Bachelor of Science in Nursing Courses

NRSG 250 PRIN CARE HOSPITALIZED 1 Credit Hour

This course is designed as an introductory course for health care professional students in allied health disciplines. The course introduces basic knowledge and skills which are requisite to creating a safe environment for interaction between the practitioner and the client. This course has both a theory and a clinical laboratory component (1 semester credit hour). Nursing credit is not applicable toward a major in nursing.

Typically Offered: FALL

NRSG 311 PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC ALTERATIONS IN HEALTH I 2 Credit Hours

This course focuses on the pathophysiologic basis for alterations in health across the life course. Theories of disease causation will be explored. Acquired, immune, infectious, carcinogenic, genetic, and biochemical alterations in health in selected body systems will be presented with an emphasis on etiology, cellular and systemic pathophysiologic responses and clinical manifestations. Interdisciplinary management will be introduced. Together with Pathophysiologic Alterations in Health II, this course is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of pathophysiology. 2 credits: classroom

Prerequisite:  Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II OR Anatomy as a course and Physiology as a course

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 312 HEALTH ASSESSMENT ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE 4 Credit Hours

This course will focus on a conceptual approach to the holistic assessment of a well person. Assessment of critical periods and life events from pre-birth, birth, infant, child, adolescent, adult, older adult through end of life are included. Students will obtain health histories, identify risk factors, and develop health assessment skills in the physiologic, psychosocial (cognitive/mental, emotional, behavioral, social), developmental and spiritual dimensions within environments. Students will identify the data elements and potential data values associated with each of these assessments; separating normal findings from alterations from normal. Students will participate in active learning experiences in laboratory and simulation settings which will assess the student's beginning ability to convert data to information and apply appropriate knowledge to critical thinking and the decision making process. 4 credits: 2.5 classroom; 1.5 lab

Prerequisite:  Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II OR Anatomy as a course and Physiology as a course

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 313 PATIENT CENTERED CARE I 4 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to many of the fundamental concepts of caregiving. A large part of the course focuses on wellness and health promotion, with students learning to motivate and educate patients to achieve or maintain optimum health. Screening and early intervention are stressed. Patient characteristics and attributes and the impact of health determinants are considered. As students progress, they are introduced to other principles of caregiving in such areas as stress and coping, mobility and elimination. Throughout the course, students are asked to integrate principles of therapeutic communication, interprofessional collaboration, and safety. 4 classroom credits

Corequisite: NRSG 314

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 314 PATIENT CENTERED CARE CLINICAL I 4 Credit Hours

This course provides skill development and clinical experiences to augment the learning in all of the other first semester courses. The course provides opportunities for application and integration of primary and secondary prevention strategies, principles of health promotion, use of health information, assessment and planning related to patient profiles, evidence-based practice, and teaching/learning motivational principles, therapeutic communication, inter-professional collaboration, and safety. In addition, students have opportunities to demonstrate the provision of nursing care to assist patients to meet basic needs in a variety of settings. Students develop and practice skills in laboratory and clinical settings. 4 clinical/lab credits

Corequisite: NRSG 313

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 316 EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND LEADERSHIP IN NURSING 3 Credit Hours

This course is the first in a sequence of courses devoted to baccalaureate level professional nursing concepts. Students will focus on the practical skills required to identify and appraise best evidence to support nursing practice. Roles of the professional nurse will be explored, including the attributes of leadership and the assimilation of professional values. Attention will be given to the professional issues of collaboration and teamwork, evidence-based practice, legal issues, ethics, safety, risk reduction, quality improvement and organizational systems in providing patient-centered care. The appropriate use of technology and informatics to leverage change in nursing care and continuous quality improvement and to assist in decision making will be integrated throughout the course. 3 classroom credits

Prerequisite:  Statistics

Typically Offered: SUM/SPRING

NRSG 317 PHARMACOLOGY FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS I 2 Credit Hours

This course focuses on drug mechanism of actions, expected effects, side effects, adverse effects, contraindications, drug interactions, and professional nursing responsibilities in drug administration. Drug-related metabolism, expected cellular responses for special populations and groups will be explored. health promotion as it relates to pharmacologic agents, drug safety, and evidence-based nursing implications for teaching, medication administration and monitoring will be included. This course, along with Pharmacology II (NRSG 332), is intended to provide a comprehensive basis of pathophysiology content.

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 331 PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC ALTERATIONS IN HEALTH II 2 Credit Hours

This course focuses on the pathophysiologic basis for alterations in health across the life course. Theories of disease causation will be explored. Acquired, immune, infectious, carcinogenic, genetic, and biochemical alterations in health in selected body systems will be presented with an emphasis on etiology, cellular and systemic pathophysiologic responses and clinical manifestations. Interdisciplinary management will be introduced. Together, this course along with Pathophysiologic Alterations in Health I, is intended to provide a comprehensive basis of pathophysiology content. 2 classroom credits

Prerequisite:  Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II OR Anatomy as a course and Physiology as a course.

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 332 PHARMACOLOGY FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS II 2 Credit Hours

This course focuses on drug mechanism of actions, expected effects, side effects, adverse effects, contraindications, drug interactions, and professional nursing responsibilities in drug administration. Drug¿related metabolism, expected cellular responses for special populations and groups will be explored. Health promotion as it relates to pharmacologic agents, drug safety, and evidence-based nursing implications for teaching, medication administration and monitoring will be included. 4 classroom credits Preq: Semester 1 courses or permission of instructor

Typically Offered: SUM/SPRING

NRSG 333 PATIENT CENTERED CARE II 5 Credit Hours

This course focuses on exemplars illustrative of the identified concepts using the life course perspective. Secondary prevention strategies to promote well being for individuals, families and groups across the life course will be introduced. Students will analyze selected nursing concepts and related research, focusing on primary and secondary prevention and the acute disease process. Collaboration with other health professionals in order to facilitate patient transition from acute illness to optimal health will be emphasized. 5 credits, classroom

Prerequisite:  NRSG 312, NRSG 313, NRSG 314

Corequisite: NRSG 334

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 334 PATIENT CENTERED CARE CLIN II 4 Credit Hours

This course provides skill development and clinical experiences to augment the learning in all other second semester courses. Emphasis will be placed on the students' beginning utilization of clinical decision-making tools and development of clinical reasoning skills to implement safe nursing interventions for individuals, families and/or groups with predictable outcomes. The clinical experiences will provide opportunities for the use of primary and secondary prevention strategies to promote well being and prevent disease across the life course. A variety of health care settings will be utilized to maximize student experiences.

Prerequisite:  NRSG 312, NRSG 313, NRSG 314

Corequisite: NRSG 333

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 401 HONORS NURSING RESEARCH 1-3 Credit Hours

This course is designed to help students from any College of Nursing learn more about nursing research by engaging in research with faculty on an ongoing research project. Emphasis is placed on the conducting and dissemination of research as a foundation for a future career in research. Didactic classroom activities (class will meet 4-5 times each semester) will facilitate learning about specific research topics (i.e., writing a mini-research proposal, writing a research abstract), and interaction with fellow classmates about the research project. In addition, students will work with a faculty mentor to develop a mini-research proposal, participate in research team meetings, submit a research abstract, and present the findings from the study.

Prerequisite:  include a GPA greater than or equal to 3.5 and completion of semester 1 courses in the BSN program. In addition, students must have completed the CITI Required Training in the Protection of Human Research Subjects. 4 didactic credits required: 1 semester credit hour for 4 consecutive semesters (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Spring) for a total of 4 credits. Students who complete 4 credits of this nursing elective will have a transcript designation of Honors Nursing Research Scholar. Students who complete < 4 credits will have the coursework only shown on their transcript.

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 402 VETERANS: UNIQUE HEALTH CARE CONSIDERATIONS 1-2 Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the unique health care needs of American veterans. The course will focus on health considerations common to all veterans as well as health condition unique to veterans of more recent conflicts. Included in the course is a discussion of the additional health considerations of special populations.

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 403 INTRODUCTION TO PRIMARY CARE NURSING 1-3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce the student to the concept of primary care, the role of the nurse in leading primary care, primary care nursing skills, and the nurse role in addressing health care system drivers for improving primary care practice. The concept-based curriculum focuses on nurse management of chronic disease in primary care settings including but not limited to communication, collaboration, safety, patient education, culture, care coordination, professionalism, quality, health care delivery, health care infrastructure, ethics, leadership, healthcare policy, economics and organization. 1-3 classroom credits

Prerequisite:  Completion of first semester of major or permission of instructor

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 20

NRSG 404 HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY CARE CONSIDERATIONS 1-3 Credit Hours

This is an elective course for baccalaureate nursing students. The course content will build upon the foundational knowledge provided in the standard undergraduate coursework to provide students with a deeper understanding of the unique health care needs of individuals experiencing a cancer diagnosis. Students are introduced to cancer biology, risk prevention and health promotion, screening and diagnosis, treatment modalities, survivorship and supportive care needs, and palliative and end of life care. Additional concepts related to the professional role of an oncology nurse, the multidisciplinary care team, care of vulnerable populations, ethics, advocacy, and legal and financial topics are covered. 1-3 credits: classroom

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 405 SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE SCHOLAR 1 Credit Hour

This course will introduce the student to the concept of school health nursing, the role of the nurse in providing services in the school setting, education and training for school health related topics and the nurses role in addressing health care system drivers for improving school nursing practice. In addition, the student will observe and analyze the expression of the concepts from the concept-based curriculum as seen in school health care settings including but not limited to communication, collaboration, safety, patient education, culture, care coordination, professionalism, quality, health care delivery, health care infrastructure, ethics, leadership, healthcare policy, economics and organizations. These concepts will be addressed in a systematic fashion, as appropriate, for the course sequence. 4 didactic credits required: 1 semester credit hour for 4 consecutive semesters (spring, summer, fall, and spring) for a total of 4 credits.

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Semester 1 courses

Corequisite: Must be taken concurrently with NRSG 334, NRSG 413, and NRSG 424 in the semesters those courses are offered.

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 411 PATIENT CENTERED CARE III 4 Credit Hours

This course focuses on tertiary prevention strategies using exemplars illustrative of identified concepts throughout the life course. Students will analyze selected nursing concepts and related research, focusing on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and the chronic disease process. Collaboration with the patient and family to move toward maximal levels of functioning will be emphasized. 4 classroom credits

Prerequisite:  NRSG 311, NRSG 316, NRSG 317, NRSG 331, NRSG 332, NRSG 333, NRSG 334

Corequisite: NRSG 412

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 412 PATIENT CENTERED CARE CLIN III 4 Credit Hours

Clinical experiences provide opportunities for application and integration of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and the chronic disease process; collaboration with the patient and family to enhance health in illness and develop highest level of functioning. Experiences will also encompass end of life strategies, risk anticipation, advocacy and conflict management. Clinical settings such as hospital, long-term care facilities, home health care and hospice settings would be used with persons along their life course: infants, children adolescents, adults and older adults. 4 clinical credits

Prerequisite:  NRSG 311, NRSG 316, NRSG 317, NRSG 331, NRSG 332, NRSG 333, NRSG 334

Corequisite: NRSG 411

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 413 POPULATION CENTERED CARE 5 Credit Hours

The course is a concept synthesis course in which students use nursing concepts previously introduced and apply them to vulnerable and at risk populations in a variety of clinical and community settings. Opportunities to practice comprehensive, public health nursing roles and functions are provided in structured and unstructured diverse healthcare environments. Health disparities, cultural diversity, social justice and health laws and policies related to population vulnerability throughout the life course are emphasized. Major concepts include care coordination as demonstrated by nurse case management, safety through emergency preparedness and environmental health, and informatics and technology inclusive of epidemiology. Multiple approaches, such as inter-professional and community partnerships, case studies and simulations, clinical experiences, population data assessment and analysis and evidence-based practice are expected learning experiences. 5 credits: 2 classroom, 3 clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 312, NRSG 313, NRSG 314, NRSG 316

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 415 POLICY AND ISSUES IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY 3 Credit Hours

This course develops leadership, management, and professionalism expected of a nurse with a bachelor's level education. The focus of this course is on professional role development in relation to environmental, social, political and economic factors which influence health care policy and the organization and operation of health care systems. Selected exemplars are examined to help students analyze issues, compare and contrast multiple views on issues, and formulate appropriate responses to health care policy. 3 classroom credits

Prerequisite:  NRSG 312, NRSG 313, NRSG 314, NRSG 316

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 419 TRANSITION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING 4 Credit Hours

This is a clinical practicum during which a student assumes the role of a beginning professional nurse in partnership with a registered nurse preceptor in a health care setting. The student will integrate professional nursing concepts and skill. The clinical preceptor provides the students with experiences to begin role transition through delivery of safe, high quality care using sound clinical decision-making skills. Emphasis is placed on leadership, evidence-based practice, intra- and inter-professional partnership, and clinical reasoning. 4 clinical credits

Prerequisite:  NRSG 413, NRSG 415, NRSG 421, NRSG 422, NRSG 424

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 421 PATIENT CENTERED CARE IV 3 Credit Hours

This course is focused on nursing care of complex patients, families, and groups in unstable situations with unpredictable outcomes. Students will be able to synthesize previous and concurrent knowledge in determining clinical decisions. Students will analyze multiple interrelating nursing concepts and related research, focusing on high-quality safe patient care across the life course. Exemplars provide opportunities for application and integration of secondary and tertiary prevention strategies. Students will use clinical reasoning skills to achieve optimum physiological and psychological patient and family outcomes. 3 classroom credits

Prerequisite:  NRSG 411, NRSG 412, NRSG 413, NRSG 415

Corequisite: NRSG 422

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 422 PATIENT CENTERED CARE CLINICAL IV 3 Credit Hours

Students will provide high quality safe care for complex patients, families, and groups in unstable situations with unpredictable outcomes. Clinical experiences will use all levels of prevention in the care of complex patients, families and groups across the life course. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in intra and inter-professional partnerships in health care delivery. Students will engage in patient centered care using evidence based practice and informatics. 3 credits: clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 411, NRSG 412, NRSG 413, NRSG 415

Corequisite: NRSG 421

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

NRSG 424 LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 4 Credit Hours

This synthesis course develops leadership, management, and professionalism expected of a nurse with a bachelor's level education. The didactic portion of this course synthesizes and integrates concepts encountered by nurses in complex healthcare systems. Professional role development, interprofessional collaboration, delegation, resource management, ethical, legal, and workplace issues are considered. The clinical experience provides opportunities for application of concepts to identified health care processes utilizing continuous quality improvement methodology and evidence based practice. 4 credits: 2 classroom, 2 clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 312, NRSG 313, NRSG 314, NRSG 316

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 438 INDEPENDENT STUDY 1-9 Credit Hours

Independent study

Typically Offered: FALL/SP/SU

NRSG 444 SR CLIN NRSG EXTERNSHP 3 Credit Hours

This is a clinical practicum course for students with Senior level standing that provides the student an expanded opportunity to enhance nursing knowledge and skills in a supervised practice setting. The course focus is on planning, organizing, delivering and prioritizing of safe caregiving to multiple patients. 3 clinical credits

Prerequisite:  All 300-level nursing courses

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 460 PRINCIPLES OF PERIOPERATIVE PATIENT CENTERED CARE 3 Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide an overview of the interprofessional role of the Registered Nurse in the perioperative environment, including the preoperative, intraoperative and post anesthesia recovery phases of perioperative care. Concepts of critical thinking, systematic inquiry, ethical decision making, communication, patient-centered care, leadership, and professionalism will be presented. The student will explore the essentials of communication and principles of interprofessional practice in the areas of perioperative team roles, standards of perioperative nursing practice, patient safety, advocacy, team care planning, risk management and patient teaching as the patient and family moves through the perioperative continuum. Online learning modules, case studies and simulations encourage engagement in application of theory to practice. 3 didactic credits

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 461 CONCEPT: INFECTION CONTROL AND ASEPSIS 2 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the basic principles of infection control and asepsis in the intraoperative environment. The principles of surgical asepsis, perioperative attire, creating and maintaining a sterile field, environmental cleaning, skin preparation, wound management, and sterilization and disinfection of instruments and equipment will be discussed. The student will implement the principles of evidence-based practice in the intraoperative environment. The on-site utilization of simulation and in-class activities are key components of this course. Students will complete clinical hours within the perioperative setting. 2 credits: 1 didactic; 1 clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 460

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 462 CONCEPT: SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT 2 Credit Hours

This course will focus on creating a culture of safety, open communication, teamwork, recognition of system issues, and human error to promote quality patient outcomes. The student will evaluate methods to reduce hazards and promote safety for the patient and the intraoperative team. The learners will identify roadblocks to optimize patient safety and discuss mechanisms by which a culture of safety can be fostered. Finally, the students will learn how to manage situations in which adverse events occur. The on-site utilization of simulation and in-class activities are key components of this course. Students will complete clinical hours within the perioperative setting. 2 credits: 1 didactic; 1 clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 461

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 463 THE SCRUB ROLE OF THE PERIOPERATIVE NURSE 4 Credit Hours

This course provides an overview of how the perioperative nurse functions in the scrub role. Students will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease processes to deepen his/her understanding of surgical procedures. The core concepts of infection control, asepsis, maintenance of a safe and supportive intraoperative environment for patients and team members will be applied. The student will develop skills to operate surgical instrumentation, equipment and supplies for surgical procedures. The on-site utilization of simulation and in-class activities are key components of this course. Students will complete clinical hours within the perioperative setting. 4 credits: 2 didactic; 2 clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 462

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 464 THE CIRCULATING ROLE OF THE PERIOPERATIVE NURSE 2 Credit Hours

This course builds on the perioperative patient care concepts presented in prerequisite courses. The student will learn the interprofessional perioperative role of the circulating nurse using the concepts of infection control, safety, interprofessional teamwork, communication, and patient focused care. Competencies of the circulating perioperative nurse will include patient assessment, monitoring, and risk management strategies. The student will also participate in the planning and preparation of the perioperative environment. The role of the circulating nurse in patient and family support, education and advocacy will also be presented. Critical clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice will be reviewed and applied to the circulating role. The student will be able to use mock procedures and simulations to prepare for the role of the circulating nurse and will participate in all aspects of the perioperative process. Students will complete clinical hours within the perioperative setting. 2 credits: 1 didactic; 1 clinical

Prerequisite:  NRSG 463

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 465 THE MANAGEMENT ROLE OF THE PERIOPERATIVE NURSE 1 Credit Hour

This course incorporates the perioperative patient care concepts presented in all prerequisite courses. The student will synthesize previous knowledge, clinical experiences, and best practice in the management of patient care. The student will explore ethical dilemmas, informatics, quality improvement, team building, organizational conflicts, and patient and family support. The principles of evidence-based practice will be applied to the role of the perioperative nurse when working as the manager of care. 1 didactic credit

Prerequisite:  NRSG 464

Typically Offered: SUMMER

NRSG 481 PROFESSIONAL NURSE'S ROLE IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the role of the professional nurse in the health care system in the United States of America (USA). Students will develop understanding of the professional language used in health care in the USA and demonstrate appropriate use of the words and terms in spoken and written communication. Leadership and management concepts implemented in USA health care system will be examined. Students will apply their pathophysiology, pharmacology, and disease treatment understanding to prepare for successful completion of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Exam (CGFNS) and/or National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Typically Offered: SPRING

NRSG 482 PATIENT-CENTERED CARE, FAMILY-CENTERED CARE, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROFESSIONAL HEALTHCARE 3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on patient-centered and family-centered care and how these affect the relationships with health care delivery team members within the context of health care in United States of America (USA). Relationships between an individual and family members regarding health care will be explored. Health care delivery system for acute and chronic illnesses will be discussed. Student will gain an understanding of basic family assessment, family theories that guide nursing interventions, and related factors associated with culture, environment (home and community), spiritual, economic, legal, and ethical effect on health care in USA. Student will examine the roles of health care professionals: nurse, provider, and other interdisciplinary health team members in the context of health care in USA.

Typically Offered: SPRING

NRSG 483 CLINICAL PRACTICUM IN NURSING IN THE U.S. HEALTHCARE CONTEXT 1-7 Credit Hours

This clinical course provides support in the development and application of nursing skills, effective theories of communication and delegation strategies. Emphasis is placed on providing care for patients and families with various diagnosis' and at many different stages in life. This clinical experience will provide opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, skill implementation, patient education, professional role development and the use of various data sources. A variety of health care settings will be utilized.

Typically Offered: SPRING