This course provides an overview of nursing and the role of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the healthcare team, and member of the nursing profession. Topics covered include clinical nursing judgment, basics of medical terminology and concepts associated with next-generation NCLEX (NGN) testing. Prerequisite:Nursing major

Non-nursing majors only. Designed to explore the concept of health and its significance for women. Focuses on the identification of factors affecting women’s health and necessary behaviors to maintain optimum health. Women’s responsibilities and leadership in health awareness and health practices will also be emphasized.

This course uses didactic and simulated clinical experiences to develop a beginning skill level to conduct a comprehensive health assessment with adults in various settings. The course emphasizes the integration of observations, systematic data collection, and effective communication in performing client-centered health assessments that includes risk assessment and risk reduction and health promotion. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing with at least a grade of C in BIO 141 and BIO 142.

This course uses the nursing process, interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and safety as foundational concepts for the provision of essential skills for nursing practice with individuals. Nursing skills related to physiologic health processes, mobility, comfort, infection, protection, fatigue, sleep oxygenation, and elimination are emphasized. The course builds on knowledge gained through the liberal arts and sciences to encourage the delivery of nursing care to promote and/or maintain health in the context of the experience of the individual in a variety of settings. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing with at least a grade of C in NURS 225.

This course provides a foundational understanding of the basics of pharmacology. The course content focuses on basic drug classification, medication calculation, and basic principles of pharmacology, emphasizing clinical nursing application within the context of the nursing process. Prerequisite:Sophomore Nursing Major

This theory and clinical course focuses on the care of persons of various ages across the lifespan with psychiatric/mental health disorders. The course applies the nursing process within a multi-disciplinary team approach. Emphasis is on the therapeutic use of self with individuals, families, and groups in an acute psychiatric care setting. Students in clinical placements utilize communication skills, mental health assessment, and various therapeutic interventions. Prerequisites: Nursing major and junior standing. Corequisite or successful completion of NURS 334.

This course is designed to support the integration of evidence-based nutrition science content with the lived experience of food choices of individuals, families, and communities. Students will build on their knowledge of chemistry, biology, psychology and relevant research evidence to apply concepts of nutrition science to wellness, health promotion and disease management in nursing practice. The impact of obesity on wellness and health outcomes, intercultural competence, and social responsibility are emphasized. Students will gain experience with the role and meaning of food through integrative learning activities in the community. Prerequisite: Nursing major and junior standing.

This theory and clinical course focuses on the assessment and management of persons with acute medical and surgical conditions. Peri-operative care of the patient and family is emphasized. The ethical, spiritual, psychosocial, and economic impact of the peri-operative experience on the patient and family is explored. Application of scientific principles and decision-making skills are emphasized as students care for persons with acute health conditions in medical-surgical settings. Prerequisite: Nursing major and junior standing. Corequisite or successful completion of NURS 334.

This theory and clinical course provides a foundation of nursing knowledge in the care of women in all phases of the perinatal period. A family-centered approach is emphasized throughout the course. Human development concepts are a central focus of the course. Embryologic and neonatal concepts are emphasized in the nursing care of the normal and high-risk neonate. Current women’s health issues are incorporated in the course. Legal and ethical dimensions specific to the perinatal family are explored. Relevant research findings are acknowledged as basic to establishing and advancing the field of perinatal nursing. The course includes application of specific concepts, principles, and theories in various perinatal settings. Decision-making skills and independent functioning are emphasized. Prerequisite: Nursing major and junior standing. Corequisite or successful completion of NURS 334.

This theory and clinical course focuses on the assessment and management of persons with chronic health conditions. The ethical, spiritual, psychosocial, and economic impact of chronic illness on the patient and family is explored. Application of scientific principles and decision-making skills are emphasized as students care for persons with chronic health conditions in acute care and community settings. In addition, concepts related to palliative and end-of-life care are introduced and applied during the clinical experience. Prerequisite: Nursing major and junior standing. Corequisite or successful completion of NURS 334.

This theory course introduces the study of pharmacology as an understanding of the interactions between drugs and the physiological, psychological, and pathological processes which occur in the body. Major drug classes and individual drugs are studied with an emphasis on the application of pharmacologic principles to the clinical setting. Prerequisite: Nursing major and junior standing.

This course examines essential concepts, principles, and techniques utilized in scientific inquiry and evidence-based practice. The research process is systematically introduced with an emphasis on its application to nursing practice. Prerequisites: Nursing major and junior standing.

The theory and clinical course utilizes the nursing process in caring for persons with multi-system complex health conditions in an acute care environment. Clinical reasoning, decision-making, and professional accountability are emphasized throughout the course. Students will gain experience with critical care concepts and advanced technology in the clinical setting. Prerequisites: Nursing major and senior standing.

This theory and clinical course broadens the concepts of community health nursing introduced across the curriculum and integrates them into a meaningful whole. Emphasis is placed on increasing the student’s self-awareness, communicating effectively, and meeting the community health needs of families and groups. Health education, health promotion, and illness prevention are stressed as strategies for meeting the health needs of population aggregates. Analysis of the health care delivery system includes the impact of political, legal, social, and cultural influences on the health of clients. Public health nursing issues, such as communicable diseases, environmental hazards, and occupational exposures are discussed. Prerequisites: Nursing major and senior standing.

This theory and clinical course introduce the student to leadership theories and concepts of management within the nursing profession. A feminist lens is used to recognize and explain women’s contributions to knowledge and achievement, and to analyze the social constructions and intersectionalities of gender, race, class, sexuality, and other identity categories. Current economic, political, professional, and social issues that affect the nursing profession are explored. The nursing leadership skills of delegation, priority setting, problem-solving, time management, and quality improvement are emphasized throughout the course using QSEN competencies as an overarching framework. The ability to analyze and apply the concepts of leadership and management are provided through clinical experiences. This course provides the beginning of the transition process from student to professional nurse.

This theory and clinical course focuses on assessment and management of well, acutely ill, chronically ill, and special needs children and their families. The effect the child’s illness has on the family in hospital or community settings is emphasized. Principles of growth and development, nutrition, pharmacology, and ethics are reinforced and expanded. Decision-making and independent learning are emphasized. Research as it relates to theory and practice is discussed and applied. Prerequisite: Nursing major and senior standing.

This course provides students the opportunity to study the health care system in other countries. Emphasis is placed on the experiential opportunity to work in a primary care clinic. Assessment of the health care delivery system includes the effects of cultural, social, economic, and political influences on the health care delivery system and health of clients. Public health issues such as communicable diseases and environmental hazards are investigated.

Topics in nursing not covered in the regular department offerings. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite: Senior Nursing major or permission of instructor.

The purpose of this seminar is to prepare students to take the nursing departments comprehensive examination which is a requirement of graduation. The course also provides and prepares nursing students for the NCLEX-RN examination. Students will be connected with online resources, test-taking strategies and individual help as directed to successfully complete this senior level course. Prerequisite: Completion of all junior level courses

Independent readings, seminar discussions, and related clinical experience in selected areas of interest. Readings and experiences are generally supplemental to, not a substitute for, content and learning experiences provided in regular course offerings. Prerequisite: Senior level standing and permission of the instructor and department chair. May be repeated.