Fall 2026

RNSG 1300-71

Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

Course Information

Department
AH
Instructor
James, Melanie
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.<br>
Last Updated
Friday, September 4, 2026 9:01 AM
Course Syllabus
Published Structured Syllabus

RNSG 1300-71

Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Term
Fall 2026
Instructor
James, Melanie
Department
AH

Instructor Information

Instructor: Melanie James, MSN, RNC-OB


Email: jamesmc1@lamarpa.edu


Phone: 409-984-6374


Office Location and Hours: Health Science Building Office 119 Mon-Thursday 9-12 by appointment.


Additional Contact Information:

Course Description

Course number 10112 and 10111

Development of skills and techniques required for a comprehensive health assessment of clients across the lifespan: pediatric, adult, and geriatric. Includes assessment of clients' health promotion and maintenance, illness and injury prevention and restoration, and application of the nursing process within a legal/ethical framework.

Required Textbook & Materials

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

•

Estes, M.E. Z. (2027). Health Assessment and Physical Examination.

(6th ed). F.A. Davis.

ISBN: 978-1-7196-5314-5

•

Shadow Health Digital Clinical Experience™

See instructions below for purchase and registration in the Shadow Health course.

Student Self-Enrollment Instructions Using Course ID Online Course Access provided in any of the following ways:

•

After you have purchased and redeemed your textbook custom package access code

•

You redeemed an Access Code that you purchased from a bookstore or directly from the Evolve website.

•

If you did not redeem an access code from a custom package or purchase directly from the Bookstore or Evolve website, you will be prompted to complete an instant “Purchase Access” while following the steps below.

*** If you are accessing your instructor’s online course via your college’s Learning Management System

then refer to the enrollment instructions given by your institution. ***

Please follow the steps below to self-enroll into your online courses.

1.

Go to the Evolve website: https://evolve.elsevier.com/student and go

to the “Catalog” home screen.

2.

Enter the first “Course ID” listed below (or provided to you) in the option for

“Redeem an Access Code or Enter an Evolve Course ID” and click “Submit”:

Course Title: Health Assessment FALL 2026

Course ID: 165730_hbreaux14_5003

3.

You are now prompted to log into your existing Evolve account or to create a new account. (ONLY first-time users should create a new account.)

a.

If creating your account for the first time, you must enter in your

institution’s email address instead of a personal address.

b.

If you are a returning Evolve user sign into your account.

4.

Click “Continue” on the “You’re Enrolled” page.

NOTE: If you signed into your existing Evolve account at this time go to Account

Settings and ensure your Email Address listed is your institution’s email account. Click “Save/Confirm.”

5.

You have now completed self-enrolling into your required online course ID;

this is now available to you within your “My Evolve” tab.

a.

If you did not redeem an access code from a custom package or purchase directly from the Bookstore or Evolve website, go to “My Evolve” and click on your newly enrolled course. You will then be

prompted with the option to instantly “Purchase Access.” Complete the steps to purchase the access and full online course access will be granted.

6.

You now have access to your required Elsevier materials. Repeat steps for any additional Course IDs.

Shadow Health Support:

1.

Watch the student orientation video if you are new to Shadow Health:

2.

Use a supported browser: Shadow Health recommends using Chrome to access your work. However, there are many browsers that you can use to access your assignments in Shadow Health.

3.

Review the technical specifications.

4.

Visit Shadow Health’s fantastic Support Center for answers to common questions.

5.

Contact Shadow Health if you have any questions about Shadow Health by emailing nhpsupport@elsevier.com or by calling 800.222.9570.

For any questions or additional assistance relating to anything offered on the Evolve/Elsevier website, please contact Evolve Customer Support. You can click the Help tab at the top-right of the Evolve website and scroll to the bottom for direct email, chat, or phone options, or you can click the direct links below:

Email: https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/supporthub/evolve/

Chat: https://service.elsevier.com/app/contact/s upporthub/evolve/

Phone: +1 800 222 9570 (Monday-Sunday, 6:00 am-12:00 am CST).

•

GENERAL TECHNICAL NOTE:

•

Students must have access to a PC laptop or desktop with:

Windows 8.1 or higher; or MacOS 10.15 or later

Browsers: Google Chrome (required for Speech to Text feature); Mozilla Firefox; Microsoft Edge (Windows only); Safari (macOS only)

All software should be up to date. Older software may not work properly with the Shadow Health DCE assignments.

Computer hardware less than three years old with working webcam and microphone. Recommended 4GB RAM

•

Students must have access to High-Speed Internet Connection:

•

Network: Minimum 3 Mbps download connection (5 or more is recommended) (Check your network speed)

•

The Shadow Health Digital Clinical Experience performs best when directly connected to the internet. Due to the number of variables introduced when connecting to the DCE using VPN (Virtual Private Network) internet connections, users may experience extended assignment load times.

•

Wireless or Wireless Mobile Broadband connections may be used during course browsing.

•

Students cannot complete a course using only a mobile device or theBlackboard Mobile App

•

Students must have access to Microsoft Office 2010 or higher.

•

Students must have access and use of a scanner.

Accessibility

Shadow Health’s Digital Clinical Experiences require the use of a computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse or touchpad. It is our goal to support alternative input modalities to improve accessibility for all users. However, if you are currently unable to use the DCE due to visual or motor impairment, please contact the Shadow Health Learner Support team.

Tina Jones™ presents auditory and visual information representative of a human patient. To address auditory accessibility, when Tina Jones speaks, her speech is presented as both audio and text displayed at the bottom of the screen, except in instances where the textual representation would distinguish physical findings (e.g., textual descriptions of breathing sounds). If you require a transcription of these instances due to an auditory impairment, please contact the Shadow Health Learner Support team at support@shadowhealth.com.

The normal and abnormal sounds within the concept labs are medically accurate and are produced at a frequency lower than what most laptop speakers are capable of delivering. To hear these sounds, we strongly recommend that you use a pair of external speakers or headphones to hear the bass frequencies.

Unsupported Platforms

The following devices and operating systems are not supported on the Shadow Health platform:

iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) Android devices (phones and tablets) Chromebooks

Linux/GNU based operating systems.

Textbook Purchasing Statement

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.

Additional Materials/Resources


Pre-requisites/Co-requisites

BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2401 Human Anatomy and physiology.

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: 8/27/2026

Chapter 1,2,3,8,9

•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 8 •General Survey and Assessing Vitals – Chapter 9 •Shadow Health Orientation•Shadow Health DCE orientation•Shadow Health Conversation lab•Shadow Health – Communication and Documentation (Due week 2)

Week 2: 9/3/2026

Chapter 9,10

•

Assessing Pain – Chapter 9

•

Assessing Skin, Hair, & Nails – Chapter 10

•

Shadow Health – Skin, Hair, and Nails Assignment

•

Shadow Health – Health History

•

Lab worksheet


Week 3: 9/10/2026

Chapter 20

•

Assessing Neurological System – Chapter 20

•

Shadow Health – Neurological Assignment

•

Lab worksheet


Week 4: 9/17/2026

Chapter 11,12,13

•

Assessing Head, Face, Mouth and Neck – Chapter 11

•

Assessing the Ears – Chapter 13

•

Assessing the Eyes – Chapter 12

•

Shadow Health HEENT Assignment

•

Lab worksheet

•

Assessment video for online course


Week 5 : 9/24/2026 : Exam one 9/24/2026- (Covers weeks 1-4)


Week 6: 10/1/2026

Chapter 15

•

Lung and Respiratory System – Chapter 15

•

Shadow Health – Respiratory Assessment

•

Shadow Health – Respiratory Concept Lab

•

Lab worksheet


Week 7: 10/08/2026

Chapter 16,17

•

Assessing Cardiovascular System – Chapter 16

•

Assessing Peripheral Vascular System and Regional Lymphatic System – Chapter 17

•

Shadow Health – Cardiovascular Assignment

•

Shadow Health – Cardiovascular Concept Lab

•

Lab worksheet

•

Assessment video for online course


Week 8 : 10/15/2026

Chapter 18,19

•

Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System – Chapter 18

•

Musculoskeletal System – Chapter 19

•

Shadow Health – Abdomen Assignment

•

Shadow Health – Abdomen Concept Lab

•

Shadow Health – Musculoskeletal Assignment

•

Lab worksheet

•

Assessment Video for online course


Week 9: 10/22/2026: Exam 2 – (Covers weeks 5 – 7)


Week 10: 10/29/26

Chapters 14,23

•

Assessing the Female Breasts, Axillae, and Reproductive system – Chapter 14

•

Assessing the Male Breasts and Reproductive system – Chapter 14

•

Assessing the Anus and Rectum – Chapter 23

•

Discussion Board #1: Cardiovascular/Respiratory

•

Discussion Board #2: Abdominal & Musculoskeletal


Week 11: 11/05/2026

Chapter 25,26

•

Assessing the Child and Adolescent – Chapter 25

•

Assessing the Older Adult – Chapter 26

•

Shadow Health - Focused Exam – Cough

•

Shadow Health - Focused Exam – Chest Pain


Week 12: 11/12/2026

•

Shadow Health – Comprehensive Assessment

•

Shadow Health – Discharge

•

Integrated Physical Assessment Practice


Week 13: 11/19/26

•

Integrated Physical Assessment Checkoffs

•

Submit Integrated Physical Assessment Documents

•

Shadow Health – Comprehensive Assessment began in week 12


Week 14: 11/26/2026

Thanksgiving holiday

Week 15: 11/30/22026


Final Exam –12/03/2026 (Comprehensive Exam)

Major Assignments Schedule

  • Exam I – 9/24/2026
  • Exam II – 10/22/2026
  • Final Exam – 12/03/2026
  • Integrated Physical Assessment: The integrated physical assessment is the culminating assignment for the course and involves completion of a cephalocaudal physical assessment at the end of the course.

The integrated physical assessment is a mandatory assignment and counts as 25% of

the student’s course grade.

Students must successfully complete and pass all practice videos to be eligible to have an MSN observer/faculty member complete their final integrated physical assessment.

Students who will have an MSN observer to complete their final integrated physical assessment must also record the assessment and submit the video.

The student will be evaluated based on the integrated physical assessment form criteria.

The student is expected to complete the assessment in 30 minutes. Failure of this assignment results in failure of the entire course regardless of the grades for other assignments.

In the event the student misses their scheduled checkoff time with notification of the instructor.

The student will sign up for a time to complete their assessment with course faculty. Faculty or MSN prepared observer will complete the required documents and return to the student to be submitted within the course in Week 8.

The student must submit the documents in order to receive a grade.

Final Exam Date

Final Exam – 12/03/2026


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 = 25% and Final Exam = 20%.

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: Students must 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 taken. Students will be allocated a specific amount of time for each exam. Students unable to take a scheduled exam due to an extreme emergency must notify the instructor prior to the exam.

All exams will be proctored and administered online. If an exam is missed, the numerical grade attained on the Final exam will be substituted for only one missed unit 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.

Instructor Policies

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the Student Handbook for consequences of academic dishonesty. These policies will be strictly enforced. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of scholastic dishonesty are prohibited and are grounds for disciplinary action according to the LSC-PA Student Handbook.

Anyone who copies more than six consecutive words from a source and does not document the source has committed plagiarism. Students guilty of academic misconduct either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition, to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular LSC-PA procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an F or a zero for the exercise or examination or to assign an F in the course. Electronic devices (including but not restricted to cell phones, MP3 players, and laptop computers) shall not be used during examinations or upon review of exams unless the Disability Services Coordinator has determined that such a device is a reasonable accommodation for a disability. Under any other circumstances, the use of an electronic device during an examination shall be considered academic dishonesty, and will result in appropriate sanctions as outlined in the Course Syllabus, in the Faculty Handbook (Section IX-1) and in the Student Handbook (“Academic Dishonesty”)

TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING CHAPTER 213 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

RULE 213.27 Good Professional Character:

(a) Good professional character is the integrated pattern of personal, academic and occupational behaviors which, in the judgment of the Board, indicates that an

individual is able to consistently conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the

Nursing Practice Act, the Board's rules and regulations, and generally accepted standards of nursing practice including, but not limited to, behaviors indicating

honesty, accountability, trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity.

Facility Policies

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.

Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except for special instructor permission.

Use of electronic devices at the discretion of the instructor

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 student’s 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


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 Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

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.

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.