RN-BSN Option
Course Descriptions
School of Continuing and Professional Studies
FOSEM 204 Foundations Seminar III - Professional Writing for Nurses (3 sh)
This course is offered to nursing students. It emphasizes writing skills emphasizes writing skills needed in a variety of situations encountered by nurses, ranging from professional communication and report writing to writing for research journals.
FOSEM 350 - Senior Seminar (3 sh)
The purpose of this seminar is to allow students to integrate the various skills they have learned through out their college studies. Students will develop an independent research project focusing on critical thinking skills. A selected topic of inquiry will be the emphasis of the seminar. The student should plan to enroll in this course after senior status has been achieved.
RELST 266 - Suffering and Death (3 sh)
A study of central themes, resources and methods employed in Christian theological reflection upon human suffering and death.
Nursing Science Courses
NATSC 101 - Natural Science for Professional Nursing Practice (3 sh)
4 clocks hours Lecture/Discussion/Laboratory Exercises within the classroom or health care settings
Study of the application of principles of biology,chemistry,physics, and microbiology to clinical nursing. Emphasizes the methods of inquiry in the natural sciences that form the foundation of professional nursing practice. Includes an analysis of observational experiences in health care settings.
BIOL 309 - Pathophysiology (3 sh)
Study of alterations in homeostatic mechanisms in humans. The focus is on the physiological changes and responses that produce the symptoms of disease
Nursing Courses (24 semester hours)
NURS 235 - Concepts in Professional Nursing and Leadership (4 sh)
Fieldwork - 28 clock hours
Examines the concepts associated with the philosophy of professional nursing and investigates the major issues and trends related to professional nursing practice, educational and scholarly inquiry. Skills in critical thinking and self- reflection are enhanced by selected field-based experiences. The exploration of professional goals, commitment to learning and development of leadership qualities are emphasized.
NURS 239 - Holistic Health Assessment (3 sh)
Fieldwork - 21 clock hours
NATSC 101 and BIOL 309 recommended
Uses concepts from nursing, science and the liberal arts to focus on holistic assessment of well individuals across the life cycle. Includes nursing practice in the laboratory and community setting and focuses on critical thinking and communication skills. Emphasis is placed on the development of diagnostic reasoning skills to prioritize and plan nursing care. Prepares the registered nurse student for subsequent learning to holistically assess and promote the health of communities, especially those at risk.
NURS 356 - Nursing Research (3 sh)
RN status; NURS 235 recommended
Discusses the need for nursing research in the development of a knowledge base for clinical practice. Additionally, the elements of the research process and ethical dimensions of a research study are considered. It promotes an appreciation of the role of the nurse researcher in the development and testing of clinical questions and examining ethical aspects of studies. Students are encouraged to integrate relevant research findings with their clinical practice
NURS 359 - Principles of Community Health Nursing (3 sh)
Fieldwork - 21 clock hours
Applies nursing theory, nursing process and concepts from public health sciences to caring for families, groups and particularly, communities as clients. Incorporates the use of community assessment techniques to examine populations at risk, factors that affect risk, health promotion and disease prevention and vulnerable populations. Various community and public health care settings provide the opportunity to focus and reflect on the practice of the nurse in the roles of caregiver, teacher, advocate, colleague and scholar among diverse populations.
NURS 363 - Power and Influence in Health Care Organizations (3 sh)
Fieldwork - 21 clock hours
Synthesizes nursing, leadership, management and organizational theories as foundation for the management of care in diverse health care organizations. Provides the opportunity for students to discuss, examine and analyze a variety of management skills necessary for fiscal and clinical excellence in today's health care arena. Analyzes legal, ethical, economic and political aspects of health care organizations. Emphasis is on communication, collaboration skills, power and influence, scholarly inquiry as they apply to the role of nurse manager in health care delivery systems. Evaluates the role of leader and advocate for culturally diverse nursing care.
NURS 383/385 - Nursing Elective (3 sh)
Student chooses one of a variety of nursing elective courses offered within the School of Nursing.
NURS 374 - Synthesis Project Proposal Seminar (1 sh)
Pre-requisites: NATSC 101, BIOL 309, NURS 235, 239, 356, 359, 363
Provides the opportunity for students to review and synthesize the assessment and planning they have done in previous courses to develop a written plan for the synthesis project, approved by student, faculty and agency.
NURS 375 - Synthesis: Leadership for Professional Nursing Practice (4 sh)
Prerequisite: NURS 374
Fieldwork: 28 clock hours
Organized around the theme "Think Globally; Act Locally," provides the student with the opportunity to synthesize concepts from previous nursing courses into an integrated whole. Students examine and analyze aspects of systems thinking, leadership, community activism and futurism as they implement and evaluate the synthesis project that was developed on NURS 374.