NRSG - Nursing

Introduces foundation concepts and essential components of the professional baccalaureate prepared nurse role. Examines nursing theory, quality practice, and ethical/legal issues.  Analyzes historical nursing advocates/issues as well as professional nursing topics/trends of today.

This course introduces the pre-licensure student to the art and science of professional nursing that integrates knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences (four breadth areas). Competencies for entry-level practice are explored. Historical perspectives of nursing are examined and correlated with current trends in practice. Fundamental professional communication, including writing skills, is further refined.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program

Examines effective communication skills needed in today's complex health care environment.  Introduces theoretical principles and applications to enhance productive interaction with internal and external customers, as well as interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary team members, in a variety of diverse health care settings.

Focusing on health promotion concepts, theories, and tools, learners explore nursing care of individuals, families, and special populations from a cultural perspective. Promoting culturally relevant age-specific healthy lifestyles across the life span are addressed. Cultural perspective is expanded through health risk assessment screening, leveraging health educational resources, and the use of targeted strategies for promoting the health and well-being of diverse populations. Using the concepts of cultural awareness, sensitivity, and humility, learners explore the social determinants of health important to equitable care domestically and internationally.

Explores the impact of the vast amount of technology used in today's health care organizations.  Focuses on information technology as related to health care safety, quality improvement, resource utilization, and data management to improve outcomes.  Other topics include the ethical and legal issues impacting the use of technology in health care.

Examines the basic pathophysiology of selected disease processes that may occur across the lifespan. Major pathophysiological concepts are explored using a body systems approach while emphasizing the application of this knowledge to the assessment, planning, and interventions for holistic, person-centered care.

Prerequisites: BIO 20433 Human Anatomy and Lab, BIO 30433 Human Physiology and Lab, and BIO 30243 Microbiology and Lab

This course introduces the pre-licensure nursing student to the foundational skills required to perform a comprehensive physical health assessment across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the critical thinking skills required for obtaining an accurate collection and analysis of patient health information, as well as the development of fundamental physical assessment techniques as a basis for clinical judgment.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program and NRSG 32006 Human Pathophysiology

Students will focuses on expanding and refining knowledge and assessment skills needed in performing a complete nursing health assessment across the life span. Students will describe and analyze assessment findings. Techniques explored: Interviewing, observation, percussion, palpation, inspection, and auscultation utilizing selected volunteers, and virtual high fidelity simulation

experiences. Prerequisite: NRSG 32006 Human Pathophysiology 

This course is designed to develop theoretical knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics for nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on the major classes of clinically important medications and their safe administration. For each therapeutic drug classification, the basic mechanism of drug actions, side effects, routes of administration, and common indications will be reviewed. Nursing implications relative to the utilization of drug therapy are examined.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Nursing major, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, and NRSG 32006 Human Pathophysiology

This course introduces students to basic nursing concepts and skills, including the nursing process as a basis for developing clinical judgment. The four spheres of care - promotion of health and well-being/disease prevention; chronic disease care; regenerative or restorative care; and hospice/palliative/supportive care are introduced. Theoretical knowledge is applied to skills laboratories and clinical experiences. Essential ethical, legal, and professional standards pertaining to quality, safety, asepsis, infection control, and documentation are emphasized throughout.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program and NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing

This course is a continuation of Fundamentals I to build upon foundational nursing skills and concepts previously introduced. Students will apply evidence-based practice in the laboratory, simulation, and clinical care situations. There is an integration of lab and diagnostics tests as well as assessment skills to underpin care planning, intervention, and evaluation. The four spheres of care are expanded with a focus on health and well-being promotion/ disease prevention as well as an emphasis on the teaching/learning process in person-centered care. Legal and ethical aspects of safe, quality care is emphasized in all situations including medication administration, infection control, and documentation.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment, and NRSG 33000 Fundamentals I w/Lab & Clinical

This course applies the nursing process in providing person-centered care of adult and older adult patients. There is continued application of the four spheres of care with a focus on health promotion and well-being/disease prevention; chronic disease care; and regenerative or restorative care. Common health conditions are addressed with integration of pertinent lab and diagnostics testing to assist in safe, quality care. Emphasis is placed on the progressive development and application of clinical knowledge, clinical judgment, skills, and professional values within a legal/ethical framework. Evidence-based practice is emphasized during didactic as well as laboratory, simulation, and clinical learning experiences.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment in Nursing Practice, and NRSG 33001 Fundamentals II w/Lab and Clinical

The concepts of community and public health management, health promotion, and disease prevention including the social determinants of health across the lifespan are explored. Health disparities of vulnerable population groups will be analyzed through epidemiologic approaches. Significance is placed on the nurse’s role as it pertains to disaster or public health emergencies. Health agencies, policy, global health issues, and mass casualty disasters are included. Levels of prevention, risk factors, and major determinants of health are investigated. Skills will be acquired in the areas of community assessment, program planning, implementation, and evaluation of population-based interventions. Laboratory, simulation, and clinical learning experiences are included.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment in Nursing Practice, and NRSG 33001 Fundamentals II w/Lab and Clinical

This course is a continuation of Adult Health Nursing I and builds upon acquired knowledge of the adult and older adult’s select developmental, acute, or chronic health concerns. Expanding the utilization of the nursing process with increasingly complex health care problems of this population group will be emphasized. The learner will continue to cultivate professional role development in critical thinking, clinical judgment, communication, and evidence-based interventions through experiential learning in laboratory, simulation, and clinical learning experiences.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program and NRSG 34000 Adult Health I w/Lab & Clinical

In this course, students apply theories and best evidence to provide compassionate, person-centered care across the lifespan among diverse populations experiencing psychiatric/mental health issues. Professional standards, ethical and legal parameters, safety, and quality outcome measures are priorities. There is an emphasis on individualized care that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the context of family, community, and the socio-cultural environment. Psychopharmacology, and supervised learning experiences in the laboratory and at cooperating clinical agencies are a required part of this course.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment and NRSG 44000 Adult Health II w/Lab & Clinical

This course provides a holistic approach to the biological, psychological, and sociological concepts of nursing care involving reproductive, maternal, and newborn health. Female reproductive anatomy and physiology are reviewed, with emphasis on the physiologic and pathophysiologic processes associated with pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Effective strategies utilizing critical thinking and clinical judgment in the application of risk assessment and interventions of professional nursing practice for childbearing women, their newborns, and their families will be explored. Legal and ethical issues and culturally sensitive care pertaining to the childbearing family will be evaluated. This course will provide opportunities for varied clinical experiential learning in women’s healthcare settings. Simulated laboratory experiences emphasize newborn and perinatal nursing care.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment in Nursing Practice, and NRSG 44000 Adult Health II w/Lab & Clinical

This course focuses on the application of the nursing process in person-centered care of pediatric and adolescent patients. Emphasis is placed on normal growth and development, accident/injury prevention, quality improvement, safety, and care of acute and chronic pediatric disorders. Using the nursing process as a guide, the learner will integrate evidence-based knowledge and developmentally appropriate care in a family-centric approach to achieve positive healthcare outcomes in pediatric patients. Key concepts to be explored include developmentally appropriate anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, social determinants of health, and legal and ethical considerations unique to pediatrics, and their role in health assessment, health promotion, and disease prevention, and culturally and family sensitive care across the pediatric healthcare continuum of care.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment in Nursing Practice, and  NRSG 44000 Adult Health II w/Lab & Clinical

In the last of a 3-part course series, students will have an opportunity to sharpen their clinical judgment and prioritization of care abilities, as well as their procedural skills while working with adult patients who have unstable, emergent, and/or critical illnesses. There is integration of the nursing process, technological and scientific knowledge, and time management with logic and critical thinking to potentiate optimal health outcomes for diverse adult patient populations. Interprofessional partnerships skills are further developed to establish mutual healthcare goals for diverse adults. Specific legal, ethical, and policy issues are explored.   Active learning strategies in didactic as well as simulated and clinical settings are employed.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing, NRSG 32007 Health Assessment in Nursing Practice, and  NRSG 44000 Adult Health II w/Lab & Clinical

Examines the development of health care policy in the U.S. and the influences of societal, political, and economic environments on the health care industry.  Explores the interaction of government and other regulatory agencies within the health care industries.  Cross-listed with OAD 46000 Health Care Policy and Regulations.

In this course, students apply principles of leadership and management theories for effective evidence-based practice. Specific ethical and legal issues are addressed in addition to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice. Systems-based practice, interprofessional partnerships, quality and safety principles, information, and healthcare technologies, as well as financial and regulatory management, are explored. Today’s complex health care setting is the context for various approaches to change management as a nurse leader.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN Program, NRSG 30001 Introduction to Professional Nursing and NRSG 46003 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

The course serves as an introduction to the concepts of nursing research methods and theoretical principles.  It focuses on providing students with the knowledge base to define and critically analyze and evaluate clinical research problems and develop techniques to implement the evidence in leadership or professional practice roles practically. Students reflect on experience, knowledge, and skills in the four breadth areas and apply learning as they examine current issues and concerns in global contexts.

Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing major and PSY 36000 Statistics for Social Sciences or equivalent statistics course.

Examines health issues, disease prevention, and current trends in public health within diverse urban and rural settings.  Topics include evaluation of evidence-based nursing and various epidemiological principles to develop an effective understanding of the role of the professional nurse in the community setting.  Prerequisites:  NRSG 32003 Health Promotion Across the Life Cycle, NRSG 46003 Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice, and PSY 36000 Statistics for Social Sciences or equivalent.

Course utilizes theoretical principles of management to provide the student with the foundation to become an effective change agent/leader/manager in today's complex health care setting.  Topics include strategic planning, quality improvement, and organizational/system leadership.  Prerequisites:  NRSG 46003 Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice and NRSG 46000 Health Care Policy and Regulations.

Capstone course that provides the opportunity to reflect, integrate, and synthesize key concepts from previous courses as well as observations from "real-world" experiences.  Students prepare a written proposal on an approved topic of their choice which addresses a plan related to a relevant and timely nursing/health care concern.  Proposal incorporates knowledge obtained from previous program courses to include such areas as evidence-based research, patient safety, performance improvement, cultural competence, ethical leadership, and health care access.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of all BSN courses or permission of the Director of Nursing.

The Capstone course is the final nursing clinical immersion experience for the prelicensure nursing student which ensures readiness to enter practice and transition to the professional nurse practice role. This culminating nursing course provides (120) hours in a clinical setting with an assigned nurse preceptor under the supervision of the clinical faculty. Opportunities are provided for synthesis, integration, and application of knowledge and skill acquired in previous coursework and clinical experience. Emphasis is placed on demonstration of all BSN Program Student Learning Outcomes throughout the course including didactic, lab, and clinical experiences.

Prerequisite: Completion of all Prelicensure BSN courses, prior approval by Academic Advisor, Clinical Coordinator, and Director of Nursing Program

This course focuses on advanced physiology and pathophysiology across the life span with emphasis on clinical decision-making when caring for patients with acute and chronic diseases.  Disease prevention and health promotion are also emphasized.

This course builds upon the student's previous health assessment knowledge and experience.  Emphasis will be placed on holistic assessment, intervention and evaluation using a family centered approach as well as an exploration of evidence-based strategies for prevention and management.

Uses the principles of epidemiology to evaluate disease prevention and health promotion data when advocating for health care policies that meet the needs of diverse population groups. In addition, there is a deeper exploration of cultural diversity and cultural humility with a special emphasis on vulnerable populations.