This course introduces students to the foundational components of professional nursing practice. Essential to this development is an understanding of the environment of health care today, which is covered through discussion of health care structure and organization, as well as the specific organization of nursing practice within that environment. Discussion of professional nursing practice incorporates history, professional standards and organizations, scope of practice, and practice settings, and the educational requirements. Included in this discussion are the responsibilities, accountability, and legal standards established to provide safe practice to the care of health care consumers. An essential foundation for nursing practice is the ability to apply critical thinking skills in utilizing the central curriculum focus of the Nursing Process as a concept of organizing and providing patient care. These two elements are given particular emphasis to provide students with a strong basis to progress through the program with an outcome of providing competent patient care as a beginning practitioner. The remaining section of the course takes students into application of the Nursing Process through introduction to concepts of health, illness, prevention, and the process of acquiring assessment skills as the first essential step of the process. (2.5 credits theory/ 0.5 credits lab/clinical)

This course focuses on using critical thinking as a foundation for the nursing process. Through the establishment of a therapeutic nurse-client relationship, the student becomes proficient in nursing assessment and physical examination of the individual. Utilizing critical thinking skills, the student analyzes data to develop a plan of care. Based on individual patient needs and priorities, professional nursing practice strategies are implemented. Evaluation activities encompass desired patient outcomes, as well as student self-evaluation of progress in the course. Included is nursing process in the perioperative period.

This course is designed to provide students with a foundation of pharmacological concepts important to the safe administration of drug therapy as a part of patient care. This course emphasizes the mechanism of drug action, the subsequent effects of pharmacotherapy on the body, the nurse’s responsibility for safe administration of drugs, and observations of the effects on the client. Drug administration is taught as an application of the nursing process in order to emphasize the degree of critical thinking and professional nurse accountability associated with drug therapy. In addition, major classifications of drugs are addressed. A series of competency-based skill labs are designed to enable students to master essential aspects of medications.

This course focuses on nursing care of the adult client experiencing acute and chronic health alterations in acute care settings. Utilizing the nursing process as a unifying framework, students establish relationships with clients purposefully focused to making health care choices. In collaboration with other health care disciplines, the student shares accountability for activities directed at attainment of negotiated goals. This course emphasizes on nursing care of clients experiencing health alterations of: cardiovascular, respiratory, reticuloendothelial, hepatic, and immune disorders. (3.5 credits theory/ 3 credits clinical)

This course focuses on nursing care of the adult client experiencing acute and chronic health alterations in acute care settings. Utilizing the nursing process as a unifying framework, students establish relationships with clients purposefully focused to making health care choices. In collaboration with other health care disciplines, the student shares accountability for activities directed at attainment of negotiated goals. This course emphasizes on nursing care of clients experiencing health alterations of: nervous/sensory, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, endocrine/metabolic, and reproductive systems. (3.5 credits theory/3 credits clinical)

This course focuses on the nursing care of the older adult with an emphasis on a holistic approach to promoting wellness. Utilization of the nursing process is directed toward maximizing the quality of life of the older adult in a variety of settings. Students are guided to greater levels of understanding of their attitudes and perceptions of the dimensions of aging. (3.5 credits theory/ 3 credits clinical)

This course encompasses nursing care and the promotion of growth and development of children and families. Emphasis is placed on the health promotional aspects of nursing care. Focus is on the needs of the young families in various life stages: perinatal through adolescence. The impact of acute and chronic diseases is explored from a holistic perspective utilizing a family centered approach. Students provide collaborative nursing care in both community and acute care settings. Additionally students will explore culturally appropriate nursing strategies to influence health. (4 credits theory/3 credits clinical)

This course focuses on analyzing the relationship between the nurse and the psychiatric patient, as well as disorders identified by the American Psychiatric Association, by examining communication techniques, 249 integrating developmental theories and identifying behavioral patterns. The nursing process is used to interpret feelings, cultivate individual strength, co-create coping abilities, and instill faith and hope. The impact of the psychiatric illness on the family is explored from a holistic perspective. Through the art and science of nursing, the student and the patient gain a higher degree of harmony and health potential. The clinical practicum is offered in an acute psychiatric facility and in community settings. (4 credits theory/3 credits clinical)

This Complex Health Nursing course focuses on nursing care of seriously ill clients and families in the acute/critical care settings. Evolving from observer to participant, students implement the nursing process with an emphasis on assessment techniques, priority setting and collaboration with other health care providers and families. The autonomous scope of nursing practice in both settings is compared and contrasted. (4 credits theory/3 credits clinical)

This final course in the program facilitates a transition into the professional nursing role. Through precepted clinical experiences, students are paired with RN preceptors gradually increasing responsibility and accountability for nursing care for groups of patients. Additionally, nursing conceptual frameworks supportive of new graduates’ transition to the workforce will be examined. Theory related to patient care management, nursing leadership principles and care delivery to groups of patients will be presented. Collaboration and professional communication will be emphasized. (2 credits theory/4.5 credits hours clinical)

This course prepares the student to take the NCLEX exam through a variety individual and group strategies. (2 credits theory)

This course is designed to explore the role of health policy and ethics as they related to the practice of nursing. Students will compare and contrast ethical principles and legal issues that impact the delivery of nursing services. Topics covered will include patient rights, end of life issues, financing health care, federal and state regulatory issues, informed consent, and organ transplantation.

This course will present an overview of issues relevant to women's health nursing. Nursing assessment techniques specific to female clients will be explored. Specific nursing interventions to promote women's health will be covered, including: HIV, early detection of female cancers, reproductive health, mental health issues, osteoporosis, pharmacokinetics, nutrition, and physical fitness.

This course provides a framework for the development of nursing interventions promoting environmental health for individuals and communities. Students are placed in public health agencies for clinical practicum. Tools to assess the environmental health of a select community will be evaluated. Students will explore a particular nursing issue in greater depth as it relates to their clinical placements (air pollution, childhood cancers, toxic waste, noise exposure, etc).

This course provides a theoretical framework for the delivery of culturally competent nursing care. Concepts of illness, health, and wellness will be explored from a cultural belief system perspective. Recognizing cultural diversity, integrating knowledge of culture, and delivery of nursing care in a culturally appropriate/culturally sensitive manner will be studied.

This course will provide an overview of issues relevant to geriatric health nursing. Nursing assessment techniques specific to older adults will be explored. Specific nursing interventions to promote older adult health will be covered including pharmacological considerations, nutrition, elder abuse, sexuality, coping with loss and grief, health and wellness promotion, and continuum of care.

This course is designed to enable students to critically analyze nursing research and determine the appropriateness of use of such nursing research in clinical practice. Ethical principles of nursing research, particularly the protection of human subjects and other ethical accountabilities inherent in the researcher's role will be explored. Students will identify a clinical problem relevant for investigation and select appropriate data collection methods. The completion of a research proposal is a requirement of this course.

This course provides a framework for the development of nursing interventions promoting health for underserved populations with a focus on minority health promotion. Students are placed in select primary settings devoted to the care of underserved/minority populations. Students will explore a particular nursing issue in depth as it relates to their clinical placements (access to health care, infant mortality, resources, cultural/communication barriers, issues related to aging).

This is the final course in the RN to BS Nursing program. Through the exploration of unifying nursing leadership themes (influence, integrity, compassion, commitment, challenge, empowerment) students design, implement and evaluate a nursing leadership project in a clinical setting.

An introduction to critical thinking, induction, deduction, and contemporary symbolic logic including argument symbolization, proof construction, and truth tables.

Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development are studied throughout the life span. Major theories of development are discussed. Applications and examples are presented from applied contexts. Special needs of individuals at various stages throughout the life span are addressed. This course is NOT a substitute for 200 and 300 level development courses that apply toward majors in psychology and social work and certification in education. Does not count towards the psych major.

This course will examine the impact of culture on health care services and delivery in the United States. The influence of cultural difference on patient/provider interactions will be considered within the cultural competency model. The context of health and illness for groups including African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Latin-Americans will be included.

This course is an overview of scientific principles of nutrition and their application to humans throughout the life cycle. It is designed for students who need a broad coverage of nutrition and have little or no background in science. Three hours of lecture per week.Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in a school of nursing.

This course is designed for students who need a broad coverage of microbiology and have little or no background in biology or chemistry. It includes a study of microscopic organisms and their relation to health and disease. There is a special emphasis on disinfection, sterilization, immunology, and microbiological aspects of infectious disease. Three hours of lecture and two hours of lab per week. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in a school of nursing.

This is the first of two courses designed for students who need a broad coverage of anatomy and physiology and have little or no background in science. It includes a study of the structure and function of human cells, tissue, organs, and systems. Clinical applications of anatomy and physiology will also be considered. Three hours of lecture and two hours of lab per week. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in a school of nursing.

This is the second of two courses designed for students who need a broad coverage of anatomy and physiology and have little or no background in science. It includes a study of the structure and function of human cells, tissue, organs, and systems. Clinical applications of anatomy and physiology will also be considered. Three hours of lecture and two hours of lab per week. Prerequisite(s): BIO 116

This is a one credit, pass/fail course designed to facilitate a successful transition for women entering higher education. Emphasis will be placed on academic success, personal growth and self-management, campus/community resources and involvement, and ethical citizenship and diversity through interaction between faculty, staff, students and the community.

4 Mission/Breadth courses
One College Algebra/ Statistics course
4 credits of Wellness courses (PED/SDE)