Course Descriptions
NURS 200: Professional Nursing Practice in a Complex Adaptive System
3 credits
This course is designed to provide an introduction to professional nursing. It provides an overview of the nature and scope of nursing practice, considering its domain of practice, evolution, opportunities, and context for practice. The definition of nursing, the phenomena of concern to nurses, basis for practice, and models of nursing are explored. This course introduces students to complex adaptive systems (CAS) and their implications for nursing work. The primacy of the caring relationship, from both consumer and provider perspectives, is discussed. The regulation of nursing, with emphasis on professional regulation is discussed. Nursing and Jesuit values and nursing’s code of ethics as well as Servant Leadership are emphasized. The demands of care giving and strategies for self-care are examined. Increasing self-awareness and crystallizing personal beliefs and goals for professional practice are stressed.
NURS 210: Growth and Development
3 credits
Examines multiple dimensions of individual and family growth and development across the lifespan. It includes physical, psychological, cognitive, and moral development. Gender and cultural influences are considered.
NURS 310: Complexity of the Health Care System
3 credits
This course focuses on health of individuals within families/communities within a dynamic, contemporary health care system. The impact of social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions are identified and related to healthcare quality.
NURS 311 Professional and Therapeutic Communication
2 credits
This course is designed to provide the learner a theoretical foundation for effective communication. Using the lens of complex adaptive systems and servant leadership, selected models of communication, health and illness, health communication, conflict resolution and negotiation are explored for their implications for nursing practice. Diversity issues affecting perception of health/illness and influencing verbal and nonverbal communication are examined. Media and internet influence on health care and the profession of nursing are included. Theory-based strategies to improve communication skills throughout the health care continuum are stressed.
NURS 313: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I
2 credits
This course is designed to improve the learner’s ability to understand cellular physiology and alterations in structure and function resulting from the action of stressors on the human body at the cellular level. Physiological, pathophysiological, psychobiological, and pharmacological concepts that provide a foundation for understanding the pathophysiology of disease and the rationale for treatment and that serve as a basis for critical thinking and decision making in the planning and managing of care for individuals are examined.
NURS 314: Assessing and Promoting Wellness
4 credits
Development of skills in the health assessment of individuals and families within the context of community using complex adaptive systems as a guiding framework. Theoretical and research-based content in individual and family health and development throughout the life span from a multicultural perspective will be emphasized. Knowledge of functional health patterns and family concepts will be used as a basis to conceptualize problems and plan for care. The nursing role in health promotion and health education will be emphasized.
NURS 315 Practicum I: Provider of Care for Healthy Individuals & Families in Communities
5 credits (15 hrs/week – 240 clinical hours, 2hrs/wk – 32 conference hours)
Using complex adaptive systems as a guiding framework, students will use knowledge of functional health patterns and family in performing health assessments of individuals and families within the context of community. Theoretical and research-based content in the planning for care of individuals and families throughout the life span are emphasized. Fundamental concepts related to health promotion and health education are discussed. This course celebrates the body, mind, and spirit of the student in nursing and recognizes that learning transforms. In the process of transformation, reflection provides the key to understanding.
NURS 320 Statistics for the Health Professions
3 credits
This course provides an introduction to descriptive an inferential statistics. Includes the statistical procedures used most frequently to analyze quantitative group data for health science and nursing research. Emphasis is on the conceptual understanding and correct application of statistical tests and procedures and correct interpretation of results. Some mathematical calculation will be necessary but the ultimate goal will be for the learner to understand statistical reasoning and become an informed consumer of the correct use and interpretation of statistics.
NURS 350: Complexity within Healthcare Organizations
3 credits
This course addresses organizations as complex work environments that have implications for workplace safety and health care errors. The nursing role in the delivery and maintenance of safe, quality care is emphasized.
NURS 351: Care of Individuals and Families within Healthcare Organization
4 credits
Focuses on the development of nursing competence in planning and managing care for individuals and families with alterations in health status. Stresses the integration of physiological, pathophysiological, psychological, and pharmacological concepts as foundations for professional nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on continued development of focused assessment skills needed to provide care of individuals and families with health care needs related to the reproductive, urinary tract/renal, musculoskeletal, and digestive systems.
NURS 352: Practicum II: Care of Individuals and Families within Healthcare Organizations
5 credits (15hrs/week – 240 clinical hours, 2hrs/wk – 32 conference hours)
Focuses on the provision of care for individuals and families with health care needs related to the reproductive, urinary tract/renal, musculoskeletal, and digestive systems. Emphasis is placed on the development of self-discovery and the meaning of experience as a reflective practitioner. Students participate in learning activities in the Learning Resource Center, in a variety of clinical settings within healthcare organizations, and in post-clinical conferences.
NURS 353: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II
2 Credits
This course is designed to extend the learner’s ability to understand cellular physiology and alterations in structure and function resulting from the action of stressors on the human body at the cellular level. Physiological, pathophysiological, psychobiological, and pharmacological concepts that provide a foundation for understanding the pathophysiology of chronic, complex disease and the rationale for treatment and that serve as a basis for critical thinking and decision making in the planning and managing of care for individuals are examined.
NURS 401: Designing, Managing and Coordinating Health Care in Complex Adaptive Systems
3 credits
This course analyzes the role of the nurse in designing, managing and coordinating health care for individuals, groups, families and communities in a complex adaptive system.
NURS 402: Care of Individuals and Families with Acute Exacerbations & Chronic Alterations in Health Status
4 credits
Focuses on the continued development of nursing competence in planning and managing care for individuals and families with complex alterations in health status. Stresses integration of physiological, pathophysiological, psychological, and pharmacological concepts as essential to professional nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on development of focused assessment skills needed to provide care of individuals and families with health care needs related to the cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine, pulmonary, renal mental health systems.
NURS 403: Practicum III: Care of Individuals and Families with Acute Exacerbations and Chronic Alterations
6 credits – (18hrs/week – 288 clinical hours, 2hrs/wk – 32 conference hours)
This course focuses on the providing care for individuals and families with chronic and complex health care needs related to the cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine, pulmonary, renal, and mental health systems. Examines internal resources (such as faith or spiritual health) as a source of nourishment when making decisions– especially those involving ethics, urgency, reaction, and immediacy. Students participate in learning activities in the Learning Resource Center, in a variety of clinical settings within healthcare organizations, and in post-clinical conferences.
NURS 404: Research and Information Management
3 credits
Provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research principles and methodologies, including evaluation of research studies and application to practice. Critical analysis of nursing and health care research is emphasized. Stresses research design, sampling, data collection strategies, and ethical considerations in research.
NURS 465: Professional Nursing Practice within a Complex Adaptive System
3 credits
Considers nursing leadership roles within a CAS and examines transition to the professional role. Servant leadership principles are connected to nursing leadership.
NURS 466: Community and Populations as Clients
4 credits
This course focuses on planning and managing care for families, groups, communities, and populations. From a community perspective, epidemiological concepts, population-based care, program planning and evaluation are analyzed. Ethical and financial considerations of community health care are addressed.
NURS 467 Practicum IV: Provider of Care for Communities and Populations
3 credits (9hrs/week-144 clinical hours, 1hrs/wk-16 conference hours)
Clinical practice emphasizing planning, delivering, managing, and evaluating cost effective quality care for families, groups, communities, and aggregates in a variety of settings. Emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based practice.
NURS 468 Practicum V: Member of the Nursing Profession
3 credits (9hrs/week – 144 clinical hours, 1hrs/wk – 16 conference hours)
This capstone course is designed to assist students to synthesize knowledge and skills gained in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and to apply their knowledge and skills in a clinical setting of choice. It provides the opportunity to practice nursing leadership roles within a CAS and examines transition to the professional role. The analysis of reflective practice gleans patterns of insight to support a safe, client centered, and high quality practice. This course aligns the interface between reflection and effective, ethical, leadership. The course mirror is servant leadership.
The course descriptions above give a brief overview of the curriculum and suggest how the content builds over four semesters. It allows the reader to evaluate the integrity of the curricular themes. It also represents the outline used by the faculty to frequently cross check for inclusion of the AACN BSN Essentials, WAC requirements, and appropriate sequencing of content areas and learning activities.