Courses

This course introduces nursing majors to the terminology and abbreviations used in the practice environment. A systematic approach will be used to assist in understanding the relationship of the terms to the body and disease process. Students learn the terminology necessary to communicate in an interprofessional milieu.
Prerequisite: Declared major in nursing or consent

Nursing majors will be introduced to the basic nursing skills necessary to care for patients in the healthcare environment. Skills will be demonstrated, practiced and validated in the Nursing Simulation and Resource Center.
Prerequisite: NU 110 or consent

Practicum in some aspect of nursing designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent

This course focuses on the essentials of the human body's reaction to drugs and the effects of drugs on the body. In addition, the impact of using over-the-counter medications, herbal and other supplements is included. The nurses' role in medication administration and patient/client teaching is emphasized.
Prerequisite: NU 310

This course will use the general principles covered in anatomy and physiology as they apply to the disease process. The impact of environment, culture, nutrition and genetics in the development of diseases is also discussed.
Prerequisites: BI 232/L and NU 310 or admission to the OTA program

This course introduces the student to the profession of nursing (e.g., the educational, service and scholarship components). Content includes the roles and responsibilities of the professional nurse, the evolution of modern nursing and the science that underpins nursing practice, the nursing process, informatics, legal issues and political issues. The issues surrounding such topics as licensure dilemmas and the impaired nurse will be reviewed. APA format will be introduced.
Prerequisites: NU 110 and 210, or consent

This course focuses on the data collection component of the nursing process. Students gather information relevant to identification of client problems across the lifespan. A client assessment includes psychosocial, physical, family, environmental, spiritual, cultural and nutritional perspectives and the appropriate interpretation of the information collected. The impact of technology on assessment is discussed. Students gain proficiency in assessment skills, including therapeutic communication, interview, observation/inspection, percussion, auscultation and palpation, by working with peers and clients in the Nursing Laboratory and various other settings.
Prerequisites: NU 310 and PY 230

This course focuses on understanding the theoretical frameworks that are foundational to basic nursing care competencies. In addition, the practical application of those competencies is considered, including the impact of technology. Topics include patient/client safety, standard precautions, hand washing, medication administration, etc. Students work with peers and clients in the Nursing Laboratory as well as in a variety of settings.
Prerequisites: NU 210 and 310

This course presents a comprehensive approach to the use of the nursing process in the management of the most common conditions encountered by adults. Students identify patient problems, develop a plan of care, determine interventions and appropriate outcomes. Evaluation of the effect of interventions on outcomes is also included. Students will apply previously and currently learned material to the care of clients/patients in a variety of health care settings.
Prerequisites: NU 300, 305, 315, and 320

This course introduces the student to concepts of mental health and mental illness, including the relevant theories and therapies. The course content focuses on therapeutic communication, anxiety, depression, grief and stress related problems commonly found in acute care settings. Selected psychobiological problems, from moderate to severe, are examined using the nursing process as a framework. Understanding the effect of culture and worldviews on psychobiological problems is included. Students apply knowledge and skills in working with clients/patients in various settings.
Prerequisites: NU 300, 305, 315, and 320

This course will use the nursing process framework, students continue development of assessing and caring skills with new mothers, babies and families as the focus. The concepts of family, culture, nutrition, client teaching, communication, spirituality and critical thinking are integrated throughout the course. There is an emphasis on community and home care to reflect the shift from hospital care to home and other settings. Using the knowledge and skills gained, students work with new mothers, babies and families in various health care settings.
Prerequisites: NU 300, 305, 315, and 320

This course, using the nursing process and emphasizing problem identification, care planning and intervention, focuses on health promotion as well as the specific health problems encountered by children and adolescents. The role and influence of family, culture and nutrition are emphasized. Chronic illnesses, spirituality, disability and end-of-life issues are also included. Students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in caring for children in a variety of healthcare settings.
Prerequisites: NU 300, 305, 315, and 320

This course reviews research concepts and methods. There is an emphasis on evidence-based practice and interprofessional collaboration. For example, students learn how to frame clinical questions in ways that help distinguish between strong and weak evidence, weigh the risks and benefits of the findings, and apply the evidence to improve patient outcomes.
Prerequisite: NU 330 or admission to the OTA program

Practicum in some aspect of nursing designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent

This course builds on the concepts learned in Adult Health I; i.e., a comprehensive approach to the use of the nursing process. Content in the management of the common conditions encountered by adults is continued, along with the introduction of conditions that are of increasing complexity. Students continue developing their abilities to identify patient problems, developing plans of care and determining interventions and appropriate outcomes. The course emphasizes the intervention and evaluation components of the nursing process. Students apply previous and current skills and knowledge with patients/clients in acute care settings as well as selected additional healthcare settings.
Prerequisite: NU 330

This course provides a foundation of community and public health nursing concepts. Health promotion and disease prevention concepts are integrated such that students learn to develop interventions for individuals, families and communities. The multidimensional role of population-focused, community-focused nursing practice, as well as global health, is discussed. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are emphasized as well as the public health nurse's role in disaster management. Students will apply knowledge and skills related to community and public health nursing with groups in community settings.
Prerequisites: NU 300, 305, 315, and 320

This course focuses on preparation for NCLEX-RN exam. Students take exams containing questions representative of the NCLEX-RN. Topics will include how to prepare for the exam, applying for state licensure, legal and ethical issues associated with licensure and the impact of licensure on health care delivery systems and patient care.
Prerequisites: NU 345, 350, 440 and 450

This course builds on Adult Health I and II and integrates the concepts of family, culture, nutrition, client teaching, communication and critical thinking in the application of the nursing process for patients with multiple and complex health problems. Students will apply the knowledge and skills from this course in the critical care clinical settings.
NU 460 meets the first 10 weeks of the semester. Students must successfully complete NU 460 before taking NU 485, which meets the last 5 weeks of the semester.
Prerequisites: NU 345, 350, 440 and 450

This course deals with leadership concepts and their application to the discipline of nursing. For example, health care organizations, leadership theory, decision making and conflict management, delegation, motivation, managing change, managing resources, power and politics. The course examines nursing theories and facilitates understanding of professional leadership behavior. Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge acquired in the course through a Leadership in Nursing Project.
Prerequisites: NU 345, 350, 440 and 450

Students, under the guidance of nursing faculty and a preceptor, have the opportunity to integrate what they have learned in the practice of nursing and to apply this knowledge in the role of a beginning professional nurse. They develop outcomes, as well as the means of accomplishing and evaluating the outcomes, for the experience. Clinical sites will be determined by nursing faculty in collaboration with community agencies. Students will complete 144 clinical hours.
NU 485 meets the last 5 weeks of the semester. Students must successfully complete NU 460, which meets the first 10 weeks of the semester, before taking NU 485.
Prerequisites: NU 345, 350, 440, 450 and 460

An individualized study of a problem, a research paper or a project related to the nursing field.
Prerequisite: Consent

A cooperative off-campus experience in the nursing field through which curricular knowledge and skills may be actively applied.
Prerequisite: Consent