Nursing
Degrees and Certificates
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Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner -
Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator Track -
Nursing - LPN to BSN online program -
Nursing BSN Major
Courses
NURS 105: Introduction to Nursing
This introductory course is designed to allow the student to explore various roles in the nursing profession. Also included in this course are nursing history and theory, effective communication, and the need for a collaborative approach in the healthcare setting.
NURS 300: Fundamentals of Nursing
This course focuses on the application of evidence-based interventions and technologies to provide nursing care. Students also learn to apply the nursing process and leadership skills to provide person-centered care
NURS 301: Fundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab
Designed to be taken concurrently with NURS 230, this skills lab component allows students to practice integral nursing skills in a safe environment under the supervision of nursing faculty.
NURS 302: Fundamentals of Nursing Clinical
Designed to be taken concurrently with NURS 230, this clinical component allows students to practice basic nursing skills in a clinical setting under the supervision of nursing faculty.
NURS 303: Health Assessment
This course provides the health care student with the opportunity to gain knowledge and the skills to perform a complete head to toe assessment. Must be able to use the critical thinking process to establish normal from abnormal findings.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program and/or health related fields.
NURS 304: Pharmacology
This course focuses on the effects of chemicals used in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Included in this course is incorporation of patient teaching about pharmacological agents. A special emphasis is placed on specific considerations for drug administration and the pathophysiological responses to drug therapy for a diverse population across the lifespan.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 305: Medication Administration
This course introduces theory and teaches clinical skills necessary to provide safe delivery of medication to patients in the healthcare setting. It also includes routes of administering medications such as; injections, IV administration of fluid and blood, dosage calculation, as well as oral and enteral administration.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 310: Mental Health Nursing
A course focused on promotion, maintenance, and restoration of the mental health of individuals and families. Emphasis is placed on communication, therapeutic nursing, intervention, and other variables affecting mental health and psychopathology.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 312: Mental Health Nursing Clinical
A clinical learning experience with an emphasis on the area of mental health providing the student with the opportunity to apply theory to clinical practice. This course must be taken in conjunction with NURS 310.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 320: Adult Health Nursing
This course provides evidence based concepts impacting nursing care of diverse adult populations with an emphasis on chronic medical disorders in healthcare settings. Also included are interventions necessary to promote health, wellness and prevention of diseases. This course must be taken in conjunction with NURS 322.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 322: Adult Health Nursing Clinical
A clinical learning experience with an emphasis in the area of adult health providing the student with the opportunity to apply theory to clinical practice. This course must be taken in conjunction with NURS 320.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 332: Pediatric Nursing Clinical
A clinical learning experience with an emphasis on the pediatric population allowing the student the opportunity to apply theory to clinical practice. This course must be taken in conjunction with NURS 340.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 340: Nursing of Families
Uses evidence based practices to implement plans of care for the family. This includes women's reproductive health, newborns and pediatrics. Focus is on nursing interventions that promote, maintain, and restore the health of both well and high-risk maternal/newborn and pediatric clients.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 342: Obstetric & Women’s Health Clinical
A clinical learning experience with an emphasis on women's health. This provides the opportunity to implement evidence based intervention in caring for the obstetric patient before and during the antepartal, intrapartal, and postpartum phases of childbirth.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing education program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 350: Community and Public Health Nursing
This course explores the role of the professional nurse within the context of the community. The promotion and restoration of health, prevention of disease, and the provision of nursing care to individuals and families are emphasized.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
Corequisites
Must be taken concurrently with NU 352.
NURS 352: Community and Public Health Nursing Clinical
A clinical learning experience with an emphasis on the areas of community and public health. This course must be taken in conjunction with NURS 350.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 355: Transition from LPN to BSN
Designed to assist with the transition from the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) role to the baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse (RN) within the interdisciplinary health care team, including returning to the academic setting, and discussions centered on strategies of successful role acquisition.
NURS 365: Evidence Based Practice
The course introduces the student to evidence-based practice and how to critically appraise research studies. Included is how to formulate clinical questions using best evidence and evaluate the worthiness of the evidence for translation to clinical/ethical practice to achieve optimal health outcomes.
Prerequisites
Admission to the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 410: Nursing Management & Law
This course provides an overview of nursing practice and leadership within a health care system. There is an emphasis on using the concepts and theories of organizational leadership, the change process, decision making, and professional collaboration. Includes pertinent aspects of economic, regulatory, and legal aspects of providing care in health care systems.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 440: Gerontologic Issues in Nursing
This course is designed for emphasis on normal aging processes, health promotion, disease prevention, and management of acute and chronic health problems in the older adult.
Prerequisites
Admission into the nursing program or permission of the instructor.
NURS 450: Adult Health II
The class includes a review of material covered in Adult Health Nursing I with an emphasis on transitioning from the care of the patient with chronic versus patients with acute/complex medical disorders. The student uses critical thinking and clinical reasoning to develop evidence-based plans of care for the patient with acute medical conditions.
Prerequisites
Senior standing in the nursing program.
NURS 452: Adult Health II Nursing Clinical
Designed to offer nursing students the opportunity to care for patients with acute/complex medical disorders.
Prerequisites
Acceptance into the nursing program or instructor permission.
Corequisites
Must be taken concurrently with NURS 450.
NURS 460: NCLEX Success
This course is designed to help students successfully pass the NCLEX exam on the first attempt. The student completes hundreds of NCLEX style questions with a special emphasis placed on remediation of identified weak areas. Students complete a predictor exam to assess readiness for the NCLEX exam.
Prerequisites
Senior standing in the nursing program.
NURS 480: Senior Seminar in Nursing
This course includes a capstone evidence based project designed to implement change in nursing practice. The project is shared with other healthcare providers. Also includes, designing a professional resume to prepare students to enter the workforce. Students are exposed to topics such as political advocacy, role development, and the need for lifelong learning.
NURS 482: Senior Practicum in Nursing
This clinical experience is designed to prepare the student for their first area of employment and the skills required to care for multiple clients within a real-world setting. The student is assigned to an approved Registered Nurse preceptor to complete 200 hours of clinical experience in a healthcare setting.
Prerequisites
Final semester in the nursing program.
NURS 500: Orientation to MSN
Provides information to assist the MSN student to be successful in an online graduate program. Provided are the mandatory completion of selected tutorials, review of academic policies, pre-practicum experiences, HIPAA, and OSHA Standard requirements. Also included are data/information pertaining to college resources/services to aid the student in successful progression and completion in the chosen program of study. Successful completion of the Orientation Program is required to graduate from the MSN.
NURS 505: Instructional Strategies in Nursing Education
This course explores evidence-based practice teaching strategies and learning activities to promote and maintain diverse nursing students engagement in the online/physical classroom, simulation experiences and in the clinical and community settings. Theoretical frameworks will be discussed that guide the practice and education of nurses.
NURS 510: Pathophysiology For Advanced Nursing Practice
Emphasis the principles of physiology and pathophysiology impacting disease states and health outcomes across the lifespan. Knowledge gained from this course will help students interpret normal from abnormal changes that occur with altered health states. Provides the student with advanced knowledge using physiological principles for clinical assessment/diagnosis, decision making, and identifying ways to help with disease prevention.
NURS 515: Evaluation & Assessment in Nursing Education
This course explores evidence-based assessment and evaluation methodologies to measure and evaluate diverse nursing students outcomes. Ongoing assessment data will be used to evaluate student performance to make informed decisions to make improvements in measuring the effectiveness and quality of nursing education.
NURS 520: Pharmacology For Advanced Nursing Practice
Provides nurses in primary care with the foundation of basic knowledge and application of pharmacotherapeutics to meet the health care needs of clients, from children to adults across the lifespan. Students analyze legal and professional responsibilities associated with pharmacotherapy for health promotion and maintenance, pathological symptoms, and clinical disorders. Students evaluate concepts of drug therapy including complementary/alternative treatments, their mechanisms of action, drug to drug interactions, and adverse actions. Selection of appropriate drug agents are discussed in regard to prescribing therapy for medical disorders/treatment plans and monitoring of treatment plans within a variety of clinical settings. An emphasis on inter-professional approach to practice is supported to improve patient and systems outcomes.
Prerequisites
NURS 525: Curriculum Development and Program Evaluation in Nursing Education
This course promotes evidence-based teaching and learning theories when preparing students to design, implement, and evaluate course curriculum. Students will develop an individual course using competency based education, course description, course SLOs/objectives, content, learning activities, content delivery method, and evaluation of the student. In addition, this course will discuss the importance of systematic program evaluation in relation to accreditation standards.
NURS 530: Advanced Health Assessment
Builds on assessment skills developed during the professional nurse’s basic educational program. Addresses health assessment of individuals across the lifespan using physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, and physical assessment data. Students explore history taking, complete a comprehensive physical assessment, and use this data to develop and/or evaluate evidence-based treatment plans for diverse patients with common acute and chronic health disorders. Emphasis is placed on the process of clinical/diagnostic reasoning to enable the student to analyze clinical problems, make accurate diagnoses, and to provide safe and competent care. The use of technology and electronic medical records are important components of this course.
NURS 535: Using Leadership Skills and Information Technology to Lead Change and Improve Population Health Outcomes
This course focuses on the importance of leadership skills, interdisciplinary collaboration and strategic planning to influence political decision making necessary to transform healthcare and educational environments. Advanced practice nursing students will learn about educational and leadership theory needed to create a culture of educational and clinical excellence. Social, legal, and ethical issues related to the use of technology in the classroom and healthcare organizations will be examined and analyzed. Students will also learn how data driven decisions can affect policy making, health care disparities, health outcomes locally, nationally, and globally, and organizational change.
NURS 543: Advanced Practice Skills in Primary Care & Lab
Provides preliminary knowledge/skills regarding the multidimensional role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) in the primary care setting; addressing selected advanced practice procedures/skills, diagnostic work-up/ test interpretation, differential diagnoses, and understanding of how the APN fits into health care and provides health care using a multidisciplinary approach.
Prerequisites
NURS 530.
NURS 545: Research & Best Evidence for Educational & Clinical Practice
This course focuses on methods in generating and evaluating research for educational and nursing practice. Students examine nursing research related to educational policies and clinical nursing problems by analyzing important parts, processes and principles of quality investigations. Quantitative and qualitative research designs will also be explored. Ethical and legal issues in conducting research will be examined. Students will also select an educational topic of interest. Students will explore and assess needs for educational and practice change, classroom management, multiple evidence-based teaching methods, critically appraise existing literature/evidence, while developing a plan for implementation and evaluation of the intervention(s) using evidence-based practice to make changes in policies to improve educational practice and health outcomes.
NURS 550: Transitioning to the Advanced Practice Nurse Role
Explores the role of the advanced practice nurse through standards of practice, ethics in nursing, and role socialization to help the RN successfully transition to the advanced practice nurse role. Students will be introduced to health care delivery systems, health care finance, and health care policy that can impede access to healthcare, cost of healthcare, and quality of care to diverse populations. Students will learn the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to remove barriers to promote health outcomes to local, state, national, and global communities. Promotion of scientific inquiry, evidence-based practice, working with policy makers and joining professional organizations will be discussed in relation to formation of policies that can enhance the practice of advanced practice nurses.
NURS 555: Transitioning to the Advanced Practice Nurse Educator Role
Explores the role of the advanced practice nurse through standards of practice, ethics in nursing, and role socialization to help the RN successfully transition to the advanced practice nurse educator role. Students will be introduced to educational initiatives, educational practices, health care delivery systems, health care finance, and educational and health care policies that impact health literacy and disparity, access to healthcare, cost of healthcare, and quality of care to individuals, populations, or at a systems level. Students will learn the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance educational opportunities and remove barriers to promote health outcomes to local, state, national, and global communities. Promotion of scientific inquiry, evidence-based practice, working with policy makers and joining professional organizations will be discussed in relation to formation of educational and clinical policies that can enhance the practice of advanced practice nurse educators.
Prerequisites
Acceptance in the online MSN program or permission of the instructor
NURS 560: Primary Care Theory I
Focuses on theory-guided, evidence-based approaches to health care promotion, disease prevention, and common acute and chronic disorders across the lifespan including infants and adults within primary care. Uses a body systems approach, and incorporates the physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, intellectual and cultural aspects of the individual and family when planning patient centered care. Students use advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment skills to make differential diagnoses based on accurate patient history, physical examination and diagnostic work-up in order to create evidence-based treatment plans that are safe and cost effective.
NURS 561: Primary Care Practicum I
Focuses on a holistic approach to health care in diverse patient populations from infancy through adolescence. Incorporates and promotes the principles of wellness checks, immunizations, health promotion, and disease prevention including the concepts of growth and development milestones. Uses pathophysiology knowledge, assessment skills, and diagnostic strategies/intervention specific to acute and chronic problems in children to implement safe and evidence-based care. Management of diverse patients using culturally sensitive approaches is done in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams while allowing the family and patient to be part of the decision-making process. This course increases the students’ knowledge on organizational structure and internal and external resources to help prepare students in assuming advanced leadership roles within healthcare systems. Practice management skills, time management skills, community resources, economics, reimbursement for services, policy development, and systems management will be emphasized to gain/promote patient access to quality and affordable health care necessary to improve health/population outcomes around the world. 100 practicum hours.
Corequisites
NURS 560: Primary Care Theory I
NURS 565: Teaching Practicum I
This course allows the student the opportunity to collaborate with educational nurses/colleagues and with different health care disciplines to see how interprofessional collaboration can aid in promoting professional growth, increased knowledge and skill, communication skills, and peer networking while improving educational practices and patient outcomes.
NURS 570: Primary Care Theory II
Focuses on theory-guided, evidence-based approaches to health care promotion, disease prevention, and common acute and chronic disorders across the lifespan including infants and adults within primary care. Uses a body systems approach, and incorporates the physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, intellectual and cultural aspects of the individual and family when planning patient centered care. Students use advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment skills to make differential diagnoses based on accurate patient history, physical examination and diagnostic work-up in order to create evidence-based treatment plans that are safe and cost effective.
Prerequisites
Corequisites
NURS 571: Primary Care Practicum II
NURS 571: Primary Care Practicum II
Focuses on a holistic approach to health care in diverse patient populations from infancy through adulthood. Incorporates critical thinking in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illnesses across the lifespan. Promotes culturally sensitive care in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams while allowing the family and patient to be part of the decision-making process. Patient education and evidence-based treatment plans will be used to promote wellness and disease prevention. Students use knowledge from previous core courses as they integrate research/theory into improving clinical knowledge and skills. This course increases the students’ knowledge on organizational structure and internal and external resources to help prepare nurse practitioners in assuming advanced leadership roles within healthcare systems. Students learn practice management skills, cost control measures, time management skills, reimbursement for services, policy development, working with other health care leaders/providers and policy makers, community resources, and management of systems to gain/promote patient access to quality and affordable health care to help improve health/population outcomes on a national and global basis. 250 practicum hours.
Prerequisites
Corequisites
NURS 570
NURS 575: Teaching Practicum II
This course allows the student the opportunity to teach theory and clinical practice instruction for students in the physical classroom and simulation setting under the direction and supervision of experienced nursing faculty. Students will also provide clinical instruction for undergraduate nursing students in the clinical setting arenas.
Prerequisites
NURS 580: Primary Care Practicum III
Completes the capstone course portion of the program of study. Promotes the independent clinical management of acute and chronic illnesses across the lifespan. Management of diverse patients is done in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams while allowing the family and patient to be part of the decision-making process. Patient education and evidence-based treatment plans will promote wellness and disease prevention. Students use knowledge from previous core courses as they integrate research/theory into improving the role of the advanced practice nurse. This course increases the students’ knowledge on organizational structure and internal and external resources to help prepare nurse practitioners in assuming advanced leadership roles within healthcare systems. Students learn practice management skills, cost control measures, time management skills, reimbursement for services, policy development, working with other health care leaders and policy makers, community resources, and management of systems to gain/promote patient access to quality and affordable health care to help improve health/population outcomes. 200 practicum hours.
NURS 581: Primary Care Practicum IV
This course is designed to ensure students have the essential knowledge and practice skills to complete the degree of a family nurse practitioner. In addition, a comprehensive review course will help identify areas of strengths and areas needing improvement. Refresher material will be covered as well as test prep questions with detailed answers to aid students in mastering the knowledge and clinical skills to enter the real world of clinical practice while also preparing the student to sit for the national certification exam. Clinical hours 50.
Prerequisites
NURS 585: Clinical Practicum III
This course allows the student the opportunity to teach and empower clients to actively participate in managing their own health outcomes under the direction and supervision of experienced nursing faculty. Students will also provide best practices when designing educational tools and learning plans for individuals with specific disease states.
Prerequisites
NURS 590: Research and Best Evidence for Clinical Practice
Focuses on methods in generating and evaluating research for nursing practice. Students examine nursing research related to clinical nursing problems by analyzing important parts, processes and principles of quality investigations. Quantitative and qualitative research designs will also be explored. Ethical and legal issues in conducting research will be examined. Students will explore and assess needs for practice change, critically appraise existing literature/evidence, while developing a plan for implementation and evaluation of the intervention(s) using evidence-based practice to improve health outcomes.
NURS 591: Capstone Project
Promotes the use of systematic selection, analysis, synthesis and application of best practices to enhance and advance nursing practice and improve patient health outcomes across diverse populations and in a variety of clinical settings. Identifying and connecting clinical practice issues, the use of evidence-based practice (EBP), collaboration, peer-review, and dissemination of information are discussed.
NURS 595: Nurse Educator Capstone Project
This course allows students to use the theories, competencies, and knowledge from all previous courses. The student will have the opportunity to design and implement a research or practice/educational project using a systematic selection analysis, synthesis and application of best practices to enhance advanced nursing practice and/or improve educational practices and or clinical practice. Students integrate learning as a nurse educator to improve patient/population health outcomes across diverse populations and in a variety of educational and clinical settings. The use of evidence-based practice (EBP), collaboration, peer-review, and dissemination of information are discussed.