Faculty Syllabus

RNSG 1160 

Clinical-Foundations of Nursing 

Course Description: Application of the theories, concepts and knowledge base presented in RNSG 1105: Nursing Skills I, and RNSG 1413: Foundations for Nursing Practice. Practice at a specific clinical site or sites. 

Prerequisites: Admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program, minimum grade of C in BIOL 2304 & 2101, BIOL 2305 & 2102, HPRS 2300, BIOL 2420, RNSG 1105 

Co-requisite: RNSG 1413: Foundations for Nursing Practice, PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology 

Placement: Level 1 of the nursing curriculum (first 8 weeks) 

Students are expected to: 

Have completed all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "C." (Students who have not successfully completed the prerequisites will be withdrawn from RNSG 1160.) 

Students will be held responsible for previously taught material in both pre-requisite courses and nursing courses. Additionally, students will be held responsible for material taught in co-requisite clinical and theory courses and apply knowledge from prerequisite and co-requisite courses. 

Comply with policies and procedures in the course syllabus as well as those in the Professional Nursing Program Student Handbook. 

Attend clinical and simulation fully prepared to participate. This will include knowing the client's medications and administration methods, reviewing anticipated skills, knowing the usual medical management for the patient's primary diagnosis, identifying nursing diagnoses, and preparing a partial care plan. The clinical and simulation instructors will assign homework with due dates, and successful completion of the homework is required to pass RNSG 1160. Timely completion of required homework displays professionalism and provides evidence of patient-centered care. 

Students must attend clinicals at times specified by the clinical faculty. Timeliness demonstrates professionalism and accountability. If a student arrives 5 minutes after the specified clinical start time, they are considered tardy and the corrective action policy found in the professional nursing student handbook will be implemented. 

Grading System: 

All clinical objectives must be met satisfactorily for completion/passing of the course. The clinical experiences receive a grade of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” based upon: 

1. Attendance in all clinical and simulation experiences as scheduled. 

2. Students must engage in appropriate prior preparation adequate to carry out all clinical and simulation experiences. Students who are not adequately prepared (i.e. by knowing the client's medications and administration methods, reviewing anticipated skills, knowing the usual medical management for the patient's primary diagnosis, identifying client-specific nursing diagnoses, and preparing a partial care plan, or safely perform skills taught to date) will not be allowed to care for the patient, will be conferenced, and may be sent home from the clinical experience. Dismissal for failure to prepare adequately for a clinical experience represents a clinical absence and may result in conference and/or probation. 

3. All written and oral assignments completed satisfactorily and turned in by the date designated by the clinical and simulation instructors. Unsatisfactory work must be corrected and resubmitted by the time designated by the faculty member. a. Pathophysiology summary 

b. Simulation patient preparation form 

c. Head-to-toe Patient Assessment and associated flowsheets documented in EHR 

d. Abnormal labs with units of measure and with an explanation of why the lab is abnormal for your patient 

e. SBAR 

f. Identification of priority patient problems with 3 prioritized nursing diagnoses 

4. Maintaining safety for the patient. The safety of the patient is of primary concern to the ADN faculty. Therefore, any student who jeopardizes the safety of a patient will be conferenced and/or placed on probation or withdrawn from the program. See Professional Nursing Student Handbook. 

5. Evaluation of clinical performance by the student and faculty. At the end of 1160, there will be scheduled evaluation conferences with the student and both clinical instructors. The student must complete the self-evaluation of clinical objectives prior to the conference. Other conferences are scheduled at the request of either student or faculty. 

RNSG 1160 Attendance Policy 

There are no excused absences (both clinical and simulation). All missed time must be made-up as directed by the clinical instructor. The student who is absent must contact the clinical instructor a minimum of 1 hour prior to the clinical experience and may be required to contact the assigned clinical area. Absences include missing any clinical activities (hospital, clinic, etc.) or any simulation activities. Once the student has contacted the instructor, that instructor will determine and provide information regarding the make-up assignment. The make-up work must be completed by the date determined by the instructor. All make-up work must be completed by course end as determined by the clinical instructor. It is the student's responsibility to keep track of their absences and notify the faculty if they are going to miss clinical. 

An absence is also defined as: dismissal from an experience because the instructor determined that insufficient or unsafe level of preparation exists for the day's assigned patient care. 

If a student does not call or attend, it is considered unprofessional conduct and the student must meet with the assistant department chair and may be withdrawn from the course. 

After the first 6 hours of absence, the instructor will conduct a formal written conference, review the attendance policy, and assign an equivalent learning experience with the student. 

At 12 hours of absence, the instructor will conduct a formal written probation conference, review the attendance policy, assign an equivalent learning experience, and discuss the student's current status. 

If a student misses more than 12 hours, the student will be withdrawn from RNSG 1160 and RNSG 1413. 

If a student is unable to meet the objectives and expectations of the course, the student cannot progress to the next level. 

All students must comply with the written or oral directions given by the clinical faculty or they will be conferenced and/or placed on probation. 

Methods of Evaluation: 

RNSG 1160 will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. No letter grade will be assigned for this course. 

You must receive a Satisfactory to progress to the next courses in the nursing sequence. Satisfactory performance is based on meeting each clinical objective. The clinical evaluation 

tool lists criteria behavior for each clinical objective. An unsatisfactory rating on any clinical objective results in an unsatisfactory in the course. See clinical evaluation tool for an explanation of the numerical rating scale for each objective and the definition of unsafe clinical practice. 

You can be withdrawn at anytime for unsafe clinical practice. See the Professional Nursing Program Student Handbook for definition of unsafe clinical practice and other policies related to evaluation. 

You and your instructors will evaluate your progress: ongoing through the clinical experience and at the end of the 8 weeks. You should become familiar with the criteria for evaluation and keep a record of the activities you perform during the semester as evidence of meeting the criteria. 

Methods of Instruction: 

Work-based instruction and clinical simulation that helps students synthesize new knowledge, apply previous knowledge, and gain experience managing the workflow under direct supervision of the faculty. 

Dosage Calculations Proficiency 

Students must demonstrate continued proficiency in dosage calculations by passing a dosage calculations quiz with a minimum score of 90% in each clinical course prior to medication administration. Students will have three (3) opportunities to demonstrate proficiency as indicated by the following guidelines: 

First unsuccessful demonstration - (quiz score < 90%) 

● The student meets with the clinical instructor in a formal performance conference where criteria for meeting the requirements for proficiency are documented in writing. 

● The student retests within a specified time period. 

Second unsuccessful demonstration - (quiz score < 90%) 

● The student meets with the clinical instructor in a formal probation conference. ● The student retests within a specified time period. 

Third unsuccessful demonstration - (quiz score < 90%) 

● The student meets with the instructor and/or other faculty members to discuss educational options. 

● The student is withdrawn and will be instructed to go online and withdraw themselves from this course and any co-requisite courses. If the occurrence is past the official college date for withdrawal from a course, the student will receive a performance grade of “F.” The student should also make an appointment with the Department Chair for an exit interview. 

Communication Channels: 

Email 

As per ACC policy, all official course communications will be sent to students’ g.austincc.edu accounts. Students are responsible for checking their g.austincc.edu accounts regularly. Students are responsible for reviewing and implementing all faculty information or assignments as directed to them through their g.austincc.edu accounts. 

Blackboard 

Students should check Blackboard frequently for announcements regarding specific information or assignments. 

Changes to the calendar, reminders, lecture handouts, other relevant information concerning the course will be posted as appropriate in as timely a manner as possible. 

Professional Nursing Student Resources 

Students should check the Professional Nursing Student Resources website on a regular basis: http://sites.austincc.edu/health/rnsg/student-resources 

Dress Code: See Professional Nursing Program Student Handbook. 

Withdrawal Policy 

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure the removal of his or her name from the roll (class roster) should he or she withdraw from a course. The instructor reserves the right to withdraw a student if necessary. If a student selects to withdraw, he or she should also verify submission of before the Final Withdrawal Date. 

The student is strongly encouraged to retain a copy of the withdrawal form for his or her records. Upon withdrawal, a student is required to complete an exit interview with the 

Department Chair or Assistant Department Chair. At that time, the student is required to return all Program and Agency IDs promptly, along with any equipment or items belonging to the department. Failure to do so may compromise the student’s standing at Austin Community College. 

State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count toward this limit. The ACC college catalog provides details of this policy. 

A final course calendar is posted on the course Blackboard site. 

Required References:
1. Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. A., and Hall, A. M. (2025). Fundamentals of nursing (12th edition). Elsevier Inc.
2. Harding, M. M., Kwong, J., Hagler, D., and Reinisch, C. (2023). Lewis’s Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems (12th edition). Elsevier Inc.
3. Hazard Vallerand, A. & Sanoski, C. (2025). Davis’s drug guide for nurses (19th edition). F.A. Davis Co.
4. Mosby’s Manual of diagnostic & laboratory tests (recent edition). Elsevier Inc.
5. Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions (Latest edition). St. Louis: Mosby.
6. Makic, M.B. and Martinez-Kratz, M. (2023). Ackley and Ladwig’s nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care (13th edition). Elsevier Inc.
7. Active ATI account with EHR tutor and ATI products.
Recommended/Optional References:
Nursing Process reference:
Carpenito, L.J. (recent edition). Nursing Diagnosis: Application to Clinical Practice. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott.
Doenges, M.E., Moorhouse, M.F. & Murr, A.C. (recent). Nurses Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions and Rationales. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
Care Plan resources - Recent editions of the following books may be considered:
Doenges, M.E., Moorhouse, M.F. & Murr, A.C. (recent). Nursing Care Plans: Guidelines for Individualizing Client Care Across the Life Span. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
Study and Test Taking resources:
Nugent, Patricia M., Vitale & Barbara A. (recent) Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
NCLEX Preparation:
Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. E. (2022). Saunders comprehensive review for the NCLEX-RN examination (9 edition.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

Clinical Foci: 

1. Healthcare delivery system-Clinical orientation 

2. Healthcare team-Organization of the nursing unit 

3. Physical assessment 

4. Basic skills 

5. Documentation 

6. Medications 

7. Nursing process-Nursing care planning 

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Utilize clinical reasoning and the nursing process guided by evidence-based practice as a framework for nursing decisions in meeting the healthcare needs of a selected patient.
2. Describe the concepts associated with the physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual responses to human needs.
3. Describe the four roles of the professional nurse when providing patient-centered care to a selected patient.
4. Describe teaching and learning principles utilized in patient education.
5. Discuss legal principles from governing and accrediting agencies and ethical guidelines when planning patient-centered nursing care.
6. Formulate goals and outcomes that promote quality and a risk-free, safe environment for all individuals.
7. Demonstrate competence and safety in the performance of selected nursing skills.
8. Identify the role of a healthcare advocate when collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary health team determining resources that facilitate continuity of care, health promotion, maintenance, and restoration.
9. Examine the principles of therapeutic communication that facilitate interactions with patients and healthcare members.
10. Discuss use of technology when communicating and gathering information to support decision making.
11. Define delegation and identify the principles of delegation of nursing care.
12. Identify measures that promote the development and practice of professional nursing.