August 8, 2017 Dear CCAC Nursing Students: This letter is to inform you of general announcements and upcoming changes made by nursing faculty governance for the CCAC Nursing Program. Our goals are to improve both overall student success outcomes and produce quality, graduate nurses that will be responsive to meeting the health care needs of a diverse, global population in a safe and competent manner. These changes are based on sound rationale and evidenced-based practice that have been widely shared with nursing faculty, the College faculty and administrator members-at-large. Where appropriate the changes have been taken through the College Council hearing process. Nursing Program Credits/Math Requirement: The College has approved the change in total number of nursing program credits from 68 to 67 or 68. This change resulted when the Math requirement was changed from 4 credits to 3 or 4 credits. This is an example of how the student s voice can effect change. Previously, students transferring a three credit Math from another college or university had to retake Math as CCAC Nursing accepted a 4 credit Math. Students raised this issue with Advisors and Nursing. With this change, students now can transfer a three credit Math elective. In addition, the number of allowable Math equivalencies was expanded. Please refer to the Nursing Program Student Manual (NPSM) or College Catalog for detailed information on Math equivalencies. Nursing Program Student Manual Changes Fall 2017: There have been some major and a few minor updates to the Nursing Program Student Manual (NPSM) that all students must read comprehensively. Each student will receive a copy of the NPSM prior to the start of classes. The NPSM will be posted on the www.ccac.edu nursing program site as well as in Castlebranch. Program Plan of Study Grids added Math equivalencies. Grading and Progression Guidelines added In NUR 240 the ATI Pharmacology and Medical Surgical content associated mastery exam will each comprise 5% of the final composite grade (total of 10%). Health Policy Guidelines and Health Form added the new 16 urine drug panel guidelines. Internal Transfer Procedure added The student must ensure that all clinical requirements uploaded in CastleBranch will remain current for the entire semester. 1
ATI and Nurse Tote Prices for Fall 2017: NURSING TOTES: 110/120 nursing totes: $116.50 130/140 LPN tote: $ 22.00 (ONLY for LPN s) ATI CODE/BOOK BUNDLES: NUR 110/120 ATI: $360.75 (books and code)..one payment of $360.75 in their 110/120 semester (Fall 2017) and one payment of $360.75 in their 130/140 semester (Spring 2018). Boyce Fast Track Only for NUR 110/120 ATI: $426 one payment of $426 in their 110/120 semester (Fall 2017) and one payment of $426 in their 130/140 semester (Spring 2018). NUR 130/140 ATI: $360.75 (code only).. CCAC students in the second semester of the program in the Fall of 2017 who will graduate in Dec 2018. This is their 2nd payment of $360.75. LPN NUR 130/140 ATI: $665.75 (books and code).. CCAC students starting the program (advanced placement) in the Fall of 2017 who will graduate in Dec 2018. *ATI gives us new pricing every summer for students just starting the program the following Fall or Spring and that pricing stays with them for their whole 2 years. *Boyce Fast Track students only will be required to purchase the ATI code letters plus two additional ATI products: Dosage Calculation and Pharm Made Easy (PME). *LPN Advanced Placement Students pay a one-time flat rate. * After the initial two semesters that a standardized bag was implemented (Fall 2016 and Spring 2017), the Department Heads and Lab Coordinators came together to evaluate this change and paid attention to student comments and lab instructor feedback. The Department Heads and Lab Coordinators worked together to ensure that your Nurse Tote bag contents were right-sized and were cost effective and appropriate for this upcoming year. Please Note: 1) The ATI code letters must be purchased within the first two weeks of class. At that time, Follett Bookstore will return the unclaimed code letters to the ATI company. If students do not have a code letter for access to the ATI site they will not be able to fulfill course requirements. 2) The ATI company has recently updated their books to mirror the new test blueprint for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Exam (NCLEX). The new 2016 RN Review Modules/Books are available for pick-up when you purchase your ATI Code letter at Follett Bookstore. The online ebooks will be available by the time you start classes. The online ebooks are the most up to date resource, as they are continually being revised as needed. Hard copies (book boxes) of the new ATI editions will be for new purchases only. 2
Book Store Tips: The CCAC bookstore will do a PRICE MATCH with Amazon, Chegg, Barnes/Noble. The difference between the bookstore price and the price match will be given in a Follett Bookstore gift card which can be used to buy items in the CCAC bookstore, including syllabi packets, Skill Totes and ATI code letters. Remember, students can use their Financial Aid in the bookstore beginning the Friday before the start of class (August 18 th ). Changes in the Dean of Nursing Office: Please welcome our new Associate Dean of Nursing, Tammy Sawmelle, who will work in the Dean s office and will report directly to the Dean of Nursing. Mrs. Sawmelle has a rich background in nursing administration, education and clinical service. Mrs. Sawmelle will remain our single point of contact with our clinical agencies, will administer nursing adjunct faculty and associated payroll and will be responsible for maintaining and analyzing program specific statistics. Nursing Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes Process: The Nursing program at CCAC is engaged in an ongoing assessment of student learning outcomes process at the end of each course (Student Learning Outcomes SLOs) and at the end of the program (Program Outcomes POs). Please refer to the attachments herewith. This is to ensure that our program is aligned with the Accrediting Commission for the Education of Nurses (ACEN) best practice standards. The student You are partners with the nursing faculty and administration in this journey of process improvement. How can I, as a Student, help? We would like all students to give their feedback at the end of every course and subsequently at the end of the program via surveys that are electronically sent to you. Also, we would like you to participate in our Student Forums where you get to meet the Dean of Nursing and hear what is going on in nursing councils to ensure that our program continues to provide a quality education for you. There are 5 Nursing Councils as follows: Admissions Council Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Council NCLEX Council Curriculum Council Evaluation Council The faculty welcome you to participate in any of the above Councils. Your feedback and opinion matters. We would like at least 1 or 2 students from each campus/site to participate on each of the five Councils. Be a part of decision making process by joining a nursing faculty council. Hear about outcomes and upcoming plans generated by evidence-based research. If you are interested please email Stephanie Sheets, Nursing Secretary at ssheets@ccac.edu. 3
Lastly, have a positive and wonderful semester. Sincerely, Kathy Mayle, MA, MBA, MNEd, RN Dean of Nursing 4
Attachments: End of Program Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will: 1. Evaluate clinical judgment to facilitate transformation of knowledge, skills and values in a variety of healthcare delivery systems. 2. Integrate caring and knowledge of cultural diversity when providing care to patients at various points across the lifespan. 3. Critique the effectiveness of with the interdisciplinary health team utilizing principles of management and delegation. 4. Prioritize teaching and learning needs of patients and families in culturally diverse settings across the life span. 5. Implement the role of the professional nurse when caring for patients and families in diverse healthcare delivery systems. 5
Student Learning Outcomes: Community College of Allegheny County NUR Course Competencies and Student Learning Outcomes Competencies NUR 110 (clinical) Clinical Judgment Integrate basic clinical judgment in the safe and effective delivery of patient care Caring Exhibit the art and practice of caring for diverse populations as a means to promote health. NUR 120 (Non-Clinical) Articulate clinical judgment as it relates to normal and abnormal physical assessment findings. Demonstrate caring with respect for cultural attitudes and beliefs related to health promotion and assessment. NUR 130 Apply clinical judgment in caring for adult/older adult with health Demonstrate cultural caring for the adult and older adult population. NUR 140 (Non-Clinical) Describe the role of clinical judgment in the safe and effective administration of medications. Explain caring behaviors related to medication administration and complementary therapies. Communication Learning/Spirit of inquiry Professional identity Demonstrate fundamental therapeutic when providing care for adult patients. Identify foundational principles of teaching and learning. Discuss the role and responsibility of the professional nurse Demonstrate therapeutic during the interview and physical assessment process. Identify teaching needs of patients and assess readiness to learn with respect to cultural attitudes and beliefs related to health promotion. Articulate rationale for utilization of evidence-based practice. Apply therapeutic techniques in caring for the adult and older adult population. Differentiate the learning needs of the adult from the older adult patients Demonstrate integrity and ethical practice when providing care to diverse patients. Analyze appropriate techniques appropriate for use in medication administration and complementary therapies. Choose appropriate media in the development of a medication teaching plan. Articulate the role of the nurse in safe medication administration including electronic and written documentation utilizing evidencebased practice. 6
Community College of Allegheny County NUR Course Competencies and Student Learning Outcomes Competencies NUR 210 (Non-Clinical) Clinical Explain how Judgment professional behaviors, quality improvement processes, and legal/ethical issues impact clinical judgment. Caring Discuss the legal/ethical issues that impact professional caring behaviors. NUR 220 Apply clinical decision making to care of adult and/or chronic Organize and utilize evidence based practice in the care of adult patients with acute/chronic NUR 230 Utilize clinical judgment for women, infants, children and Integrate caring practices for women, infants, children and NUR 240 Analyze clinical judgment in the nursing care of and chronic health Create a caring environment for and chronic health NUR 250 Integrate clinical judgment to facilitate transformation of knowledge, skills and values in a variety of healthcare delivery systems. Integrate caring and knowledge of cultural diversity when providing care to patients at various points across the lifespan. Communication Learning/Spirit of inquiry Professional identity Examine legal/ and ethical aspects of and how they impact the delivery of safe and effective care. Implement teaching opportunities related to legal/ethical concepts of patient care. Examine ethical inquiry, practice as it relates to professional identity. Apply therapeutic techniques in the care of adult patient with acute and/or chronic Develop teaching plans that address risk factors and health promotion in defined populations. Develop the role of nurse advocate in the care of the adult patient with acute/ chronic Apply therapeutic techniques appropriate and specific for interactions with women, infants, children and Develop teaching plans for individuals and Function as advocate while providing quality care for women, infants, children and Integrate therapeutic techniques with patients, families and interdisciplinary team members. Integrate healthcare teaching in the delivery of nursing care for patients with acute and chronic health Analyze the use of evidence based practice and ethical behavior in providing care for and chronic health Critique the effectiveness of with the interdisciplinary care team utilizing principles of management and delegation. Prioritize teaching and learning needs of patients and families in culturally diverse settings across the lifespan Implement the role of the professional nurse when caring for patients and families in diverse healthcare delivery systems. 7