Course Descriptions
Undergraduate Nursing
NURS 115. Foundations of Nursing and Healthcare.
An introduction to the profession of nursing where students explore their assumptions, beliefs, and values about the discipline of nursing. The role of the nurse will be examined through the lens of professional, historical, and socio-cultural issues, as well as ethical and legal standards. Intended nursing majors only.
NURS 212. Holistic Assessment.
A clinical course utilizing the techniques of physical, psychosocial, functional, spiritual, and cultural assessments. Assessments will be performed in a variety of practicum settings and will include individuals and families during various states of health. Students will utilize the data collected for an interpretive analysis of health status. Prerequisites: All required science courses (BIO 103, BIO 104, CHEM 108); NURS 115; Co-requisite: NURS 115 (if not taken previously), BIOL/NURS 205.
NURS 230. Global Disaster Preparedness & Management.
Examines global disaster management and the socio-cultural needs of individuals, particularly of vulnerable populations. Current evidence-based information on disaster response will be explored in order to prepare for the unique cultural needs of populations impacted by disasters. The student will develop an understanding of the nature of different types of global disasters and develop a plan for disaster management at a personal, community, and global level (M5).
NURS 260. Moral Injury. (also REL/HLTP 260)
Moral Injury has been defined as “the inevitable outcome of moral engagement with the reality of war and killing,” (Antal and Winings: 2015) and as “the result of participation in the moral distortion of the world created by war” (Denton-Borhaug: 2021). In this course participants will explore and analyze moral injury through multidisciplinary methods including public “whole” health, spiritual, philosophical and theological frameworks, the arts and humanities, as well as through diverse social and physical scientific paradigms/methods. Our aim will be to illuminate increased understanding of the individual experience of moral injury; analyze the relationship between moral injury and U.S. War-culture; and engage in reflective moral deliberation regarding what the phenomenon of moral injury requires of us as individuals, citizens, people with religious (or no-religious) identities, and members of diverse moral communities. (U2)
NURS 310. Navigating the Essentials of Medical-Surgical Nursing
A clinical course that applies nursing knowledge, theories, and attitudes in the management and exploration of selected health problems to the care of individuals and families. Students incorporate clinical reasoning into their plan and implementation of person-centered care. PREREQUISITES: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206); NURS 115, NURS 212, NURS 311.
NURS 311. Fundamental Concepts of Nursing.
A clinical course that applies fundamental concepts of nursing, health, and well-being in theory and practice. Students develop a foundation for holistic nursing practice, utilizing physical and psychosocial skills to plan and deliver nursing care. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, 104, 205; CHEM 108); required nursing courses (NURS 115, 212), Co-requisites: BIOL 206.
NURS 313. Synthesis of Nursing Knowledge for Acute, Complex Health Challenges.
A clinical course which aims to advance students’ conceptual integration of cumulative and ongoing nursing knowledge and skills to facilitate care of individuals and families experiencing acute, complex health challenges. Students critically examine these significant challenges to deliver holistic and comprehensive nursing care. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206), NURS 115, 212, 311, 310, 339.
NURS 314. Introduction to Community, Population, and Public Health Nursing.
A clinical course which introduces students to community and population health nursing through the examination and application of public health concepts, theories, and evidence-based strategies in the provision of nursing care to diverse populations across the lifespan. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205); NURS 115, NURS 212.
NURS 315. Mental Health from Individual and Community Perspectives.
A clinical course which focuses on applying nursing knowledge, interventions and attitudes for vulnerable populations to promote well-being through understanding the challenges faced by individuals, families and society around the treatment of mental health disorders. Theory and application of therapeutic communication, mental health assessment, evidence-based practice, person-centered care and family implications will be accomplished through classroom and clinical learning environments in both hospital and community settings. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206), NURS 115, 212, 311, 310.
NURS 316. Exploration into Nursing Inquiry.
A writing-intensive course that explores nursing science and interdisciplinary healthcare inquiry. Students will discover guiding frameworks and learn foundational research principles. Students will acquire skills to analyze and critically appraise the evidence for implications in nursing. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206), MATH 107 OR HLTP 189; NURS 115, NURS 212, NURS 311.
NURS 317. The Professional Nurse.
Through self-reflection that fosters personal, professional, and leadership development, students transition to entry level practitioners. This course incorporates an immersive practicum experience which cultivates a commitment to personal health and growth, expansion of knowledge and professional maturity, and a capacity for leadership in practice. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206); NURS 115, NURS 212, NURS 311, NURS 314, NURS 310, NURS 345, NURS 339, NURS 346, NURS 313, NURS 315, NURS 316. Co-requisite: NURS 351.
NURS 320. Nursing of Populations at High Risk for Health Problems.
Elective helps senior-level students understand a specific population's health problems. International placement for this course experience is encouraged.
NURS 339. Chronic Conditions and Care Transitions.
A clinical course that applies nursing knowledge, interventions, and attitudes in the management and exploration of the impact of individuals' chronic health conditions. This course will also explore the complexities of care transitions. Students analyze various human responses to challenging health conditions within a dynamic healthcare system to provide holistic and comprehensive nursing care. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206) NURS 115, 212, 310, 311.
NURS 340. Health Program Planning and Evaluation. (also HLTP 340)
This course introduces students to the theory and application of public health program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The curriculum focuses on community needs assessment, partnership building, designing clear objectives, developing a strategic plan, implementing culturally competent interventions, formative and summative evaluation, and sustainability of programs. Students will design their own public health program and evaluation plan using a logic model and public health planning models. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Nursing 115.
NURS 345. Reproductive Health and Perinatal Nursing.
A clinical course that provides students with foundational knowledge of reproductive health and human sexuality across the lifespan. Students examine the physiological, psychological, and social aspects of the unique experiences of sexuality, gender identity, sexual orientation, and reproductive health. Students will promote the optimal health of individuals, childbearing families, and neonates. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206), NURS 115, 212, 311,PSYC 207.
NURSING 346. Pediatric Nursing and Family-Centered Care.
A clinical course designed to provide students with nursing knowledge to promote optimal growth, development, and health of the pediatric patient from newborn through adolescence in a variety of care contexts. The course emphasizes the abilities to plan, evaluate the safety of, and effectively administer family-centered, customized care in pediatric settings. Prerequisites: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206), NURS 115, 212, 311, 310; PSYC 207.
NURS 351. Connecting to Nursing Leadership & Management.
A course that examines leadership and management principles that are the basis for delivering safe patient and family centered care in complex health care organizations. Drawing from their experiences in life and their education, students will explore theories related to change, conflict management, leadership styles, work environment, budgeting and management of resources. PREREQUISITES: All required sciences (BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 108, BIO 205, BIO 206); NURS 115, NURS 212, NURS 311, NURS 314, NURS 310, NURS 345, NURS 339, NURS 346, NURS 313, NURS 315, NURS 316. CO-REQUISITES: NURS 317.
NURS 360. Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare.
This course provides the foundation of ethical theories and bioethics relative to healthcare. The relevance of ethics to decision-making within the healthcare system is explored. Ethical issues that affect healthcare professionals and individuals across the lifespan are analyzed. (U2)
NURS 370. Nursing in the Global Community.
This course seeks to facilitate student understanding of populations across the globe at high risk for health problems and the health disparities. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will guide the study in this course as students investigate the role of health care professionals in impacting global health. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher. (M5)
NURS 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
NURS 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
NURS 384. Independent Research.
NURS 288, 386-388. Internship.
NURS 400-401. Honors.