Nursing Courses

NUR201 Fundamentals of Nursing and Health Assessment

[2–4, 4 cr.]

In this course students learn to apply the nursing process in performing health assessment and nursing fundamentals for individuals across the lifespan and in various health care settings. Prerequisite: admission to the nursing major.

Co-requisite: BIO260/261 Anatomy and Physiology/Lab and BIO222 Microbiology

NUR210 Professional Nursing Concepts I

[3–0, 3 cr.]

In this course students learn concepts associated with understanding oneself and others in the context of professional nursing practice and are introduced to the nursing metaparadigm.

Prerequisites: PSY201 Introduction to Psychology, NUR201 Fundamentals of Nursing and Health Assessment
Co-requisite: NUR230 Nursing Cooperative Experience I

NUR230 Nursing Cooperative Experience I

[0 cr.]

In the first cooperative (co-op) experience students are employed on general patient care units in hospitals, working a minimum of 180 hours to complete the co-op requirement. The co-op student functions as an assistant to a practical nurse (PN) and gains competence in performing fundamental nursing techniques delegated and supervised by the PN.

Prerequisite: NUR201 Fundamentals of Nursing & Health Assessment and Basic Life Support Certificate

NUR310 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice

[4–0, 4 cr.]

Students learn the pathogenesis of various symptoms and diseases affecting the human body. Altered physiological functions of human organs are explained and then described on the molecular, cellular, organ and systemic levels. Common pathophysiologic processes are discussed in conjunction with recent research. The interrelationships between clinical pathophysiology and basic physiology and genetics are emphasized. Understanding the mechanisms of disease is essential to the role of the professional nursing in determining the appropriate nursing management of the patient.

Prerequisites: BIO260/261, Anatomy and Physiology/Lab; CHM200 Essentials of Chemistry
Co-requisite: NUR320 Health & Illness Concepts I

NUR312 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course provides fundamentals of pharmacology and applied drug therapy. Topics include general principles of drug action, drug distribution, and drug elimination, with attention to the development of clinical reasoning skills necessary to identify, avoid, and solve practical drug-related problems. Specific prototypes of selected drug classifications provide the framework for understanding the action, use, side-effects, and nursing implications of drugs.

Prerequisites: Admission to the nursing major and CHM200 Essentials of Chemistry

NUR315 Health Care Research and Evidence-based Practice

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to health care research. Emphasis is on the research process, commonly used research designs and methods, and application of research findings and other evidence to practice.

Prerequisites: NUR321 Health and Illness Concepts II and STA205 Biostatistics

Co-requisite: NUR330 Nursing cooperative Experience II

NUR320 Health and Illness Concepts I

[4–0, 4 cr.]

In this introductory course students gain knowledge of concepts associated with individual health and illness requiring nursing care.  Concepts introduced are cellular regulation, conception/reproduction, health promotion, immunity, nutrition, infection, oxygenation, perfusion, and stress and coping.

Prerequisites: NUR201 Fundamentals of Nursing & Health Assessment, NUR210 Professional Nursing Concepts, NUR230 Nursing Cooperative Experience I, and BIO222 Microbiology, a Human Perspective

Co-requisites: NUR310 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice and NUR340 Core Nursing Practicum I

NUR321 Health and Illness Concepts II

[4–0, 4 cr.]

This is the second of three courses in which students learn concepts associated with an individual’s health and illness that require nursing care. Concepts discussed include development, peri-operative nursing, mobility, sensory/perceptual, elimination, anxiety, mood dysregulation, metabolism, family dynamics, and sexuality.

Prerequisite: NUR310 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice and NUR320 Health & Illness Concepts I

Co-requisites: NUR341 Core Nursing Practicum II and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III.

NUR330 Nursing Cooperative Experience II

[1 cr.]

In the second cooperative experience students are employed in various health care agencies, working a minimum of 180 hours to complete the requirement. The co-op student functions in an assistant role, on an assigned unit, providing nursing care at the advanced beginner level, as delegated to and supervised by the RN.

Prerequisites: NUR230 Nursing Cooperative Experience I, NUR341 Core Nursing Practicum II, and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III

Co-requisite: NUR315 Health Care Research and Evidence-Based Practice.

NUR340 Core Nursing Practicum I

[0–9, 3 cr.]

In this course students learn to deliver clinical care for multigenerational families in medical-surgical and maternity/nursery hospital settings. Students apply selected concepts related to health and illness and professional nursing, and use the nursing process to provide patient care.

Prerequisites: NUR201 Fundamentals of Nursing & Health Assessment and NUR210 Professional Nursing Concepts, and NUR230 Nursing Cooperative Experience I

Co-requisites: NUR312 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice and NUR320 Health & Illness Concepts I

NUR341 Core Nursing Practicum II

[0 (0 for 7 weeks)–9 (18 for 7 weeks), 3 cr.]

In this course students deliver clinical nursing care to patients in the medical-surgical and pediatric inpatient setting. Students apply selected concepts related to health and illness and professional nursing, and use the nursing process in providing patient care.

Prerequisite: NUR340 Core Nursing Practicum I

Co-requisites: NUR321 Health & Illness Concepts II and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III.

NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III

[0 (0 for 7 weeks)–9 (18 for 7 weeks), 3 cr.]

In this course students learn to deliver clinical care for multigenerational families in various health care settings: hospitals and community settings. Students apply selected concepts related to health and illness and professional nursing, and use the nursing process to provide patient care.

Prerequisite: NUR340 Core Nursing Practicum I

Co-requisites: NUR321 Health & Illness Concepts II and NUR341 Core Nursing Practicum II. 

NUR410 Professional Nursing Concepts II

[3–0, 3 cr.]

In this course students learn concepts that can be applied when working as members of nursing and interprofessional teams in a variety of health care settings. The course will enhance the students’ ability to participate with, manage, and lead others in the delivery of high quality, cost-effective and ethical health care.

Prerequisites: NUR210 Professional Nursing Concepts I, NUR341 Core Nursing Practicum II, and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III

NUR411 Professional Nursing Concepts III

[2–3, 3 cr.]

This course addresses concepts related to organization of health care, regulation of health care and nursing practice, and the influence of economic, legal, and environmental factors on the availability and quality of care. Nursing roles of care coordinator and delegator are examined. In the clinical component of the course students conduct an assessment of either a microsystem or a community.

Prerequisite: NUR410 Professional Nursing Concepts II

NUR420 Health and Illness Concepts III

[4–0, 4 cr.]

This is the final course involving concepts associated with an individual’s health and illness that require nursing care.Concepts include acid-base, clotting, cognitive dysregulation, intra/interpersonal violence, psychosis, sleep, substance-related dysregulation, neurologic regulation, neuro-immunity, and perfusion. 

Prerequisite: NUR321 Health and Illness Concepts II

NUR441 Mental Health Clinical Intensive

[1 (2 for 7 weeks)–6 (12 for 7 weeks), 3 cr.]

This course includes clinical practice and didactic content that focuses on knowledge and skills relevant to the care of patients with acute and chronic mental health problems.

Students examine variations in foci of care for mental health patients. Concepts addressed include therapeutic communication, interpersonal relationships, intra/interpersonal violence, mood, anxiety, psychosis, and substance-related dysregulations. The clinical schedule includes inpatient, acute and chronic, and community experiences.

Prerequisites: NUR315 Health Care Research & Evidence-Based Practice, and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III

Co-requisite: NUR420 Health and Illness Concepts III

NUR443 Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles Clinical Intensive

[1 (2 for 7 weeks)–6 (12 for 7 weeks), 3 cr.]

This course builds upon knowledge and skills from nursing, behavioral and public health sciences to foster heathy life styles and promote, preserve and maintain the health of populations. Our emphasis is on pregnant women and patients with chronic conditions. Students will plan, implement and evaluate health education and behavior change programs in populations as well as small groups, including the family and its members, and the larger groups including the community. Students will incorporate concepts related to health promotion, illness prevention, change, motivation, education, leadership, advocacy, communication, power, anxiety, culture and human diversity. Course includes didactic and clinical experiences. Clinical experiences are designed to enhance collaborating effectively with interdisciplinary team members, in community settings.

Prerequisites: NUR315 Health Care Research & Evidence-Based Practice and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III

Co-requisite: NUR420 Health & Illness Concepts III

NUR444 High Acuity Nursing Clinical Intensive

[1 (2 for 7 weeks)–6 (12 for 7 weeks), 3 cr.]

This course includes clinical practice and didactic content that focuses on knowledge and skills relevant to the care of patients with multisystem problems in critical care units.

Central to the clinical experience is the synthesis of health and illness concepts in managing critically ill patients, including oxygenation, perfusion, elimination, acid-base balance, fluid and electrolyte balance, infection, inflammation, immunity, intracranial perfusion, anxiety, family dynamics, and ethics.

Prerequisites: NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III, NUR321 Health and Illness Concepts II, and NUR315 Health Care Research and Evidence-based Practice.

Co-requisite: NUR420 Health and Illness Concepts III

NUR475 Nursing Synthesis

[1.5 (3 for 7 weeks)–0.5 (1 for 7 weeks), 2 cr.]

This course is a synthesis of professional nursing and health and illness concepts. Clusters of concepts will be applied in simulation and other learning activities.

Prerequisites:  NUR315 Health Care Research & Evidence-Based Practice and NUR420 Health & Illness Concepts III

Co-requisite: NUR411 Professional Nursing Concepts III 

NUR480 Clinical Capstone

[0 (0 for 7 weeks)–12 (24 for 7 weeks), 4 cr.]

In this course students have precepted clinical practice experience in selected health care settings. Clinical may occur in inpatient, ambulatory, and community settings.

Prerequisites: NUR420 Health & Illness Concepts III, NUR341 Core Nursing Practicum II, and NUR342 Core Nursing Practicum III

Co-requisite: NUR411 Professional Nursing Concepts III