Nursing, BSN

This course explores the structure and function of the human body. It includes the study of cells and tissue, with a focus on the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems.

This course is a continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I. Topics include the reproductive system, cardiovascular system, blood, digestive system, urinary system, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, respiratory system and the lymphatic system. Prerequisite: BIO 101

This course focuses on the study of microbiological concepts and techniques central to the health professions. Topics include anatomy and physiology of microbes, microbial classification, principles of microscopy, sterilization, disinfection, immunology, chemotherapy, epidemiology, disease transmission, pathogenicity and virulence in relation to microbes.  

This course introduces students to basic concepts in general, organic, and biological chemistry. Topics include atomic structure, chemical quantities and reactions, acids and bases, solutions, organic compounds, nucleic acids, and protein synthesis among others.

This course introduces students to college-level writing and reading skills through critical reading, formal essays and research assignments. Proper sentence, paragraph and essay structure, as well as information and technology literacy, are emphasized throughout the course. Prerequisites: ENG 098 and ENG 099 or passing of placement exams

This course gives students practice in the essentials of writing, with an emphasis on persuasive writing and oral presentations. Extensive reading and writing are combined with oral presentations, class work and activities to encourage students to assess and respond from their own perspective to notable people, debates, and events in society. Students will learn to write powerfully and credibly, and deliver argumentative speeches for a variety of audiences.  Prerequisite: ENG 101

This course consists of reading and analyzing selected works of American literature from the Colonial Period through the Civil War. This course focuses on literature utilizing a historical perspective. The objective of the course is to introduce students to various types of American Literature, including, but not limited to Native American Literature, slave narratives, literature of exploration and settlement, women’s literature, and literature by other early American poets and writers. Prerequisite: ENG 101

This course offers students instruction and practice in methods, techniques and process of research writing and dissemination of research information to a variety of audience.  Each student is required to develop a research paper through stages of drafting, editing, revising, and proofreading following conventions of academic writing and the APA style.

This course is designed to enhance computer literacy, specifically in the use of Microsoft Office. Students will use both written and practical applications to master computer software terminology and functions. Students will increase typing speed and accuracy, learn computer applications, and become proficient in word processing. Students will use skills in Microsoft Word to create business letters, web pages, memos, tables, and other written documents. Students will also learn to create and develop PowerPoint presentations and Excel workbooks and worksheets. The course will help explore the skills and use of important documents needed to maintain health care businesses today.

This course is an overview of the process of human communication, with special emphasis on analyzing communication patterns. Students learn skills designed to improve interactions in family, social, and professional settings. The course also addresses effective listening, pacing, attending, making value judgments, summarizing, probing, empathy, handling emotions, perception checking, and conflict management. Hindrances to effective communication are also discussed.

This course is an introduction to general nutrition with an emphasis on the principles relating to human health. The course provides students with an understanding of the basics of the science of nutrition at various stages of the life cycle. Food sources of energy, nutrients and their consequences to health will be explored. Terminology and scientific resources pertinent to the nutrition field will be introduced.

This course covers concepts of algebra. Topics include a review of linear equations and inequalities, systems of linear equations, coordinate geometry, and graphing techniques; exponential and polynomial functions and applications; factoring and applications; rational expressions and applications; roots and radicals; and quadratic equations. Prerequisite: MAT 099 or passing of placement exams.

This course introduces students to basic statistical concepts. It focuses on frequency distributions of empirical data, calculations of descriptive statistics, probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, chi square, regression, and correlation. Prerequisite: MAT 099 or passing of placement exams

This course centers on the scientific study of psychological changes across the lifespan (birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood). Students will examine the development of motor skills and other psycho-physiological processes; cognitive development involving areas such as problem solving, moral understanding, and conceptual understanding; language acquisition; social, personality, and emotional development; and self-concept and identity formation. Development will be considered from the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial perspectives.

This course centers on the role of culture in the development of attitudes, values, perceptions, behaviors, and interpersonal relations. Theories of cultural identity development and cross-cultural exchange as they pertain to living and working in a multicultural society are explored. Students also examine cultural constructs in relationship to social inequities and practice developing the knowledge, skills and awareness needed to serve as culturally competent professionals. Prerequisite: ENG 101

This course examines ethical dilemmas resulting from advances in medical technology and discusses ways of analyzing these dilemmas in the light of ethical theories. Issues include abortion, euthanasia and the right to die, in-vitro fertilization, genetic screening and engineering, allocation of scarce medical resources, among others.

This course introduces students to global health issues and challenges, programs, and policies. Topics and discussions include analysis of current and emerging global health issues and priorities, major global initiatives for health and disease prevention, and current and past global health problems brought about by poverty, international conflicts, health inequity, and other factors.

This course examines current issues relating to women’s health across the life span. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will explore the impact of social, sociological, historical, and cultural perspectives and constructs, and policy issues on women’s health. It also includes discussions on current research on women and health.

This course provides a historical overview of how nursing developed and how it has transformed into contemporary roles in an ever changing health care delivery system. Students are introduced to basic concepts of the nursing profession, the role of provider of care and the basic physiologic and higher level needs of man. This course is designed to provide a foundation for all subsequent nursing courses. There is specific emphasis on the non-clinical aspects of nursing.  Prerequisite: 12 credits of general education coursework towards degree progression

This course introduces the student to the profession of nursing. Selected concepts include the role of the professional nurse, communication and collaboration, nursing and healthcare policy, health care delivery and financing, and social aspects of health care as they influence the practice of nursing. Legal, ethical, and professional standards of nursing are discussed.

This course will focus on the concepts, skills, and attitudes fundamental to professional nursing practice within a framework of clinical decision-making. The course provides opportunities to develop the competencies necessary to assist individuals in meeting their health care needs, with emphasis on safe, legal, and ethical issues pertaining to the nursing process. The course will emphasize critical thinking, the establishment of a culturally-sensitive therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, the development of the student’s beginning comprehension of the patient’s physiologic and psychological responses to health and illness, and an understanding of the patient’s Self-Care Deficits at various points on the health-illness continuum. At the conclusion of this course, students will demonstrate competency in performing basic nursing skills for individuals with common health alterations.  Prerequisite: NUR 101,  Co-requisites: NUR 103

This course focuses on basic concepts, skills and values that are foundational to nursing practice. Safety, quality, and client-centered care are emphasized throughout the course. Laboratory and clinical experiences allow the student to learn and apply basic skills while utilizing the nursing process to make fundamental clinical decisions

This course focuses on the development of interviewing skills and physical examination skills to provide the learner with a systematic method for collecting data using the nursing process. Students will learn the psychomotor skills necessary to complete physical, psychosocial, and spiritual assessments. The learner will apply these skills to collect a comprehensive database, demonstrate a complete physical examination, and create a plan of care. This course will begin with a discussion of optimal self-care behaviors through Self-Care Agency, then focus on deviations from those behaviors with assessment results for the healthy individual used as a reference point. The importance of assessment of cultural aspects of health will be emphasized. Students will have lab experiences in the Nursing Learning Laboratory where health assessment skills can be practiced. Students will utilize critical thinking skills in identifying health alterations, formulating nursing diagnoses, and documenting findings appropriate to the practice of nursing.  Prerequisite: NUR 101,  Co-requisites: NUR 102

This course introduces the nurse generalist’s role in the systematic collection and analysis of patient data. Laboratory experiences allow the student to integrate theory with skills necessary to complete and document comprehensive and focused assessments.    

This course is designed to provide students with a basic foundation in clinical pharmacology on which to build. Key concepts in clinical decision making and medication safety are discussed. The course emphasizes pharmacological concepts, drug-body interactions, and nursing care measures to ensure safe and efficacious medication administration and patient education.  Prerequisite: NUR 101

This course is designed to introduce the nursing student to pathophysiologic concepts related to altered biological processes affecting individuals across the lifespan. The course builds on principles from anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and microbiology.

This course explores how technology and information management are related to the quality and safety of patient care. The use of informatics to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error and support decision making is discussed.

Using the foundation of Self-Care Deficit Theory and the nursing process, the course focus is on the chronic problems of adult patients associated with common, non-emergent disorders. The acute aspects of these diseases are also discussed. Selected general medical-surgical settings will be used for clinical practice in the management of patients in which students will learn nursing interventions appropriate to their care. Students will have an opportunity to demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team. Pharmacology principles and rationale are expected during supervised medication administration. Individualization of patient care is developed through the formation and implementation of patient-centered care plans. The student is expected to function progressively as a contributing member of the nursing team while caring for assigned clients with needs of varying complexity in the acute care setting. Nutrition, pharmacology, communication, and cultural concepts are integrated with the nursing process and Self-Care Deficit Theory to form the foundation of comprehensive care planning.  Prerequisite: NUR 102, NUR 103, NUR104, Completion of all General Education courses except MIC 101 and ENG 102.

This course focuses on the provision of nursing care of adult clients experiencing common acute and chronic health problems. Nutrition, pharmacology, communication, and cultural concepts are integrated with the nursing process to promote the development of clinical judgement for clinical decisions and comprehensive client-centered care. Laboratory and clinical experiences provide the student with opportunities to apply theoretical concepts and function progressively as a contributing member of the nursing team while caring for assigned clients in the acute care setting.

This course is the second of a two-course sequence in which the focus is on acute problems with associated emergent disorders and their effect on the adult patient. Chronic, long-term impact associated with these disorders is also addressed. The use of effective interpersonal communication skills with patients, their families, and members of the health care team is expected. Pharmacology principles and rationale continue to be applied during supervised medication administration. Students will develop and implement patient-centered care plans. The student is expected to function progressively as a contributing member of the nursing team while caring for assigned clients with needs of moderate complexity in the acute setting. Clinical assignments will be made that will provide an opportunity for students to enhance critical thinking and priority setting skills. Nutrition, pharmacology, communication, and cultural concepts are integrated with the nursing process and Self-Care Deficit Theory to form the foundation of comprehensive care planning.  Prerequisite: NUR 201, NUR 105 and all General Education courses.

This course focuses on nursing care of adult clients experiencing complex, multi-system and emergent health problems. Interprofessional collaboration, prioritization and management of care are emphasized throughout the course. Laboratory and clinical experiences provide opportunities for the student to enhance critical thinking and clinical judgment skills, engage in collaborative clinical decisions, and prioritize client-centered care for assigned clients in the acute care setting.

This course is designed to familiarize students with fundamental concepts in nursing care of patients with selected psychiatric-mental health disorders. There is emphasis on nursing process and foundations of evidence-based clinical decision in providing developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive care in a variety of health care delivery settings. Concepts from Self Care Deficient Theory will be examined for relevance to the care of psychiatric patients.  Prerequisite: All nursing courses except NUR 206/207,  Co-requisite: NUR 206, NUR 207.

This course is designed to provide students with a basic foundation in clinical pharmacology on which to build. Key concepts in clinical decision making and medication safety are discussed. The course emphasizes pharmacological concepts, drug-body interactions, and nursing care measures to ensure safe and efficacious medication administration and patient education.

This course is designed to familiarize students with the normal physiologic processes for nursing care and actions in the care of the childbearing woman, the newborn, and the family. There is specific emphasis on scientific bases for maternal child nursing, nursing process in nursing care, communication in providing safe and effective care with inter-professional collaboration, integration of evidence-based practice, education of the child-bearing family, critical thinking, and the impact of cultural diversity related to childbearing families.  Prerequisite or Co-requisite: NUR 202; Co-requisite: NUR 205

This course is designed to familiarize students with the normal physiologic processes for nursing care and actions in the care of the childbearing woman, the newborn, and the family. There is specific emphasis on scientific bases for maternal child nursing, nursing process in nursing care, communication in providing safe and effective care with interprofessional collaboration, integration of evidence-based practice, education of the child-bearing family, critical thinking, and the impact of cultural diversity related to childbearing families.

This course emphasizes the major concepts of acute and chronic care for the pediatric patient in diverse and ever changing health care delivery setting. There is emphasis on communication with patients, families, peers, and other members of the inter-professional health care delivery team in a variety of health care delivery settings in care of pediatric patients with selected acute and chronic health care conditions focusing on developmental milestones.  Prerequisite or Co-requisite: NUR 204

This course emphasizes the major concepts of acute and chronic care for the pediatric patient in a diverse and ever-changing health care delivery setting. There is emphasis on communication with patients, families, peers, and other members of the inter-professional health care delivery team in a variety of health care delivery settings in care of pediatric clients with selected acute and chronic health care conditions focusing on developmental milestones.

This course is designed to provide senior nursing students with an opportunity to apply nursing concepts across the curriculum in a culminating practicum during which they function with a nurse preceptor in a designated clinical setting. The overarching goal is to provide students an opportunity to critically think and apply nursing concepts as they transition from the student nurse role to nursing practice. The course provides a foundation for the novice nurse entering practice and there is specific emphasis on the leadership role as it pertains to safe delegation of nursing care and managing multiple patients within a health care system utilizing health care informatics and technology to shape and inform decision making. There is opportunity to examine and assess nursing competency and skills needed to function and communicate as a practicing nurse in a safe, effective, and cost-efficient manner with guidance and oversight by a nurse.  Prerequisite: All NUR courses except NUR 107, NUR 203  Co-requisite: NUR 203 and NUR 206.

This course builds on the previous course, Pharmacology I, and provides more advanced concepts in clinical pharmacology to further develop a foundation for clinical decision-making and medication safety. Emphasis is placed on advanced medication therapy, medication administration in patients with multiple morbidities, specialty medications, and medication administration across the lifespan and with special patient populations.

The course focuses on concepts related to the health and wellness of clients with selected psychiatric and behavioral health problems. Therapeutic communication, interprofessional collaboration, and client and staff safety are emphasized  

The application of public health and community health nursing concepts provides the framework for this course. Health indicators, disparities, population health goals and the role of the nurse in the community are discussed.

The focus of this course is to assist students in knowledge and application of key concepts of gerontology. There is specific emphasis on normal again processes as well as integration of holistic concepts, evidence-based practice, and challenges in the care of an aging population. Relevance of Self Care Deficit Theory concepts to the aging process will be emphasized.    

This course emphasizes research and evidence-based competencies necessary to critically critique nursing research studies. Learning assessments focus on best practice in research utilization informing nursing practice decisions, based on the evidence, and incorporating research findings into professional nursing practice. Application and utilization of technology in the research process is explored.