Course Descriptions
Undergraduate Nursing
NURS 115: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING AND HEALTH
The process of critical thinking as a basis for open inquiry into assumptions, beliefs, and values about the discipline of nursing will be analyzed for nursing in a dynamic, multidisciplinary health care environment. Professional, historical, and socio-cultural issues, as well as ethical and legal standards, will be discussed within the context of health care challenges of the 21st century. Prerequisites: None.
NURS 205 / BIOL 205: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Mechanisms of disease in humans. Emphasis is on dysfunction at cellular, tissue, and organ levels. Chemical, physical, and genetic stress factors are examined to understand how they affect human systems. Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104.
NURS 212: HOLISTIC ASSESSMENT
A clinical practicum utilizing the techniques of physical, psychosocial, functional, spiritual, and cultural assessments. Assessments will be performed in a variety of practicum settings and will include individuals and families across the life span during various states of health. Students will utilize the data collected for an interpretive analysis of health status. Prerequisites: All required science courses (BIO 103, BIO 104, CHEM 108); NURS 115; Co-requisite: NURS 115 (if not taken previously), BIOL/NURS 205
NURS 310: QUEST INTO PHENOMENOLOGY OF NURSING
A course which applies nursing knowledge and interventions to clinical practice in association with the lived experiences of humanity as part of a system. Students apply theory and knowledge related to selected acute and chronic health problems to the care of individuals, families, and communities. Nursing role behaviors of the practitioner, counselor, educator, advocate, and coordinator in various settings are experienced by the students. Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212, 311), Co-requisites: NURS 331.2, 312
NURS 311: QUEST TOWARD INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING
A course which applies fundamental concepts of nursing, health and well-being in theory and practice. Students develop a foundation for holistic nursing practice utilizing physical and psychosocial skills to plan and deliver nursing care Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, 104, 205); CHEM 108; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212), Co-requisites: BIOL 206
NURS 312: EMBRACING THE DYNAMIC FAMILY
A clinical practicum course which provides a foundation to facilitate growth and development of children and their families. Students experience nursing role behaviors in addressing health needs of parents and their children in a variety of dynamic family systems. Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212, 310, 311); Co-requisites: NURS310
NURS 313: EMBRACING THE CHALLENGED FAMILY
A course which emphasizes integration of nursing skills and knowledge to facilitate the individuals’ and the families’ meeting severe episodic and chronic health challenges across the life span. Students analyze these critical challenges to individual & family systems in order to provide holistic and comprehensive nursing care given the resources available to the family within their community. Prerequisites: All required nursing courses Co-requisite: NURS 315
NURS 314: EMBRACING THE DYNAMIC COMMUNITY
A clinical practicum course which provides a foundation to facilitate community partnerships and collaboration in promoting health and accessing care. Students experience nursing role behaviors in a multiplicity of health care situations within the community. Prerequisites: All required science; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212, 310, 311, 312); Co-requisites: NURS 339
NURS 315: EMBRACING THE CHALLENGED COMMUNITY
A course which applies nursing knowledge, interventions and attitudes for vulnerable populations challenged by acute and chronic alterations in physical and mental health. Students analyze responses to mental health crises and episodic interruptions of health, and experience collaborative health care delivery in a variety of settings. Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses) Co-requisites: NURS 313
NURS 316: APPLIED RESEARCH IN NURSING
A clinical practicum course in which the student collaborates with a nurse researcher in an ongoing nursing research project during one or more of the investigative phases. Students develop insight into the process and application of research in nursing practice. *(Writing Intensive Course) Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses Co-requisites: NURS 317
NURS 317: THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE
A course which incorporates leadership and management principles with a clinical practicum in which students establish their role as a professional nurse. Students transition to entry-level practitioner by understanding autonomy, interdependency, leadership, and collaboration. Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses Co-requisites: NURS 316
NURS 331.2: PHARMACOLOGY 1
This nursing course exams the pharmacological process utilized by nurses including knowledge of medications, administration of medications, and medication calculations in patients throughout the lifespan. Pharmacological issues, over the counter medications, and herbal medication use will be examined. Reactions, compliancy, and other patient responses to pharmacological therapies will be discussed. This course will be built upon prior nursing knowledge and coordinate with current required nursing courses. Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212, 311); Co-requisites: NURS 310, 312)
NURS 332.2: PHARMACOLOGY 2
This nursing course exams the pharmacological process utilized by nurses including knowledge of medications, administration of medications, and medication calculations in patients throughout the lifespan. Pharmacological issues, over the counter medications, and herbal medication use will be examined. Reactions, compliancy, and other patient responses to pharmacological therapies will be discussed. This course will be built upon prior nursing knowledge and coordinate with current required nursing courses.Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212, 310, 311, 312); Co-requisites: NURS 339, 314
NURS 339: INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
A course which applies nursing knowledge, interventions and attitudes for the management of individuals' complex health problems throughout the adult years in theory and in clinical practice. Students analyze various human responses to challenging health conditions to provide holistic and comprehensive nursing care. Prerequisites: All required sciences; all required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212, 310, 311, 312); Co-requisites: NUR 332.2, 314
Nursing Electives
Nursing electives are offered in specialty areas of nursing practice. Commonly offered departmental electives appear below
NURS 216 / IDIS 216: INTERSECTION OF CULTURE AND HEALTHCARE
In this course the student will develop an understanding of health, illness, and the meanings of these concepts for members of non-western socio-cultural populations. Topics include culturally bound practices; the impact on healthcare practices and decision-making; structures that promote access to healthcare and structures that impede access. The concept of delivering culturally competent care will be examined and strategies for promoting competence will be explored. (M5)
NURS 320: NURSING OF POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS: HONDURAS
This nursing elective course seeks to facilitate the senior level student’s understanding of a specific population of people at high risk for health problems. The population may be found in any location. International placement for this course experience is encouraged.
NURS 321: INTEGRATED THERAPIES IN HEALTH
A seminar course that examines selected complementary and alternative therapies. Issues related to the integration of complementary therapies into health care and development of a nursing perspective on utilization of complementary therapies for treatment and healing will be discussed. Selected opportunities for clinical experience and field study may be included.
NURS 322: GLOBALIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING: AUSTRALIA
This nursing elective course seeks to explore the globalization of professional nursing in specific countries. Faculty approve the country context of choice. Students practice in the country under the supervision of RN clinical mentors.
NURS 360: ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN HEALTHCARE
This course provides the foundation of ethical theories and bioethics relative to healthcare. The relevance of ethics to decision-making within the healthcare system is explored. Ethical issues that affect healthcare professionals and individuals across the lifespan are analyzed. (U2).
NURS XXX: Perioperative Nursing
A clinical practicum course, which provides students with in-depth experiences in Perioperative nursing. Students will explore this nursing specialty that works with patients who are having operative or other invasive procedures. Students will examine the role behaviors of the perioperative nurse as practitioner, counselor, educator, advocate, and coordinator in various settings, and will work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, surgeon's assistants, and surgical technologists.
NURS 391: Global Disaster Preparedness and Management
The focus of this course is to explore personal and global disaster preparedness. In this course the student will examine global disaster management and the socio-cultural needs of individuals, particularly the needs of vulnerable populations. Current evidence-based information on disaster response will be explored in order to prepare for the unique cultural needs of populations impacted by disasters. The student will develop an understanding of the nature and form of different types of global disasters and develop a plan for disaster management at a personal, community, and global level.
190-199, 290-299, 390-399, SPECIAL TOPICS
381-384, INDEPENDENT STUDY
386-389, FIELD STUDY
400-401, HONORS