NURS320S

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Vanguard UniversitySchool for Professional Studies

Degree Program

ETHICAL ISSUES AND LEGAL

ASPECTS FOR NURSING AND

HEALTH CARENURS 320

Student Guide

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Ethical Issues and Legal Aspects for Nursing and Health Care Vanguard University

TEXTS AND MATERIALS

Required text:

Bosek, Marcia Sue DeWolf, and Savage, Teresa A. (2007). The Ethical Component of Nursing

Education New York: Lippencott Williams & Wilkins ISBN# 0-7817-4877-1

Recommended texts:

Butts, Janie and Rich, Karen. (2005).Nursing Ethics. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Fry, Sara T. and Veatch, Robert M. (2006) Case Studies in Nursing Ethics. Boston: Jones and

Bartlett Publishers.

Mappes, Thomas A. and Zembaty, Jane S. (2007) Social Ethics. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Pozgar, George D. (2005)Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals. Boston: Jones and

Bartlett Publishers.

Rae, Scott B. and Cox, Paul M. (1999) Bioethics: A Christian Approach in a Pluralistic Age.

Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing.

Yeo, Michael and Moorhouse, Anne. Editors. (1996) Concepts and Cases in Nursing Ethics.

Broadview Press.

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to the analysis of ethical issues and dilemmas arising in nursingpractice and health care systems. Emphasis is placed on values clarification, models for ethical

decision making, consideration of relevant legal aspects, and related documents that guide

professional practice. Woven throughout the ethical discussions is reference to the importance of

Christian values and a Christian worldview in identifying and solving ethical issues that arise out

of the practice of nursing.

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course will explore the nature of ethics, ethical theories, ethical analysis of topics related to

Nursing, and legal issues that pertain to Nursing malpractice. The students will explore these

ethical issues by lecture, discussion, case studies, film analysis, group projects, and written

papers.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

1. Apply various ethical theories to nursing practice.2. Utilize a moral decision making process to both understand the nature of an ethical

dilemma and the resolution of an ethical dilemma.

3. Understand and explain various ways to understand personhood and whatpersonhood means to ethics in nursing practice.4. Understand and explain the nature of truth and lying in the healthcare setting.5. Understand, explain, and apply six principles of biomedical ethics to nursing practice.6. Understand the nature of nursing malpractice and the legal issues surrounding nursing

malpractice.

CCNE CORE VALUES

1 Caring: provides nursing care that is appropriate compassionate and safe

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COURSE POLICIES

ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICYYou must attend class on time and remain present until dismissed. Class attendance is

necessary in order to complete the course. The School for Professional Studies relies on the

dynamics of class interaction and group processing in order to integrate and apply the

learning of academic content. This model also emphasizes the development and practice of

interpersonal communication skills and teamwork (e.g., group problem solving and

negotiation). The format therefore necessitates class attendance. In practical terms, one

course session is equivalent to three weeks of traditional semester course work.

Due to the concentrated scheduling and the emphasis upon participatory

learning, students need to be in attendance every week. Students who miss more

than one class meeting (or more than five class hours) in any given course will

automatically receive a failing grade and need to retake the course to obtain a

passing grade. If an instructor deems that a students second absence was under

extremely unavoidable and unusual circumstances (i.e., an auto accident), the

professor may file an academic petition on behalf of the student to the Dean of

SPS. If the academic petition is approved, the instructor may give the student aW (Withdrawal) grade in place of a failing grade. The student will still be

required to retake the course.

Students who arrive late disturb the class. Students who arrive late will not receive

participation points for the unit covered. Students who are habitually late may be asked

to drop the course.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTSStudents must achieve a minimum grade of C- for all major course requirements. Any major

course in which the student receives a grade below C- must be retaken.

CLASS PARTICIPATIONYou must be prepared and participate in all discussions. Criterion: Is the student engaged in

classroom discussions? Does the student demonstrate an ability to handle assigned material

with a degree of proficiency? (E.g., demonstrate the type of questions and issues consistent,and reflecting a familiarity with the assigned material). Participation evaluated according to

quality, not quantity, of participation.

SUBMISSION OF FINAL EXAMS / PAPERSThe School for Professional Studies office does not assume responsibility for any final

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ASSIGNMENTS IN CLASSThis class requires assignments that are completed or started during class. Thus, if a studentmisses a class where an assignment is started or completed in that class they will not be able

to make-up that assignment and will lose all the points for that assignment.

EXTRA CREDITNo extra credit work will be assigned for missed assignments or as an option to raise a poor

grade.

LATE PAPER POLICYYou are responsible for submitting assignments on time (by 6:00 pm). Unless authorized by

the Professor in advance, no credit will be given for assignments not turned in when due.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTYWork submitted for assessment purposes must be the independent work of the student

concerned. Plagiarism, or copying and use of anothers work without proper

acknowledgment, is not permitted. Nor is it permissible for any former or present student toallow another student to refer to, use as a sample, or in any way copy or review their work.

If a student needs guidance, he or she must seek the Professors assistance.

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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Assignment Points

Film Analysis (3) 300 (100 each)

Case Studies (2) 200 (100 each)

Homework (5) 500 (100 each)

Final 500

Total 1500 points

Homework

Due

for:

Reading Assignment Points

Week1

Bosek: Chapters 1, 2and 5

Clinical Exercise: Chapter 2: Questions 1 and 2. DiscussionQuestions: 1, 2, and 3. Chapter 5: Clinical Exercises, questions 1, 2,

and 3.

100

Week

2

Bosek: Chapter 11 Explain in detail the view of the author on personhood. 100

Week

3

Bosek: Review the

index and read all

sections on truth

and truth telling.

Explain in detail the authors view on truth and truth telling. How

would the author define lying?

100

Week4 Bosek: Chapter 3. Chapter 1: Clinical Exercises, Questions 1, 2, and 3. Chapter 3:Discussion Questions, 1, 2, 3, and 4. 100

Week

5

Bosek: Chapters 6, 7,

8, and 16.

Choose one discussion question from each chapter (6, 7, 8, and 16)

and provide a written answer of each question.

100

Week

6

Bosek: Chapter 17

Week

7

Final Due 1) Give an example of nursing malpractice and how it could be

avoided. 2) Give an example of alleged nursing malpractice and show

it could have been avoided. 3) Create a case study that utilizes at least

three concepts discussed in the class and resolve the case study usingthe moral decision making sheet provided.

500

FINAL

Criteria Points

C ti it 100

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Student Evaluation

Percentages Points Grade Significance GPA

93-100% 1395-1500 A Exceptional 4.00

90-92.9% 1350-1394 A- 3.67

87-89.9% 1305-1349 B+ 3.33

83-86.9% 1235-1304 B Above Average 3.00

80-82.9% 1200-1244 B- 2.67

77-79.9% 1155-1199 C+ 2.33

73-76.9% 1095-1154 C Average 2.0070-72.9% 1050-1094 C- 1.67

67-69.9% 1005-1049 D+ 1.33

63-66.9% 945-1004 D Below Average 1.00

60-62.9% 900-944 D- 0.67

00-59.9% 0-899 F Failure 0.00

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Weekly Learning Objectives

1st

week

1. Be able to explain the difference between non-normative approaches to ethics andnormative approaches to ethics.

2. Be able to explain the difference between ethics, morality, and integrity.3. Be able to identify and explain an ethical theory at work in a film.

2nd week

1. Be able to explain the various views of personhood.2. Be able to explain the implications of various views on personhood for abortion

euthanasia, and infanticide.

3. Be able to resolve an ethical dilemma through a case study using views on personhood.3

rdweek

1. Be able to explain the nature of truth.2. Be able to explain the various levels of truth.3. Be able to explain the nature of lying.4. Be able to explain the various degrees of lying.5. Be able to explain and understand the effects of lying by analyzing the film The

Doctor.

4th week

1. Be able to understand several principles of biomedical ethics.2. Be able to identify principles of biomedical ethics in a case study.

5th

week

3. Be able to understand several principles of biomedical ethics.4. Be able to identify principles of biomedical ethics in the film John Q..

6th

week

1. Explore the nature of nursing malpractice.2. Identify the areas that can lead to nursing malpractice.3. Be able to understand how to avoid nursing malpractice.

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7th

week

1. Learn how to prepare for a nursing malpractice case.2. Learn how to testify in a nursing malpractice case.

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10

LOGISTICS CHART

Hour Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 71 Introduction to

course and ethics

Discuss

homework

Discuss

homework

Discuss

homework

Discuss

homework

Discuss nursing

malpractice

Discuss nursing

malpractice

2 Introduction toethics

Discuss views of

personhood

Discuss truth

and lying

Explain

principles of

biomedical

ethics

Explain

principles of

biomedical

ethics

Discuss nursing

malpractice

Discuss nursing

malpractice

3

Analyze film Work on case

study


study

Analyze Film Discuss nursing

malpractice

Discuss nursing

malpractice

4 Analyze film Work on casestudy


study

Analyze Film Discuss nursing

malpractice

Discuss nursing

malpractice

Documents

NURS320S