NUR 190 – Orientation, Requirements & Success Roadmap

Instructor Background

• Name not explicitly stated in transcript; referred to as “Flexis / Lexon” (possible audio glitch)
• Career span: > 14 years at Xavier University (faculty in BSN & MSN programs; designed & taught online courses)
• Clinical résumé
– Medical-Coronary ICU
– Medical-Surgical & Cardiac Step-down
– Emergency Room (ER)
– Community Health (incl. COVID-19 vaccination work)
– Mental Health & Addiction Nursing
• Has been at current school ≈ 1.5 years; commutes only 4 min – “I love what I do”
• Teaching philosophy
– Sees self as facilitator/coach; on students’ “same team”
– Open-door attitude: available before & after class; will arrange extra help when needed
– Values life-long learning and shares new knowledge continually
• Personal note: slight difficulty hearing soft voices in large groups ⇒ students should minimize side-chatter & speak up when asking questions

Course Placement & Purpose (NUR 190*)

• Described as unlike any previous nursing course
• Primary goals
– Comprehensive review of first 3 terms’ content
– Develop test-taking strategies for NCLEX / HESI (how to read, deconstruct & answer questions)
– Identify individual knowledge gaps and remediate them
• Focused weekly themes (e.g., Coordination of Care, Safety & Infection Control, Pharmacology, Professional Role)
• No traditional unit exams; assessment is through practice tests, quizzes, concept maps, self-awareness worksheets & HESI exit metrics

Key Dates & Events

• All critical dates/times compiled on a one-page “Blue & Green Calendar” – students urged to print & post it
• NCLEX-style intensive “N-CLEX Weekend” (a mandatory 2-day review)
– Dates: August 16 & 17 (08:30–16:00)
– Counts as clinical hours; absence not excused
• Labor Day weekend – No class on Sept 1 (Fri) & Sept 2 (Sat)
• Boot Camps (optional but incentivized)
– 6 total contact hours (any combination of sessions) earns a 200200 NCLEX voucher
– Varied faculty & times; cameras ON & student visibly present required for credit

Required Resources & Materials

• No hard-copy textbook/workbook provided this term
• Students must print their own assignment sheets & concept-map templates (≈ 300 pages across all classes)
• Digital platforms
– Evolve / HESI: practice exams, adaptive quizzes, dosage-calc modules
– Saunders NCLEX Review (esp. Chapter 4 – test-taking strategies)
– Course “Documents” folder (self-awareness template, concept-map PDFs, procedure templates)
• Recommendation: read Saunders Ch. 4 ASAP, then complete linked practice questions

Major Course Components

  1. Evolve Adaptive Quizzes (EIQs)
    • 8 total (≈ 300–600 Q each); each aligned with weekly theme
    • Intended pace: 1 per week; technically all due at term end but strong warning against procrastination
    • Count ≈ 50 % of comprehensive HESI success rate

  2. Weekly Online Quizzes (5 total)
    • ≈ 10 Q; 30–4030–40 min; pass-code released the Thursday before due date

  3. Self-Awareness Assignment (weekly)
    • Steps per practice test
    – Take assigned HESI practice exam (see calendar for exact title)
    – Screenshot score & test date (any score acceptable)
    – Select 5 missed items (each on a DIFFERENT concept)
    – Complete Self-Awareness Worksheet:
    1. Why did I miss this item?
    2. What did I learn from the rationale?
    – Create a corresponding concept map/procedure sheet/med chart for EACH item
    • Templates available under Course Documents:
    – Disease Concept Map
    – Medication Chart
    – Procedure/Skill Sheet
    • Submit worksheet + 5 maps before class Tuesday (portal remains open until Tue 23:59 for upload grace)

  4. Math / Dosage-Calculation Competency
    • Occurs Week 2 (practice in Evolve module)
    • May substitute medication maps if math-only items missed

  5. Professional Role Activities
    • Self-reflection & professional-conduct exercises (details TBA)

Grading & Feedback Practices

• Instructor manually transfers grades from external portals ⇒ may lag up to 1 week (esp. with 60 students × 8 EIQs)
• Bulk grade update planned just before mid-term
• Will notify class via mass email when grades posted

Communication Protocols

• Weekly class-wide email on Thu/Fri (may include supplemental PPTs, study guides, extra readings)
• Students instructed to create dedicated email folders (e.g., “180”, “190”) to archive all faculty messages & attachments
• Faculty will NOT answer queries whose answers are already available in syllabus/calendar (“teach accountability”) – check resources first
• Office hours: before/after class; additional by appointment; very open to questions once preparation evident

Attendance, Punctuality & Professionalism

• Tardiness: arriving even 1 min late = tardy (mirrors clinical standards where 07:00 shift means ON UNIT at 07:00)
• Submission deadlines strict; late uploads = zero unless prior arrangement
• Ethical expectations
– Own mistakes; honesty > avoidance (“admit it & fix it”)
– No fabrication of excuses; integrity central to nursing reputation
• Illustrative story: renewing nursing license after 23:59 on Halloween blocked work eligibility – demonstrates real-world impact of missed deadlines
• Nursing has ranked #1 most-trusted profession every year since 1976 except 2001 (post-9/11 firefighters surpassed)

Classroom Climate & Learning Strategies

• Relaxed atmosphere; encourages dialogue, sharing experiences & peer support
• Students urged to keep momentum from prior term – avoid “senioritis”
• Heavy emphasis on active NCLEX-style question practice; in-class sessions will dissect sample items (“pyramid points,” Maslow, safety, etc.)
• Recommended Habit: read Saunders Ch. 4 repeatedly; apply same strategies in NUR 185 & future courses
• Faculty will delete answer slides from shared PowerPoints to foster in-class discussion/problem solving

Technical Logistics & Platform Tips

• Evolve self-enrollment code displayed in class; mandatory to register & unlock practice tests
• Complete each practice test fully until green check-mark appears; partial = “not completed”
• Adaptive tests allow “Save & Exit”; progress preserved
• Boot-camp attendance auto-logged; faculty can audit list
• Use Evolve navigation path: HESI > Practice Exams (NOT “Course”) for each weekly assignment

Accommodations & Student Support

• Students requiring testing accommodations must email documentation ASAP to arrange settings before any exam
• Instructor open to modifying schedule/templates to improve usability (solicits feedback first 2–3 weeks)

Printing / Cost Concerns

• Acknowledges burden of printing large packet (~300 pages across courses)
• School policy currently shifted cost to students; instructor empathetic but cannot change rule
• Tips: print double-sided, use campus quota where possible, save electronic copies to annotate digitally

Miscellaneous Anecdotes & Reminders

• Instructor suffered deep leg laceration from couch staple (used to demo adipose tissue to class) – illustrates real-world first-aid relevance
• HESI practice categories include: Dosage Calculation, Pharmacology, Fundamentals, OB, Psych, PN Comprehensive, etc.; some OB/Peds banks may be absent
• Boot-camp tracking: camera must show student (not ceiling fan) for attendance credit
• Professional email etiquette: subject lines & clear questions speed response
• If portal errors occur (e.g., OB banks missing), notify instructor – alternate resources will be emailed

What You Can Expect From The Instructor

• Well-prepared, supportive, approachable
• Timely weekly communication (Thu/Fri emails)
• Professionalism & respect at all times
• Flexibility within policy limits (willing to adjust workload/tools if consensus shows need)
• Rich bank of practice questions drawn from 17 years’ teaching – will share & discuss extensively in class

What The Instructor Expects From You

• Punctuality, preparedness, active participation
• Use provided resources before asking questions
• Maintain professional conduct & integrity
• Stay current with weekly workload (one EIQ + self-awareness + quiz) – procrastination is self-sabotage
• Communicate early if struggling; the instructor is “on your side” and wants to help

End-of-Orientation Take-Aways

• Initial overwhelm is normal; once weekly rhythm established, course is manageable
• Central mantra: PRACTICE NCLEX-STYLE QUESTIONS + ANALYZE YOUR ERRORS + REMEDIATE WITH CONCEPT MAPS
• Everything (dates, links, templates) lives in THREE places: 1) calendar, 2) syllabus, 3) course documents – cross-check them
• Success in NUR 190 will directly boost performance in NUR 180/185 and on NCLEX licensure exam

*(Course number sometimes referenced as 180/185/190; context indicates current focus is “190” review course.)