The purposes of this course are to promote an understanding and appreciation of the development of the nursing profession and issues related to the role of the Associate Degree Nurse. This course will assist you in developing an awareness of the current trends in nursing, as well as the ethical and legal concerns of the profession, the role of professional organizations and the need for continuing education in Nursing. In addition, you will learn how to apply for licensure to practice professional nursing.

Issues related to the nursing topics presented in this course will be explored via class discussions using a reflective approach. It is hoped that these discussions will facilitate greater awareness and understanding of these critical topics.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• Describe key events and/or elements in the development of nursing.
• List the formal characteristics of a profession and will discuss nursing with regard to these characteristics.
• Distinguish between roles of the Associate Degree Nurse and BSN prepared nurse.
• Describe an associate degree nursing program in terms of educational focus, competencies, functions and roles especially as they relate to changes in health care delivery systems.
• Identify nursing issues such as incompetence and chemical dependency in the work place, and describe possible disciplinary measures.
• Discuss the legal aspects of nursing practice.
• Discuss ethical/bioethical and multi-cultural issues/concerns in nursing practice.
• Develop an awareness of the need for nurses to demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability.
• Identify career choices for the Associate Degree Nurse.
• Discuss the realties of employment in Nursing, i.e., realty shock, and burnout.
• Review the Virginia Nurse Practice Act and identify requirements for licensure for practice.
• Identify professional organizations for and about nursing.
• Discuss the need for continuing education through participation in workshops, conferences, certification and/or obtaining advanced degrees.
• Initiate the internalization of the values and norms of the profession of nursing into the student's own self-concept.
• Develop a commitment to becoming a member of the Nursing profession.
• Develop a personal understanding of service learning through critical reflection.

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Your final grade may be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass at least several exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

There are 8 exams in this course.

Last Updated: December 16, 2010