Nursing (NURS)
Senior Comprehensive Exam (cr)
Introduction to Professional Nursing (1) (B) This course is an introduction to professional nursing. The interprofessional healthcare team will be explored. The history of nursing is included in this course. 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.
Introduction to the Healthcare Environment (2) (F) 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)
Clinical Nursing Assessment (3) (F) 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.
Pathophysiology (3) (F) 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.
Foundations of Nursing (3) (F) 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.
Foundations of Nursing Practice: Clinical (3) (F) 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.
Pharmacology I (2) (F) 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.
Pharmacology (4) (F) 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)
Nursing Care of Adults I (3) (S) 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.
Nursing Care of Adults I: Clinical (2) (S) 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.
Maternal-Child Nursing (4) (S) 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.
Maternal-Child Nursing: Clinical Laboratory (2) (S) 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.
Pediatric Care (2) (S) 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.
Maternal/Newborn Care (2) (S) 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.
Pharmacology II (2) (S) 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)
Specialty Nursing: Clinical (2) (S) 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 mcluded 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
Mental Health Care (2) (S) 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.
Nursing Care of Adults II (3) (F) 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
Nursing Care of Adults II: Clinical (1) (F) 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
Population-Based Health Care (3) (F) Concepts and theories related to providing health care to various groups (aggregates) of patients in the community, state, nation, and world are explored. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, maintenance and restoration of health, and the prevention of disease. Environmental factors and epidemiology are integrated with historical, political, social, cultural, and economic factors to understand the nature and practice of public health nursing. The roles of nurses and the nursing profession in the identification, prioritization, and implementation of measures to meet public health needs are discussed.
Population-Based Health Care: Clinical Laboratory (2) (F) Concepts and theories from NURS-4200 are applied to the care of various groups of patients in the community. Students are provided opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in the provision of health care for culturally diverse populations.
Research, Quality Improvement, and Evidence-Based Practice (3) (F) The relationship and linkages between research, quality improvement (QI), and evidence-based practice (EBP) will be explored. Research, QI, and EBP methodology and basic designs will be outlined including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Students will demonstrate the ability to locate and critique selected research, QI, and EBP project reports. Levels of evidence will be discussed in the context of effective critique, and the application of evidence in the clinical environment will be discussed. Appropriate dissemination methods will be applied in the context of course projects.
Mental Health Nursing (3) (F) 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)
Mental Health Nursing: Clinical Laboratory (2) (F) 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.
Nursing of the Patient with Complex Acute Needs (3) (S) 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.
Nursing of the Patient with Complex Acute Needs: Clinical Laboratory (2) (S) 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.
Nursing Leadership and Management in Nursing (3) (S) Leadership within the profession of nursing is discussed in the context of the current and future healthcare system. The role of the nurse as leader and manager of a healthcare team is examined from the context of micro- and macro-systems. Theories and research related to organizational behavior, management, leadership, change, decision-making, and group process will be explored.
Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Nursing (3) (S) Professional, legal, and ethical issues related to nursing practice are discussed. Laws and ethical principles that guide professional nursing practice in the current and evolving healthcare environment are emphasized. Distinctions between the legal and ethical basis for nursing actions that influence decision-making are discussed. Other issues related to professional behavior and aspects of finding and working in a nursing position will be outlined. Critical thinking and the concepts learned in the nursing program will be synthesized and used to analyze each of these areas of decision-making in professional practice. (PI)
Nursing Care of Adults II (3) (F) 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
Nursing Care of Adults III: Clinical (2) (F) 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 (1) (S) Synthesis into nursing practice 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.
Capstone: Clinical (2) (S) 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.