Course Description
Study of the health assessment of individuals over the life span. Laboratory activities promote the development of assessment skills. Prerequisite: Overall minimum GPA of C (2.0); NURS major with RN to BSN Concentration.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Apply communication skills in collecting health history and physical assessment data.
- Perform a comprehensive nursing assessment of selected individuals across the lifespan through the use of interviewing techniques and physical examination skills.
- Systematically document data obtained from the health assessment.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Shadow Health: Health History and Body System Assessments, Focused Exams | 50% |
| Discussion Boards | 20% |
| Final Comprehensive Assessment | 30% |
Letter grade assignments based on percentage ranges:
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 100-95% | A |
| 94-92% | A- |
| 91-89% | B+ |
| 88-86% | B |
| 85-83% | B- |
| 82-80% | C+ |
| 79-77% | C |
| 76-74% | C- |
| 73-71% | D+ |
| 70-68% | D |
| 67-65% | D- |
| 64% & below | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Regular class attendance is a responsibility and a privilege of university education. It is fundamental to the orderly acquisition of knowledge. Students should recognize the advantages of regular class attendance, accept it as a personal responsibility, and apprise themselves of the consequences of poor attendance.
Attendance is a critical component of this course. Active participation is essential for your learning and success in this class.
Planned Absences: If you know you will be absent, you are required to notify the instructor via email as soon as possible and before the scheduled date of absence.
Extenuating Circumstances: In cases of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that require your absence, please inform the instructor via email as soon as possible. Include details about the situation and, if appropriate, provide supporting documentation.
Repeated unexcused absences or failure to notify the instructor may negatively impact your grade. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis for legitimate and documented reasons.
Your communication and proactive approach regarding attendance are greatly appreciated.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
- Bickley, L. S. (2025). Bates' guide to physical examination and history taking. (R. M. Hoffman & R. P. Soriano, Eds.) (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
- Shadow Health. (n.d.). Health Assessment Digital Clinical Experience (1st ed.) [Computer software]. Elsevier.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.