Nightingale College Syllabus

BSN491: Maternal-Newborn Nursing

Syllabus Disclosure Statement

This syllabus is the governing document for this course. Your decision to take this course means you consent to the conditions of the syllabus. By taking this course, you agree to the attendance and participation requirements of the course. Failure to participate in class activities may result in failure of the course. All learners must review the assigned Canvas course and College Catalog.

Syllabus Change Policy

Information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy, may be subject to change with advance notice.

Course Requirements

 

Credit and Contact Hours

Delivery Modality: Blended 

Semester Credits: 2

Course Description

This course provides learners with opportunities to integrate and apply prior nursing knowledge within the maternal-newborn specialty population. Course activities emphasize the application of evidence-based nursing principles to authentic maternal-newborn situations and the needs of diverse clients, families, and communities across the prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn periods. This course combines didactic instruction with 30 hours of Faculty Supervised Telehealth Experience (FSTE), completed under the supervision of Nightingale College nursing faculty.

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Apply culturally responsive, client- and family-centered nursing principles when caring for maternal-newborn clients across the prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn periods.
2. Apply evidence-based clinical judgment to assess maternal-newborn client needs, prioritize care, and determine safe, quality nursing interventions.
3. Implement effective communication and collaboration strategies to support maternal-newborn clients, families, and interprofessional team members in providing safe, coordinated care.
4. Integrate health promotion, disease prevention, and population-appropriate care principles into maternal-newborn nursing practice.
5. Demonstrate professional nursing behaviors, leadership, accountability, and reflective practice to support professional growth and quality care in the maternal-newborn setting.

Instructional Resources and Materials

Online Resources 

Giddens, J. F. (2025). Concepts for nursing practice (4th ed.). Elsevier. 

Perry, S. E., Lowdermilk, D. L., Cashion, K., Alden, K. R., Olshansky, E. F., & Hockenberry, M. J. (2023). Maternal child nursing care (7th ed.). Elsevier.

Online coursework (didactic modules via Sherpath): Adaptive modules and assignments delivering nursing concepts across the maternal-newborn population. Specific requirements posted in Canvas. 

This course has no live webinars and no HESI standardized exam.

Methods of Evaluation

Faculty Supervised Telehealth Experience (FSTE): Learners must complete 30 hours of approved, directly supervised telehealth experience. Required submissions include the FSTE Reporting Log and Preceptor Evaluation, Learner Evaluation of the Preceptor and FSTE Experience, and Final FSTE Reflection. Learners must attend and complete all 30 FSTE hours and earn an overall score of 77% or higher on the Preceptor Evaluation to pass the course, regardless of cumulative course grade.

Course Participation

Learners are expected to complete all coursework and complete all 30 required FSTE hours as described in Canvas. Attendance and active participation in all assigned FSTE activities are mandatory — all 30 hours must be completed to pass the course. FSTE hours are completed in real time under the direct supervision of Nightingale College nursing faculty serving as preceptor. Learners must follow all College, course, and faculty preceptor requirements.

Late Coursework Policy

Nightingale College has specific guidelines for the submission of late coursework. Please consult the College Catalog for this policy.

Grading System and Grading Scale

Completion of all 30 FSTE hours and achievement of an overall score of 77% or higher on the Preceptor Evaluation are required to pass the course, regardless of the learner's cumulative course grade.

A 73% (C) is required to pass a course and progress in the undergraduate academic programs. The final course grade is determined by the cumulative scores on all assigned coursework.

Failure to earn a score of 73% (C) or higher will prevent learners from progressing to the next level or graduating from the academic program and require the learners to repeat the course. Learners who fail to successfully complete a course on the third attempt will not be eligible to continue in the academic program and will be withdrawn from the College. If the course is a prerequisite for a higher-level course, the prerequisite must be completed before progressing in the academic program.

Grading Scale

Note: Grading is based on rounded percentages: decimals below .50 round down; decimals equal to or above .50 round up. See the College Catalog for definitions of Letter Status.

Computer and Technology Requirements

A laptop computer with wireless capability and Internet access is required for participating in online learning activities and completing course requirements. All learners are required to have access to a webcam and microphone for discussion and introduction videos. Please see College Catalog for specific requirements.

Participation in the Faculty Supervised Telehealth Experience (FSTE) requires reliable internet access, a functioning webcam and microphone, and access to the approved telehealth and documentation systems. Learners must participate from a quiet, private, and professional environment that protects client privacy and confidentiality.

Academic Integrity

Please refer to the College Catalog for the Nightingale College policy on Academic Integrity. As a learner of Nightingale College, you acknowledge the requirement for conducting yourself in a manner that demonstrates academic integrity and commitment to professional standards each semester by signing an honor code.

Integrity is the cornerstone of all academic and professional endeavors. Learners are expected to conduct themselves with utmost honesty and integrity while enrolled at the College. Any violation of these principles is considered academic dishonesty and consequences may include, but are not limited to, a failing grade for an assignment, a failing grade in a course, academic probation, or withdrawal from the academic program.