NURS - Nursing (NURS)

NURS 301 Nursing Foundation

Credits 2. 1 Lecture Hour. 1 Lab Hour. Introduction to nursing skills including such activities as safety, assessment of vital signs, comfort measures, assistance with daily living activities, environmental concerns, positioning and transporting. We will become familiar with the nursing process, communication and documentation tools. An introduction to the simulation center is highlighted in this class. Orientation to clinical sites and expectations for clinical rotation, as well as mandatory clinical site requirements will be completed. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program or approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

NURS 305 Nursing Dimensions and Informatics

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. This course explores the concepts of informatics and professional dynamics in nursing. Basic computer competencies essential to nursing are introduced, along with skills required to locate and evaluate information (info literacy), arid process and communicate findings (info management) related to evidence-based nursing practice. The roles and behaviors of the professional nurse are also introduced. The influence of ethics and cultural/society issues on the nursing profession are explored as well as opportunities for personal and professional development. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program or approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

NURS 306 Foundations of Nursing Practice Theory

Credits 5. 5 Lecture Hours. Role of the professional nurse utilizing the nursing process as a systematic approach assisting individuals toward optimal health; discussion of the scope of human needs and fundamental principles of nursing concepts, nursing theories, health promotion strategies, health assessment techniques and communication skills in providing basic care for the adult. Prerequisites: Admission to the College of Nursing Program; concurrent enrollment and grade of C or better in NURS 307.

NURS 307 Foundations of Nursing Practice Clinical

Credits 3. 9 Lab Hours. Application of fundamental principles of nursing concepts, nursing theories, health promotion strategies, health assessment techniques and communication skills employed in providing basic care of the adult; implementation of the nursing process as a systematic approach by obtaining health histories, utilizing interviewing skills, performing physical and psychosocial assessments, establishing a baseline database and formulating initial nursing plans. Prerequisites: Admission to the College of Nursing Program; concurrent enrollment and grade of C or better in NURS 306.

NURS 312 Introduction to Pathophysiology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. An introduction to pathophysiological alterations in major regulatory mechanisms of the body. Provides a foundation for understanding general nursing practice, various diagnostic procedures and selected therapeutic regimens.

NURS 313 Nursing Fundamentals

Credits 5. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. An introduction to the scope of human needs, utilization of the nursing process as a systematic approach to meeting those needs and the role of the professional nurse in assisting individuals toward optimal health. Clinical settings are utilized in the application of fundamental concepts, principles of nursing and communication skills that are employed in providing basic client care. Prerequisite: Admission to the BSN Program.

NURS 314 Health Assessment

Credits 3. 1 Lecture Hour. 2 Lab Hours. Concepts and principles underlying assessment of the health status of individuals are presented. Emphasis is placed on interviewing skills, health histories, and the physical and psychosocial findings in the well person. Development of communication in the nurse-client relationship and assessment skills are included. Students implement the nursing process by obtaining health histories, performing physical and psychosocial assessments, establishing a database, and formulating initial nursing plans.

NURS 315 Nursing and the Aged

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. This course presents an overview of age-related changes including physical, emotional, social and environmental transitions in the aging family. Emphasis is placed on developmental patterns and health promotion in the population.

NURS 316 Pharmacology Principles

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Focuses on the basic drug classifications, concepts and principles of pharmacology, with special consideration for the nursing role in developing a comprehensive approach to the clinical application of drug therapy through the use of the nursing process. Nursing implications relative to the utilization of drug therapy are examined.

NURS 320 Adult Nursing I

Credits 6. 3 Lecture Hours. 3 Lab Hours. This course introduces the student to the use of the nursing process in the care of adults with chronic or non-complex illness. The course uses a systems approach to discuss the effects of illness on individual and family, and to examine the disruption of growth and development patterns across the lifespan from young adult to senior years, emphasizing the nursing process to assist adults in reaching their optimal level of wellness. The course includes a clinical laboratory to allow the student the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to clinical practice in diverse adult populations. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in NURS 306, NURS 307, and NURS 312; grade of C or better in NURS 316 or concurrent enrollment.

NURS 323 Nursing Care of Women, Families and Newborns

Credits 4. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Study of childbearing families and women’s health in normal and high-risk situations; role of the nurse in meeting health needs of women, families and their newborns; supervised clinical experiences and/or simulation experiences in the application of the nursing process in meeting these health needs; promotes acquisition of skills in caring for women, families and newborns during uncomplicated and/or complicated health experiences in a variety of settings. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in NURS 306 or NURS 313; grade of C or better in NURS 307 or NURS 314; grade of C or better in NURS 312, NURS 316, and NURS 320.

NURS 385 Directed Studies

Credits 1 to 3. 1 to 3 Other Hours. Individually supervised study in subject matter to be arranged with faculty. Prerequisite: Admission to the College of Nursing or approval from the associate dean of academic affairs.

NURS 386 Directed Clinical Studies

Credits 1 to 3. 1 to 3 Other Hours. Individually supervised study focusing on clinical skills in focused areas to be arranged with faculty. Prerequisite: Admission to the College of Nursing or approval from the associate dean of academic affairs.

NURS 405 Selected Topics in Nursing

Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour. A broad introduction to selected topics of current interest in the role of professional nursing.

NURS 411 Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. A study of the principles and methodology of research in nursing practice, with emphasis on evidence based practice research; interpret research, identify its methods and significance, and analyze findings in order to be a consumer of nursing research and practitioner of evidence based practice. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in NURS 306 or NURS 313; grade of C or better in NURS 307 or NURS 314; grade of C or better in NURS 312 and NURS 316, or with approval from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

NURS 412 Care of Mental Health Clients

Credits 4. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Demonstrates the relevance of psychosocial nursing concepts to all areas of professional practice. Provides a conceptual integration of the nursing process, theories and research from psychosocial sciences and humanities as these relate to the care of persons with mental disorders. Clinical experience provides an opportunity for application of psychosocial concepts and methods in using the nursing process to promote optimal levels of wellness for individuals, families and target groups. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in NURS 306 or NURS 313; grade of C or better in NURS 307 or NURS 314; grade of C or better in NURS 312 and NURS 316.

NURS 413 Nursing Care of Children and Families

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. A study of the factors influencing health promotion, protection and maintenance of infants, children and adolescents; examination of family theory, growth and development, primary health care, and acute, chronic, and terminal conditions; clinical experience in caring for healthy, at-risk, acutely and chronically ill infants, children, adolescents and their families. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in NURS 306 or NURS 313, NURS 307 or 314, NURS 312, NURS 316, and NURS 320.

NURS 420 Adult Nursing II

Credits 6. 3 Lecture Hours. 3 Other Hours. Critical thinking and problem-solving strategies for the care of adults with acute or complex illness and injury; examination of effects of acute illnesses in relation to the injury and relation to the individual’s developmental stage, culture, and gender; building on Nursing Care of Adults I, a systems approach is used to analyze and intervene in alterations to the health of the individual and family and to help them reach their optimal level of wellness; includes clinical laboratory to allow the opportunity to integrate theoretical concepts to clinical practice in diverse populations. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in NURS 320 or concurrent enrollment.

NURS 421 Care of Community Health Clients

Credits 5. 5 Lecture Hours. The nursing process is utilized in the study of community/public health nursing practice and common health problems encountered in community settings. Health promotion, maintenance, counseling and coordination of care are utilized in providing care to individuals, families, aggregates and populations in community settings. Principles and skills of public health nursing practice are used to assess a community’s health and diagnose community health needs. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in NURS 306 or NURS 313, NURS 307 or NURS 314, NURS 312, NURS 316 and NURS 320.

NURS 424 Professional Issues

Credits 2. 2 Lecture Hours. The purpose of this course is to introduce health professions students to professional and ethical/legal issues in everyday practice in health care, develop self-awareness skills about their own values and those of others, and provide them with tools to engage in self-reflective practice leading to enhancement of patient-centered care and collaborative teamwork. Prerequisites: Admission to the College of Nursing.

NURS 430 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice

Credits 5. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Other Hours. Course reflects content that will prepare senior students for transition of entry into practice. Theories and principles concerning human behavior in organizations, with emphasis on leadership roles encountered in professional nursing practice. Senior nursing students in collaboration with nursing faculty refine coordination of care for a diverse population of clients. A clinical practicum will focus on synthesizing and refining skills in the delivery and management of nursing care to various groups of clients. Concepts of clinical decision-making, and inter-professional dynamics are incorporated in the context of legal, ethical, and evidence-based practice. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in NURS 305, NURS 306 or NURS 313, NURS 307 or NURS 314, NURS 315, NURS 320, NURS 411, NURS 412, and NURS 420.

NURS 431 Care of Vulnerable Populations

Credits 1 to 3. 1 to 3 Lecture Hours. Principles of caring for vulnerable populations; includes characteristics of the vulnerable, clinical issues associated with caring for individuals from vulnerable populations, social justice and resilience; activities include development of care plans for the vulnerable, teaching projects and capacity building; option to utilize 16 hours of community health clinical time to complete a mini-immersion experience. Co-requisite: NURS 421.

NURS 432 Relations in Healthcare: Teamwork and Communciation

Credits 1 to 3. 1 to 3 Lecture Hours. Preparation for inter and intra professional teamwork and communication to improve the culture for professional collaboration with a shared mental model for excellence in quality and safety; goal for effective teamwork and communication is higher quality, safer patient care through highly effective medical teams that optimize the use of resources, information, and people to achieve the best clinical outcomes for patients.

NURS 434 Case Studies in Patient Safety and Quality

Credits 2. 2 Lecture Hours. Application of evidence based quality improvement and risk reduction tools and strategies to various case studies with the goal of improving patient safety, outcome, and quality of care; case study evaluation of nursing practice and evidence based practice recommendations which highlight the nurse’s professional role in patient safety and quality; application of intra/interprofessional communication and teamwork skills to promote a safe environment for healthcare delivery. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

NURS 456 Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Health Care

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. This course is an introduction to the practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)/health care. It will explore both conventional health care and CAM allowing the student to examine each of the entities to gain an understanding of what each practice offers. This knowledge will allow the future health care professional to better inform and facilitate the individual’s move toward or maintenance of optimal health and health practices. Alternative health care modalities, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage therapy, will be discussed. Websites and online resources pertinent to the topic will be explored and analyzed, including the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine within the National Institutes of Health.

NURS 457 Introduction to Concepts of Forensic Nursing

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. This course provides an introduction to forensic science as a collaborative approach to criminal investigation. General concepts and principles of forensic science will be explored with an emphasis on the role of the nurse working with victims of violence. Content to be addressed includes: forensic investigation, evidence collection and management, mechanisms of injury and death using post-mortem forensic analysis, interpersonal crimes of violence, and forensic nursing roles.

NURS 460 Nursing Dimensions and Informatics for the RN

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. This course is designed to build on the informatics knowledge and skills of the practicing nurse. Emphasis is placed on the application of the ANA Standards for Nursing Informatics and Professional Practice and incorporation of information technology to support patient care and clinical decision-making. The course will assist the students to develop the professional role by incorporation of the philosophy of nursing, nursing theory, and clinical reasoning. The nurse’s role in interprofessional practice will be explored. The influence of ethics and cultural/society issues on the nursing profession are explored as well as opportunities for personal and professional development.

NURS 461 Application of Evidence Based Practice for the RN

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. This course is a study of basic research methodologies and an in depth examination of the professional nurse’s role in the application of evidence into clinical practice.

NURS 462 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for the RN

Credits 4. 4 Lecture Hours. Students will demonstrate the ability to incorporate the principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology in planning healthcare for individuals across the lifespan.

NURS 463 Health Assessment for the RN

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. In this course, the concepts and principles underlying assessment of the health status of culturally diverse individuals are presented. An emphasis is placed on reviewing and renewing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills to obtain health histories and discover physical and psychosocial findings in the well person. The role of genetics in family histories is examined. Successful completion of the course requires students to successfully complete a head-to-toe health assessment examination with accurate documentation of the findings.

NURS 464 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan for the RN

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. This course emphasizes the role of the nurse in health promotion across multiple settings with diverse populations. The student will apply principles of teaching/learning, case management, and genetics/genomics to improve the health of general and vulnerable populations.

NURS 465 Care of the Older Adult for the RN

Credits 2. 2 Lecture Hours. The student will develop competencies and knowledge necessary for providing care and promote health aging in the older adult.

NURS 466 Community Health for the RN

Credits 5. 4 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. In this course, students are introduced to community-based health care of culturally diverse populations. The role of the professional nurse as part of an interprofessional team in health promotion, disease prevention, and management of chronic health problems in community settings is explored. Students apply critical reasoning and information technology skills to develop and implement evidence-based projects that positively impact the quality of life of populations. Practicum experiences are individualized.

NURS 467 Leadership and Management for the RN

Credits 5. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. In this course, theories and principles of human behavior in organizations are examined, including an exploration of leadership roles in professional nursing practice. The role of regulatory agencies in the provision of quality health care is explored. Students will participate in the evaluation and planning for quality improvement using nurse sensitive indicators. The students will discern the nurse’s role in reducing the financial cost of health care. Practicum experiences are individualized.

NURS 468 Professional Practice Issues for the RN

Credits 2. 2 Lecture Hours. Professional practice issues such as those related to political action, socio-legal concerns, cultural diversity, and ethics are explored with an emphasis on the advocacy role of the nurse. The importance of the nurse leader as a role model for continued professional growth through lifelong learning is emphasized.

NURS 481 Seminar

Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour. . Exploration of the nature of nursing scholarship along with related research, clinical and educational career opportunities; discussion of various topics related to leadership, research and ethics as it relates to nursing. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Admission to the BSN Honors program.

NURS 489 Special Topics In...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. 0 to 4 Lab Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of nursing. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program or approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

NURS 491 Research

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of a doctorally prepared nursing faculty member; preparation for careers in research. May be taken for credit up to two hours. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.