Nursing Courses
NUR1100 Foundations of Nursing
Students learn the components of nursing and the application of techniques and procedures to provide care to patients. Topics include the nursing process; communication skills; legal and ethical aspects of nursing; physical and psychosocial development; health promotion; safety skills; infection control; basic normal assessment; pain management; and concepts of loss, grief, and death. Hands-on demonstration, practice, and validation of skills are conducted in the nursing lab and in the clinical setting.
8 Credit Hours
NUR1200 Pharmacology
Students study the different drug categories and the methods of administration, including oral and by injection. Includes the proper use of the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) and how to accurately read, prepare, and call in written prescriptions.
Prerequisites: SCI1100, SCI1110
Prerequisite or Corequisite: NUR1100
3 Credit Hours
NUR1305 Nursing Concepts I
Students learn the concepts underlying health and wellness of individuals and families and apply concepts to exemplars addressing nutrition and nursing considerations as it pertains to endocrine disorders, infection, urinary, sensory, neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Direct clinical practice provides opportunities for students to demonstrate successful application of these concepts in a patient care setting. Skill competencies will be validated in the clinical laboratory.
Prerequisites: NUR1100, CPR certification, and completion of all departmental physical forms including purchase of and malpractice insurance.
Prerequisites or Corequisites: NUR1200, SCI2100, SCI2110
5 Credits
NUR1306 Nursing Concepts II
Students build upon concepts explored in Nursing Concepts I, including fluid and electrolytes, oxygenation, and acid-base balance. Students also learn about complex disease processes in the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, muscular, genitourinary, and renal system. Students begin to explore immunological diseases such as HIV and concepts related to elimination, metabolism, tissue integrity, perfusion, mobility, and health promotion. Direct clinical practice provides opportunities for students to demonstrate successful application of these concepts in a patient care setting. Skill competencies will be validated in the clinical laboratory.
Prerequisites: NUR1305, CPR certification, and completion of all departmental physical forms including purchase of and malpractice insurance.
6 Credits
NUR1401 Special Topics in Nursing I
Students explore special topics in nursing addressing the nursing process as applied to the provision of nursing care for individuals and families with mental health challenges. Hands-on care and management of patients via the nursing process are conducted in the clinical setting.
Prerequisites: NUR1100, CPR certification, and completion of all departmental physical forms including purchase of malpractice insurance.
Prerequisites or Corequisites: NUR1200, SCI2100, SCI2110
3 Credits
NUR1402 Special Topics in Nursing II
This course builds on the concepts of previous nursing courses with emphasis on utilizing the nursing process in dealing with maternity, newborn, and child health. Hands-on care and management of patients via the nursing process are conducted in the clinical setting.
Prerequisites: NUR1305, NUR1401, CPR certification, and completion of all departmental physical forms including purchase of malpractice insurance.
3 Credits
NUR2105 Nursing Concepts III
Students build upon concepts explored in Nursing Concepts I and II and learn the concepts underlying health and wellness of individuals and families. Students will apply concepts to exemplars addressing care of patients with cancer, anemia, clotting disorders, respiratory problems, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal disorders. Direct clinical practice provides opportunities for students to demonstrate successful application of these concepts in a patient care setting.
Prerequisites: NUR1306, SOC2225, CPR certification, and completion of all departmental physical forms including purchase of malpractice insurance.
5 Credits
NUR2200 Transition into Practice
Students examine professional practice issues such as delegation and use of SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation). Legal/ethical issues concerning clients’ rights, use of restraints/seclusion, and advance directives and palliative care are explored through case discussions, recent news events, practice updates, and legislative mandates.
Prerequisites: NUR1306, NUR1402, CPR certification, and completion of all departmental physical forms including purchase of malpractice insurance
Prerequisites or Corequisites: NUR2105
6 Credit Hours
NUR3100 Introduction to Professional Nursing
This course addresses the role of a Registered Nurse. The focus is on integrating multidimensional care, skills of inquiry and analysis, and a broadened focus on individuals, families, and populations to inform clinical reasoning in changing health care environments. This course is an introduction for the Licensed Practical Nurse to the role of a Baccalaureate prepared nurse.
Prerequisites: MAT2215, SCI2100, SCI2110, SCI2228, ENG3316
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SCI3310
1 Credit Hour
NUR3105 Healthcare Policy and Informatics
This course introduces the students to the concepts behind clinical information systems used to improve healthcare delivery and clinical decision support. Significant healthcare policies that influenced healthcare informatics are included. The course prepares the students to utilize informatics and healthcare technologies in the management of individuals across the lifespan to improve patient outcomes.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: NUR3100
3 Credit Hours
NUR3110 Clinical Nursing
The focus of this course is the practical application and understanding of basic skills for Registered Nurses through evidence-based practice. Emphasis is on the holistic approach, implementing therapeutic, culturally sensitive care to maintain and attain optimum health in a variety of clinical settings.
Prerequisites: MAT2215, SCI2100, SCI2110, SCI2228, ENG3316
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SCI3310
6 Credit Hours
NUR3310 Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice
Focuses on the introduction of research with an emphasis on its application in nursing practice. The steps of the research process for qualitative and quantitative design will be examined. Students will review and critique scholarly, peer-reviewed nursing and inter-professional research studies. Ethical implications of research and translational scholarship will be discussed.
Prerequisites: MAT2215, SCI2100, SCI2110, SCI2228, ENG2205
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SCI3310
3 Credit Hours
NUR3315 Basic Health Assessment
The concepts underlying assessment of a well individual are presented. Emphasis is placed on interviewing skills, health histories, and the physical and psychosocial findings in a well person. Communication and assessment skills are developed. Students obtain health histories, perform physical and psychosocial assessments, establish a health record and formulate initial nursing plans using the nursing process.
Prerequisites: SCI2100, SCI2110
2 Credit Hours
NUR3320 Transition to Professional Nursing
Focuses on the transition of the Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse within the healthcare environment. The development of professional values, critical thinking, and clinical judgment will be emphasized. Integration of nursing theory and evidence-based practice into nursing care will be explored. Concepts of social, political, and economic influences on nursing practice will be examined. Legal issues, organ and tissue donation, the nurse practice act, concepts of leadership, and appropriate delegation will be introduced.
Prerequisites: MAT2215, SCI2100, SCI2110, SCI2228, ENG2205
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SCI3310
3 Credit Hours
NUR3330 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Using didactic and simulated clinical experiences, skills needed to conduct comprehensive physical assessment for individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings are developed. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, analysis, and the integration of systematic data collection for effective decision making in nursing practice. Use of evidence-based assessment tools for risk reduction is emphasized. A transcultural approach is used to assess the holistic human being.
Prerequisites or Corequisites: NUR3310, NUR3320
3 Credit Hours
NUR3360 Advanced Mental Health Nursing
This course focuses on understanding the role of the professional nurse who cares for clients with mental health needs. Students will participate in clinical care of those in need of mental health services across a spectrum of care settings. Emphasis is placed on clinical judgment skills and professional values within a legal and ethical framework. Current issues in caring for individuals, families, and communities managing mental health challenges will be discussed. Topics may include, but are not limited to, abuse and neglect, chemical dependence, coping mechanisms, therapeutic communication, stress management, support systems, and cultural and religious influences.
Prerequisite: NUR3330
3 Credit Hours
NUR4410 Advanced Maternal-Child Nursing
This didactic and clinical course focuses on the role of the professional nurse in meeting the holistic health needs of the childbearing and childrearing family. The nursing process is utilized to provide family-centered psychosocial and culturally sensitive care. Topics include, but are not limited to, maternal health, newborn and pediatric assessment, and pediatric growth and development (well/ill care). Students are provided the opportunity to utilize an evidence-based approach to critical thinking and nursing practice in various healthcare settings.
Prerequisite: NUR3330
3 Credit Hours
NUR4420 Nursing Leadership and Management
This course explores management and leadership skills for the professional registered nurse in designing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating safe and quality healthcare. The role of the RN will be emphasized as a change agent and transformational leader. Students will demonstrate the application of nursing theory, evidence-based practice, information systems, problem solving, and effective communication strategies for best practices within a nursing organization.
Prerequisites: NUR3360, NUR4410, NUR4450
3 Credit Hours
NUR4430 Community Health Nursing
Focuses on the application of the nursing process for a vulnerable population or community group in the promotion and protection of public health using health promotion, risk reduction, and disease management strategies. Community assessment, epidemiologic, environmental, change, political action, and case management frameworks are used to guide evidence-based nursing care delivery to persons, families, and populations in community settings. The nurse’s role on the community health team and an understanding of healthcare needs of different cultural groups will be studied.
Prerequisites: NUR3360, NUR4410, NUR4450
3 Credit Hours
NUR4440 Advanced Nursing Pharmacology
This course builds upon basic nursing knowledge of pharmacology. In-depth review of drug classifications will be emphasized. Students will apply critical thinking skills to the calculation and administration of medications. A case study approach will be used to focus on the nursing role of promoting safe, high-quality pharmacological care. Advance concepts such as chemotherapy, blood administration, and critical care medications will also be explored.
Prerequisite: NUR3330
3 Credit Hours
NUR4450 Advanced Adult Health Nursing
This didactic and clinical course builds on the basic concepts of critical care related to multi-organ/system function and dysfunction, requiring the development of critical thinking. Nursing care relating to physiology, assessment, pathophysiology, system failure, end of life, and clinical management of the cardiovascular system, neurological system, pulmonary system, endocrine system, and renal system are addressed. Core concepts of complex pathophysiology, evidence-based treatment modalities, and advanced nursing roles are integrated in discussions of providing care to critically ill patients.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: NUR4440
3 Credit Hours
NUR4460 Professional Nursing Capstone
Knowledge and skills from previous courses will be integrated into case studies and simulations focused on building critical thinking and clinical judgment. Individual student plans will be developed through testing to identify strengths and opportunities for learning. Test-taking strategies will be reviewed and utilized. Preparation for the transition to professional nursing practice will be emphasized.
Prerequisites or Corequisites: NUR4420, NUR4430
3 Credit Hours