Academic Catalog

Nursing (NURS)

NURS 1800  Bridge to Professional Nursing  
Prerequisite: Admission into LPN/Paramedic Bridge to RN Program  
Co-Requisite: NURS 1810  
Credit Hours: (4-3-5)  
This course is offered in the first semester of the LPN/Paramedic-RN Bridge Concentration and is designed to allow licensed professional nursing students (LPNs) and paramedics to build upon existing core knowledge in preparation for transition into the Associate of Science Nursing program. Evidence-based educational strategies focus on success as a nursing student. Emphasis is placed on foundational nursing practice to include key concepts such as: nursing process, clinical judgement model, critical thinking, holistic care, and therapeutic communication. The role of professional nurse is introduced and expanded to include nursing practice in various healthcare domains. Selected content, including pharmacological principles and dosage calculations is presented.   
NURS 1810  Adult Health Nursing  
Prerequisite: Admission into LPN/Paramedic Bridge to RN Program  
Co-Requisite: NURS 1800  
Credit Hours: (4-3-5)  
This course introduces and integrates nursing care concepts and competencies for adult patients experiencing acute and chronic health conditions resulting in alterations in physiological functioning. Classroom and clinical experiences emphasize the application of knowledge and competencies that facilitate the analysis of the nursing process, clinical judgement model, therapeutic and interpersonal skills, cultural diversity, critical thinking, health promotion, and safe effective care for adults across the lifespan.   
NURS 1905  Foundations in Pharmacology  
Prerequisite: Acceptance to the nursing program  
Credit Hours: (2-0-2)  
This is the first in a two-course sequence which introduces basic principles of dosage calculation, safe and accurate medication administration,pharmacokinetics, pharmcodynamics, and legal and ethical nursing responsibilities.  
NURS 1906  Applied Pharmacology  
Prerequisite: Nurs 1905 and concurrent enrollment in or completion of Nurs 1911 and Nurs 1912  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This is the second in a two-course sequence emphasizing the pharmacotherapeutics of medication administration. The classroom experiences facilitate the application of the nursing process, cultural diversity, critical thinking, health promotion, and safe effective medication administration across the lifespan.  
NURS 1910  Foundations in Nursing  
Prerequisite: Acceptance to the nursing program  
Credit Hours: (4-9-7)  
An introduction to the art and science of nursing emphasizing the fundamental concepts and skill of care of adult patients' physiologic needs in diverse health care settings. Classroom and clinical experiences emphasize foundational knowledge and competencies that integrate the nursing process, therapeutic and interpersonal skills, cultural diversity, critical thinking, health promotion, and safe effective care.  
NURS 1911  Into Adult Health Nurs  
Prerequisite: Nurs 1910, Nurs 1905, Math 1001 or Math 1111, Biol 2210, Engl 1101, and concurrent enrollment in or completion of Engl 1102, Biol 2211, Psyc 2103, Nurs 1912, Nurs 1906  
Credit Hours: (3-6-5)  
This is the first of three adult health nursing courses, and it introduces nursing care concepts and competencies for adult patients who have chronic conditions or alterations in psysiological functioning. Classroom and clinical experiences emphasize the accumulation of knowledge and competencies that facilitate the application of the nursing process, therapeutic and interpersonal skills, cultural diversity, critical thinking, health promotion, and safe, effective care for adults across the lifespan.  
NURS 1912  Mental Health Nursing  
Prerequisite: Nurs 1910, Nurs 1905, Math 1001 or Math 1111, Biol 2210, Engl 1101 and concurrent enrollment in or completion of Biol 2211, Engl 1102, Psyc 2103, Nurs 1911, and Nurs 1906  
Credit Hours: (2-3-3)  
This course emphasizes the knowledge and competencies necessary to deliver safe and effective mental health nursing care to patients in a variety of settings across the lifespan. Common mental health disorders are explored utilizing the nursing process. Emphasis is placed on therapeutice nursing interventions, effective communication, interpersonal skills, the enhancement of critical thinking and exploring evidence-based practices in the classroom and clinical experiences.  
NURS 2001  Transition I  
NURS 2002  Transition II  
NURS 2003  Transition III  
NURS 2004  Transition IV  
NURS 2807  Transition to Prof Practice  
Prerequisite: NURS 1800, NURS 1810, NURS 2810, and NURS 2811  
Co-Requisite: NURS 2812  
Credit Hours: (2-0-2)  
This seminar-style course facilitates the transition into professional nursing practice by stimulating inquiry and discovery of essential principles required for safe and effective care management. This course introduces the leadership roles and management functions of professional registered nurses within the structure of an organization. The management process (planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling) Emphasis is placed on accountability, delegation, legal/ethical responsibilities, health care economics, informatics, career management, and continuing competence  
NURS 2810  Mental Health Nursing  
Prerequisite: NURS 1800 and NURS 1810  
Co-Requisite: NURS 2811  
Credit Hours: (2-3-3)  
This course emphasizes the knowledge and competencies necessary to deliver safe and effective mental health nursing care to clients in a variety of settings across the lifespan. Common mental health disorders are explored utilizing the nursing process. Emphasis is placed on therapeutic nursing interventions, effective communication, interpersonal skills, the enhancement of critical thinking, and exploring evidence-based practices in the classroom, as well as in clinical experiences.   
NURS 2811  Maternal-Child Nursing  
Prerequisite: NURS 1800 and NURS 1810  
Co-Requisite: NURS 2810  
Credit Hours: (6-3-7)  
This course integrates the knowledge and competencies essential to provide patient-centered nursing care to childbearing families and children from infancy through adolescence in diverse health care settings. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, growth and development, and common obstetrical and pediatric disorders utilizing the nursing process, critical thinking, and evidence-based practices in the classroom and clinical experiences.   
NURS 2812  Complex Adult Health Nursing  
Prerequisite: NURS 1800, NURS 1810, NURS 2810, and NURS 2811  
Credit Hours: (6-6-8)  
Co-requisite; NURS 2807 This course unifies the classroom and clinical experiences of the associate degree student. This course prepares the student to synthesize nursing knowledge to meet client needs with a specific emphasis on the needs of the critically ill client. This course also reviews key concepts from previous courses to help prepare students for the NCLEX. In addition, the clinical component includes learning activities in team nursing, communication techniques, formulation of case presentations and teaching plans, leadership, emergency care, and intravenous therapy for clients through the lifespan.   
NURS 2905  Guided Self-Study in Med-Surg  
Prerequisite: All ASN core, first through the third semester of NURS courses.  
Credit Hours: (1-0-1)  
This one-credit-hour course is intended to assist ASN students who need an additional NURS hour to graduate in synthesizing information gathered in previous nursing courses and applying this knowledge to selected case studies. The grade for this course will be Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.  
NURS 2907  Transition to Profess Practice  
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in NURS 2912.  
Credit Hours: (2-0-2)  
This is a seminar course that facilitates the transition into professional nursing practice bystimulating inquiry and discovery of essential principles required for safe and effective care and management. Emphasis is placed on accountability, delegation, legal/ethical responsibilities, health care economics, informatics, career management, and continuing competence. NOTE: The first time this course will be taught is Spring 2016.  
NURS 2910  Acute Adult Health Nursing  
Prerequisite: NURS 1911, NURS 1912, NURS 1906, BIOL 2211, ENGL1102, PSYC 2103 and concurrent enrollment in or completion of HIST 2111 or HIST 2112, BIOL 2250, and NURS 2911.  
Credit Hours: (3-6-5)  
This is the second of three adult health nursing courses, and it integrates nursing care concepts and competencies for adult patients who have acute alterations in physiological functioning or exacerbations of chronic conditions. Classroom and clinical experiences emphasize the application of knowledge and competencies that facilitate the analysis of the nursing process, therapeutic and interpersonal skills, cultural diversity, critical thinking, and safe effective care for adults across the lifespan. NOTE: The first time this course will be taught is Fall 2015.  
NURS 2911  Maternal Child Nursing  
Prerequisite: NURS 1911, NURS 1912, NURS 1906, BIOL 2211, ENGL 1102, PSYC 2103 and concurrent enrollment in or completion of HIST 2111 or 2112, BIOL 2250, NURS 2910  
Credit Hours: (4-3-5)  
This course integrates the knowledge and competencies essential to provide patient-centered nursing care to childbearing families and children from infancy through adolescence in diverse health care settings. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, growth and development, and common obstetrical and pediatric disorders utilizing the nursing process, critical thinking, and evidence-based practices in the classroom and clinical experiences. NOTE: This course will be taught for the first time in Fall 2015.  
NURS 2912  Complex Adult Health Nurs  
Prerequisite: NURS 2910, NURS 2911, BIOL 2250, HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in an approved elective.  
Credit Hours: (3-15-8)  
This is the final adult health course, and it facilitates the synthesis of nursing care concepts and competencies for adult patients who have acute/emergent alterations in physiological functioning. Classroom and clinical experiences engage students in the management and analysis of nursing care. Clinical practicum immerses students in the roles of advocator, manager, and collaborator of patient care across the lifespan in diverse health care settings.  
NURS 2992  Nurs Issues & Trends  
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in NURS 2904.  
Credit Hours: (2-0-2).  
An investigation of current issues in nursing, including nursing informatics, accountability and delegation, legal and ethical responsibilities, health care economics, and career management.   
NURS 3010  Pathophysiology/Pharm for Nurs  
Prerequisite: Admission to Pre-Licesure BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (4-0-4)  
Students acquire knowledge of pathophysiology and the principles of clinical pharmacology to manage patient care. Course content focuses on the physiological responses of the human body to selected conditions and the nursing responsibilities for pharmacological interventions to alterations in health status across the lifespan.  
NURS 3011  Assess. in Health & Wellness  
Prerequisite: Admission to Pre-Licensure BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (2-3-3)  
Students acquire and develop skills necessary for entry level professional nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on the development of assessment techniques to collect data and formulate nursing care to promote, restore, and maintain health across the lifespan. Classroom, simulation, and lab components are utilized in this course  
NURS 3012  Foundations of Prof. Nurs. Pra  
Prerequisite: Admission to Pre-Licensure BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (4-6-6)  
In this course, students are introduced to concepts and skills that are necessary for maintaining professionalism and legal/ethical practice as a baccalaureate prepared nurse. Learning activities in the classroom, simulation lab, and practice settings integrate concepts and competencies for the provision of safe, quality, and effective evidence-based care for the adult patient's physiological needs.  
NURS 3197  Professional Nurs Practice  
Prerequisite: None  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course is designed to enhance and facilitate the development of the RN student to the role of a BSN prepared professional nurse. The focus is on developing personal and professional growth to promote better advocacy, critical thinking, educator skills, effective communication, and leadership abilities in a complex healthcare environment. Course content includes concepts from historical contributions and theories that have guided the profession to promoting professional philosophies, visions, and practices to help prepare for future trends in healthcare. Topics relate to culture and diversity, professional ethics, political and legal issues in nursing and technology. Students will apply knowledge of standards of practice, evidence-based practice, and caring science to course topics.   
NURS 3210  Pathophysiology/Pharmacology  
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in or completion of NURS 3212 and NURS 3220  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This is the second of two courses that help students acquire knowledge of pathophysiology and the principles of clinical pharmacology to manage client care. Course content focuses on the physiological responses of the human body to selected conditions and the nursing responsibilities for pharmacological interventions to alterations in health status across the lifespan.  
NURS 3212  Professional Nursing Pract. I  
Prerequisite: NURS 3010, NURS 3011, NURS 3012  
Credit Hours: (5-6-7)  
In this course, students build on prior knowledge to develop analytic, situational, and holistic thinking to plan and manage care that results in high quality outcomes for adult patients who have alterations in functioning. Learning activities in the classroom, simulation lab, and practice settings integrate concepts and competencies for the provision of safe, quality, and effective evidence-based care. Emphasis is on health promotion, maintenance, and restoration in commonly occurring health care issues for adults across various settings.  
NURS 3220  Persp. in Mental Health Nurs.  
Prerequisite: NURS 3010, NURS 3011, NURS 3012  
Credit Hours: (3-6-5)  
In this course, students will explore the knowledge and competencies necessary to plan and manage safe, effective nursing care for clients across the lifespan in a variety of mental health settings. Emphasis is placed on the use of therapeutic nursing interventions, effective communication, interpersonal skills, critical thinking and evidence-based practice for mental health disorders in the community, clinical, and simulation lab settings.  
NURS 3297  Nurs Research Application  
Prerequisite: None  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course is designed to provide the registered nurse with an overview of the major research concepts as applied to the profession of nursing, to scholarship, and to clinical practice. Analysis, critique, and interpretation of qualitative and quantaitive research approaches, including ethical implications, for evidence-based nursing practice will be examined. Emphasis is placed on how to critique, analyze, and apply published and empirical research findings to evidence-based nursing practice.  
NURS 3322  Evidence-Based Research-Nurs.  
Prerequisite: NURS 3212, NURS 3220  
Credit Hours (3-0-3) In this course, students will explore the relationship between nursing research, theory, and practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding, critiquing, interpreting, and utilizing research as a basis for evidence-based nursing practice.  
NURS 3324  Community Based Nursing  
Prerequisite: NURS 3212, NURS 3220  
Credit Hours: (3-3-4)  
This course focuses on community health services with emphasis on professional nursing practices in the promotion of population health. Emphasis will be placed on the nurse’s role in improving the health of communities. Through the assessment and analysis of the health status of a chosen population, students will intervene to influence change and promote health. Meeting the nursing care needs of individuals, families, groups and aggregates are addressed within the conceptual framework of the community.  
NURS 3397  Health Assessment  
Prerequisite: None  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course is a study of the advanced knowledge and skills beyond the Associates' degree in Nursing, designed to enhance health assessment for nursing practice in the care of individuals across the lifespan. Theory and skills essential to completing a comprehensive and holistic health history and physical examination are emphasized. In addition, the holistic delivery of care will include cultural, spiritual, nutritional, alternative, complementary therapies, and health promotion for the delivery of safe and person-centered care. The importance of comprehensive and accurate documentation as a tool for effective communication amongst the interdisciplinary team is reviewed.  
NURS 3398  Health Assessment Clinical  
Prerequisite: Admission into RN2BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (0-3-1)  
Concurrent enrollment in NURS 3397 This course is the clinical component to the RN2BSN USG eCampus course, Health Assessment NURS 3397. It is the practical application of the knowledge and skills beyond the Associate's degree in Nursing, to perform a comprehensive and holistic health history and physical examination for individuals across the lifespan. In addition, the practical importance of using comprehensive and accurate documentation as a tool for effective communication amongst the interdisciplinary team is utilized.  
NURS 3500  Topics in Professional Nursing  
Prerequisite: Admission to the RN-BSN Program and Approval of Director of Nursing  
Credit Hours: (1- 4, -0-, 1-4)  
Specialized topics from nursing taught by means of lecture, discussion, special seminar, guided independent study, directed experience in the field of nursing, online learning activities, clinical investigation and/or other methods as appropriate. May be repeated once with different topic for credit. An independent study allows the undergraduate nursing student to explore, extend, and enrich content introduced in courses in the BSN program. Students may elect to use these hours on a topic related to their area of focus or on a topic or method related to their proposed BSN project. Variable credit 1-4 hours based on their area of focus.  
NURS 3922  Pathophysiol/Pharmacology  
Credit Hours: (4-0-4)  
This course introduces the pathophysiological basis of illness and the basic principles of clinical pharmacology. The focus of this course is on compromises in the body's ability to meet its physiological needs integrated with nursing responsibilities related to pharmacological interventions in response to these compromises.  
NURS 4412  Professional Nursing Pract. II  
Prerequisite: NURS 3322, NURS 3324  
Credit Hours: (6-6-8)  
In this course, the student will continue to build on prior knowledge and skills to integrate analytical, situational, and holistic thinking to plan and manage the care of multiple complex, high acuity adult patients. Learning activities in the classroom, simulation lab, and practice settings integrate concepts and competencies for the provision of safe, quality, and effective care. Emphasis is on the achievement of safe, effective, evidence-based management of care for multiple adult patients.  
NURS 4420  Persp.in Maternal-Child Health  
Prerequisite: NURS 3322, NURS 3324  
Credit Hours: (5-3-6)  
In this course, the student will build on prior knowledge to develop analytic, situational, and holistic thinking to plan and manage care for the childbearing and child rearing families (birth through adolescence) in diverse health care settings. Classroom, simulation lab, and clinical practice settings integrate concepts and competencies for the provision of safe, quality, and effective evidence-based care with an emphasis on health promotion, maintenance, and restoration.  
NURS 4497  Community Health Nursing  
Prerequisite: Admission into RN2BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course is designed to examine the concepts and principles of community and population health nursing. The course will provide an overview of health issues that transcend borders, class, race, ethnicity, and culture. Emphasis is placed on roles, levels of prevention, principles of epidemiology, public health policy, and disaster preparedness.  
NURS 4498  Community/Leadership Clinical  
Prerequisite: Admission into RN2BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (0-3-1)  
Concurrent enrollment in NURS 4497 This course is the clinical component to the RN2BSN USG eCampus course, Community Health NURS 4497 and Leadership & Management NURS 4597. It is the practical application of community and population health nursing with an introduction to the leadership roles and management functions of professional registered nurses within the structure of an organization.  
NURS 4512  Pro. Nursing Senior Practicum  
Prerequisite: NURS 4412, NURS 4420  
Credit Hours: (0-15-5)  
The student engages in a clinical practicum, with a preceptor, which facilitates the the synthesis of prior nursing knowledge, core concepts, competencies, and skills for patients across the lifespan who have varying alterations in functioning. Seminars, simulation labs, and clinical practice settings prepare the student to transition into the role of baccalaureate prepared registered professional nurse.  
NURS 4522  Leadership & Mgt for Nurs Prac  
Prerequisite: NURS 4412, NURS 4420  
Credit Hours: (3-3-4)  
In this course, the student will explore and assume the role of the nurse in leadership and management, health team management/collaboration, organizational dynamics, and skills/concepts relating to decision making in the provision of high quality nursing care. Learning activities in the classroom, simulation lab, and clinical practice settings emphasize concepts relevant to transition into the role of baccalaureate prepared registered professional nurse.  
NURS 4524  Pro. Nursing Trans. to Practic  
Prerequisite: NURS 4412, NURS 4420  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
The student is guided in formulating a professional identity through the application, synthesis, and evaluation of the principles required for transition into professional practice, such as civility, professionalism, professional standards, and professional development.  
NURS 4597  Leadership & Management  
Prerequisite: Admission into RN2BSN Program  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course introduces the leadership roles and management functions of professional registered nurses within the structure of an organization. The management process provides the foundational structure for the course, while the theoretical framework for this course is established through exploration of leadership styles, organizational theory, and management theory. Quality assurance and the provision of evidences-based, patient-centered care and collaborative relationships are emphasized. The impact of political and legislative processes, the integration of informatics, and the legal and ethical issues in management are also discussed.  
NURS 4922  Crit Analy:Acute & Chronic Ill  
Prerequisite: NURS 3922  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course focuses on common acute and chronic complex health care problems across the lifespan. A case study approach will be used to examine the relationship between pathophysiological concepts and the nursing process to enhance clinical decision making. Course content may change each semester to allow for discussion related to new or emerging disease/healthcare topics of interest at that time. Students will be encouraged to suggest new or evolving illnesses for inclusion in the course outline.  
NURS 4994  Synthesis in Prof Nurs  
Prerequisite: NURS 3092, NURS 3093, NURS 3992, NURS 3993  
Credit Hours: (3-0-3)  
This course will be a synthesis of the coursework that has been completed in the RN/BSN program. This course prepares students to implement change through the use of evidence-based practice, conflict resolution, communication, and problem-solving. Students will choose a Change Theory to guide them in the development of a proposed project within a healthcare organization.