College of agriculture, urban sustainability and environmental sciences Farmer's Market Banner Spring 2024 Intergenerational Chess Program Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2024 final Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2024 final

Course Descriptions

NURS 300 | RN to BSN Transition (3 credits)

This course introduces the student to the program’s conceptual framework. The course will introduce the student to nursing theories and an understanding of the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experience (KSVME) in areas of nursing practice and health care, critical thinking and clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice. The course also focuses on developing information management skills to assist students in understanding and applying informatics tools currently used in healthcare settings. Tools such as electronic health records (EHR) and telehealth are a part of evidence-based practice. Students will examine issues related to the protection of privacy, confidentiality, and security of health information in a variety of health care settings, including social network environments. This course is designed to support the student’s transition from an Associate Degree or Diploma in nursing preparation to a Baccalaureate in nursing. Strategies that facilitate professional growth and acculturation, life-long learning and professional practice and values are the primary focus.

Prerequisite: Junior Standing and RN Licensure or Permission from the Nursing Program Director; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program.

NURS 307 Ethical Issues and Health | IGED 140 Foundation Ethics Substitute (3 credits)

This multidisciplinary course is designed to introduce health science/health care students to the ethical issues commonly encountered in health care and in health care delivery systems. Important ethical issues in health care and health care delivery will be reviewed and analyzed. Students are introduced to basic concepts of moral judgment, ethical theories and principles, and critical thinking processes that are necessary for critical analysis of ethical issues with an emphasis on ethical decision making in professional nursing practice. A team approach to case analysis and problem resolution is one of several strategies used to promote critical thinking and application of decision-making models. Students may take either NURS307 or IGED 140.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program. 

NURS 309 | Health Assessment: History and Physical (4 credits)

This course is designed to develop and refine health assessment skills through the use of appropriate knowledge, skills, and values. It includes identification of common health deviations, at-risk behaviors and variations for culturally diverse individuals. Modification of examination and the interview techniques and expected findings across the life cycle will be discussed. A variety of classroom activities will be utilized to enhance critical thinking and clinical judgment in health assessment (interview, health history taking, physical examination, use of age-related data instruments and technology). The virtual laboratory is designed to refine and expand health assessment knowledge and skills in the performance of comprehensive health of individuals and families across the life span.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program.

NURS 348 | Pathophysiology (3 credits)

This course provides the learner with an opportunity to analyze responses of the human body to altered states of health, environmental stressors, and the aging process. Genetic and cultural influences of disease are addressed. Pathophysiologic processes of selected diseases, reflective of the most common health disparities in the metropolitan area, are examined. Emphasis is given to interrelationships among the pathological, physiological, psychological and pharmacological factors. Selected modes of diagnosis and treatment modalities are also examined.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program

NURS 351 | Nursing Research – Writing in the Major (3 credits)

This course enhances the knowledge and understanding of the research process and its relationship to evidence-based practice and quality patient care. Emphasis is placed on building competence in critical evaluation of published research and organizing a limited literature review in an area of interest.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program.

NURS 354 | Gerontological Nursing (3 credits)

This course focuses on current health care issues affecting older adults. It is designed to examine essential foundations for practice of Gerontological nursing care and to build on the knowledge, skills, meanings, and values associated with practice with an elderly population. The course emphasizes applying the nursing process to older adults experiencing wellness and self-care alterations. Selective pharmacological, legal and ethical concerns are discussed.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program.

NURS 356 | Legal Issues and Health Policy (3 credits)

This course is designed to expand the learner’s knowledge of the legal and policy systems and their influence on the health care delivery system and nursing practice. Legal issues related to nurse practice acts and nurse regulatory bodies, and the changing role and responsibilities of the nurse, are examined. Issues of funding methods, resource allocation, access to care, and disparities impacting the health care system are addressed from a policy perspective. Students will evaluate the effects of specified practice and health care laws and policies germane to practice, consumer health, the profession of nursing and identify factors they may influence in a proactive response to achieve quality patient outcomes.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program.

NURS 359 | Nursing Issues, Trends, and Concepts (4 credits)

This course facilitates the learner’s development and refinement of critical thinking and decision-making skills through application of knowledge and understanding to a health care/clinical issue. Analysis and integration of all prior coursework is applied to the development of care delivery models to address a healthcare issue for individuals, families, and groups who fall within a health disparity group. The components of this course include systematic inquiry, evidence-based practice, professional identity, initiative, and self- direction. The practicum component of this course allows the learner to demonstrate the application of critical thinking skills, systematic inquiry and integrated competencies pertaining to a specified area of health/health promotion identified in the theory component and reflective of a health/health care disparities.

Prerequisite: NURS 300 RN to BSN Transition; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Junior Level BSN Program.

NURS 467 | Nursing Systems Leadership (5 credits)

This course is designed to expand the student’s knowledge of organizational and leadership theories and strategies. It will provide students with an introduction to the principles of management and theories of leadership and to provide an understanding of the role and function of nurse managers. Students will apply leadership and understanding of the role and function of nurse managers. Students will apply leadership and management knowledge, skills, and values to develop and/or enhance leadership behaviors in health care organizations or clinical areas. The student will collaborate with a preceptor and faculty member to develop, implement, and evaluate a project that addresses an identified leadership or management issue/problem in the organization or clinical area. Recognition (of self and others) and application of effective leadership and management behaviors will be highlighted.

Prerequisite: NURS 359 Nursing Issues, Trends, and Concepts and all Junior-Level Nursing Courses; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Senior-Level BSN Program

NURS 470 Community Health Nursing and Population Health (5 credits)

This course is structured to provide the theoretical base for the practice of community/public health nursing and application of community mental health, home health, hospice, and global health concepts. Analysis of communities in terms of health resiliencies and vulnerabilities are explored using principles from epidemiology, levels of prevention, and nursing research. The practicum component of the course provides the student the opportunity to apply knowledge and competence in caring for individuals and families in a variety of community and home health settings. Principles from levels of prevention, epidemiology and research are applied and experiences are provided that assist the development of decision-making processes while providing services to special populations. Practice experiences through virtual modalities are provided to develop core public health competencies.

Prerequisite: NURS 359 Nursing Issues, Trends, and Concepts and all Junior-Level Nursing Courses; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Senior-Level BSN Program 

NURS 497 | Nursing Capstone – IGED 391-392 Frontier Exploration & Inquiry I-II Substitute (4 credits)

This course provides the student with the experience of collaborating with a nurse expert in a leadership role in a health care area of interest. The student will integrate and apply concepts, theories and principles from prior learning in a healthcare setting that matches his/her long-term interest and professional goals. Students may select a mentor/coach from a variety of areas including management and leadership, practice, education, research, health care policy and/or ethics, safety and quality improvement, informatics and tele-health, and forensics. Focus is on cultivating environmental sensitivity and developing a professional identity and competencies through systematic inquiry, synthesis of prior knowledge, experiential learning, and peer relationships. The student assumes responsibility for her/his learning by writing and achieving specific and achievable learning goals.

Prerequisite: NURS 359 Nursing Issues, Trends, and Concepts and all Junior-Level Nursing Courses; Co-Requisite: None; Placement: Senior-Level BSN Program