Course Descriptions

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Required Clinical Courses
Required Non-Clinical Courses
Nursing Electives
BSN for High School Graduates

REQUIRED CLINICAL COURSES

Nu310 Health Assessment Across the Life Span (4)
Major focus is on a holistic approach to health appraisal of the individual client across the life span. The nursing process, with an emphasis on assessment and planning is analyzed and applied in dealing with individuals in the college laboratory. Concepts related to health promotion, risk, identification and client education are stressed. Prerequisites: completion of lower division requirements; Nu302 as pre- or corequisite.

Nu330 Care of Families and Aggregates (4)
Major focus is on primary and tertiary prevention within a social systems framework. Creative application of nursing process to families and groups utilizing family systems theory and group dynamics. Prerequisites: Nu310; completion of 24 core curriculum credits.

Nu420 Community Health Nursing (4)
Community health nursing emphasizes community as client. The nursing process is applied in dealing with groups, aggregates and community. Nursing care of individuals in community settings is also examined. Prerequisite: Nu330.

Nu440 Leadership and Management in Nursing (4)
The major focus is on leadership and change in nursing practice within the health care delivery system, utilizing the nursing process as a framework. Clinical practice includes a change project proposal in a selected clinical agency. Prerequisite: Nu420.

REQUIRED NON-CLINICAL COURSES

Nu302 Nursing Seminar (2)
The course is designed to examine the evolution of professional nursing through a synthesis of the social, cultural, philosophical, historical and theoretical influences. The development of a professional identity is facilitated by encouraging students to derive meaning from the core values central to the nature of nursing.

Nu304 Pathophysiology (2)
This course uses as systems approach to examine the human response patterns to health and illness. Physiological processes and pathological changes are explored in depth.

Nu306 Computer Technology in Nursing Practice (1)
Critical analysis of the impact and use of computer technology in patient care, nursing practice, research, education and management. Emphasis on the utilization of technology for nursing scholarship.

Nu350 Contemporary Trends and Issues in Nursing (2)
Current status of professional nursing. Political, economic and social trends affecting nursing and the health care system are analyzed. Issues in professional practice and education are explored. Prerequisites: senior standing (completion of 24 core curriculum credits plus Nu302, 310, 330).

Nu390 Introduction to Nursing Research (3)
The understanding of the research process and the critique of research studies is emphasized. The relevance of nursing research findings for the provision of patient care is discussed. Students will develop a researchable problem through an interactive process with faculty and peers. Prerequisites: Ps200 or So448; senior standing (completion of 24 core curriculum credits plus Nu302, 310, 330).

NURSING ELECTIVES

Nu450 Nurse/Client Educator (2)
A multifaceted approach to client/peer education. Emphasis on teaching/learning concepts. The role of education as a strategy in health promotion. Prerequisites: Nu302; Nu310.

Nu451 Case Management in Nursing (3)
Preparation for the managed health care environment. Nursing roles, financial considerations, utilization review, and continuous quality improvement as aspects of the longitudinal approach to service. Prerequisites: Nu302; Nu310.

Nu452 Women's Health Issues (3)
Exploration of health issues affecting women from historical, political and pluralistic perspectives. The students' role as health care advocate is stressed. Prerequisites: Nu302; Nu310.

Nu453 Alternative Healing Methods (2)
A study of alternative healing techniques, practices and beliefs utilized in different cultures throughout history: emphasis on the sociopolitical importance of the healer and the status of folk medicine in contemporary high tech societies. Prerequisite: Nu302.

Nu454 Culture and Nursing Care (2)
A study of similarities and differences in various cultural groups using a transcultural framework to analyze and develop a nursing perspective about individuals and families of varying cultural backgrounds. Prerequisite: Nu302.

Nu456 Love, Death and Healing: Literature of Human Coping (2)
A pluralistic approach to the examination of the themes of death, disintegration and the human spirit in literature. Prerequisite: Nu302.

Nu457 Stress Management in Nursing (2)
An investigation, through a holistic-wellness model, of stress and its effects on behavior. Various intervention processes to prevent, control, and resolve professional and personal stress will be analyzed. Prerequisite: Nu302.

Nu460 Special Projects in Nursing (1 or 2)
Students have the opportunity to investigate a topic of their choice and develop a project of interest.

Nu464 Introduction to Holistic Nursing (2)
An introduction into the history and philosophy of holistic nursing. This course is designed to assist students to synthesize nursing knowledge and adapt it to a humanistic, caring, therapeutic, healing practice.
Prerequisite: Nu302.

BSN PROGRAM (FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES) COURSES

Theoretical Bases of Professional Nursing
The evolution of professional nursing is explored and the development of professional identity is facilitated by the introduction of values inherent to the discipline of nursing including social justice. Nursing theory, as well as other selected theories and concepts, are examined including: health belief model, teaching/learning theory, culture/global health, evidence-based practice and the nursing process.

Nutrition and Health
This course focuses on the role of nutrition in health and healing. The study of essential nutrients and their function is emphasized. Meeting dietary requirements across the life span is explored. The impact of pluralistic and public health factors on dietary practices is discussed.

Pharmacology for Professional Nursing Practice
The focus of this course is on pharmacological therapy, major drug classifications, including prototypes, are addressed for each of the body systems. Nursing implications of safe drug administration as well as the pluralistic factors affecting medication therapy are stressed.

Clinical Bases of Professional Nursing
Basic interpersonal and technical nursing skills utilized to provide care for well and ill individuals are introduced. Knowledge and skills required to assess, prioritize, plan, implement and evaluate health care are emphasized. Concepts related to nutrition and medication therapy are applied. Pluralistic as well as legal and ethical issues related to quality care are stressed. College laboratory and clinical experiences in selected health care settings.

Pathophysiology
This course uses a systems approach to examine the human response patterns to health and illness. Physiological processes and pathological changes are explored in depth.

Health Assessment
The major focus of this course is on a holistic approach to health appraisal of the individual client. The nursing process, with an emphasis on assessment and planning is analyzed and applied in dealing with individuals in the college laboratory. Concepts related to health promotion, risk, identification and client education are stressed.

Nursing Care of Adults and Aging I
Application of the nursing process in caring for adults and older clients with chronic stable health care needs. Normal aging and adaptations in self care needed as a result of age related changes will be discussed. Pluralistic factors including nutrition and medication therapy are integrated. Legal and ethical issues are applied. College laboratory and clinical experiences in selected health care settings.

Nursing Care of Adults and Aging II
A continuation of the Nursing Care of Adults and Aging I, this course builds and expands the knowledge and skill base related to caring for adults and older clients with acute and chronic health care needs. Pathologic conditions associated with aging are discussed. Pluralistic factors including nutrition and medication therapy are integrated. Legal and ethical issues are applied. Clinical experiences in selected health care settings.

Nursing Care of Child-Bearing Families
The use of the nursing process to provide care for child-bearing families is examined. Nursing care of clients during pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum and newborn periods is stressed. Pluralistic factors as well as nutrition and medication therapy are integrated. Strategies to promote health and care for clients with physiological and psychological alterations are discussed. Normal family functioning and the impact of pregnancy on the family is considered. College laboratory and clinical experiences in selected health care settings.

Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents
The nursing process is used as a framework to provide care for children and adolescents. Nursing care of children and adolescents with physical and psychological alterations in health and illness is stressed. Pluralistic factors including nutrition and medication therapy are integrated. Strategies to promote health as well as developmental needs and problems are discussed. Normal family functioning and the impact of illness on the family are explored. College laboratory and clinical experiences in selected health care settings.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
This course focuses on the use of the nursing process to provide care for individuals, families and aggregates with alterations in mental health. Pluralistic factors as well as medication therapy are integrated. Strategies to promote mental-health are discussed. Nursing care of clients with acute and chronic alterations in psychological functioning are stressed. Clinical experiences are provided in psychiatric-mental health nursing across the life span in selected health care and community settings.

Computer Applications in Nursing and Health Care
The application of computer technology to patient care, nursing practice, research, education and management is explored. Health care information management systems are introduced.

Introduction to Nursing Research
The understanding of the research process and the critique of research studies are emphasized. The relevance of nursing research findings for the provision of patient care is discussed. Students will develop a researchable problem through an interactive process with faculty and peers. A climate of inquiry is encouraged.

Social Justice, Ethics and Health Care
Political, economic and social issues affecting patient care and the health care system are examined. Accessibility and affordability of health care services including the needs of vulnerable populations are explored. Strategies to promote social justice and ethical behavior within the health care system are stressed.

Community Health Nursing
Community health nursing emphasizes community as client. The nursing process is applied in dealing with families, aggregates and community. Nursing care of individuals in community settings are also examined.

Leadership and Trends in Nursing
The major focus in this course is on leadership and change in nursing practice within the health care system. Utilization of the nursing process as framework for action is stressed. Selected concepts related to management including, types of power, delegation, motivation are discussed. Trends and issues affecting nursing and the health care system are also explored.

Nursing Care of Adults and Aging III
Culmination of the courses Adults and Aging I & II, this course builds and expands the knowledge and skill base related to caring for adults and older clients with complex acute and chronic conditions and rehabilitative health care needs. High risk populations such as those with multiple illnesses will be addressed. Pathologic conditions associated with aging are discussed. Pluralistic factors, including nutrition and medication therapy are integrated. An opportunity for students to function with increased independence as well as to organize, delegate, supervise and evaluate care. Clinical experiences in selected health care settings.