NURS FPX 6111 Assessment 1 Course Definition and Alignment Table

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 6111 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education

Prof. Name

Date

Course Definition and Alignment Table

The Pediatric Nursing Ethics in Clinical Practice course is designed to equip registered nurses with the skills to navigate complex ethical challenges in pediatric care. It combines interactive lectures, case studies, and simulations to enhance ethical decision-making and patient advocacy. The course highlights evidence-based practices and aligns with national standards such as the ANA Code of Ethics (ANA, 2023). This training promotes lifelong professional growth and ensures nurses provide high-quality, compassionate care in pediatric settings. 

Course Description Supporting Educational Program Outcomes

Course Title: Pediatric Nursing Ethics in Clinical Practice

This course will equip registered nurses with the knowledge and skills for ethical decision-making in pediatric nursing practice. It focuses on the key ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice in application to actual clinical scenarios that guide nurses through dilemmas. The course further applies legal frameworks, advocacy of pediatric patients, and reflection on one’s values in professional ethics. Its vision is to prepare pediatric nurses as ethical leaders who would advocate for the well-being of their patients and uphold the highest standards of care. This course focuses on patient safety, allowing nurses to meet national standards while fostering compassionate and evidence-based care. It meets the call for ethical expertise in an increasingly complex and vulnerable pediatric healthcare setting.

Educational Program Outcomes:

Ethical Decision-Making: Apply ethical principles in pediatric nursing to ensure safe, patient-centered care while managing moral conflicts and balancing competing values in clinical decisions.

Advocacy for Pediatric Patients: Demonstrate advocacy skills to protect pediatric patients’ and families’ rights and best interests by ensuring their needs are addressed within the healthcare team.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Work effectively with interdisciplinary teams by fostering communication, trust, and coordination to deliver ethical, comprehensive care and improve patient outcomes.

Reflective Practice: Engage in reflective practice to enhance ethical reasoning, self-awareness, and professional development by improving your confidence in handling future ethical dilemmas.

Assumptions

The course assumes that the learner has a basic understanding of nursing practice and a working knowledge of the fundamental principles of ethics (Haddad & Geiger, 2023). It also assumes that the learner has experiences in pediatric clinical settings that would facilitate contextualizing the ethical dilemmas presented within this course. Further, this course assumes knowledge regarding legal and regulatory standards guiding healthcare practice.

Alignment of Learning Objectives to Program Outcomes

Learning Objectives

• Recognize and analyze ethical dilemmas in pediatric nursing using ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, and justice.
• Advocate for pediatric patients’ rights and best interests while collaborating with healthcare teams and families.
• Navigate legal and regulatory frameworks related to pediatric nursing practice to ensure compliance.
• Reflect on personal values and professional ethics to manage complex ethical decisions in pediatric care.
• Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to pediatric nursing scenarios by promoting patient safety and ethical outcomes.

Program Outcomes

• Reinforce the clinical competencies of registered nurses in pediatric nursing practice, focusing on ethical decision-making.
• Improve pediatric patient outcomes by ensuring nurses can advocate for patients and make ethically sound decisions.
• Promote compliance with national nursing standards and legal frameworks in pediatric care settings.
• Foster professional growth and lifelong learning by integrating ethical reasoning and reflective practice in pediatric nursing.

Assessment of the Quality of Alignment

There is a strong relationship between learning objectives and program outcomes, and every objective will serve in some manner to attain an educational goal. For example, identifying and analyzing key ethical principles in pediatric nursing and applying ethical decision-making frameworks will directly contribute to Program Outcome 1, improvement in clinical decision-making, and Program Outcome 2, improvement in patient outcomes through ethical patient-centered care.

Objectives related to promoting rights and reflective practice facilitate the professional development of lifelong learning and personal growth in Program Outcome 4 while operating within the legal and regulatory parameters of pediatric nursing practice in Program Outcome 3. This will ensure that the course incorporates evidence-based ethical approaches in preparing nurses to meet and exceed the program’s expected outcomes in real-life pediatric nursing situations (Hockenberry et al., 2021)

Table One: Learning Objectives to Program Outcomes

Learning Objectives	Program Outcomes
Recognize and analyze key ethical principles in pediatric nursing practice.	Strengthen the ethical decision-making competencies of registered nurses in pediatric nursing settings.
Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to real-life pediatric nursing scenarios.	Improve patient outcomes by providing compassionate, patient-centered care that upholds ethical principles.
Advocate for pediatric patients’ rights by ensuring their well-being and aligning with the child’s and family’s best interests.	Promote compliance with national standards and ethical guidelines in pediatric nursing practice.
Engage in reflective practice to enhance ethical decision-making and improve clinical outcomes.	Foster continuous professional development through reflective practice and ethical growth in pediatric nursing care.
Integrate legal and regulatory standards in pediatric nursing practice to ensure compliance and ethical responsibility.	Promote compliance with national standards and ethical guidelines in pediatric nursing practice.

Course Evaluation Approaches

Assessment and evaluation strategies throughout the Pediatric Nursing Ethics in Clinical Practice program will be based on measuring both learner progress and course effectiveness so that, in the end, students can meet the outlined learning objectives within a nationally standardized and ethically guided pediatric nursing perspective.

Assessment Strategies

Formative Assessments: These will include case study analysis, role-playing scenarios, and reflective journals to assess learners’ ability to recognize and apply ethical principles and decision-making frameworks in pediatric nursing practice.

Summative Assessments: A final written test will be administered to the learners, encompassing theoretical aspects of pediatric nursing ethics, legal frameworks, and ethical guidelines. In addition, practical evaluations via simulation or peer-reviewed case presentations will be done to evaluate the student’s clinical decision-making skills in real-life pediatric settings.

Peer Evaluation and Self-Assessment: These will be combined to encourage self-reflection and critical thinking by helping learners evaluate their own progress and peer contributions in collaborative tasks.

Feedback Mechanisms: Continuous feedback from instructors, peers, and self-reflection will provide learners with ongoing insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. This will allow for targeted adjustments in learning strategies.

Evaluation Strategies:

Course Evaluation: At the end of the program, learners will complete an anonymous course evaluation to assess the relevance, clarity, and effectiveness of the content, teaching methods, and learning activities.

Learner Performance Analysis: Data will be collected on student success rates, participation levels, and assignment engagement, allowing for performance tracking and future improvements.

Program Outcome Evaluation: The alignment of the course content with program outcomes will be used to assess how well this course provides insights into the effectiveness of developing ethical decisions, patient advocacy, and general practices in pediatric nursing.

Knowledge Gaps and Unknowns

Knowledge gaps include diverse learner backgrounds that could affect understanding of ethical principles and decision-making. Other areas are the difficulty in measuring the real-life application of ethical frameworks in clinical practice, long-term professional development due to feedback provided, and the effectiveness and accessibility of technological tools for simulating various clinical scenarios. These are some of the gaps identified that form a basis for further refinement of assessment strategies. The assessment and evaluation strategies are comprehensive; addressing knowledge gaps will go a long way in enhancing this course to achieve the educational objectives and improve learner outcomes.

Alignment of Professional Standards to Learning Objectives

The Pediatric Nursing Ethics in Clinical Practice course aligns with key professional standards and regulations to ensure that the learning objectives reflect ethical best practices and comply with national guidelines. These include the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines, and Joint Commission standards on patient safety and care ethics.

These standards guide nurses in delivering ethical, evidence-based care while prioritizing patient safety and advocacy (Aboelmagd, 2022). For example, the course objectives “Identify and analyze key ethical principles in pediatric nursing practice” and “Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to real-life pediatric nursing scenarios.” These are informed by the ANA Code of Ethics and the Joint Commission standards emphasizing respect for patient autonomy and informed decision-making. The objective “Advocate for pediatric patients’ rights” is a good example of the principle of advocacy by the ANA in ensuring that nurses act in the interest of the pediatric patient and family.

Criteria for Evaluating Alignment

Evaluation for alignment will be done regularly by reviewing course content to mirror professional standards. Students’ application of these ethical principles can be measured in case studies and simulation assessments. This curriculum will further be validated for alignment by stakeholder feedback and other performance metrics such as reflective journals and clinical evaluations to ensure that course objectives meet ethical and legal requirements for practice in pediatric nursing.

Learning Objectives	External Standards
Recognize and analyze key ethical principles in pediatric nursing practice	American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses has beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice principles.
Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to real-life pediatric nursing scenarios.	Joint Commission Standards on Ethical Decision-Making ensures that ethical choices prioritize patient well-being and family needs.
Advocate for pediatric patients’ rights, ensuring their well-being and aligning with the best interests of the child and family	ANA Code of Ethics emphasizes the nurse’s role in advocating for vulnerable populations, particularly children.
Engage in reflective practice to enhance ethical decision-making and improve clinical outcomes	Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Guidelines encourage continuous learning and reflection to improve patient outcomes.

Part two – Memo to Department Supervisor

To: Department Supervisor
From: [Your Name], Nurse Educator
Date: January 8, 2025
Subject: Proposal for New Course on Pediatric Nursing Ethics in Clinical Practice

I propose introducing a new course, titled Pediatric Nursing Ethics in Clinical Practice, aimed at enhancing the ethical decision-making skills of pediatric nurses. The course will guide nurses through ethical dilemmas, such as consent, autonomy, and end-of-life care. This course is intended for a registered nurse practicing in pediatric settings who desire to enhance their skills in navigating these sensitive areas in a clinical setting. This course would be a timely addition to the curriculum, given the increasing demand for pediatric nurses who are clinically competent and possess the ethical acumen to manage complex patient care situations.

The nurses have reported being unprepared to face these challenges, especially in vulnerable pediatric populations. Research indicates that many nurses want more training in ethical decision-making, especially in high-stakes pediatric situations (Schulz et al., 2023). This course will provide our nursing staff with preparation not only for making ethical decisions but also to be great advocates for pediatric patients, as stipulated by national standards of care, such as the ANA Code of Ethics and guidelines from Pediatric Advanced Life Support. This course will directly support our program’s goal of producing ethical by highly skilled nurses who can provide exceptional patient care.

NURS FPX 6111 Assessment 1 Course Definition and Alignment Table

The evaluation strategy for this course combines both formative and summative assessments. The formative assessments include a reflective journal and case study analysis that allow learners to apply the ethical principles in a mock setting and thus provide an opportunity for practicing decision-making in real life. The summative assessments involve simulations and written examinations, testing the learner’s ability to apply the ethical framework in clinical practice. In addition, fostering critical thinking, the peer evaluation and self-reflection components will aid the learner in assessing his progress and fostering continuous professional development in this area (Plack & Driscoll, 2024). This strategy ensures that students gain theoretical knowledge and develop the practical skills necessary for ethical decision-making in pediatric nursing.

The design and rationale for this course are grounded in the literature. Nurses typically feel unprepared to deal with ethical challenges during pediatric care, so targeted educational interventions should be done in a focused manner. The ANA Code of Ethics lays a basis for the nurse to apply ethical principles like respect for autonomy and beneficence (ANA, 2023). This course includes continuous professional learning and reflective practice, upon which PALS guidelines emphasize.

NURS FPX 6111 Assessment 1 Course Definition and Alignment Table

I recommend developing and implementing the course. The next steps are resource allocation, scheduling in the coming semester, and assessing the needs of our nursing staff so that the class can meet the needs of all learners. I also recommend establishing a small committee of clinical and academic experts to outline the curriculum further and finalize assessment methods. Thank you for considering this, and I look forward to your feedback and approval to proceed with this initiative.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Nurse Educator

References

Aboelmagd, A. (2022). Pediatric nurses’ awareness regarding protective child advocacy and their rights in the hospital. International Egyptian Journal of Nursing Sciences and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnsr.2022.116643.1152 

ANA. (2023). Why ethics in nursing matters: Ethical principles in nursing. American Nurses Association. https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/workplace/why-ethics-in-nursing-matters/ 

Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2023). Nursing Ethical Considerations. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/ 

Hockenberry, M. J., Wilson, D., & Rodgers, C. C. (2021). Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing – E-Book. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=KLEhEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=+ethical+principles+in+pediatric+nursing+&ots=Q9wjDhtPoq&sig=Inz7Yfa4UsAwIMk2L4ggq1zbf8c 

NURS FPX 6111 Assessment 1 Course Definition and Alignment Table

Plack, M. M., & Driscoll, M. (2024). Reflection and questions: Critical thinking for continuous improvement in practice. Routledge EBooks, 29–56. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003526704-3 

Schulz, I., O’Neill, J., Gillam, P., & Gillam, L. (2023). The scope of ethical dilemmas in paediatric nursing: A survey of nurses from a tertiary paediatric centre in Australia. Nursing Ethics, 30(4), 096973302311539. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330231153916