Main Content
Syllabus
NURS 458: Ethical Challenges in Health Care Informatics [3 SH (3,0)]: A case-based collaboratory designed for the exploration and analysis of the ethical dilemmas facing health care informatics practitioners.
Key to Semester Hour Designation: 3 SH (3,0) = 3 Semester Hours
3 semester hours in lecture, 0 semester hours in lab/clinical
Each semester hour in lecture = 50 minutes contact
Each semester hour in lab/clinical = 3 hours (or 180 minutes) contact
Therefore, this 3-credit course would meet for three (3) 50-minute lecture periods and zero (0) hours of clinical hours per week over a semester.
In general, you should plan on spending 9-12 hours per week on the course. For a more detailed look at what each lesson entails, as well as due dates for assignments and activities, see the Course Schedule.
Overview
This course is designed to explore the technological impacts creating the ethical dilemmas facing health care practitioners today. A case-based "collaboratory" is the primary learning strategy designed to foster understanding and facilitate deliberation over ethical issues. The collaboratory consists of faculty from multiple campuses, ethicists, and enrolled students interacting asynchronously to develop and apply appropriate ethical frameworks for the challenging health care informatics cases. This approach empowers the student's ability to deliberate over ethical issues. The course is appropriate for physicians, nurses, health care administrators, health care information systems officers, health care information system developers, and anyone else with an interest in the ethical issues in health care informatics.
As we followed the actual events or were entertained by the movie Apollo 13, we all watched the astronauts trying against all odds to bring their crippled spaceship back to earth. The speed of their travel was incomprehensible to most of us, and the task of bringing that spaceship back to earth seemed nearly impossible. They were experiencing a crisis never imagined by the experts at NASA; and they were making up their survival plan moment by moment. What brought them back to earth safely? Surely we must give credit to the technology and the space ship's ability to withstand the trauma it experienced. But what amazed us most were the traditional non-technological tools, skills, and supplies that were used in new and different ways to stabilize the spacecraft's environment and keep the astronauts safe while traveling toward their uncertain future.
This sense of constancy in the midst of change serves to stabilize our experience in many different life events and contributes to our survival of crisis and change. This rhythmic process is also vital to the health care system's stability and survival in the presence of the rapidly changing events of the Information Age.
Nobody can dispute the fact that the Information Age is changing health care in ways that will not be fully recognized and understood for years. The change is paradigmatic and every expert who addresses this change reminds health care professionals of the need to "go with the flow" of rapid change or be left behind.
As with any paradigm shift, a new way of viewing the world brings with it some of the enduring values of the previous worldview. As health care journeys into the brave new world of digital communications, it will bring along some familiar tools and skills recognized in the form of values, such as privacy, confidentiality, autonomy, and non-maleficence. While these basic values remain unchanged, the standards for living out these values will take on new meaning as health professionals are confronted with new and different moral dilemmas. Ethical decision-making frameworks will remain constant, but the context for examining these moral issues will become increasingly complex.
Our syllabus will provide you with some familiar ethical concepts to take with you on your challenging journey into the increasingly complex future of health care informatics. We will briefly define ethics and bioethics and examine the evolution of ethical approaches from the "Hippocratic ethic" era through "principlism" and to the current "anti-principlism" movement of ethical decision making. We encourage you to read more about these approaches as you review the cases presented in this course and as you journey further into the unfolding era of health care informatics.
Topical Outline
- Exploration of Ethical Frameworks
- Ethical Decision Making
- Professional Ethics, Codes of Conduct, and Standards of Care
- Advocacy as a Professional Responsibility
- Information Security and Intellectual Property
- Privacy Rights and Confidentiality
- Social Implications: Autonomy, Access, and Responsibility
- Technologies in Health Care informatics
- Computer-Based Medical Records
- Telehealth
- Decision Support Technology
- Bio-Informatics
- Global Electronic Health Care Data Sharing
- Collaborative Case Analyses and Application of Ethical Frameworks
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course you will be able to do the following:
- Explore models for ethics decision making and professional codes of conduct including advocacy and confidentiality.
- Identify and evaluate professional responsibilities for ethical use of health care informatics technology.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and intellectual responsibility.
- Examine the ethical implications of global health care informatics.
- Recognize ethical issues in health care informatics.
- Apply the concepts and theories of ethical analysis to ethical dilemmas in health care informatics.
- Synthesize an ethical framework for dealing with selected health care informatics dilemmas.
- Analyze practical ways of managing ethical problems in health care informatics.
- Work responsibly and effectively with teams and individuals.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze problems, propose solutions, and make responsible decisions by the means of critical thinking and moral reasoning.
Evaluation Methods (Dependent on Site)
Evaluation methods may include quizzes, examinations, written assignments, simulations, reflective journaling, care planning, and mid-course and final clinical performance evaluations.
Required Course Materials
For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website.
Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. It is very important that you purchase the correct materials. If your course requires one or more textbooks, you must have exactly the correct text required (edition and year).
Note: Course textbook (required and recommended) selections are dependent on program faculty and campus site. The College of Nursing uses the current APA criteria for all written assignments. The APA is listed as an optional material for purchase. Recommended APA formatting resources are available in the course for reference.
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
| Help | If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information about completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
Additional Software
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Buying Software section of the Course Materials page.
Technical Support
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Recommendations
When you embark on an online learning journey, you can typically begin wherever you want and progress in whatever fashion you choose. However, it has been our experience that learners would like some direction in getting started since it is easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of material available for the course. Please follow the Course Schedule below in order to complete your work and submit your assignments on time. Remember to visit the main discussion forum at least once a week. This is your forum to post questions and discuss course related matters with your peers and instructor. Remember, this is a course-related forum, not a place to chitchat (there's a Cyber Cafe for those situations)! This is also a place where your instructor will place comments and tips.
Course Requirements and Grading
Evaluation will be based on individual performance. The learner must submit the selected assignments that include the ability to analyze and synthesize case analyses done collaboratively by the experts participating in the course collaboratory.
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Percentage
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1
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Overview Questions |
10%
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2
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HITECH Act and HIPAA
Part 1: Questions and discussion (30 points) Part 2: NIH Privacy Awareness Course (10 points) |
10%
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3
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Comprehensive Ethical Decision Making Case Analysis and Presentation (Part 1) |
10%
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4
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Compare and contrast your case analysis with the expert analyses (Part 1) |
10%
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5
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Comprehensive Ethical Decision Making Case Analysis and Presentation (Part 2) |
15%
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6
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Compare and contrast your case analysis with the expert analyses (Part 2) |
15%
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7
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Own case scenario |
25%
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8
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Reflective Essay |
5%
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| Total possible points |
100%
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Grading Requirement
Students must achieve a letter grade of C or better (based on the Nese CON grading scale) in both theory and clinical components of all nursing courses in order to pass the course and progress in the nursing program. The faculty of record is responsible for assigning the final grade the student earns in the course and for ensuring the grade is recorded into the official University grade reporting system (LionPATH).
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Letter Grade
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Percentage
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A
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94-100
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A-
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90-93
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B+
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87-89
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B
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83-86
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B-
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80-82
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C+
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77-79
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C
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75-76
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D
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68-74
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F
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Below 68
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A student must achieve a minimal final course grade of 75% for successful completion of the course. Each individual examination score is reported to the hundredth place, e.g. 92.76, and not rounded up. Only the final course grade will be rounded up. A final course grade of X.50 will be rounded to the next highest whole number (example 72.50 = 73). A final course grade of X .49 would not round up (example 72.49 = 72).
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Please refer to the University Registrar's information about University grading policies.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS:
The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is committed to the academic success of every student so that they can fulfill their academic goals. Students are ultimately responsible for seeking assistance if experiencing academic difficulty and are encouraged to reach out to the course instructor, academic advisor, and/or the Director for Undergraduate Nursing Education for resources to aid with academic success. Students are encouraged to seek assistance early and use internal and external resources, such as tutoring, as necessary for success.
ACADEMIC PROGRESSION:
Students are expected to progress through the program in a timely manner in compliance with an individualized plan of study. One of the responsibilities of the RN to BSN Student Admissions and Standards Sub-Committee is to monitor the academic progression of students in the nursing program. The committee believes that the student is ultimately responsible for seeking assistance when experiencing academic difficulty. However, the student may need to know that their progress is being monitored and that the faculty is committed to helping the student achieve success. This plan for early identification and follow-up of students experiencing academic difficulty is designed to ensure that students are well informed about strategies for success, including university resources and assistance. Detailed information is available in the student handbook.
MAKE-UP OF ASSESSMENT METHODS
Assessment dates are scheduled and specified in the syllabus; therefore, it is expected that students will adjust their schedules to accommodate for assessment completion. Recognizing, however, that one cannot plan to avoid severe illness, family death, or a few other limited circumstances, make-up assessments and extended completion times will be given in exceptional circumstances.
Failure to communicate the absence before the assessment due date will result in a 10% deduction of the assessment score. The 10% penalty is calculated from the assessment's total possible points, not from the grade achieved on the assessment. (For example, if a student scored 80/100 on an assessment, 10 points will be deducted for failure to communicate the absence and the student would earn a 70/100 for the assessment.)
A plan for making up the assessment must be completed within ten days of the due date unless an alternative plan is developed with the faculty. If there is no communication received from the student within ten (10) days, the student may receive a zero on the assessment.
NURS 458 Course Schedule
- Course length:
- Spring and Fall Semesters: 16 weeks
- Summer Semester: 13 weeks
- Accelerated Format: 7.5 weeks
Activities are due by Sunday at 11:55 PM at the end of each week's timeframe below, unless otherwise noted.
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is "an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically." Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all coursework entirely on your own, using only sources your instructor has permitted. You may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source and specific queries, words, question, or phrases utilized.
You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work. Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete coursework and meet course deadlines.
Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves in jeopardy for other outcomes, which may include ineligibility for Dean's List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face the consequences from the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
Course Policies
Educational Equity
Penn State takes great pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, harassment, and/or incivility due to actual or perceived age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law) veteran status, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information or political ideas are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disability Accommodation Statement
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contact information for every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: See documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Students with disabilities participating in internship, practicum, student teaching, or other experiential learning opportunities as part of their degree requirements may also be eligible for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity. These accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, their University supervisor, and the site supervisor. Student Disability Resources can assist students with identifying potential barriers, facilitating accommodation requests, and coordinating with University supervisors to promote inclusive learning experiences.
Equity and Inclusion Statement
The faculty and staff of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in the classroom, within the University, and throughout the nursing profession. We respect and value the unique perspectives and experiences shaped by differences in culture, age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services, veteran status, marital or family status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, political beliefs, and other characteristics. By embracing these differences, we enrich the learning experience, advance the nursing profession, and support both personal and professional growth for all individuals.
Attendance, Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Attendance and participation in all scheduled classes is expected and will be monitored. Excessive absence can seriously affect a student’s success in passing this course.
- If an assessment event (examination, quiz, presentation or other form of assessment for grading) will be missed due to an unavoidable absence, the student must contact the instructor prior to the scheduled assessment event. (See Make-Up of Assessment Methods)
- Requests for missing class or an evaluative event due to reasons that are based on false claims may be considered violations of the policy on Academic Integrity and/or the Student Ethical Behavior Guidelines.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
- If extra credit assignments are offered, they must be offered to all students and should not be used to boost the grade of an individual student.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
- For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the Senate Committee on Student Life policy regarding managing classroom disruptions will be followed: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
Mandated Reporting
Penn State’s policies require faculty members, to share information about incidents of sex-based discrimination and harassment (discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation) with Penn State’s Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators and report all instances of suspected child abuse consistent with Penn State Policy AD72, regardless of whether the incidents are stated to the faculty in person or shared by students as part of their coursework. For more information regarding the University's policies and procedures for responding to reports of sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, please visit Penn State’s Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response website and for child abuse please visit AD72 Reporting Suspected Child Abuse for the full reporting process.
Course Materials and Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access to are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services, addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
Counseling and Psychological Services
The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is pleased to offer counseling services to all students. These services are aimed at providing time-limited professional counseling for personal and academic difficulties. Medication evaluations and assessment of required referrals can also be completed. There is no cost to students who use this service, and all records are confidential. They are NOT part of your school file. They are treated as health records and therefore are protected under federal law from being disclosed without your permission.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. The CAPS staff specialize in working with undergraduate and graduate students to help address concerns in a caring and supportive environment. Through group therapy, individual counseling, crisis intervention, and psychiatric services, CAPS can help students resolve personal concerns that may interfere with academic progress, social development, and satisfaction at Penn State. Some of the more common concerns include anxiety, depression, difficulties in relationships (friends, roommates, or family); sexual identity; lack of motivation or difficulty relaxing, concentrating or studying; eating disorders; sexual assault and sexual abuse recovery; and uncertainties about personal values and beliefs.
For general information, please see the Nursing Student Mental Health Guide. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Additional Course Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.
Senate approval: 2003
Revised: 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2011