Course Descriptions

NURSU 356. Dynamics of Prof Practice and Interprofessional Nursing Care. This course challenges the RN to BSN student to broaden their perspectives of the professional nursing role. The student will be introduced to nursing theories and models, philosophies, values and evidence-based data that impact professional nursing practice, eliminate health disparities, and enhance patient outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills as the student builds upon prior nursing education and experience. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the CON RNBSN program 3 s.h. (3,0,0)

NURSU 357. Health Assessment. The course is designed to introduce the student to the comprehensive assessment of the pediatric, adult, and the older adult patient including variations of normal and common abnormal findings. Communication skills, history taking and physical assessment skills, and the proper use of assessment tools are emphasized. Cultural and spiritual assessment of the patient in the context of a family is discussed. Students analyze assessment data for common risk factors and identify strategies for teaching patients about health promotion and disease prevention. Professional nursing behaviors are practiced. Prerequisite: NURSU 365, NURSU 411 3 s.h. (3,0,0)

NURSU 358. Pathophysiology. This course examines the physiologic mechanisms underlying selected alterations in health that occur throughout the life cycle. Relationships between physiologic responses to health problems are emphasized. This course will address selected diseases and their evaluation and treatment in clinical care. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the CON RNBSN program 3 s.h. (3,0,0)

NURSU 359. Healthy Aging and Health Promotion This course provides an examination of theories, trends and research drawn from the fields of sociology, psychology, biology and the health professions with an emphasis on the process of aging, health promotion, and health inequities. Students will utilize this specialized knowledge to develop nursing care strategies to improve the care and health of older adults in the acute healthcare system, long-term care, and the community. Clinical experiences will include the application of theory in the development of a health promotion project for older adults. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the CON RNBSN program 4 s.h. (3,0,1)

NURSU 411. Research and Evidenced Based. This course introduces evidence-based practice and the research process in the development of nursing knowledge and practice. Emphasis is on the critical appraisal of published research and translating research findings to clinical practice. Survey techniques and sampling strategies are presented. Ethical considerations and the protection of human subjects in research are explored. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the CON RNBSN program 3 s.h. (3,0,0)

NURSU 412. Information Management. Nursing Informatics is the convergence of information, computer, and nursing science to improve practice and ultimately patient outcomes. This course provides students with an overview of the current healthcare information technology field including access to information and privacy issues andprovides them with exposure to relevant and current topics important to practice. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the CON RNBSN program 2 s.h. (2,0,0)

NURSU 413. Community and Population Focus. This course is designed to develop students' knowledge and skills of health promotion and disease prevention frameworks, nursing and public/community health concepts, epidemiology, and environmental health issues to improve healthcare in the community. Emphasis is placed on community assessment strategies, community partnerships, primary care, palliative care, and the design, implementation, and evaluation of culturally appropriate interventions for health promotion and/or disease prevention across the lifespan and continuum of care. Clinical experiences will include the application of theory in the development of a community population health project with a specific population in a community setting. Prerequisite: NURSU 356, NURSU 412, NURSU 411, NURSU 359 6 s.h.(4,0,2)

NURSU 426. Leadership and Management. In this course students will evaluate leadership behaviors and organizational structures that enhance the delivery of patient care. Management techniques and nursing care decisions are examined by synthesizing knowledge of various health care organizations and financing of health care delivery systems. Students will explore strategies for developing culturally effective communication strategies and respect for coworkers and other leaders. Emphasis is on organizational roles, legal responsibilities, and implications for professional nursing practice. Prerequisite: NURSU 356, NURSU 411, NURSU 357 3 s.h. (3,0,0)

NURSU 427. Health Systems and Policy. This course focuses on health policy and issues that affect consumers of health care and nursing practice. The organization of the health care system and the policy-making process are explored and the legal, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental influences are analyzed. Prerequisite: NURSU 356, NURSU 411, NURSU 357 3 s.h. (3,0,0)

NURSU 428. Practicum-Clinical Management and Decision Making. This clinical capstone course allows the registered nurse to integrate learned concepts, models, and theories, with clinical knowledge and experience into clinical practice through the identification, development, implementation and proposed evaluation of a scholarly nursing project. This project will focus on the practice of the generalist professional nurse in providing interprofessional, team-based care across the lifespan and continuum of care with emphasis on one of the four spheres of practice: (1) Disease prevention/promotion of health and well-being, (2) Chronic disease care, (3) Regenerative or restorative care, and/or (4) Palliative or Hospice care. Prerequisite: NURSU 356, NURSU 358, NURSU 411, NURUS 359, NURSU 357, NURSU 412, NURSU 413 5 s.h.(3,0,2)