPROVES OR DESIGNS SYSTEMS
  • 8. TECHNOLOGY
  • 8.1 SELECTS TECHNOLOGY
  • 8.2 APPLIES TECHNOLOGY TO TASKS
  • 8.3 MAINTAINS AND TROUBLESHOOTS TECHNOLOGY
  • 9. THINKING SKILLS
  • 9.1 CREATIVE THINKING
  • 9.2 DECISION MAKING
  • 9.3 REASONS
  • 10. PERSONAL QUALITIES
  • 10.1 RESPONSIBILITY
  • 10.2 SELF-ESTEEM
  • 10.3 SOCIABILITY
  • 10.4 SELF – MANAGEMENT
  • 10.5 INTEGRITY/HONESTY
  • 11. LISTENING AND SPEAKING

Specific Tasks Accomplished:

Upon completion of this clinical course, the student will be able to function within the role of the ADN to:

  1. Use the nursing process as the framework to provide safe, individualized therapeutic and caring interventions in a manner inclusive of the participants’ diversity.
  2. Recognize the value of lifelong learning and continued nursing education and participation in community and professional organizations.
  3. Make collaborative nursing decisions with clients and families across the life span utilizing the principles and knowledge of biology, psychology, and the humanities within the construct of Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs.
  4. Act within the legal and ethical framework of nursing practice.
  5. Use acquired critical thinking skills as the basis for managing nursing care for groups of clients in structured acute, chronic, and wellness settings.
  6. Apply teaching/learning principles to assist clients and families in making informed health care decisions and achieving levels of wellness.
  7. Use interpersonal communication skills to collaborate with health care team participants to attain desired client-centered goals.

Grading Policy:

To receive a passing grade for RNSG 1146, the student must achieve at least a 74.5 average. Tools used to determine the course grade are as follows:

Satisfactory completion of learning activities:

Community Service Activity 40%
Professional Meeting Participation 10%
Class Activities Participation 
  1. submit goals/resume
  2. attend job fair
20%
Final Exam 30%

Textbook and Supplies Requirement:

  1. Tappen, R., Weiss, S., & Whitehead, D (2002), Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management (3rd ed.), F.A. Davis
  2. Nurse Practice Act (latest edition)

Other: