Nursing Department BSN Courses

Course Descriptions:

NUR 301 Philosophical Foundations of Baccalaureate Nursing (3 Credit Hours)
This course is designed as a bridge to baccalaureate nursing education to acquaint the returning professional with skills necessary for academic success while focusing on the unique role of nurses in the changing health system.  Content includes role theory, change theory, and political advocacy.  The course explores the efforts of nursing to create a health care system that assures access, quality, and services at affordable costs.

NUR 305 Portfolio I (1 Credit Hour)
The purpose of this course is to presents an overview of the mission and philosophy of the Nursing Department and the program goals and learning outcomes of the RN to BSN Program.  The course presents the concept of holism as a basis for nursing practice Paul’s theory of critical thinking is introduced as well as personal self –assessment techniques through the creation of a portfolio. (Prerequisite: NUR 301) (One class session on campus is required)

ENG 241 Principles and Practice of Research (3 Credit Hours)
This course will focus on theoretical principles and practical applications of library research. Discussion and assignments include forming inquiry questions; locating and evaluating print and electronic sources; and summarizing, paraphrasing, and incorporating source material in written presentations using the APA citation for mat. Oral presentations of selected research assignments serve as the capstone of the course.

POL 352 Nursing and The Law (3 Credit Hours)
Overview of the current legal structure of the health care system, including informed consent, medical ethics, malpractice, elder and insurance law, nurses and litigation, and health care risk management.

NUR 336 Anthropology and Health (3 Credit Hours)
Introduces anthropological theories, concepts, and methods used to examine health beliefs and practices of a variety of cultural groups in the United States and throughout the world.  Designed to provide the practicing nurse with tools for effective delivery of health care to clients from different cultures.  (Prerequisite NUR 305).

PHI 209 Logic and Knowledge (3 Credit Hours)
This course alms at both formal argument analysis and extended argumentation in topics that introduce the student to the different modes of thought employed in various disciplines with some particular attention to philosophic issues.

NUR 306 Portfolio II (1 Credit Hour)
The purpose of this course is to presents an overview of the mission and philosophy of the Nursing Department and the program goals and learning outcomes of the RN to BSN Program.  The course presents the concept of holism as a basis for nursing practice Paul’s theory of critical thinking is introduced as well as personal self –assessment techniques through the creation of a portfolio. (Prerequisite: NUR 301) (One class session on campus is required)

NUR 416 Health Assessment (4 Credit Hours)
Builds on the students’ prior knowledge and experience to develop health and physical assessment skills.  The course focuses on the comprehensive collection and analysis of subjective and objective data in the adult client.  Physical and health changes across the life span and among racial/ethnic groups will be emphasized.  Laboratory practice of assessment skills is included in class time.  (Prerequisite: NUR 336).

THE 408 Contemporary Medical Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
This course applies fundamental moral principles to the medical and health care professions. Emphasis is placed on decision making, social policy, and service related issues of health care.

NUR 418 Holistic Health (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on independent health practices.  Independent nursing interventions, designed to promote health and augment traditional medicine in a variety of settings, will be explored.  In addition, students will examine areas of health promotion and stress.  (Prerequisite: NUR 416).

NUR 422 Theory and Application of Crisis Intervention in Nursing (5 Credit Hours)
Focuses on the role of the nurse in caring for individuals and families in crisis. Theories of adaptation, situational and maturational crisis, as well as leadership theories are analyzed and discussed.  Students identify a crisis situation in a self-selected population and - applying leadership skills and appropriate theories - develop nursing intervention strategies to promote, restore and maintain health for their clients. INDEPENDENT FIELD STUDY REQUIRED (Prerequisite: Nursing 418)

ORG 345 Issues in Management (3 Credit Hours)
An examination of motivational theory and its application to individual and group functioning in work and home situations. Leadership styles related to particular circumstances are analyzed. Negotiation and analysis of productivity will be included, Basic concepts in general issues of managing change in organizations are also considered.

ORG 311 Methods of Research and Statistics (3 Credit Hours)
An introduction to the research design process and its tools. Content includes research design, descriptive and inferential statistics using Microsoft Excel. Students are given the opportunity to critique research studies and discuss managerial decision making.

NUR 400 Nursing Research (3 Credit Hours)
The course focuses on the baccalaureate competency of “consumer of research”.  The research process is examined and the critical reading of research reports is emphasized.  Ethical issues of human subject research are integrated throughout the course.  Students develop skill in the identification, utilization, and dissemination of research findings.  (Prerequisite: NUR 422).

NUR 432 Holistic Care of the Chronically Ill and Elders (3 Credit Hours)
This course builds on the knowledge and theories presented in NUR 418 Holistic Health.  Learners are guided to develop a holistic framework for the care of elders and the chronically ill. Issues explored include the aging process, role changes, vulnerability, stigma, ethics, advocacy, and end of life and case management. (Prerequisite: Nursing 400)

NUR 440 Nursing Care of Communities (6 Credit Hours)
Students consider the concepts and implications of community oriented and community based nursing care and investigate the factors that impact public health.  Health problems and issues facing vulnerable populations and the various roles of the nurse in promoting community health are explored.  Course objectives are achieved through service learning, community assessment, and health promotion programs.  The structure of health organizations and the impact of this structure on national and global community health are explored GUIDED FIELD EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. (Prerequisite: NUR 432) ($50 field experience lab fee).

NUR 406 Portfolio III (1 Credit Hour)
The purpose of this course is for the student to present a completed professional portfolio as a method of documenting the achievement of the program’s learning outcomes. (Prerequisite: All upper division nursing courses) (There is no class meeting for this course.)