Master of Science in Nursing @ Clayton State University

Course Syllabus

Course Description

Number: NURS6030

Title: Ethical Issues for the Advanced Practice Nurse

Credit: 2-0-2

Catalog description: This course provides a foundation for the professional practice of advanced nursing within an ethical context. The historical development of an ethical code for the nursing profession and its evolution is explored. Ethical principles guiding health care delivery and health care policy of the U.S. are examined. Ethical dilemmas and strategies for resolution of these dilemmas are analyzed for their impact on the profession of nursing, health care delivery and on the health and well being of individuals and populations.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to Graduate Nursing Program

Corequisite(s): None

Textbook Information

Required:

Nightingale, F. (1860). Notes on Nursing: What it is, and what it is not. (First American Edition). New York: D. Appleton and Company.

Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing. NY: Delmar Publishers.

Readings as assigned based on weekly topic.

Recommended:

None.

Technology Requirements

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets the ITP Choice requirements (http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/) for the student's academic program.
Students must have access to the Internet either through the on-campus local area network or through an Internet Service Provider.
Students must be proficient with Internet access, WebCT Vista and Microsoft Office and demonstrate competency using web browsers, website navigation, search engines and e-mail communication.
Contact the HUB for software and connectivity issues; no excuse will be accepted for inability to access the Internet and/or technical difficulties.

Course Objectives

By the completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Understand the ethical underpinnings of the profession of nursing.
Evaluate the role of the advanced practice nurse in shaping the ethical environment of the profession of nursing and nursing practice.
Examine the major ethical principles that guide the U.S. health care delivery system and support U.S. health care policy.
Describe the nature of significant ethical problems in health care and within nursing practice environments.
Analyze the moral and value dimensions of ethical dilemmas that impact the profession of nursing, the national and global health care environment.
Explore strategies to resolve ethical dilemmas using various ethical theories and guidelines, including the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics.
Synthesize knowledge related to resolution of ethical dilemmas for the advancement of the nursing profession and the promotion of health for individuals and populations.

Methods of Instruction

Discussions will include analysis of case studies.
Ethical Issues Paper will be a formal paper exploring an ethical dilemma that impacts the profession of nursing and the care of individuals, families and communities. Students will choose a topic from a list of suggested topics. All formal papers must follow the APA guidelines.
Learning activities will largely be observational and some participatory activities and may include activities such as attendance at Institutional Review Board (IRB) meetings or participation in meetings of an Ethics Committee. Students will be expected to attend/participate in two learning activities and submit a written summary following the activities.

Week	Topic	Required Readings
1	Ethical origins and principles of the nursing profession	(Nightingale, 1860). Notes on Nursing. ANA Code of Ethics McGhee, J., Health Care Ethics. In Ethics and conflict (2001), p. 1-11. Fowler, M. (1997). Nursing’s ethics. In Ethical dilemmas & nursing practice, p. 17-34. Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Social, philosophical, and other historical forces influencing the development of nursing. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 2-19.
2	Ethical Orientations and Theories: Overview	Wicks, A.C., Spielman, B.J., & Fletcher, J. C. (1997). Survey of ethical orientations and theories. In Introduction to Clinical Ethics, Fletcher, J.C., Hite, C.A., Lombardo, P.A., & Marshall, M.F. (Eds). Frederick, MD: University Publishing Group. Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Ethical principles. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 40-63.
3	Ethical Orientations and Theories: Virtue & Character in the Nursing Profession	Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Values clarification. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 66-79. Case Study.
4	Problem Solving Ethical Dilemmas: Strategies for Analysis	Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Ethical decision making. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 92-107. Perrin, K.O. (2001). Encountering an ethical dilemma. In Ethics and conflict, pp. 13-45.
5	Clinical Practice Environment & Ethical Challenges: Withholding & Withdrawing Treatment	Fletcher, J.C, Miller, F. G., Spencer, E. M. (1997). Clinical Ethics: History, Content, and Resources. In Introduction to Clinical Ethics, Fletcher, J.C.,, Hite, C.A., Lombardo, P.A., & Marshall, M.F. (Eds). Frederick, MD: University Publishing Group. Case Study.
6	Clinical Practice Environment & Ethical Challenges: End of Life Issues	Perrin, K.O. (2001). Ethical issues at the End of Life. In Ethics and conflict, pp. 127-151. “The Debbie Case,” New York Times, February 23, 1988.
7	Clinical Practice Environment & Ethical Challenges: Genetics and Beginning of Life Issues	McGhee, J. (2001). Beginning of life issues. In Ethics and conflict, pp. 47-56. Case Study.
8	Clinical & Academic Practice Environment & Ethical Challenges: Patient’s Rights and Informed Consent	Davis, A. J., Aroskar, M. A., Liaschenko, J., Drought, T. S. (1997), Ethical principles of informed consent. In Ethical Dilemmas & Nursing Practice, p. 105-126. Perrin, K.O. (2001). Health maintenance across the life span. In Ethics and conflict, pp. 57-86.
9	Clinical & Academic Practice Environments & Ethical Challenges: Collaborative Relationships	Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Professional relationship issues. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 155-176. Pozgar, G.D. (2005). Health care ethics committee. In Legal and ethical issues for health professionals, pp. 73-88. Corley, MC., Minick, P., Elswick, RK, Jacobs, M. (2005). Nurse moral distress and the ethical work environment. Nursing Ethics, 12 (4), 381-390.
10	Academic Practice Environment & Ethical Challenges: Academic Honesty & Integrity	Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Scholarship issues. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 233-248.
11	Ethical principles of US and the global health care environment	Davis, A.J., Aroskar, M. A., Liaschenko, J., & Drought, T.S. (1997). Policy, ethics, and health care. In Ethical Dilemmas & Nursing Practice, pp. 245-263. Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Global issues that impinge on nursing practice. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 249-268. Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Health policy issues. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 269-287.
12	US Health Care Environment: Access to Health Care	Perrin, K.O. (2001). How should health care resources be allocated. In Ethics and conflict, pp. 87-105. Burkhardt, M.A. & Nathaniel, A.K. (2002). Economic issues. In Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, pp. 288-303.
13	Presentation of Paper Topics	As assigned/student
14	Presentation of Paper Topics	As assigned/student
15	Practicum Reports Course Evaluation

Course Requirements

Courses taught in an online format require students to be self-directed and responsible for meeting deadlines.
Participation in on-line, synchronous discussions is a course requirement. In addition, students are expected to post responses to weekly discussion topics according to the guidelines provided by the course faculty. Responses are to be submitted within one week’s time.
Attendance is mandatory at scheduled on-campus meetings.
Students are expected to use APA format for all submitted papers.
Approval must be obtained from the University Institutional Review Board for all research studies.
This syllabus provides a general plan for this course; the faculty reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus and/or course schedule including but not limited to assignments, time tables, examinations, projects, etc.

Evaluation

Weekly Discussion Topics & Assignments	35%
Ethical Issues Paper	25%
Learning Activities	20%
Attendance and Participation in On-line& Seated Activities	10%

Grading Scale

90-100%	A
80-89%	B
70-79%	C
Below 70%	F

Classroom Policies

Attendance: Mandatory for scheduled on-campus meetings.
Communication: WebCT Vista is the official tool for this course and is accessible online from any computer; students are responsible for monitoring e-mail on a regular basis and should direct all communications with faculty and other students through WebCT or Clayton State e-mail.
Conduct: Students must abide by policies in the University Graduate Student Handbook, the Graduate Student Responsibilities, and if applicable program handbook; the code of academic integrity will be strictly enforced.
Electronic devices: Cell phones/pagers must be turned off (or placed on vibrator mode) during class meetings. Permission from individual faculty is necessary before taping a class.
Mid-term progress report: Mid-term grade will reflect approximately 1/3 of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of “W”; contact the Registrar for withdrawal procedures.
Submission: Students are responsible for completion and submission of all course requirements as scheduled in the course calendar. Make-up work is at the discretion of the faculty.

To obtain this document in an alternative format, contact the Disability Resource Center.

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