This course focuses on the application of the nursing process with adult and older adult clients and families experiencing interruptions to health, which require increasingly complex nursing interventions. The course examines selected pathophysiologic disorders with a focus on the appropriate nursing interventions and therapeutic modalities needed to achieve optimal levels of wellness through evidenced-based practice and clinical judgement. Loss, grief, dying and death for clients and their families are discussed. Opportunities to apply nursing interventions, therapeutic communication, compassionate care, and collaboration with the health care team in the clinical setting are provided.
Prerequisites: NU 320 (must be taken concurrently) and successful completion of all courses in prior semester.

NU 410 Pediatric Nursing                                                        4 credits**

(2.5 theory, 1.5 clinical)

This course examines nursing and the health care needs of families with children from infancy through adolescence. The course will incorporate health assessment, application of standardized language, and application of the principles of growth and development. Childhood needs, childrearing practices, and parental roles will be examined. Emphasis will be on a family-centered approach to nursing care with application of the nursing process to promote optimal health for the child and the family. Clinical experiences will be in acute, chronic, community, and well-child settings.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.
**Denotes reduction of 1 credit hour for licensed LPNs

NU 415 Overview of U.S Health Care                                 3 credits

This course will provide an overview of the United States health care system including its history, structure, funding, and future. Various stakeholders of the health care system will be discussed in relation to their role in health care delivery. Attention will be given to the understanding of the basic principles related to health care finance and economics. The implications of politics and policy on the health care system will be described. The role of values and ethics in health care decisions will be explored. The health care system of the United States will be compared to other countries.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU 421 Health Policy, Law, and Ethics                               3 credits

The purpose of this course is to examine the foundations of healthcare policy and the regulatory environments that impact nursing practice and client care. This course is designed to provide students with the practical knowledge to address basic legal and ethical issues that impact healthcare and professional nursing practice.

NU 425 Health Care in the United States                         3 credits

This course will provide an overview of the United States health care system including its history, structure, funding, and future. Various stakeholders of the health care system will be discussed in relation to their role in health care delivery. Attention will be given to the understanding of the basic principles related to health care finance and economics. The implications of politics and policy on the health care system will be described. The role of values and ethics in health care decisions will be explored. Discussion of the health care disparities among diverse populations will occur. The health care system of the United States will be compared to other countries.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

 

NU 427 Professional Nursing Concepts  5 credits

This course provides opportunities to discuss and apply nursing research and concepts related to health policy, health care delivery systems, and healthcare economics and finance. Stakeholders of the health care system will be discussed in relation to their role in healthcare politics, advocacy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students will critically appraise the best evidence available and integrate evidence-based practice and quality improvement into the role of a baccalaureate prepared nurse.  
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU 441 Quality and Patient Safety                                     3 credits

This course provides healthcare professionals with the skills necessary to successfully engage in professional communication and interprofessional collaboration. Strategies for identifying and overcoming communication barriers with diverse populations will be examined. Students will identify human factors and their relation to patient safety and positive patient outcomes. Consideration is given to quality improvement, controlling costs, and utilizing measurement tools in health care settings.

NU 445 Nursing Elective                                                           3 credits

Specific topics relevant to nursing practice are examined to provide an in-depth approach and a broad base for further study. Exploration of expanded roles of the nurse is included. Course offerings may include: Image of Nursing, Service-Learning Among Vulnerable Populations, and Perioperative Nursing.
Prerequisites: vary based on specific course.

NU 445I Perioperative Nursing          

This course will focus on the application of the nursing process with clients before, during and after surgical intervention. The student participates as a member of the surgical team in the circulating and scrub nurse roles. Experiences in the preoperative, post-anesthesia, postoperative, and endoscopy patient care areas are provided. Theory and clinical content includes surgical asepsis, legal and ethical responsibilities, interpersonal skills, basic instrumentation, basic operating suite preparation, pharmacology, prevention of injury, psychosocial/spiritual considerations, cost containment and effective utilization of resources. Standards of nursing practice, critical thinking and application of research are also addressed.
Prerequisites: NU 350 (concurrently) and successful completion of all courses in prior semesters. 

NU 445N Complementary Therapies & Alternative Healing

This course will introduce students to transcultural healing practices. The social and cultural contexts will be discussed, compared and contrasted to the western or modern medical system. Students will examine the research on their therapy of interest, and discuss the rationale for inclusion of that therapy in a treatment plan for patients. Students will address the efficacy and cost effectiveness of the therapy if integrated into the health care system.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU445Q Image of Nursing

This course explores the image of nursing from its inception to the present. Different forms of media will be explored that lend to the present-day portrayal of nurses. Avenues will be explored that will enhance and encourage positive image of the profession of nursing.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU 445T Service-Learning Among Vulnerable Populations*

This course will enhance the education of nursing students with experiential learning that results in increased care for underserved, diverse and high-risk populations. Students will learn about minority, underserved and high-risk populations; specifically, differing disease patterns, common health practices, barriers to health, cultural beliefs, and effective communication modalities. In addition to seminar, students will engage in service-learning experiences where they are able to interact with diverse and underserved populations. Targeted vulnerable populations may include refugees and immigrants, minorities, impoverished children and seniors, and underserved rural families.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.
*A service-learning experience is a component of this course.

NU 447B Nursing Informatics                                                3 credits

This course examines and explores the impact of computer technology and nursing informatics on the profession of nursing. Students will be challenged and encouraged to analyze their current role (as a registered nurse, student nurse or student nurse tech) and how this role is affected by technology.
Note: This course may be taken in the Traditional option to fulfill the nursing elective requirement.

NU 450* Community and Public Health Nursing   4 credits (2 theory, 2 clinical)

3 credits (2 theory, 1 clinical) RN-BSN

This course applies the nursing process in community and public health environments with the community as client. The focus is on public health principles, community assessment, health planning, health education, health promotion, risk reduction/disease prevention, and major public health concerns. Cultural competence when working with vulnerable populations is another aspect of this course. Clinical experiences focus on caring for population health in community agencies, public health departments, schools, industries, correctional settings, and health centers.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.
* A service-learning experience is a component of this course.

NU 458 Care Coordination Across the Lifespan             3 credits 

This course will examine nursing care coordination across the lifespan from the perspective of the patient/family, health care professional, and health care system. Various care delivery systems and care transition models will be examined. End of life care will be examined using selected End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) modules. The clinical emphasis will be on coordination of care transitions.

NU 460 Nursing Leadership & Management                   3 credits

This course analyzes leadership concepts and management roles of the nurse in the health care delivery system. Communication and professionalism in nursing practice are examined. Consideration is given to quality improvement, patient safety, and health care informatics throughout the course.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU 462 Nursing Leadership                                                    3 credits 

This course provides students with the skill set necessary to serve as leaders within the health care field. Students will analyze the difference between leadership concepts and management roles. Communication, change processes, and professionalism in nursing practice are examined.

NU 470 Adult Nursing II                                                           4 credits 

(2 theory, 2 clinical)
This course allows students to apply the nursing process with clients and families experiencing interruptions to health, which require increasingly complex nursing interventions. Opportunities to refine nursing interventions and manage clients with complex, multi-system needs are provided. Collaboration with other health team members is emphasized.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU 491 Role Transition                                                            3 credits

This course emphasizes professional socialization and assists students to transition to the role of the registered nurse. It provides further development in organizing, setting priorities, application and synthesis of nursing theory to practice, and delegation of tasks. Students are provided with a variety of resources to assist with preparing them for the NCLEX-RN examination.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters. Must be taken during the final semester.

NU 491C Role Transition: Internship                                   3 credits

An intensive clinical experience provides the development of skills in the following areas: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, informatics, safety, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and professionalism.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters.

NU 492 Transition into Professional Nursing: Internship  6 credits

(2 theory, 4 clinical)

This course emphasizes professional socialization and assists students to transition to the role of the registered nurse. An intensive clinical experience provides for the development of skills in the following areas: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, informatics, safety, quality improvement, evidence-based care, and professionalism. (Students are provided with a variety of resources to assist with preparing them for the NCLEX-RN examination.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters. Must be taken during the semester of graduation. 

NU 493 Transition to Professional Practice: Internship  8 credits

(2.5 theory, 5.5 clinical) 

This course emphasizes professional socialization and assists students to transition to the role of the registered nurse.  It provides further development in organizing, setting priorities, application and synthesis of nursing theory to practice, and delegation of tasks.  An intensive clinical experience provides for the development of skills in the following areas: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, informatics, safety, quality improvement, evidence-based care, and professionalism.  Students are provided with a variety of resources to assist with preparing them for the NCLEX-RN examination.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters. Must be taken the semester of graduation. 

NU 494 Role Transition: Internship 7 credits

(3 theory, 4 clinical)

This course emphasizes professional socialization and assists the student to transition to the role of the registered nurse.  It provides further development in organizing, setting priorities, application and synthesis of nursing theory to practice, and delegation of tasks.  An intensive clinical experience provides the development of skills in the following areas: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, informatics, safety, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and professionalism.  Students are provided with a variety of resources to assist with preparing them for the NCLEX-RN examination. 
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in prior semesters. Must be taken the semester of graduation. 

NU 495 Independent Study                                            1 to 4 credits

Guided study of an area of special interest to the student.

NU 495C Professional Practice: Clinical Experience  1 to 3 credits

This course provides additional clinical experience in a variety of nursing settings under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. Seminars will be used to facilitate discussion related to clinical issues and clinical practice.
Prerequisites: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in the clinical setting where this experience will occur.

NU 497 Application of Evidence-based Practice           3 credits

This course applies the key elements of evidence-based practice. In collaboration with a practice partner, the student will identify a clinical question. The student will then search and appraise the literature for potential solutions, describe a plan that can be implemented to address the clinical question, and evaluate the potential outcomes of a practice change. Processes for leading and managing practice changes as well as improving patient, population, and organizational outcomes will be explored. Resources inherent to solving clinical problems including clinical decision-making skills, inter-professional perspectives, and patient preferences will be discussed.
Prerequisites: NU 380