Syllabus for NUR-340-OL

NURSING INFORMATICS

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The focus of nursing informatics is the use of electronic technologies, and the management of information to facilitate nursing practice and enhance nursing knowledge. The use of electronic technologies in nursing practice, administration, education, and research is explored. learning experiences are provided to develop the basic skills needed to practice competently in an electronic healthcare environment.

CREDITS Three (3) Credits

ADVISORY

To participate fully in course activities you need to have daily access to a personal computer and command of certain basic computer skills including the ability to send and receive e-mails with attachments.

In addition, your computer will need to meet the following minimum specifications.

1. For Windows Users: Windows XP or Vista or equivalent operating system.
2. For Mac Users: Mac OS X V10.5 or higher
3. Microsoft Office Suite 2007 or later
4. Personal Internet and e-mail access.
5. Updated Internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
6. Microphone and webcam will be required.

COURSE TOPICS

1. Bibliographic & factual databases
2. Computer Hardware
3. Consumers & the Internet
4. Data Standards
5. Educational Informatics
6. Ergonomics
7. Informatics Issues
8. Information Literacy
9. Nursing Informatics
10. Nursing Informatics & the Future
11. Patient-centered Information Technology
12. Software

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to: 

1. recognize the role of IT to improve patient safety and patient outcomes; (CO1) 
2. develop knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology; (CO2)  
3. understand the relationship between data, information and knowledge in patient care delivery; (CO3)
4. develop basic competencies employing effective literature search strategies, spreadsheets, and slide presentations to support evidence based practice; and (CO4) 
5. understand the role of Nursing Informatics in health care environments. (CO5) 

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to do the work of the course. The required textbook is available from the College's textbook supplier, MBS Direct. 

Required Materials  

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author ISBN-13: 978-1433805615

Saba, V., & McCormick, K. (2011). Essentials of nursing informatics. (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-0071743716

Recommended Materials

Thede, L., & Sewell, P. (2012). Informatics and nursing: Competencies and Applications (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers.

Other Required Media

1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
2. MS Excel (2007 or later)
3. MS Powerpoint (2007 or later)
4. MS Word (2007 or later)
5. SKYPE

Additional Resources

1. Please see the additional resource section of the course website for a list of additional course resources...

COURSE STRUCTURE

Nursing Informatics (NUR-340) is a three-credit online course, consisting of ten (10) modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and assignments. Module titles are listed below.

1. Module 1: Introduction to Nursing Informatics
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO1 

2. Module 2: Basics of Computer Systems
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO5 & 6
    
3. Module 3: Research Applications and Electronic Information Repositories
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO1, 4, 5,  & 6 
    
4. Module 4:  Challenges and Issues in Informatics 
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO1 & 4
    
5. Module 5: Information Literacy: Consumers and the Internet/Bringing Healthcare to the Client
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO4 & 6

1. Module 6: Standards, Terminologies, & Languages
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO2 & 3
    
2. Module 7: Clinical Information Systems 
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO7
    
3. Module 8: Educational Applications
   Course objectives covered in this module include CO1 & 4

1. Module 9: Patients as Consumers of Information Technology

Course objectives covered in this module include CO1 & 4

1. Module 10: Nursing Informatics and the Future

Course objectives covered in this module include CO1 & 4

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums and complete written assignments. See below for more details.

Consult the course Calendar for assignment due dates.

Online Discussion Forums

You are required to participate in 14 graded discussion forums. Discussion forums are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. There is also an ungraded but required introduction forum in module 1. 

Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website is the online discussion forum rubric used to aid in the grading of all online discussion assignments.

For posting guidelines, discussion posting requirements particular to the nursing courses, and additional help, please see the Online Student Handbook and the Nursing Student Handbook located within the General Information section of the course Web site.  

Written Assignments

You are required to complete five (5) written assignments.    

1. The first written assignment, WA #1, is a paper called Bio Sketch that is worth 5% of your grade.
2. The second written assignment, WA #2, is a paper called MS Excel & Word that is worth 20% of your final grade.
3. The third written assignment, WA #3, is a paper called Annotated Bibliography that is  worth 15% of your grade.
4. The fourth written assignment, WA #4, is a paper called Nursing Informatics Paper that is  worth 25% of your grade.
5. The fifth written assignment, WA #5, is a paper called Nursing Informatics Topic Presentation that is  worth 15% of your grade.

Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website are the written assignment rubrics used to aid in the grading of each written assignment.

See course Calendar for due dates.

Go to the Submit Assignments area of the course Web site to submit all written assignments.

For additional help regarding preparing and submitting assignments, see the online Student Handbook and the Nursing Handbook located within the General Information section of the course Web site.  

Statement about Cheating

You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

1. Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.
2. Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This included but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
3. Plagiarizing answers.
4. Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.
5. Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
6. Telling your mentor that you need another attempt and the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

1. Online discussions (14)—20 %
2. WA #1 - Bio Sketch—5%   
3. WA #2 - MS Excel & Word—20%
4. WA #3 - Annotated Bibliography—15%
5. WA #4 - Nursing Informatics Paper—25%  
6. WA #5 - Nursing Informatics Topic Presentation—15%

All assignments will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

Students enrolled in the MSN degree program must earn a grade of C (73) or better in the nursing courses for the credit to be accepted toward the degree. Students enrolled in the Nurse Educator Certificate program must earn a grade of B (83) or better for the course to be applied to program requirements.

NOTE

All website addresses (URLs) in this course were accurate and reflected the stated content at the onset of the course. However URLs change and great resources may disappear. If you encounter a problem accessing a web site, post a message in the HELP discussion area of this course.

LATENESS POLICY

Written assignments should be submitted no later than the due date unless prior arrangements are made with the mentor and a new due date is established.  If a student submits an assignment after the due date without having made arrangements with the mentor, a minimum of five points, (based on an assignment grading scale of 100 points), or 5% of the total points, will be deducted for each week, or part thereof, that the assignment is late.  Discussion board assignments must be completed in a timely manner or points will be deducted.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.
   
2. Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook and the School of Nursing Student Handbook. These handbooks, which can be found under "Student Support" within the General Information course section, answer many questions about how to proceed through the course and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.

1. All assignments, including the Online Discussion Forums, are graded using a rubric. Be sure to consult the appropriate rubric in the Evaluation Rubrics section of each course for the specific requirements of each assignment.

1. Utilize the writing resources for APA, listed in the "Educational Resources - Writing Style Guides" within the General Information course section, to help you use this format correctly.

1. Online tutoring assistance is available through Smarthinking.com located in the "Educational Resources - Online Tutoring Resources" within the General Information course section.
   
2. Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.
   
3. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

1. Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The Calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations.
   
2. Check Announcements regularly for new course information.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students at Thomas Edison State College are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.

Academic Dishonesty

Thomas Edison State College expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the College insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty takes the following forms:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarizing (including copying and pasting from the Internet without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources)
3. Fabricating information or citations
4. Facilitating acts of dishonesty by others
5. Unauthorized access to examinations or the use of unauthorized materials during exam administration
6. Submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the mentor
7. Tampering with the academic work of other students

Academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from the College. Students who submit papers that are found to be plagiarized will receive an F on the plagiarized assignment, may receive a grade of F for the course, and may face dismissal from the College.

A student who is charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge. If a mentor or the College official believes the infraction is serious enough to warrant referral of the case to the academic dean, or if the mentor awards a final grade of F in the course because of the infraction, the student and the mentor will be afforded formal due process.

If a student is found cheating or using unauthorized materials on an examination, he or she will automatically receive a grade of F on that examination. Students who believe they have been falsely accused of academic dishonesty should seek redress through informal discussions with the mentor, through the office of the dean, or through an executive officer of Thomas Edison State College.

Plagiarism

Using someone else’s work as your own is plagiarism. Although it may seem like simple dishonesty, plagiarism is against the law. Thomas Edison State College takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing will be severely penalized. If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > “Citing Sources.”)

Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else’s. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.

Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.

Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of the intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.