Spring 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: RNSG-1300 (Section: 1, CRN: 10111)
Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
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Instructor Information
Instructor Cynthia Ford Arceneaux
Email arceneauxce@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6361
Office Allied Health - Room: 126
Office Hours

As posted by appointment
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description Development of skills and techniques required for a comprehensive nursing health assessment of patients across the lifespan. Includes assessment of patients' health promotion and maintenance, illness and injury prevention and restoration, and application of the nursing process within a legal/ethical framework. This course lends itself to either a blocked or integrated approach.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.


All course textbooks/programs are included in the Seahawk Book Bundle 

Required: 

  • Thompson, J. (2022). Essential Health Assessment (2nd ed). F.A. Davis.  

  • Shadow Health Digital Clinical Experience™ 

Additional Materials/Resources None.
Corequisites/Prerequisites
  • BIOL-2101 Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory
  • BIOL-2101 Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I
  • BIOL-2301 Anatomy & Physiology I
Learning Outcomes Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. 
 
Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. 
 
Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view. 
 
Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. 
 
Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making. 
Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Upward Mobility Nursing Program graduates will be able to: 

PSLO 1:  Integrates professional caring into practice decisions within the scope of practice for a registered nurse. 

PSLO 2:  Demonstrates safe, competent, holistic care for a diverse group of individuals who have complex health care needs 

PSLO 3:  Accept responsibility and accountability for the effectiveness of one’s own nursing practice and professional growth.  

PSLO 4: Communicate effectively with clients, peers and other members of the interdisciplinary heath care team to provide evidence-based care.

Lecture Topics Outline

Week 1: 01/23/2025 Chapter 1,2,3, 5,6  

  • Course Orientation 

  • Shadow Health Orientation 

  • Shadow Health DCE orientation   

  • Shadow Health Conversation lab  

  • Introduction to Health Assessment – Chapter 1 

  • Interviewing the Patient – Chapter 2 

  • Taking Health History – Chapter 3 

  • Assessment Techniques – Chapter 5 

  • General Survey and Assessing Vitals – Chapter 6 

  • Shadow Health – Communication and Documentation (Due week 2) 

 

Week 2: 01/30/2025 Chapter 7-8  

  • Assessing Pain – Chapter 7 

  • Assessing Skin, Hair, & Nails – Chapter 8 

  • Shadow Health – Skin, Hair and Nails Assignment 

  • Shadow Health – Health History 

  • Lab worksheet 

 

Week 3: 02/06/2025 Chapter 17  

  • Assessing Neurological System – Chapter 17 

  • Shadow Health – Neurological Assignment 

  • Lab worksheet 

 

Week 4: 02/13/2025 Chapter 9,10,11 

  • Assessing Head, Face, Mouth and Neck – Chapter 9 

  • Assessing the Ears – Chapter 10 

  • Assessing the Eyes – Chapter 11 

  • Shadow Health HEENT Assignment 

  • Lab worksheet 

  • Assessment video 

 

Week 5: 02/20/2025 

  • Exam 1 – Thursday, February 20, 2025 (Covers weeks 1 – 4 

 

Week 6: 02/27/2025 Chapter 12  

  • Lung and Respiratory System – Chapter 12 

  • Shadow Health – Respiratory Assessment 

  • Shadow Health – Respiratory Concept Lab 

  • Lab worksheet 

 

Week 7: 03/06/2025 Chapter 13, 15 

  • Assessing Cardiovascular System – Chapter 13 

  • Assessing Peripheral Vascular System and Regional Lymphatic System – Chapter 15 

  • Shadow Health – Cardiovascular Assignment 

  • Shadow Health – Cardiovascular Concept Lab 

  • Lab worksheet  

  • Assessment video 

 

Week 8 3/10-3/14/25 Spring Break  

 

Week 9 03/20/2025 Chapter 14, 16 

  • Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System – Chapter 14 

  • Musculoskeletal System – Chapter 16 

  • Shadow Health – Abdomen Assignment 

  • Shadow Health – Abdomen Concept Lab 

  • Shadow Health – Musculoskeletal Assignment 

  • Lab worksheet 

  • Assessment Video 

 

Week 10: 03/27/2025 

  • Exam 2 – Thursday, March 27, 2025 (Covers weeks 6-8 

 

Week 11: 04/03/2025 Chapter 18, 19, 20  

  • Assessing the Female Breasts, Axillae, and Reproductive system – Chapter 18 

  • Assessing the Male Breasts and Reproductive system – Chapter 19 

  • Assessing the Anus and Rectum – Chapter 20 

 

Week 12: 4/10/2025 Chapter 22, 24  

  • Assessing the Child and Adolescent – Chapter 22 

  • Assessing the Older Adult – Chapter 24 

  • Shadow Health - Focused Exam – Cough  

  • Shadow Health - Focused Exam – Chest Pain 

 

Week 13: 04/17/2025 Open Practice Lab 

  • Shadow Health – Comprehensive Assessment  

  • Shadow Health - Discharge 

  • Integrated Physical Assessment Practice  

 

Week 14: 4/24/2025 

  • Integrated Physical Assessment Check-offs 

  • Submit Integrated Physical Assessment Documents   

  • Shadow Health – Comprehensive Assessment (began in week 12) 

 

Week 15: 05/01/2025 

  • Final Exam May 1, 2025 (Comprehensive Exam)

Major Assignments Schedule

Exam I – Thursday February 20, 2025  

Exam II – Thursday March 27, 2025  

Final Exam – Thursday May 1, 2025 

Final Exam Date May 1, 2025 - 8:00 AM   Through  May 1, 2025 - 10:00 AM
Grading Scale 90-100 = A 80-89 = B 75-79 = C 74-60 = D 59 or Below = F
Determination of
Final Grade

A final course grade of 75% is necessary for the student to pass this course.  The final course grade is calculated as follows:   

Exam 1 = 20%, Exam 2 = 20%, Lab grade = 15%, Integrated Physical Assessment = 20% and Final Exam = 25%.   

Lab grade (15% of final course grade) Includes Required Shadow Health Assignments, Lab Worksheets, Assessment videos, Discussion boards, any other in-class or pre-class assignments required by the instructor. 

 

 

Lab Assessment Videos: For Lab, students will submit a video clip demonstrating designated systems assessment covered during the assigned week These video assessment assignments are graded per rubric and specified guidelines and mandatory for successful completion of the course.  

Lectures PowerPoints are available on Blackboard 

Point deductions: Late points, up to ten points per day, will be deducted if any graded assignment is submitted after the date and time due – No Exceptions.   

Exams: All exams must be takenStudents will be allocated a specific amount of time for each examStudents unable to take a scheduled exam due to an extreme emergency must notify the instructor prior to the examAll exams will be taken in the Allied Health Computer Lab. If an exam is missed, the numerical grade attained on the Final exam will be substituted for the missed exam.         

Examinations are based on course objectives.  Course content from the biological and behavioral sciences as well as previous nursing knowledge may be included on exams, as appropriate. 

Course Policies
Instructor Policies
Attendance Policy

Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. Policies for this course are described below: 

  • Students cannot meet the objectives of the course without completing course assignments Students put at risk their success in the course if they miss any assignment deadlines. 

  • It is the students responsibility to notify the instructor if they are unable to meet an assignment deadline.  

A student who is absent from course activities for more than three (3) days will be advised to drop from the course by faculty

Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
Allied Health
Chair:Shirley MacNeill
Email:macneisb@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6365