Nursing

A study of the pathophysiology of selected disease processes, building on the student's knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and chemistry. Addresses pathophysiological changes at the cellular, organ, system, and multi-system levels. Incorporates nursing interventions specific to the disease processes studied. Includes clinical findings and implications for health across the health-illness continuum and the lifespan.

An introduction to the nursing profession, including its history, foundational principles, professional standards, and ethical considerations. Emphasis is placed on the Nursing Process as a guiding framework for holistic nursing care. Students will develop foundational critical thinking and test-taking strategies to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam. The course also introduces students to key nursing concepts such as patient safety, communication, cultural competence, and lifelong learning in nursing practice.

This course examines the relationship between normal physiology, pathophysiologic alterations, and pharmacologic management of common diseases across the lifespan. Students explore disease mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic findings, and evidence-based pharmacologic therapies while developing clinical judgment using the Nursing Process and the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM). Emphasis is placed on understanding why medications are prescribed, how disease processes alter body function, and how nurses integrate assessment findings, diagnostics, pharmacology, and patient education to promote safe, patient-centered care. The course prepares students for medical-surgical, maternal-child, pediatric, psychiatric nursing, and the Next Generation NCLEX-RN®.

Expands on foundational nursing concepts and test-taking strategies introduced in the first semester. Students will refine their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills using the Nursing Process and real-world case studies. Emphasis is placed on prioritization, delegation, and patient management through advanced NCLEX-style questions.

An introduction to nursing research and evidence-based nursing practice, building on the student’s knowledge of the scientific process, mathematical and statistical concepts, and nursing care. Emphasizes the generalist nursing roles of identifier of practice problems for study, data collector, and knowledgeable consumer of nursing research.

Nursing theory and practice in holistic care of individuals requiring secondary and tertiary nursing interventions. Focuses on young, middle, and older adults who are experiencing or are recovering from selected medical and/or surgical stressors. Three classroom and six clinical laboratory hours per week.

This course examines the principles of quality improvement, patient safety, ethical decision-making, and contemporary issues that influence professional nursing practice. Students analyze current healthcare trends, evaluate evidence-informed strategies that improve patient outcomes, and examine the nurse's role in promoting safe, equitable, and high-quality care across diverse healthcare settings. Through engagement with professional literature, national quality initiatives, and current healthcare events, students strengthen clinical judgment, professional accountability, and lifelong learning skills consistent with the AACN Essentials and the expectations of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse.

Nursing theory and practice in holistic care of critically ill patients and their families. This course prepares senior nursing students to provide safe, evidence-based, compassionate care for adults experiencing complex, high-acuity health conditions across healthcare settings. Building upon Adult Health Nursing Practice I and II, students integrate advanced clinical judgment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, care coordination, and interprofessional collaboration while caring for patients requiring progressive care, specialty services, oncology treatment, bone marrow transplantation, complex diabetes managmenet, obesity care, palliative care, hospice, and end-of-life services. Students develop competencies in recognizing clinical deterioration, coordinating transitions of care, educating patients and caregivers, managing advanced therapies, and supporting patients and families throughout serious illness. Three hours classroom and three clinical hours per week.

Nursing theory and practice in holistic care of groups and populations requiring primary, secondary, or tertiary nursing interventions. Focuses on care delivery in diverse settings in the community, including homes, clinics, schools, and/or industry. Three classroom and three clinical laboratory hours per week.

Nursing theory and practice in leading and managing groups as a professional nurse. Focuses on effecting necessary change in a dynamic healthcare environment. May include opportunity for clinical laboratory experiences in special interest addressed in NUR 401. Three classroom and six clinical laboratory hours per week.

Provides a bridge to the RN/BSN completion track for registered nurses working across various care settings. The course centers on integrating the Neuman Systems Model and the nursing process to deliver care to individuals, families, groups, and communities across healthcare. Coursework builds upon current RN knowledge and skills to increase evidence-based practice, ethical decision making, quality improvement, use of informatics, and leadership skills to improve patient outcomes.

This course prepares baccalaureate nursing students to effectively use healthcare information systems, clinical technologies, and data to support safe, high-quality, patient-centered care across diverse healthcare settings. Students examine the foundational principles of nursing informatics and explore the integration of information science, computer science, and nursing science to enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the ethical, legal, regulatory, and professional responsibilities associated with health information technologies, including patient privacy, data security, and the responsible use of digital tools. Students critically evaluate current and emerging healthcare technologies and apply evidence-based informatics principles to improve clinical practice, support healthcare delivery, and prepare for the evolving digital healthcare environment. 

This course prepares the practicing registered nurse to think beyond isolated assessment findings by integrating clinical reasoning, pathophysiology, patient safety, quality improvement, and holistic nursing care into everyday professional practice. Building upon previous nursing education and clinical experience, students strengthen their ability to interpret patient assessment data, recognize early physiologic deterioration, understand disease progression, prioritize evidence-based nursing interventions, and evaluate patient outcomes across diverse healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on preventing complications, promoting wellness, reducing avoidable hospital readmissions, and leading safe, patient-centered care through evidence-informed clinical decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration. Consistent with the AACN Essentials, this course prepares the baccalaureate nurse to improve healthcare quality through advanced clinical judgment, professional leadership, and lifelong learning. 

The public health nursing course reviews nursing theory and practice in the holistic care of groups and populations requiring primary, secondary, and tertiary nursing interventions. This course focuses on care delivery in diverse settings within the community, including homes, clinics, schools, and/or industry. The course includes a 20-hour community/family practicum in which the licensed RN applies population-health concepts through assessment of a de-identified family unit, community resources, social determinants of health, prevention and health promotion, medication and care adherence, and resource coordination.

This course prepares RN-to-BSN students to understand and influence the policies that shape healthcare delivery, professional nursing practice, and population health. Building on prior nursing experience, students examine the U.S. healthcare system, the policy-making process, healthcare legislation, financing, regulatory agencies, ethics, and the social determinants of health while analyzing their impact on healthcare access, quality, safety, equity, and patient outcomes. Through the integration of evidence-based practice, systems thinking, leadership, advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration, students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, influence, implement, and evaluate health policy at the local, state, national, and global levels. Emphasis is placed on the nurse's role as a leader, advocate, and change agent in advancing health equity, improving healthcare systems, and promoting high-quality, person-centered care consistent with the AACN Essentials (2021) and contemporary standards for professional nursing practice. 

A study of nursing research and evidence-based nursing practice that builds on the nurse’s prior knowledge of the professional literature, research basics, statistical concepts, and clinical care. Emphasizes the baccalaureate-prepared nursing roles as identifier of practice problems for study, data collector, and knowledgeable consumer of nursing research.

This course prepares registered nurses to improve patient outcomes through the application of quality improvement, patient safety principles, evidence-based practice, systems thinking, and interprofessional collaboration. Students examine national quality and patient safety initiatives, healthcare quality measures, regulatory and accreditation standards, healthcare informatics, high-reliability organizations, just culture, and performance improvement methodologies used to enhance healthcare delivery. Emphasis is placed on analyzing healthcare systems, interpreting quality and safety data, applying evidence-based improvement strategies, reducing preventable harm, and leading sustainable organizational change that promotes safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.

This leadership-focused RN-BSN seminar develops the knowledge and applied skills needed to lead nursing care at the bedside and within unit-based clinical operations. Students examine leadership and management roles, clinical decision-making, delegation, communication, conflict management, staffing and scheduling, resource stewardship, budgeting concepts, team development, coaching, organizational structure, and change leadership. A 20-hour leadership practicum provides direct observation of a nurse serving in a leadership role such as charge nurse, nurse manager, nurse clinical educator, or clinical nurse specialist. Students also interview a different nurse leader to compare leadership roles and perspectives. The course culminates in a leadership capstone that translates an identified unit or staff learning need into a professional in-service, training activity, presentation, or poster abstract.

A culminating professional practice seminar for licensed RNs completing the RN-BSN program. The course emphasizes professional identity to include mentorship, continuing education, licensure mobility, and deliberate career-long practice growth. Students integrate these elements with patient care and healthcare-system practice by identifying an authentic practice concern and developing an evidence-informed Professional Practice Improvement Plan focused on their own continuing competence and contribution as a BSN-prepared nurse. Students synthesize learning from the RN-BSN curriculum into a professional portfolio and develop a sustainable professional-practice growth plan.