- Nursing courses (i.e., content is nursing)
- Non-nursing courses (i.e., content is not nursing)
Nursing courses
NU-101 Foundations of Nursing Practice (9 credits)
The focus of the first nursing course is health promotion, restoration and maintenance. The health promotion and maintenance focus addresses basic need satisfaction; e.g., safety, oxygenation, hygiene, food and fluid, rest, activity and elimination. The health restoration focus addresses the nursing actions precipitated by selected adult patients experiencing pain, inflammation, infection, surgery, alterations in oxygenation and mobility status. Communication, basic research skills, informatics and technology, a philosophy of caring, and ethical/legal standards of practice are presented as essential to professional role development.
The course introduces the student to the major categories of patient needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity and Physiological Integrity. The concepts of adaptation, nursing process, communication, clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice are included in the design, along with the Nurse of the Future Concepts, Skills and NLN Core Values.
The concurrent clinical component of the course provides the students the opportunity to participate in collaboration with the interprofessional team, appreciate the micro/macrosystem of the care environment and to begin to contribute to quality improvement.
Evaluation of course/outcome achievement by the student and faculty provide mutual feedback. The process of self-evaluation promotes self-understanding and professional development.
Total Hours: 217.25 (class: 90; clinical/lab: 112.5; simulation: 15)
Prerequisite nursing courses: None
Prerequisite non-nursing courses: None
Corequisite non-nursing courses: BI-105, BI-108
NU-102 Adult Nursing Practice (10 credits)
The second nursing course emphasizes the knowledge and skills essential for the nursing management of adult medical and surgical individuals as they adapt to changes in the health/illness spectrum. The focus is on patient-centered nursing care to restore, promote, or maintain the health of patients after surgery and with disorders of cell function; perfusion; endocrine neurologic; immune; gastrointestinal and sensory functions; acid-base balance; and sexuality.
Professional role, clinical reasoning and judgment, and ethical-legal issues are explored and developed. A philosophy of caring is fostered through the use of nursing process and through the application of safe, holistic, culturally-competent therapeutic nursing interventions.
Communication skills and information technology are used to promote human flourishing. The nurse’s role within the interprofessional team is considered through application of beginning leadership and management principles. Evidence-based nursing practice is promoted as a method for quality improvement of patient-centered nursing care.
Concurrent clinical experiences with adult individuals are provided to allow students to correlate contextual learning in the classroom with skills and demonstrate expected levels of achievement (ELA) in clinical practice. Simulated clinical learning experiences in the Nursing Arts Lab introduce the student to new nursing skills prior to their application in clinical practice. Further development of professional identity is emphasized through self and faculty evaluations of the student’s clinical progress.
Total Hours: 264 (class: 90; clinical/lab: 162; simulation: 12)
Prerequisite nursing course: NU-101
Prerequisite non-nursing courses: BI-105, BI-108
Corequisite non-nursing courses: BI-106, PS-233
NU-201 Family-Focused Nursing Practice (10 credits)
The third nursing course focuses on the knowledge skills, attitudes/values and abilities required to provide safe, quality, patient-centered care to women, children and their families in order for them to flourish. The “Nurse of the Future Competencies” are integrated into theoretical concepts and clinical practice. Communication and critical reasoning skills are utilized in applying the nursing process. Culturally competent therapeutic nursing interventions are developed to promote adaptation for childbearing and childrearing families. Strategies to optimize health are presented and discussed in relation to childbearing and childrearing including; high-risk pregnancy, high-risk parenting and common health problems of women and children. Research concepts, historical and current perspectives are addressed in this specialty.
A philosophy of caring is emphasized in order to provide support to individuals striving to adapt to change in family structure and function, and/or the effects of illness. Leadership and management principles are reinforced through clinical practice and clinical conferences. Collaboration with patients, families and the interprofessional health care team is promoted in order to provide quality nursing care. Analysis of ethical and legal concerns and the exploration of cultural influences on family-centered care.
Concurrent acute care and community clinical experiences are utilized to introduce the student to diverse professional nursing roles and the modeling of an evidence-based approach to nursing practice in the provision of care to childbearing and childrearing families. These clinical experiences provide numerous opportunities to employ teaching-learning principles and further develop specialized skills and learning outcomes in assisting these populations. Clinical conferences are held to reinforce learning and to assist students to correlate theory concepts into clinical practice. Simulated clinical learning experiences in the nursing arts lab provide opportunities to develop and practice skills that are utilized in the clinical area.
Evaluation of the course/clinical student learning outcomes and student/faculty conferences provides feedback on student progress to promote professional development.
Total hours: 258 (class: 90; clinical/lab: 144; simulation: 24)
Prerequisite nursing courses: NU-101, NU-102
Prerequisite non-nursing courses: BI-105, BI-106, BI-108, PS-233
Corequisite non-nursing courses: EN-105, EN-106, ID-304, SO-201
NU-202 Comprehensive Nursing Practice (11 credits)
The last nursing course focuses on the knowledge, skills, attitudes/values and abilities required to provide safe, quality, patient-centered care to adult individuals with complex stressors, assisting those individuals and families to flourish and adapt.
Concepts presented in this course focus on the physiological and psychological needs of individuals and families experiencing complex alterations in oxygenation, fluid balance, tissue perfusion, cardiac output, elimination, shock and multiple organ failure; also emergency management and disaster care. In addition, concepts related to altered thought, mood, relatedness, self-esteem, and self-concept are taught to introduce the student to the needs of individuals and families with mental health needs. The Nurse of the Future Core Competencies are integrated into the course and promote an evidence-based approach to nursing care of individuals and families. The planning, delivery and management of safe, comprehensive, individualized, patient-centered, quality care is based on the utilization of established research findings and is guided by ethical, legal and professional standards of nursing practice.
Professional role is further developed in order to initiate change and foster a safe, effective care environment. Leadership and management skills are practiced within the interprofessional team as students assume responsibility for their own learning and for the care provided to patients and families.
A philosophy of caring permeates the students’ critical thinking, clinical reasoning and communication skills Using the nursing process, in collaboration with patients, families and the interprofessional team, students generate culturally competent therapeutic nursing interventions to promote adaptation.
Concurrent clinical experiences are provided in acute care and community settings to further develop the skills and competencies necessary for beginning nursing practice. Nursing Arts Lab simulated clinical learning experiences provide opportunities to develop and practice skills that are required in the clinical area. Clinical conferences are held to reinforce learning and to assist students to correlate theory concepts into clinical practice.
Evaluation of the course/clinical student learning outcomes by the student and faculty and student/faculty conferences provide feedback of student clinical progress to enhance professional development
Total Hours: 273 (class: 105; clinical/lab: 144; simulation: 24)
Prerequisite nursing courses: NU-101, NU-102, NU-201
Prerequisite non-nursing courses: BI-105, BI-106, BI-108, EN-105, EN-16, ID-304, MA-210, PS-233, SO-201
NU-404 Concepts & Challenges in Professional Practice (non-clinical nursing course) 3 credits
An introductory course to explore the role of the professional nurse in the ever-changing health care system with a view to empowering and solidifying that role. Students explore the challenges and opportunities inherent in professional nursing including, but not limited to, advances in nursing practice and role development, the increased use of technology in practice, ethics and legal issues in practice, concepts critical to leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration and systems thinking, and the increasing role of theory and research in advancing the profession and providing quality, safe patient care. Activities include values clarification, portfolio development, seminar leadership, group activities, and/or on-line discussions.
Total hours: 45
Prerequisite nursing courses: NU101, NU102
Prerequisite non-nursing courses: None
Corequisite non-nursing courses: None
Non-nursing courses
BI-105 Anatomy & Physiology I/LAB (4 credits)
BI-106 Anatomy & Physiology II/LAB (3 credits)
The fundamental facts and concepts of the normal structure and function of the human body are presented. The courses progress from the structure and function of cells and tissues to the anatomy and physiology of the integrated organ systems of the body. Laboratory work includes microscopic examination of tissues, dissection of preserved organ specimens and the cat, and investigation of various human physiological processes.
BI-105
Total Hours: 75 (class: 45 laboratory: 30)
Prerequisites: None
BI-106
Total Hours: 75 (class: 45 laboratory: 30)
Prerequisites: BI-105
BI-105R Anatomy & Physiology I: Review/Exam (3 credits)
BI-106R Anatomy & Physiology II/LAB (4 credits)
In these courses, the student reviews the anatomical/physiology of the integrated organ systems of the body. These review courses are only available to students who have successfully completed a comparable Anatomy and Physiology I and/or II courses more than seven years ago and, therefore, need six-week review course.
BI-108 General Microbiology/LAB (4 credits)
The general characteristics of microbes and their relationship to humans are explored, with emphasis on those that are pathogenic to humans and those which are of public health significance. This includes the biological characteristics of microbes, anti-microbial methods, concepts of immunity, diagnosis, and treatment and prevention of infection. The laboratory experience familiarizes the student with microbiological methodology and aseptic technique.
Total Hours: 75 (class: 45 laboratory: 30)
Prerequisites: None
BI-108R General Microbiology: Review/Exam (3 credits)
In this course, the student reviews the content of BI-108 General Biology (see course description). This review course is only available to students who have successfully completed a comparable general microbiology course more than seven years ago and, therefore, need a six-week review course.
SO-201 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
Introduces students to the major theories, theorists, concepts, and methods used in the study of society. Considers a variety of topics including culture, socialization, and gender, racial, economic and social class divisions.
Total Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
PS-233 Introduction to Human Development (3 credits)
This course presents human development from infancy through old age. Emphasis is placed on cognitive, emotional, and social development with attention to implications for health care.
Total Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
ID-304 Exploring Ethics (3 credits)
This course explores the philosophical and religious principles persons use in approaching ethical problems, with particular attention to the Christian ethical tradition. The focus of the course is on the ethical challenges of the contemporary world, including those in the student’s field of concentration. Stress is placed on skill development in ethical reflection and analysis.
Total Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
MA-210 Statistics (3 credits)
Basic principles of statistics, including descriptive methods, classical tests, estimation, correlation and regression. Emphasis on applications.
Total Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
EN-105 Writing Seminar (3 credits)
The Writing Seminar provides a workshop setting in which students explore writing for learning and communication. The seminar also focuses on the complementary skills of speaking, listening, responding, and reading and thinking critically. Emphasis in the workshop is on process, peer group work, and constant revision. Students produce a portfolio of writing for evaluation at the end of the semester, which includes critical and analytical non-fiction writing as well as personal narrative. Conferences with instructors and writing assistants outside class supplement in-class workshops.
Total Hours: 45
Prerequisites: None
EN-106 Critical Reading, Thinking & Writing (3 credits)
This course focuses on critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. Practice in writing full-length argumentative and persuasive essays or literary analyses challenges students to engage all skills emphasized in the course. To further encourage deep critical thinking and more textured and sophisticated college-level writing, texts used may be interdisciplinary in nature and will be organized around a central theme of the instructor’s choice and expertise.
Total Hours: 45
NU-200 Transition Seminar (non-credit)
The Transition Seminar is for Advanced Placed students entering the NU-102 Adult Nursing Practice or the NU-201 Family-Focused Nursing Practice course. Content focuses on the theoretical concepts of the curriculum and assists students to adapt to the program. Selected components of the seminar may also be utilized to assist students transferring into the program from other educational programs or re-entering the program after a leave of absence.
The seminar facilitates student’s application of professional role, communication theory and critical thinking to nursing practice. Classroom activities include drug dosage calculation, role transition, ethical/legal standards of care, the management of IV therapy and nursing process. In simulated patient situations students develop a plan of care for patients experiencing an acute medical/surgical problem.
Total Hours: 18
Prerequisites: None