Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences

School of Nursing
Department:

Graduate Nursing

Course Prefix, #, & Title:

NRSG 7410 spring 2016 Primary Care Practicum

Prerequisites:

All MSN and FNP courses

Class, Lab, Credit Hours:

Class 1 Lab 15 hours Credit 6 hours

Course is online with 2 on-site meetings in Macon
Total clinical hours 225
Plagiarism Protection is used in this course

Faculty:

Sallie Coke, PhD., APRN, CPNP, CFNP

Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences
Macon- (478) 752-1074
Cell- 478-719-2061
Email: sallie.coke@gcsu.edu
Sandra Copeland, DNP, APRN, CFNP, CNS
Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences
Macon Graduate Center
Office: 478-752-1074
Cell: 478-747-8915
Email: Sandra.copeland@gcsu.edu

Clinical Faculty:

Dr, Copeland (above)

Dr. Krystal Canady, DNP, C-FNP
Assistant Professor GCSU
478-290-4638
Krystal.canady@gcsu.edu
Dr. Cynthia Loudin, DNP, C-FNP
Adjunct Faculty GCSU
tloudin@juno.com
478-397-9843

Dr. Shannon Merritt, DNP, C-FNP

Adjunct Faculty GCSU
478-365-2029
Darla Rich, MSN, C-FNP
Adjunct Faculty GCSU
478-397-7016
Kristy Hatcher, MSN, C-FNP
Adjunct Faculty GCSU
Hatch2@cox.net
478-731-9008

Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
Required Texts:

None. Required readings are included in online format

In D2L

Catalog Description:

Provides opportunity to integrate theory, research, and role development

in refining clinical decision making skills in preparation for the FNP role.
Criteria for practicum are designed collaboratively between students,
faculty, and clinical preceptors.

Course Objectives:

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

Concept

MSN Program Outcomes

1. Communication

Demonstrate effective communication through collaboration,

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

2. Evidence-based
Practice
3. Leadership
4. Ethics
5. Cultural Diversity
6. Health Promotion &
Disease Prevention
7. Advocacy
8. Collaboration
9. Informatics
10. Professional Role

Topic Outline:
This course is designed to provide an overview of healthcare issues and practice guidelines that the APRN
may encounter in their individual practice.
Teaching/Learning Methods:
Class presentations, AV, group activities, clinical review session, selected readings, self-evaluation of
domains and competencies of FNP practice, and clinical practice under supervision of clinical
preceptor/faculty. No formal weekly meeting times are scheduled for this course. Meeting times will be
set as needed during the semester.

Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
Clinical Facilities: Selected in collaboration with faculty and preceptors to enable achievement of
NRSG 7410 course objectives: The student is expected to complete 225 total clock hours to meet course
requirements.
Students are required to come to campus for an 8 hour skills review day which counts as
clinical time (4 hours Mercer Standardized patient with debriefing and 4 hours Advanced
Suturing Lab). This will take place on April 1st.
In addition, every student will rotate one clinical day with one of these clinical faculty
members.
o Dr. Canady on Wednesdays at First Choice Primary
o Dr. Merritt on Mondays at First Choice Primary
Travel to and from clinical sites, breaks/meal times, and preparation of clinical logs and other
clinical documents cannot be counted as clinical time.

Clinical performance is evaluated using a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory system. The student must

earn a satisfactory rating on the clinical evaluation to pass the course. STUDENTS WHO ARE
RATED AS CLINICALLY UNSATISFACTORY WILL BE ASSIGNED A COURSE GRADE
OF "F.
Grade Computation:
10 MSN Competencies Reflection Papers
FNP Exit Exam
Presentation
Assessment Quizzes
Clinical E*Value Recorded
Clinical Performance
Total

30% (10 papers each worth 10 pts for a total of 100 pts.)
35%
20%
15%
S/U Each Clinical experience
S/U
100%

Grading Scale:
A = 91-100
B = 83-90
C = 75-82
D = 66-74
F = < 65
MSN Competencies Reflection Papers: Students will be given a grading rubric and detailed
expectations for the papers. Papers are due by the posted date in D2L. If a paper is not turned in by the
deadline, the student will receive a zero (0) for that paper. Each paper is worth 10 points and the total
score will be devised from the summed paper scores which will count 30% of your final grade. All dates
for course assignments are accessible in D2L.
All reflection papers should be posted in your portfolio.
Students are reminded that they must have completed 5 SBIRT EMR encounters in
their portfolio by graduation.
Exit Exam: The Exit exam is a comprehensive exam and covers all topics that the NP student has had
during school. This exam is designed to simulate the FNP board exams (AANP and ANCC). This exam
will count 35% of their final grade.

Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
Presentations: Students will be expected to partner with another student to present to the class on a
selected topic. A grading rubric will be given to the students in D2L. Grading will be for the overall
presentation and for individual work on the presentation. Presentations will be on Thursday, February
25th.
Assessment Quizzes: Faculty have identified assessment skills and terminology as a weakness for this
class. A total of 5 quizzes will be given over the course of the semester. Each student will be expected to
take these quizzes individually after studying the materials as indicated in the course.
As the Honor Code will be in effect for these exams, students should note that the quizzes
will be TIMED and no resources should be used.

Course Policies

Quizzes must be taken within a 24 hour window on the date given in the course.
Length of quizzes will vary as will the time given for each exam.
For example, a quiz with 25 questions may only have 20 minutes
for you to complete it. This means you will need to know the
material prior to taking the exam as you will NOT have enough
time to look up the answers. Remember, these questions will be
on terms and skills that you should already know very well and
must have down before boards.

Students should be aware that no analyses of test items will take place. If
rounding occurs, it will be on a group level (for instance, highest quiz score is a
96 then everyone will get 4 points added to their score).
This means that sharing of answers or questions will only hurt your
score.

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
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.
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

Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
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).
Clinical Facilities
Unacceptable
clinical behaviors

Breaching confidentiality, privacy and/or security.

Abandoning or knowingly neglecting patients/clients requiring
nursing care.
Failing to report to appropriate person when leaving the clinical
area.
Failing to report critical information to the appropriate person.
Failing to report own errors.
Fabricating information.
Failing to notify appropriate person or agency in advance, if
unable to attend clinical lab activity.
Performing procedures without appropriate preparation,
supervision, or authorization.
Failing to comply with the Policy on Substance Abuse as
described in the Graduate Student Handbook
Failing to treat clients, families, staff, faculty, and other students
with respect and dignity
Failing to provide nursing care because of diagnosis, age,
gender, ethnicity, creed, or sexual orientation.
Using inappropriate or unsafe judgment, technical skill, or
interpersonal behaviors in providing nursing care.
Failing to notify the appropriate party of any unprofessional
conduct with may jeopardize patient/client safety.
Failing to practice nursing in accordance with prevailing nursing
standards due to physical or psychological impairment.
Diverting prescription drugs for own or anothers use.
Misappropriating money or property (stealing) from a
patient/client, other person or facility/agency.

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

Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
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

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 the course

Georgia College & State University

College of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
coordinator within in the first week of classes. An official letter from
GCSU documenting the disability is expected in order to receive
accommodations.
Student Opinion
Survey Statement

Interlibrary Loan

Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to complete an online
survey. Your responses are valued because they give important feedback
to instructors to help improve student learning. All responses are
completely confidential and your name is not stored with your
responses in any way.
Students are encouraged to use the GCSU Library and the interlibrary loan
services (http://www2.gcsu.edu/library/ill/ ) to obtain journal articles
relevant to this course.