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Course Descriptions

NURS 110 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING CONCEPTS
This course introduces students to the profession of nursing. Emphasis is placed on the core values and beliefs that are central to nursing including integrity, caring presence, ethical behaviors, self-development, and professional identity. Focus is placed on concepts necessary to provide safe, quality patient-centered care.

NURS 208 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
This course introduces the student to altered processes of human physiology. An emphasis is placed on exploring changes of biological process of the body and the effects on homeostasis. Alterations of health problems are studied along with the associated clinical manifestations and treatments. Manifestations of disease, risk factors for disease, and the principles of pathology underlying illness and injury to therapeutic nursing interventions and outcomes will be discussed.

Corequisites: NURS 220, 230, 232

NURS 210 PHARMACOLOGY
This course introduces concepts of pharmacology to the nursing student. Concepts of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, medication administration, contraindications, and indications of drugs and drug classes will be introduced in a systems-based manner.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 220, 230

Corequisites: NURS 327

NURS 220 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
This course provides the framework for preparing students to perform comprehensive health assessments on adult clients. Emphasis is placed on taking a thorough nursing history, performing physiological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual assessments, as well as identification of stressors and health risks. This course will focus on concepts such as patient-centered care, caring presence, safety, communication, and professionalism.

Corequisites: NURS 208, 230, 332

NURS 230 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
This course provides an introduction to nursing and roles of the nurse in micro- and macro-systems, as well as the concepts of the profession related to patient centered care. Emphasis is placed on the role of caring presence in providing patient centered care in which the theoretical foundation for the nursing process is emphasized. An introduction to the nursing process provides a decision-making framework to assist students in developing effective clinical judgment.

Corequisites: NURS 208, 220, 332

NURS 323 NURSING RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
This course is designed is to explore nursing research, theory, and evidence-based practice. Emphasis is placed on research critique and theory utilization in professional nursing practice. Evidence is used to answer clinical questions relevant to nursing practice. Research utilization skills are explored with a focus on the integration of current scientific evidence, use of clinical reasoning, identification of patient preferences, within a caring presence framework.

NURS 327 ADULT HEALTH NURSING
This course provides students with the information, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to provide safe, high-quality evidence-based care to individuals from early through late adulthood. The course will emphasize application of the nursing process to adult patients with common acute and chronic health problems using a caring presence framework. Students will discuss issues of advocacy, inclusion, diversity, and equity when caring for adult patients. Classroom and experiential learning will foster the integration and application of newly acquired theoretical content as well as knowledge from previous courses.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 220, 230, 332

Co-requisites: NURS 210, 341

NURS 330 HOLISTIC HEALTH (Nursing Elective)
This is an introduction to holistic nursing and includes alternative and complementary methods and practices. Emphasis will be placed on the application of the nursing process in health promotion, health restoration, and health maintenance for individuals and families across the lifespan with common acute and chronic health problems that may respond to inclusion of holistic practices through the use of a caring presence framework.

NURS 332 HEALTH PROMOTION
This course examines theories and principles of health promotion, disease prevention and risk reduction. Primary (prevention), secondary (detection) and tertiary (reduction of continuing risk) will be reviewed. Contemporary theories of health promotion will be examined. Current federal guidelines for prevention will be addressed. Health literacy and health teaching will be discussed in the context of patient centered care.

Corequisite: NURS 208, 220, 230

NURS 334 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NURSING
This course focuses on the care of clients across the lifespan experiencing cognitive, mental and behavioral disorders. Emphasis is placed on management of patients facing emotional and psychological stressors as well as promoting and maintaining the mental health of individuals and families. Concepts of crisis intervention, therapeutic communication, caring presence, and coping skills are integrated throughout the course.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 210, 220, 230, 332

NURS 341 NURSING CARE FOR AGING ADULTS
This course examines the experiences of aging in American culture and the role of the nurse in facilitating health and reducing risk. The course will focus on the fastest growing population in America, individuals over the age of 65 and the frail elderly and examine the role of nursing in engaging in the health, wellness and quality of life in this population. Physiologic, psychologic, developmental and social issues will be discussed. The course will also examine the role of family care giving and end-of-life experiences. Emphasis will be given to syndromes most often associated with aging, such as polypharmacy, decompensatory pathologies, frailty, abuse, and geriatric syndromes. Strategies essential for the treatment and coordination of care for individuals and families dealing with aging family members, as well as the impact on population health locally, nationally, and globally will be addressed.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 220, 230, 332

Corequisites: NURS 210, 327

NURS 370 TOPICS IN NURSING
This course introduces the student to a special topic selected by the faculty teaching the course in the semester in which it is offered.

NURS 410 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN NURSING
This course focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to be a nursing leader who can function as a contributing member of the inter-professional team. The development of transformational leadership skills and management techniques needed to coordinate the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care are highlighted using a caring presence framework. Emphasis is placed on professional behaviors, communication that supports information exchange, collaboration and conflict negotiation, ethical comportment and the establishment and provision of evidence- based practice.

Please note: This is a final semester nursing course. It may not be taken in any other sequence.

NURS 451 NURSING CARE OF THE CHILDBEARING FAMILY
This course provides an integrative, family-centered approach to the care of women and newborns. Emphasis is placed on normal and high-risk pregnancies, growth and development, family dynamics and the promotion of healthy behaviors in patients. Caring presence in the management from pregnancy to birth. Apply theoretical concepts and in critical thinking related to women and newborns.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 210, 220, 230, 332

NURS 453 NURSING CARE OF THE CHILDREARING FAMILY
This course provides an integrative, family-centered approach to the care of children with a focus on utilizing a caring presence. Emphasis is placed on fostering normal growth and development, family dynamics, developmentally appropriate communication theory, common pediatric health alterations and the promotion of healthy behaviors in children and families.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 210, 220, 230, 332

NURS 455 SENIOR SEMINAR
This course reviews contemporary issues in professional practice, including social, political, organizational, and professional issues. The politics of health care is discussed within the context of the health care delivery system. Current issues are critically analyzed in relation to their influence on the nursing profession and nursing practice. Students will analyze, plan, discuss and develop collaborative plans of care for patients initially through case studies and then while delivering care to patients at clinical sites. Emphasis is placed on a caring, collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to the management of health care needs. The understanding of the role of leadership in the profession of nursing will be enhanced.

A concentrated 120-hour clinical experience, which emphasizes the transition from the role of nursing student to that of graduate professional nurse, is an integral part of this course. Healthcare settings used for this experience provide an opportunity for students to apply knowledge, integrate relevant nursing research, collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, evaluate one’s development in this transitional process, and initiate a plan for self- growth in real time. Students’ experience may consist of a one-to-one preceptorship experience or a small group model experience to satisfy the 120-hour requirement. In addition, students will have the opportunity to prepare for employment as a professional nurse, appreciate the importance of lifelong learning, and prepare for the NCLEX licensing exam.

Please note: This is a final semester nursing course. It may not be taken in any other sequence.

NURS 456 NURSING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY
This course is intended to introduce students to nursing care of individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and populations. Principles and practices of community health are discussed. Emphasis is placed on assessing factors that influence the health of populations and the use of evidence-based practices in the delivery of spiritually, caring presence and culturally appropriate health promotion and disease prevention interventions.

Prerequisites: NURS 208, 220, 230, 332

NURS 470 INDEPENDENT STUDY
This course is designed to promote a spirit of inquiry in nursing. It is an independent research in which the student demonstrates proficiency in working independently on a project related to specific area approved in advance by the faculty member. Meetings with the advisor are required.

Please note: This is a variable credit course. It may take the place of the 3 credit elective, subject to the availability of faculty mentors. It may also take the form up 1-2 credits for students needing additional credits in their plan of study.