Course Descriptions

In this course, students and mentors plan a program of study leading to the baccalaureate degree, focused around students’ understanding of the nursing profession, as well as their analysis of their own academic and professional skills, experiences, and goals. In this process, students identify concepts and skill sets, as elucidated in the AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Nursing Education, needed to perform effectively in professional baccalaureate nurse roles. Students will be introduced to the history and future of the profession, the impact of culture within health care systems, and the influence of culture on the role of the professional nurse. Students articulate an understanding of professional values and value-based nursing behaviors.

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirements.

This course focuses on the synthesis of independent and collaborative health assessment information for the registered nurse. Students integrate concepts and theories of biological, psychological and sociocultural knowledge to impact health promotion, health maintenance and illness care. Concepts of prevention, anticipatory guidance and the early detection of risk factors are incorporated into holistic care. The course facilitates the use of evidence in practice, development of critical thinking and advancement of interdisciplinary communication skills, which are vital competencies for the professional nurse.

This course focuses on pharmacology in relation to pathophysiology. Students integrate these concepts to examine the clinical application of medications affecting body systems. Knowledge development, patient safety and evidence-based practice are emphasized throughout course activities.

This course provides an overview of fundamental nursing informatics concepts and informatics applications in clinical nursing practice, administration, research and education. Philosophical and ethical perspectives on nursing informatics are explored. Nursing informatics competency development is emphasized for the provision of safe, quality, competent nursing care, and to expand the knowledge and wisdom of nursing practice.

This course is intended to prepare students in understanding nursing research and the research process. The course prepares students at the baccalaureate level to critique, interpret and apply evidence-based research to nursing practice and to select an area in which to apply research methodology.

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirements.

This course provides an in-depth overview of the United States' healthcare delivery system, including the nurse's role and responsibilities in the legislative process. Specific emphasis on advocacy, professional nursing standards and patient care delivery services including accessibility, equity and affordability are explored. 

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirements.

This course examines theoretical leadership frameworks and management functions in the context of professional nursing practice. Students in the course will explore and analyze fundamental strategies to improve organizational culture and change, quality and safety of care, patient satisfaction, interprofessional dialogue and budgetary resource issues.

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirements.

This course explores the historical development of community health nursing and focuses on the individual, family, and community as client. Principles of health promotion and disease prevention are analyzed through the lens of epidemiology. Diverse nursing roles and practice settings are examined through practice experiences in the community.

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirements.

Time Requirement —The course requirements include a practice component that is fulfilled by completing 45 hours working with a preceptor in a community setting.

Prerequisites: NURS 3005, NURS 3010, NURS 3015, NURS 3020, NURS 3025

This course integrates advanced critical thinking and decision-making abilities with the application of theoretical frameworks, concepts, models of nursing practice, leadership, and management. Students will immerse themselves in a leadership role of the professional nurse in a setting of their choice under the supervision of a clinical preceptor. This course enables the B.S. student to examine and develop the multidimensional competencies needed to become an effective professional nurse leader within health care settings and to be mindful of the contexts for nursing practice in any environment.

For this course, the student will select one of four leadership tracks as an area of focus: Administrative, Clinical Practice, Education, or Informatics.

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirement.

Time Requirement — The course requirements include, a practice component that is fulfilled by completing 90 hours working with a preceptor in a clinical setting.

Prerequisites: NURS 3005, NURS 3010, NURS 3015, NURS 3020, NURS 3025, NURS 4015

This course is open to both nursing and non-nursing students and will introduce students to the main concepts of the global health field. Students will get an overview of principles and goals of global health, global health issues, burden of disease and the collaboration needed to improve global health. Students will utilize critical reasoning and evidence based practices to propose and support solutions for public health concerns around the world.

This course satisfies the university's liberal arts and sciences requirements.

This course provides students the opportunity to examine the palliative care movement. The changing paradigm of longevity, multiple chronic illnesses, and progressive diseases has impacted the perception of quality of life and in turn has altered how death and dying is managed in the United States. Palliative care can be initiated at any stage of an illness with a focus on physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and offers a continuum of care through death. This course examines the foundations of palliative care services, introduces tools and resources, and discusses ethical issues pertaining to end-of-life dilemmas and advanced care planning.