Practicum for Nursing Care of Individuals with Neurobehavioral Problems across the Lifespan

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Examine one’s own attitudes, values, and expectations about behavioral health to better respond therapeutically and provide quality patient-centered care to those with neuro-behavioral problems.

• Compare protective and predictive factors that influence the neurobehavioral health of individuals.

• Integrate principles of healthcare quality improvement into the therapeutic milieu when caring for individuals with neurobehavioral problems.

• Perform caring, quality evidence-based nursing interventions for individuals across the lifespan with neurobehavioral problems in order to maximize health, independence, and quality of life.

• Incorporate communication and interpersonal skills effectively to promote a quality therapeutic and caring environment in a variety of settings through interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Contrast the social, legal, ethical, cultural, spiritual, and clinical issues that impact the quality of care for individuals with neurobehavioral problems.

• Intervene with professional communication in patient, family, and health care staff situations.

• Discuss the impact of social determinants of health on the neurobehavioral health of individuals and families from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Clinical Patient Worksheet Assignments	30%
Motivational Interviewing	10%
Simulation	0%
Final Clinical Evaluation	60%

The midterm grade period for Fall 2026 occurs the week of September 18-25, 2026. During this time, the instructor will assign you a midterm grade for this course, which you can access in UNCGenie. Your midterm grade in this course is a snapshot of how you are currently performing academically based on the assignments we have had to date. It will let you know if you are on the right track or if you need to take action to do something differently to improve your grade. If you have a D or an F at the midterm, talk with your instructor further about strategies and options for continuing in the class. You can find more information about midterm grades here: https://spartancentral.uncg.edu/student-records/grades/. Once midterm grades are assigned, reach out to the instructor if you have questions. You should talk with your academic advisor if you are considering withdrawal from this class.

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
100-92%	A
91-83%	B
82-77%	C
76% or less	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance and prompt arrival to each clinical is required. (This includes all clinical experiences, both acute care and community sites). Unexcused clinical absences and tardies jeopardize satisfactory completion of the NUR 503L course. All clinical absences require make-up work. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate a timely request for make-up clinical experiences in the event of illness/absence.

Students must attend all clinical dates. Excused absences from clinical need to be made up and Unexcused absences will need to be made up and result in 5-point reduction for each event. The 5-point reduction will be taken off the final grade for the class; i.e., 100 in a class for a 1-time unexcused absence will result in a final grade of 95; two unexcused absences in a class will result in a final grade of 90. Another example 90 in a class for a 1-time unexcused absence will result in a final grade of 85, two unexcused absences in a class will result in a final grade of 80.

No point reduction or grade penalty will result for an “Excused Absence.” An Excused absence is:

• Verified illness of the student or a dependent family member

• Death or funeral in the family

• Court appearance

• Military obligations

The University’s Academic Calendar is posted 5 years out and is publicly available for viewing; therefore, we ask that students review the academic calendar to plan personal events and vacations that will not interfere with scheduled class times. Absences from classes and/or clinicals that are not excused will result in point reduction or grade penalties as described above. Notifying faculty that you will be on vacation is not an excused absence.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Pocket Guide to Psychiatric Nursing, 9th Ed. by Karyn Morgan