Nursing (NURS)
Senior Comprehensive Exam (cr)
This course is an introduction to professional nursing. The interprofessional healthcare team will be explored. The roles of both student nurses and professional nurses in person-centered, ethical, holistic, compassionate, and safe and effective care will be introduced. Observation of a Registered Nurse is a requirement of this course.
An introduction into the complexities of the healthcare environment and the role of nurses and other professionals at the micro- and macro-levels will be discussed. The healthcare environment within the United States and globally will be outlined to include the structure, healthcare informatics, telecommunication, and other technologies used in health care. An introduction into the financial structure of the system will be provided as well as the regulatory and accrediting bodies that effect health care. The roles of both student nurses and professional nurses in participating in safety, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice initiatives within multi-disciplinary teams at the micro-systems level will be emphasized. (WC)
This course will provide the student with knowledge and skills basic to health assessment in the nursing profession. The course emphasizes critical thinking skills required for accurate collection and analysis of client health information. This course provides opportunities for enhancement of physical assessment skills.
This course explores the basic mechanisms underlying illness and disease. Pathophysiological changes that occur within the individual in the presence of dysfunction or disease of selected systems are presented with the rationale for the planning of nursing interventions. Relevant risk factors, epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, variations across the lifespan and clinical manifestations will be emphasized.
This course utilizes a patient-centered and holistic framework to provide students with a nursing foundation focused on wellness and disease prevention. Communication techniques and technology are included in the course.
The knowledge of nursing science acquired in Foundations of Nursing course will be applied in the laboratory, simulation, and direct clinical settings. Students will develop beginning nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide safe and effective care to patients. Wellness and disease prevention will be implemented.
An introduction to the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drug therapy are outlined. This course will emphasize the safe administration of drug therapy and will prepare students for safe administration of oral, topical, ophthalmic, and ear preparations during the Foundations Clinical course. Specific prototypes of selected drug classifications provide a framework for understanding the action, use, side effects, and nursing implications of drug therapy that will continue in Pharmacology II. The nurse's role in the administration, assessment of drug effects, and patient education is emphasized.
This course will prepare the nursing student for safe administration of medication therapy. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drug therapy are outlined. This course emphasizes the action, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, interactions, precautions, and nursing implications of medication classes. The learner will utilize clinical thinking for safe and effective medication management. Medication dosage calculations will be included. (VC)
The role of the nurse in the management of chronic diseases and the prevention of negative sequelae will be explored. Person-centered, ethical, holistic, and safe and effective nursing care will be emphasized.
The knowledge of nursing science acquired in Nursing Care of the Adults will be applied in the laboratory, simulation, and direct clinical settings with a focus on chronic illness. The student will demonstrate beginning competency of a nurse in the care of the client, including participation in interprofessional and professional nursing care. Selected cultural, legal, ethical, and economic principles pertinent to the clinical experiences will be applied.
Care of families during childbirth is discussed including normal and complicated deliveries. Nursing care of the newborn infant is included. Acute and chronic conditions of children are introduced in this course. Evidence-based pediatric care is explored in the context of growth, development, and health promotion. Legal, ethical, cultural, social, and economic concepts related to maternal and pediatric nursing are outlined in this course.
Theoretical concepts from NURS-3500 are applied to the care of obstetrical and pediatric patients and their families. Students care for patients with acute and chronic health problems and also provide health promotion activities in a variety of acute and community settings. Emphasis is placed on the clinical application of evidence-based nursing knowledge and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient outcomes.
This course provides a holistic and family centered approach to the care of infants, children, and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on normal growth and development and common pediatric disorders.
This course provides a family-centered, holistic approach to nursing care in the maternal and newborn population. Topics include fertility awareness, gynecological concerns, pregnancy, and fetal development. Emphasis is placed on nursing care during labor and delivery, postpartum and the neonatal period. Other ideas: The nurse's role in assuring coordination, integration, and continuity of care is investigated. Integration of the physical, behavioral, psychological, spiritual, socioeconomic, and environmental factors that influence patient centered care is explored.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drug therapy are discussed to provide a basic understanding of the patient's reaction to a drug both therapeutically and adversely in order to predict potential drug interactions. Internal and external environmental factors affecting drug therapy are assessed to provide a basis for therapeutic nursing interventions. Specific prototypes of selected drug classifications provide a framework for understanding the action, use, side effects, and nursing implication of drug therapy. The nurse's role in the administration, assessment of drug effects, and patient education are emphasized as well as legal and ethical responsibilities. NURS-3300 (VC)
This course will allow the nursmg student to apply theoretical concepts from the specialty classes of NURS-3530 (maternal/newborn care), NURS-3520 (pediatric care), and NURS-3800 (mental health care). Laboratory and simulated patient experiences related to these courses will be provided. Direct clinical experiences with at least one specialty area will be included in this course. Emphasis is placed on the clinical application of evidence-based nursing knowledge and interprofessional collaboration to improve patient outcomes. Students must have successfully completed all Level I nursing courses in order to take this course. Co-requisites: NURS-3530, NURS-3520, NURS-3800
This course presents principles of communication as an intervention in developing therapeutic relationships with clients from various psychiatric settings. Mental health concepts and selected theoretical frameworks are used to understand adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviors across the lifespan. These frameworks and diagnostic classification systems are used to provide an evidence-based rationale for nursing interventions and other therapeutic actions. Students engage in critical thinking to examine the legal and ethical roles of the mental health nurse.
The nursing care of adult clients with acute and complex illnesses is the focus of this course. Clinical judgment skills needed to provide regenerative and restorative nursing care for these clients will be emphasized. Concepts of intracranial regulation, perfusion, clotting, and acid-base balance will be included. Co-requisite: NURS-4110
Theoretical concepts from NURS-4100, Nursing Care of Adults II, are applied in the laboratory, simulation, and direct clinical setting. Students will demonstrate clinical judgment to provide nursing care to clients experiencing acute conditions and illnesses. There will be a focus on regenerative and restorative nursing care. Co-requisite: NURS-4100
Concepts related to improving healthcare in local, regional, national, and global populations will be explored. Emphasis is placed on health promotion and disease management of populations. Concepts of advocacy, policy, and care coordination to improve equitable population health outcomes are included. The roles of professional nursing in the identification, prioritization, and implementation of interventions to meet public health needs are discussed. (OC)
Concepts and theories from NURS-4200, Population-Based Health Care, will be applied to the care of populations and individuals in the community setting. Students are provided opportunities for interprofessional collaboration in the provision of healthcare for diverse populations. (WC)
Research, evidence-based practice and information literacy will be explored to advance the scholarship of nursing. The quality improvement process and its relationship to safety will be explored. Designs and methods for research will be discussed. Analysis, interpretation, and application of nursing research will be emphasized.
Principles of communication as an intervention in developing therapeutic relationships with patients from varying age groups in psychiatric settings are presented. Mental health concepts and selected theoretical frameworks are used to understand adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviors in response to psychological conditions. These frameworks and designated diagnostic classification systems are used to provide an evidence-based rationale for nursing interventions and other therapeutic actions. Students engage in critical thinking to examine the role of the nurse in psychiatric mental health practice and explore mental health promotion, disease prevention, and community resources, as well as economic, legal, and ethical issues. (OC)
Theoretical concepts from NURS-4300 and nursing therapeutics are applied in the care of patients who have psychiatric disorders. Acute and community-based clinical experiences provide opportunities for students to participate in interdisciplinary team planning, interventions, group therapy sessions, and other selected clinical experiences.
The nursing care of patients with complex acute illnesses is the focus of this course. Advanced concepts are applied to critical care patients as well as other complex patient populations. The critical decision-making skills and abilities needed to provide nursing care of these patients will be emphasized. The use of advanced technological support across the lifespan is presented. Legal, ethical, cultural, and economic principles associ-ated with the care of patients with complex needs will be included in this course.
Theoretical concepts from NURS-4500 are applied in a clinical setting. Critical thinking for effective decision-making is demonstrated to provide nursing interventions with patients experiencing complex acute conditions and diseases. Emphasis is placed on advanced clinical assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration. Use of advanced technology therapeutics is demonstrated in the acute clinical setting.
Professional identity and leadership will be the focus of this course. Theories related to organizational behavior,systems, change, resilience, decision-making, teamwork, and collaboration will be explored. Economics and safety will be implemented.
Legal and ethical issues related to nursing are examined. Laws and ethical principles that guide professional nursing practice in the current health care system are emphasized. Critical thinking and the concepts learned in the nursing program will be used to analyze areas of ethical decision-making in clinical practice. Practical application of ethical decision making will be included. (PI)
The nursing care of adult clients with acute and chronic complex illnesses is the focus of this course. Advanced concepts are applied to adult clients with critical care needs as well as other complex needs. The key concepts presented in this course include grief, loss, palliative care, and end of life care. Co-requisite: NURS-4810
Theoretical concepts from NURS-4800, Nursing Care of Adults Ill, are applied in the laboratory, simulation, and direct clinical setting. Students will demonstrate clinical judgment for clients with complex chronic illnesses. Person-centered care, safety, effective communication, interprofessional collaboration, and effective communication is emphasized. Co-requisite: NURS-4800
Synthesis is designed to assist students in assimilating core nursing content as they prepare for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and enter practice. The content in this course promotes student success by providing opportunities to improve and develop study skills through guided intense preparation and interactive critical thinking activities.
This precepted capstone clinical course prepares the student for the professional nursing role and assists in the transition to nursing practice by providing students with the opportunity to synthesize knowledge, concepts, and skills learned in previous courses. Students will use critical thinking skills and evidence-based practice to promote person-centered nursing. Emphasis is placed on the role of the nurse to deliver ethical; holistic; compassionate; and safe and effective nursing care.