Course Description

Theoretical bases of professional nursing practice for RN to BSN students.

Course Overview
Exploration of issues and theories related to professional nursing practice to facilitate
transition of RN to baccalaureate level of nursing practice. Students will be introduced to
concepts for the delivery of care to clients and client systems within culturally, racially,
and ethnically diverse communities. This course will fulfill the cultural diversity
requirement at UCF.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course the RN student will:

1. Compare and contrast the attributes of a profession to the discipline of

nursing.
2. Analyze the process of professional socialization and re-socialization.
3. Explore professional nursing roles and responsibilities in the delivery of health
care to individuals, groups, and communities.
4. Discuss nursing practice concepts; including guidelines, protocols, information
fluency and computer technology, and national prevention initiatives
reflective of current evidence-based nursing practice.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking in describing the relationships among culture,
socioeconomic status, spirituality, law, ethics and professional nursing
practice.
6. Use research findings in the application of selected theories (teaching,
learning, nursing, and family) as they relate to nursing practice.
7. Participate in self-evaluation processes indicating progress toward
professional role development and life-long learning.
8. Assess the safety, quality and cost effectiveness of health care and how it can
be improved through active participation of patients and families.

Enrollment Requirements
Course Prerequisites
Admitted to a nursing program or CI; ENC 1102

Course Credits
Three (3) course credits
Required Texts and Materials
 Black, B.P. (2020). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges (9th ed.). St. Louis,
MO: Elsevier.
ISBN# 9780323551137
 American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington DC: American Psychological
Association.  ISBN# 9781433832161

Recommended Texts and Materials

 Register for text related resources
at http://evolve.elsevier.com/Black/professional (Links to an external site.) On
the Evolve website, select "register on my own" for access to STUDENT
resources. Using resources is not mandatory but will assist you in
understanding the course content.
 Several web-based and professional resources will be explored throughout the
course.

Student Learning Activities:

1. Prepare for and participate in the research and development process of
writing a formal scholarly paper.
2. Participate in regularly scheduled class discussion with faculty and peers via
Webcourses@UCF.
3. Participate in assigned activities and submit reflective reports.
4. Prepare for and complete quizzes and exams

Course Activities
All faculty members are required to document students' academic activity at the
beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, please
complete the Introduction Activity by the end of the first week of classes, or as soon as
possible after adding the course. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the
disbursement of your financial aid. This is required of all students, even if not receiving
financial aid.
The table below sets forth four major areas of course activities through which students
demonstrate learning. As noted in the Assignments area of the course, each section is
weighted and contributes to the final grade for this course.
 Graded Course Experiences

Course Discussions
Regular discussion topics will be provided by the course instructor. Students are
expected to participate fully by engaging multiple peers on multiple points of the class
conversation throughout the course. Insights gained through completion of the various
other assignments are to be shared and supported with references.
 

Information Literacy Modules

Linked to this course are five Learning Modules hosted by the UCF Library System via
the Obojobo Server. They introduce APA and the skills for professional writing needed
to complete a scholarly paper. Each module has instructional content followed by a
Quiz. Students must complete these modules, including the module assessments, within
this course (previous scores may not be used).

Scholarly Paper Assignment

The paper will demonstrate the student’s ability to communicate the findings of the
research process to a group of their professional colleagues. The student will synthesize
readings and write clearly using the APA style. The assignment is completed using a
progressive approach consisting of the multiple components as outlined below. Each
assignment helps the student to build the final Scholarly Paper.
 

The student will select a topic of interest relative to this

course. A list of appropriate topics is provided in the course,
however alternative topics are welcome. The student may
consider an issue experienced in nursing practice or explore
Topic the textbook for other ideas.  Students are encouraged to
review the Scholarly APA Paper assignment guidelines before
considering a topic to gain some perspective on the
requirements. Each student must submit a topic for approval
along with a proposed thesis statement.

Reference List The student will conduct a preliminary electronic literature

search and identify a group of periodical/journal articles that
pertain to the topic to be discussed. The student will create a
reference list of potential articles to support the paper using
 APA 7th edition format.

Students will create a summary table to organize the material

planning how the articles will be used as evidence to support
a variety of perspectives (legal, ethical principles, cultural,
Summary Table
spiritual, etc.) relevant to the topic and the implications for
nursing within the paper. The student will include a revised
thesis statement with this submission.

The Scholarly Paper is a formal APA 7th edition format

academic paper. Please read all assignment guidelines and
rubric before submitting. The final paper will be graded based
Final Scholarly Paper the student’s ability to present material through the written
  word in compliance with APA 7th edition format. Please note
- settings within Canvas enable Turnitin.com to scan the final
paper submitted under the assignment tab. Papers with
similarity score greater than a 25% will not be accepted.

Students will create a audio/video presentation, electronic

Formal Paper poster, PowerPoint or Prezi through which they will share
Presentation (Takes their scholarly research and disseminate their findings to their
place of Final Exam) peers in an online forum. At least one peer review response is
required.

Online Assessments
Students will complete three online quizzes and three online exams consisting of
multiple-choice questions. Each exam covers 2 modules. Exams are open for at least 72
hours.  If an exam is missed, a zero will be earned.  Please note dates of exams. There is
no cumulative exam.
Online exams are created with a specific time limit that is displayed at the beginning of
the exam. If you should experience technical difficulty while taking an online exam that
cannot be corrected in under a few minutes, contact the instructor immediately. Do not
wait until the very last minute to complete your exams.

Students will complete 3 quizzes: one will assess their

understanding of the course syllabus and APA format; one will
Quizzes assess concepts introduced in the Orientation module; and
one will assess concepts introduced in the Library Orientation
module.
 Students will complete 3 multiple-choice exams:
1.     Modules 1 & 2
Exams
2.     Modules 3 & 4
3.     Modules 5 & 6

Reflective Reports
Students will participate in the following activities and submit reflective critiques,
addressing specific instructions outlined for each assignment.

Students are to watch a television show or movie that

portrays working nurses as main characters and reflect on the
image of nursing presented in the media.  Students will
Hollywood Nurse
compose a reflective essay on the impact of media on the
public perception/image of nurses based on their viewing
experience.

Students will complete a Political Astuteness Survey and

connect the topic to the role of the professional nurse. In a
Political Astuteness
reflective essay, students will supply a self-critique based on
Survey
their score and identify/discuss strengths and deficiencies
including an action plan for further development.

Students will select an area of nursing and identify at least 3

nurse interviews (BSN or higher degree) from the American
Nurse Project pool of recorded interviews whose work relates
Professional Activity
to the selected area of nursing. Students will use the insights
Reflection
presented in the interviews and reflect on role and fit of
nursing in the community and healthcare system in a formal
report.

Upon completing the course, students will think back over the
semester and reflect on their learning. Students will compose
Summative Reflection a brief essay addressing the most significant lessons learned
and how it impacts the student’s personal nursing practice.