Nursing (NURS)

This course provides an introduction into the culture of professional nursing and covers historical and contemporary social influences on nursing and health care systems. Emphasis is on the internalization of nursing core values including caring, communication, informatics, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, advocacy, and accountability. The ANA Code of Ethics and the Nurse Practice Act are used to introduce legal parameters governing professional nursing practice. Students will explore the domains of nurse, client, health, and environment.

This course provides a foundation for physical, developmental, emotional, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual health assessment. Teaching methods include demonstration of health assessment techniques, online learning modules, and practice and skills validation in the campus lab. Emphasis will be placed on interviewing skills, and assessment techniques across the lifespan.

This course provides an introduction to nursing pharmacology to build a foundation for safe administration of drug therapy to clients. The course emphasizes the concepts of physiology, pathophysiology, and chemistry. Discussion of the major drug groups focuses on therapeutic indications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, contraindications, adverse effects, clinically important drug-drug interactions, and healthcare provider considerations, focusing on client care and teaching. Procedures for safe, effective medication administration and clinical calculations are studied. Lifespan considerations, evidence for best practice, client safety, and critical thinking are integrated throughout the course.

This fundamental course provides a foundation for nursing practice. It is designed to help the student apply scientific principles from general education courses to focused concept- based nursing practice. This course serves as a basis for utilizing the nursing process to plan, implement and evaluate client care. Emphasis is placed on fundamental concepts such as adherence, clinical judgement, communication, evidence, fluid and electrolytes, elimination, gas exchange, development across the lifespan, infection, thermoregulation, spirituality, safety, sensory perception, collaboration, patient education, pain, nutrition, tissue integrity, and mobility. A variety of teaching methods along with supervised practice on campus and in community facilities are utilized to develop skills in individualized care as a beginning member of the nursing team. Students will begin to use basic research skills and informatics to create an evidence-based project. Fee required.

This course is an introduction to the three systems of measurements – metric, apothecaries and household systems – that are commonly used in the preparation and administration of drugs and solutions. Conversions of equivalents within and between the systems will be emphasized. Students should be familiar with basic mathematical concepts. This course is designed to help nursing students and practicing nurses apply mathematical concepts to the area of drugs and solutions.

This course builds upon the art and science of nursing practice and introduces common concepts related to human flourishing and the developmental, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual care of human beings across the life span. Students will build further respect for clients’ preferences, values, and needs and continue to develop the core values of accountability and caring. Emphasis is placed on application of the nursing process as it applies to common concepts of health, wellness, and illness throughout the life cycle. Teaching methods include supervised practice in active learning environments and a variety of community facilities to develop skills in inter-professional communication and collaboration as a developing member of the healthcare team. Students will use research skills and informatics to create an evidence-based project and present to a target population. Students will explore concepts related to anxiety, collaboration, communication, development, elimination, fluid and electrolytes, gas exchange, inflammation, infection, nutrition, sensory perception and examine the nursing role in the subjects of reproductive health, health promotion and family dynamics. Additional areas of focus are cognition, interpersonal violence, and stress and coping. Concepts previously taught are interrelated with current concepts. Fee required.

This course is designed to allow the licensed practical nurse (LPN) or paramedic to build upon existing knowledge in preparation for transition into the Associate of Science in Nursing sequence. Key components include foundational nursing concepts and skills as well as an introduction to the nursing and healthcare domains. Emphasis is placed on the concepts of clinical judgment, communication, elimination, safety, fluid and electrolytes, and tissue integrity. Focus is placed on physical, developmental, emotional, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual health assessments. Teaching methods include the utilization of supervised practice in campus facilities to develop professional nursing skills.

This course is designed to assist the licensed practical nurse (LPN) or paramedic to progress through a blend of concepts emphasized in the current nursing sequence. Focus is placed on utilization of the nursing process to plan, implement and evaluate patient care. Procedures for safe, effective medication administration and clinical calculations are studied. Lifespan considerations, evidence for best practice, client safety, and critical thinking are integrated throughout the course. Teaching methods include supervised practice in active learning environments and a variety of community facilities to develop skills in interprofessional communication and collaboration as a developing member of the healthcare team. Students will explore common health related concepts across the lifespan and develop an evidence-based project using basic research skills and informatics. Fee required.

This course advances knowledge in the discipline of nursing and builds competencies in client centered care for complicated health concerns. Students will draw inferences to support developing clinical judgment and clinical decision making to improve quality care in multiple lifespan concepts. Emphasis is placed on utilization of the nursing process and relationships between concepts as it applies to complicated health, wellness, and illness conditions throughout the life-death continuum. Teaching methods include supervised practice in active learning environments in a variety of health care settings to advance skills as an emerging member of the healthcare team. Students will build on previously developed research skills and utilize informatics to create an evidence-based project and present to members of the health care team. Students will develop a spirit of inquiry that strives to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care outcomes. Fee required.

This course enhances critical thinking and progresses nursing practice competencies in the management of acute and chronic complex health problems. Students will utilize nursing judgment and current evidence-based practices to deliver client-centered care. Emphasis is placed on utilization of the nursing process to integrate previous course concepts and oversee the care of multisystem health, wellness, and illness conditions throughout the life span. Teaching methods include supervised practice in diverse and specialized health care settings and Simulation Laboratory clinicals to advance skills as a contributing member of the interprofessional healthcare team. Students will interpret, conclude, and prioritize high acuity alterations in the wellness-illness continuum. Clinical decision-making will be used to foster team collaboration, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve excellent health care outcomes. Fee required.

This course prepares the student to transition from nursing student to professional nurse and function at the entry nurse level in a variety of health care settings. The student will synthesize knowledge and skills from previous courses to provide safe, effective client- centered care across the life span. Emphasis is placed on role formation within the scope of practice utilizing QSEN and NLN competencies, and GHC core values. The course allows students to embark upon role transformation, participate in comprehensive care planning, and develop a professional identity. Teaching methods include a mentored preceptorship experience which applies the art and science of nursing in specialized areas. Students continue to develop a professional portfolio in preparation for employment. Students are exposed to ongoing scholarship with expectation of career development and continuing education.

This course is designed to enhance and facilitate the development of the RN student to the role of a BSN prepared professional nurse. The focus is on developing personal and professional growth to promote better advocacy, critical thinking, educator skills, effective communication, and leadership abilities in a complex healthcare environment. Course content includes concepts from historical contributions and theories that have guided the profession, to promoting professional philosophies, visions, and practices to help prepare for future trends in healthcare. Topics relate to culture and diversity, professional ethics, political and legal issues in nursing, and technology. Students will apply knowledge of standards of practice, evidence-based practice, and caring science to course topics.

This course is designed to provide the registered nurse with an overview of the major research concepts as applied to the profession of nursing, to scholarship, and to clinical practice. Analysis, critique, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, including ethical implications, for evidence-based nursing practice will be examined. Emphasis is placed on how to critique, analyze, and apply published and empirical research findings to evidence-based nursing practice.

In this online elective, current models for ethical decision-making are explored and applied in the analysis of selected ethical problems in nursing practice. The student is encouraged to examine and clarify personal and professional values. The relationships between nursing and health care issues are explored from both an ethical and legal perspective.

This course provides opportunities for an independent study on a topic selected by the student under the direction of a faculty member. The area of study may be related to the student's long-term interest, clinical practice interest, research interest, or professional goals. The student and faculty will determine the focus and course objectives at the beginning of the course.

This course introduces the student to the role of the professional perioperative nurse by providing learning opportunities in the classroom and perioperative clinical settings. Students will utilize the nursing process, AORN Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, and The Joint Commission National Safety Goals to guide development of evidence-based nursing care for clients throughout the lifespan in pre, intra, and postoperative settings. In addition, this course provides opportunities for students to further develop physical assessment, infection prevention, and interdisciplinary communication techniques.

This course is a study of the advanced knowledge and skills beyond the Associates degree in Nursing, designed to enhance health assessment for nursing practice in the care of individuals across the lifespan. Theory and skills essential to completing a comprehensive and holistic health history and physical examination are emphasized. In addition, the holistic delivery of care will include cultural, spiritual, nutritional, alternative, complementary therapies, and health promotion for the delivery of safe and person-centered care. The importance of comprehensive and accurate documentation as a tool for effective communication amongst the interdisciplinary team is reviewed.

This online course focuses on the practical application of research with an emphasis on quality improvement and evidence-based practice through the development, implementation, and analysis of a capstone project.

This practicum experience focuses on application of skills and exploration of leadership roles within healthcare settings. A leadership or management preceptorship will be used to facilitate student application of course content. This practicum is individualized and negotiated between the student, preceptor, and nursing faculty.

This practicum experience focuses on application of skills and exploration of leadership roles within healthcare settings. A leadership or management preceptorship will be used to facilitate student application of course content. This practicum is individualized and negotiated between the student, preceptor, and nursing faculty.

This course introduces the leadership roles and management functions of professional registered nurses within the structure of an organization. The management process provides the foundational structure for the courses, while the theoretical framework for this course is established through exploration of leadership styles, organizational theory, and management theory. Quality assurance and the provision of evidence-based, patient- centered care and collaborative relationships are emphasized. The impact of political and legislative processes, the integration of informatics, and the legal and ethical issues in management are also discussed.