NUR 347 Dysrhythmias

Understanding NUR 347: Dysrhythmias in 2026

The NUR 347 course, titled "Adult Health & Illness II," is a pivotal component of nursing education, focusing on the intricate care of individuals and families navigating complex health-illness transitions. This course delves into various disease processes, with a significant emphasis on dysrhythmias, commonly known as arrhythmias. As of 2026, the curriculum has evolved to incorporate advanced diagnostic tools, therapeutic interventions, and evidence-based practices to equip nursing professionals with the expertise required to manage these critical conditions effectively.

Course Overview

NUR 347 is designed to build upon foundational nursing knowledge, introducing students to a spectrum of common disease processes, including dysrhythmias. The course aims to develop professional nursing roles by integrating clinical practice and prevention strategies. It emphasizes critical reasoning and the application of scientific knowledge to provide safe, patient-centered care. The curriculum includes lectures, case studies, concept maps, and written assignments to facilitate comprehensive learning.

Dysrhythmias: A Central Focus

Dysrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms resulting from abnormalities in the heart's electrical system. They can manifest as tachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate), bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate), or arrhythmias originating from the atria or ventricles. Understanding the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management strategies of dysrhythmias is crucial for nursing professionals.

Key Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of NUR 347, students are expected to:

• Clinical Practice and Prevention: Develop sound nursing judgment using expanding nursing and scientific knowledge, prioritization, and delegation skills. Apply an expanding range of knowledge to promote health and well-being and to prevent complications in adults experiencing illness and disease. Apply the nursing process to increasingly complex patient learning needs.

• Communication: Demonstrate professional, empathetic, and therapeutic communication skills in all learning situations.

• Critical Reasoning: Analyze nursing situations to plan and prioritize safe, effective, patient-centered nursing care using nursing knowledge, information technologies, and research evidence.

• Leadership: Apply principles of collaboration, delegation, and advocacy to manage safe patient care.

• Professionalism and Professional Values: Demonstrate professional behavior in all learning situations. Apply professional values and their associated behaviors to the practice of nursing. Apply ethical and legal principles and professional standards to nursing practice. Apply caring’s affective characteristics into patient-centered care and with other healthcare professionals.

• Global Health: Communicate knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills of the nursing profession in a variety of settings. Develop effective strategies to implement culturally appropriate care. Analyze the impact of health equity and social justice on nursing and health care in a variety of settings.

Assessment and Evaluation

The course employs a multifaceted assessment approach to evaluate student proficiency:

• Online Case Studies: Engagement with 22 case studies, each contributing to the overall grade, with the lowest two scores being dropped.

• Kaplan Focused Review Tests: Completion of eight tests related to course material, with a minimum passing score of 78% required for full credit.

• Quizzes and Exams: Regular quizzes and three major exams, including a comprehensive final exam, to assess knowledge retention and application.

• Kaplan Exam: A comprehensive exam covering all medical-surgical content, requiring a minimum score of 72% for full credit.

The total possible points in NUR 347 amount to 322, with specific point distributions for each assessment component.

Resources and Study Aids

To support learning, students are provided with various resources:

• Textbooks: "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems" by Lewis et al., and "Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX Examination" by LaCharity et al.

• Online Platforms: Access to Evolve Apply: RN Medical-Surgical Online Case Studies and Kaplan Nursing: Online Focused Review Tests & Integrated Testing EKG3.

• Supplementary Materials: Calipers for EKG interpretation and other recommended reference textbooks.

These resources are integral to mastering the complexities of dysrhythmias and other course content.

Conclusion

NUR 347 offers a comprehensive exploration of adult health and illness, with a significant focus on dysrhythmias. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application, the course prepares nursing professionals to adeptly manage patients with complex cardiac conditions. The curriculum's emphasis on critical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and patient-centered care ensures that graduates are well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern healthcare environments.

Below are sample Questions and Answers:

1. What is depolarization of cardiac cells?
Answer
Contraction
2. What is repolarization in cardiac cells?
Answer
relaxation
3. What is clinicalsignificance?
Answer
it means you need to do a really good evaluation of the patient
4. T or F the patient should be treated and not the rhythm?
Answer
TRUE
5. What are some clinical sx of decreased cardiac output?
Answer
-decreased BP
-Decrease O2 sat
-dizziness
-syncope
-palpitations
-cold and clammy skin
-diaphoresis
-pallor
-restlessness
-weakness
-fatigue
-chest or arm pain, numbness or tingling of arms
-feeling of impending doom