Courses
NURS 302. Pathophysiology (3)
Prerequisite: Approval of faculty advisor. This course provides an understanding of complex pathophysiologic processes as a basis for safe and evidence-based nursing management of common disease processes across the lifespan.
NURS 303. Professional Nursing (3)
Preparatory: Admission to Nursing Program; Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Focuses on the practice of professional nursing, critical thinking, therapeutic nursing interventions, nursing process, advocacy, humanistic approach to the treatment of human beings, selected bio-psycho-social and nursing theories, spirituality, communication, information technology, role change, values, culture, and oral and written communication skills. Regular written assignments and oral presentations are required.
NURS 306. Supportive/Educative Nursing Systems (3)
Application of nursing knowledge and skills in self-care agency with individuals, families, groups, communities and populations. Content includes theories and principles of learning, teaching strategies and methodologies, teaching resources, and evaluation of instruction as applied to the development of nursing systems in the nursing process. Regular written assignments and oral presentations required.
NURS 307/L. Health Assessment and Lab (2/1)
Corequisite: NURS 307L. Provides knowledge and understanding in complete assessment of individual health in using bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural concepts. Includes nursing assessment through all developmental stages. Passing grade must be earned in both NURS 307 and NURS 307L concurrently for credit in both courses. 3 hours lab per week.
NURS 308. Family Systems Nursing (3)
Prerequisites: Admission to BSN Program and NURS 303. The focus of this course is on nursing care of families. Family nursing theory and research is applied to Orem-defined units of family nursing practice individual self-care agents, dependent-care dyads and family units as wholes. Emphasis is on health/safety promotion and disease prevention, including assessment of individuals within family systems, family issues/trends and global perspectives.
NURS 310. Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 140 or equivalent. Historical, philosophical, and ethical aspects of nursing research and its relationship to nursing science, theory and practice are included. Knowledge of the research process is developed. Emphasis is on retrieving, critiquing, and synthesizing best evidence as a foundation for delivery of safe, quality, patient-centered care.
NURS 315. Pharmacology (3)
Prerequisite: Admission into the Accelerated BSN Pathway. This course examines the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for major drug classes as they impact the individual. Assessment and management of the therapeutic and toxic effects of pharmacological interventions are emphasized.
NURS 318/L. Introduction to Professional Nursing and Lab (3/4)
Introduction to the practice of professional nursing, including critical thinking, assessment, therapeutic nursing interventions and communication. This course explores related models and theories, professional roles, nursing process and use of nursing skills to promote wellness of individuals. Bio-psycho-social-spiritual, cultural and developmental considerations included. Lab: Supervised clinical lab provides opportunities for role development and application of knowledge and skills. Passing grades must be earned in both lecture and lab concurrently for credit in both courses.
NURS 320/L. Intermediate Medical Surgical Nursing and Clinical Lab (4/3)
Prerequisite: This course is only open to students admitted to the ABSN program. Corequisite: NURS 320L. This course focuses on the care of adult and older adult patients with alterations in health. Emphasis is placed on helping patients and their families cope with alterations in body functions. Concepts of pharmacology, health promotion and education, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration will be integrated throughout the course. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients and selected groups in a variety of settings. Passing grades must be earned in both theory and lab/clinical courses concurrently for credit in both courses. Lecture meets 4 hours per week and clinical laboratory meets 9 hours per week.
NURS 422/L. Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing and Clinical Laboratory (4/4)
Prerequisites: NURS 302, NURS 307/L, NURS 315, NURS 318/L, NURS 320/L. This course is only open to students admitted to the ABSN program. This course focuses on advanced concepts of nursing care as they relate to patients on medical-surgical units with complex, multisystem alterations in health. Emphasis is placed on implementing time management and organizational skills while managing the care of patients with multiple needs and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team. Complex clinical skills, as well as priority setting, clinical judgment, and principles of legal and ethical practice, are integrated throughout the course. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe care to patients and selected groups in a variety of settings. Passing grades must be earned in both theory and lab/clinical courses concurrently for credit in both courses. Lecture meets 4 hours per week and the laboratory portion meets 12 hours per week.
NURS 426. Nursing Systems Issues and Ethics (3-3)
Preparatory: All 300-level Nursing courses. Deals with issues arising within the community, the healthcare systems and the profession of nursing that influence patient outcomes and the development of nursing systems. Discusses ethical aspects of providing therapeutic self-care. Regular written assignments required.
NURS 427/L. Dynamics of Nursing Leadership and Leadership in Nursing Lab (3/1)
Prerequisites: All 300-level Nursing courses; NURS 426. Corequisite: NURS 427L. Focuses on the function of the professional nurse through leadership, administration and change. Presents theories of group dynamics, leadership, organizations, planned change, power and conflict as they apply in the nursing unit. Regular written assignments are required. Lab: Application through use of leadership and administration theories and skills in clinical settings. Students synthesize professional nursing roles through individualized learning contract. Credit given only if a passing grade is earned in both lecture and lab courses.
NURS 428/L. Community and Population Health Nursing and Lab (3/2)
Prerequisites: All 300-level Nursing courses; NURS 426. Corequisite: NURS 428L. Development of community health nursing role in disease prevention and health promotion among diverse populations in community and public health settings. Focus on population-based nursing practice, including health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention across the lifespan of diverse individuals, families, and communities. Emphasis on communication and collaboration within a complex system of community health services delivery. Passing grades must be earned in lecture course and lab concurrently for credit in the major for both courses.
NURS 430/L. Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing and Clinical Laboratory (2/1)
Focuses on the unique role of the professional nurse in assessing, promoting, maintaining, restoring and evaluating persons with actual or potential altered mental health processes. Topics include selected theories of human behavior and current knowledge of psychiatric/mental health nursing care, psychopathology, psychiatric treatment, psychopharmacology, environmental management and influences of family. Lab: Demonstration of beginning professional role in psychiatric/mental health nursing by applying knowledge from lecture corequisite. Passing grades must be earned in lecture course and lab concurrently for credit in both courses.
NURS 443/L. Nursing Care of Children and Clinical Lab (2/1.5)
Prerequisites: All 300-level courses in the Accelerated BSN Pathway. Corequisite: NURS 443L. Focuses on the professional nurse’s role in assessing, promoting, maintaining, restoring and evaluating the care of children with actual or potential altered health. Includes age-specific health considerations of newborns through adolescents within the interactional context of family and environment. Theories, models and concepts are related to nursing care of the child and the family. Lab: Supervised experience provides opportunities for role-development and application of knowledge and skills. Passing grades must be earned in lecture course concurrently for credit in both courses.
NURS 444/L. Nursing Care of Childbearing Family and Clinical Lab (2/1.5)
Prerequisites: All 300-level courses in the Accelerated BSN Pathway. Corequisite: NURS 444L. Focuses on the professional nurse’s role in the care of the multiperson unit of the child-bearing family. Emphasis is on assessment and management of the woman, baby and family during the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. Includes both healthy and pathologic processes. Lab: Supervised clinical lab provides opportunities for role- and skills-development and application. Passing grades must be earned in lecture course and lab concurrently for credit in both courses.
NURS 495. Advancing Professional Practice (1-1)
Prerequisites: All 300-level RN-BSN courses. Synthesis of learning and best evidence in assessment, design, planning, implementing, and evaluating improvements in nursing practice. Emphasis on using clinical judgment, critical thinking, communications, and knowledge of research, client values/preferences. Must be taken within last RN-BSN semester(s).
NURS 498L. Clinical Intensive (2)
Prerequisites: NURS 302, NURS 307/L, NURS 315, NURS 318/L, NURS 320/L, NURS 422/L. This course is open only to students admitted to the ABSN program. This course is designed to facilitate the transition from the role of the student to the role of the practicing nurse. Students are provided the opportunity to function as a contributing member of the interprofessional team and provide care to a caseload of patients that is safe, evidence-based, patient-centered, and focused on promoting quality patient outcomes. Emphasis is placed on demonstration of professional behaviors, communication that supports information exchange, collaboration, ethical conduct, and leadership.
NURS 500. Evolving Roles of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. This course is designed for the entry level MSN graduate student with a focus on exploring the role and leadership of the advanced practice nurse within the professional and organizational spheres. The course prepares the student to transform care environments utilizing nursing theory, cultural competency, professional values, and effective collaboration and communication skills in inter-professional team. Students will analyze key issues and challenges affecting outcomes and learn how to be an effective organizational and systems leader.
NURS 501. Ethics, Policy, and Legal Implications for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. This course is designed to explore the social forces and the political, ethical and economic structures that affect nursing practice and shape healthcare access, safety, quality and delivery in local, state, national and global systems. Students will examine the role of the advanced practice nurse as political activist and policy advocate within the U.S. healthcare delivery systems. Ethical reasoning is emphasized as the foundation for practice, policy and economics, as well as for corollary laws, regulations, resource allocation, funding strategies, costs, budgeting and outcomes.
NURS 502. Information Management for Advanced Practice Nursing (2)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. This course provides advanced practice nursing students an overview of the management of information and data through application of computer, information and nursing practice concepts. The focus is on how information technology is employed within clinical practice, administration, education and research settings to disseminate healthcare knowledge and promote interprofessional communication that would optimize care delivery and outcomes. The course enhances knowledge and understanding of the ethical and legal considerations associated with application of informatics in the healthcare and education settings. Selected software programs/applications are presented and used.
NURS 503. Science Development, Study Design, and Statistics (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. The focus of this course is scholarly inquiry and translation of evidence into protocols and practice within the context of ethics, advocacy and patient safety. Scholarly inquiry for this course includes systemic critical analysis, evaluation, synthesis, application and integration of theoretical and empirical principles of research to generate evidence-based recommendations for nursing practice.
NURS 510. Pathophysiological Foundation for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. This course covers concepts in human physiology and pathophysiology that serve as foundation for advanced practice nurses in their clinical assessment, clinical diagnostic decision making and healthcare management. Alterations of various physiological systems and pathophysiology of frequently encountered health conditions across the lifespan, including special populations are reviewed. Evidence-based concepts relevant to normal physiology, etiology, including those relevant to genetics and environment, and clinical manifestations and responses to common diseases/altered health states are compared across the lifespan. Clinical screening and diagnostic evaluative methods are also discussed.
NURS 511/L. Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning and Lab (3/1)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. Corequisite: NURS 511L. This course provides knowledge of advanced health assessment of clients within the context of the advanced practice role. It builds on the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and health assessment skills attained in previous courses. Emphasis is on acquisition and analysis of relevant data for the development of a comprehensive and holistic assessment and interpretation of screening and diagnostic tests to formulate a differential diagnosis. Lab: The emphasis of this laboratory course is on the knowledge and application of advanced skills required to perform a comprehensive health assessment. Practice of health assessment techniques, guidelines and consideration for patients across the lifespan are presented. There is a focus on normal findings within each body system and deviations relevant to age, gender, ethnicity and diseases.
NURS 512. Pharmacological Foundation for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN program. This course provides the knowledge and skills for clinical application of advanced pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics as it relates to common health conditions of the adolescent, adult and geriatric patient. Emphasis is on the development of therapeutic decision making in drug selection for the client based on health problems, individual variations, cultural and economic considerations. Focus is on the prescriptive practice, client education and monitoring of the therapeutic response to pharmacological agents in diverse clients across the lifespan.
NURS 560. Theories of Teaching and Instruction in Nursing (3)
Prerequisite: Instructor consent. This course focuses on examining prominent theories of teaching and models of instruction that are applicable to the classroom, nursing skill laboratory and clinical education. Theoretical approaches classified as behaviorist, social interactionist and cognitive, as well as adult learning theories, are discussed and analyzed. Evidence-based research relative to nursing education is reviewed and critiqued.
NURS 561. Teaching and Learning Strategies in Nursing (3)
Prerequisite: Instructor consent. This course focuses on providing mentored training in integrating evidence-based, learning-centered teaching and learning strategies. Students are teamed with faculty mentors in the classroom, skill laboratory and clinical settings to apply and implement learned teaching strategies under the direct supervision of faculty mentors. Special emphasis is made on integrating multiculturalism in teaching and learning.
NURS 562. Curriculum Development in Nursing (3)
Prerequisites: NURS 560, NURS 561; Instructor consent. Curriculum principles and strategies that incorporate accrediting nursing bodies curricular essentials are presented. Concerns associated with associate, baccalaureate and graduate nursing degrees curricula are addressed and differentiated with reference to accrediting bodies curricular essentials requirements and with reference to certifying state regulators. Emphasis is placed on integrating the interplay of curricular systematic decision making, curriculum planning, curriculum development, systematic assessment of outcomes, and accreditation requirements/self-study.
NURS 563. Evaluation and Assessment in Nursing Educations (3)
Prerequisites: NURS 560, NURS 561, NURS 562; Instructor consent. This course explores various theories on assessments and evaluation, and examines important theoretical, ethical and practical issues in assessment, evaluations, measurement and testing in nursing education.
NURS 664. Faculty Role Development in Nursing (3)
Prerequisites: NURS 560, NURS 562, NURS 563; Instructor consent. This course focuses on examining models of the nurse faculty role and on analyzing strategies for effective teaching, practice, scholarship and service. Leadership is examined through the lens of a system framework for effective change and transformation.
NURS 697. Directed Comprehensive Studies/Exam (1-1)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing. This course is for students in the Master of Science in Nursing program. It is designed to assess students’ ability to integrate and apply knowledge from the core areas of nursing to a specialty area. The examination serves as a culminating activity, which provides students with the opportunity to synthesize knowledge and experience gained through their master’s program. The course forces students to rise above individual courses to reach a comprehensive understanding of theory and principles of the nursing discipline and their area of specialty; and to use the knowledge gained in individual courses as the foundation from which such comprehensive understanding is reached. This course must be taken during the last semester of the program and is composed of five class sessions of 3 hours each to assist and guide students’ integrative learning and synthesis. May be repeated once for credit.