COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 2010-2011
FIRST YEAR CURRICULUM Nursing 101 Scope of Health and Wellness I:
This course uses a holistic framework to assist the student to view the health care needs of patients requiring health promotion and maintenance. The student is introduced to the role of the professional nurse within the healthcare delivery system. There is an emphasis on how nursing collaborates with other health professions to provide comprehensive care. The course explores concepts of critical thinking in the context of clinical practice and emphasizes philosophical, legal, ethical, spiritual, and cultural bases for professional practice. The student is provided with the theoretical and clinical foundations necessary to deliver care to selected patients based on evidence-based practice. The nursing process is used as the structure for developing a plan of nursing care. The student demonstrates basic nursing skills based on best practices in the clinical laboratory and various health care agencies.
Placement: Required Course, First Year
Credits: 6
Hours: Theory 50 hours/Clinical 100 hours
Pre-requisites: Admission to the Nursing Program
Nursing 102 Scope of Health and Wellness II:
This course uses a holistic framework to assist the student to view the health care needs of patient requiring health promotion and maintenance as well as disease prevention. The course concentrates on physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual assessment, and teaching interventions necessary to provide care to healthy and ill persons. Emphasis is placed on the application of scientific principles and evidence-based practice incorporating the holistic approach in the delivery of patient care. The student continues to demonstrate basic nursing skills based on best practices in the clinical laboratory as well as various healthcare agencies.
Placement: Required Course, First Year
Credits: 6
Hours: Theory 50 hours/Clinical 100 hours
Pre-requisites: Nursing 101
Nursing 103 Medical-Surgical Nursing I:
This course uses a holistic framework as the student investigates the impact of illness on adult and elderly patients and their families. Physiological, pathophysiological, and psychosocial changes in adults are explored in relation to the experience of illness. Health maintenance and health restoration nursing interventions are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the nursing process, consistent with evidence-based practice and best practices, in the development of nursing competencies for selected clinical situations. Use of reflective thinking is introduced. Concepts related to nutrition, pharmacotherapy, culture, spirituality, legal and ethical issues, education principles, and sexuality content are integrated throughout the course. Course content focuses on care of the patient with a variety of medical-surgical illnesses.
Placement: Required Course, First Year
Credits: 10
Hours: Theory 80 hours/Clinical 160 hours
Perquisites: Nursing 101 and Nursing 102
Nursing 104 Medical Surgical and Mental Health Nursing:
This is a ten (10) week course divided into two 5 week modules, (Medical Surgical Nursing and Mental Health Nursing) using a holistic framework. In the Medical Surgical module, the student uses knowledge of pathophysiology to care for the patient with a variety of medical and surgical diagnoses. Emphasis is on the acute and chronic patient with orthopedic, gastrointestional, and urinary concerns. In the Mental Health module, the student learns alterations in behavior, mood, and cognition resulting from a person/environment interaction perspective. The student uses the nursing process and self as a therapeutic agent. Both modules allow the student to generate critical thinking skills and use the reflective thinking tool to support and validate clinical experiences. Integrated in both modules are concepts related to: nutrition, pharmacotherapy, educational principals, spirituality, culture, and sexuality. In addition, both modules promote legal, ethical, evidence-based practices, and best practices for nursing care in a cost effective manner.
Placement: Required Course, First Year
Credits: 10
Hours: Theory 80 hours/Clinical 160 hours
Prerequisites: Nursing 101, Nursing 102, and Nursing 103
SECOND YEAR CURRICULUM
Nursing 201 MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING II:
This course uses a holistic framework to assist the student to care for patients with acute and chronic illnesses based on best practices. Emphasis is on the neurological and oncological issues. The student is also involved in various clinical opportunities that support health restoration necessary for the care of the chronically and acutely ill patient, that are emphasized within the context of the rehabilition setting. The course also highlights the impact of the illness on patients, families, and the community. Integrated throughout the course are concepts related to: nutrition, pharmacotherapy, educational principals, spirituality, culture, sexuality, ethical and legal issues. The nursing process and evidence-based practice assist the student when providing care in the clinical area. The student uses critical thinking skills throughout the course in the planning and modifying of patient care. Reflective thinking is also used to analyze and evaluate all clinical interactions. The role of the nurse continues to be emphasized in the care of patients in the acute care settings integrating cost effective measures and generating collaboration with other care team members.
Placement: Required Course, Second Year
Credits: 10
Hours: Theory 80 hours/Clinical 160 hours
Pre-requisites: Nursing 101,102, 103, and 104
Nursing 202 Medical/Surgical Nursing III
This course continues to use a holistic framework to assist the student to care for patients with complex multisystem pathophysiology based on best practices. The course also highlights the impact of the illness on patients, families, and the community. Integrated throughout the course are concepts related to: nutrition, pharmacotherapy, educational principles, spirituality, culture, sexuality, ethical and legal issues. The nursing process and evidence-based practice assist the student when providing care in the clinical area. The student uses critical thinking skills throughout the course in the planning and modifying of patient care. Reflective thinking is also used to analyze and evaluate all clinical interactions. The role of the nurse continues to be emphasized in the care of patients in the acute care settings integrating cost effective measures and generating collaboration with other care team members.
Placement: Required Course, Second Year
Credits: 10
Hours: Theory 80 hours/Clinical 160 hours
Pre-requisites: Nursing 101,102, 103, 104, and 201
Nursing 203 Nursing Care of Mothers and Children
This course uses a holistic framework emphasizing health needs from wellness to acute care issues for the childbearing family and child from newborn to adolescence. Focus is placed on the theoretical principles that include: the physiological, psychological, and psychosocial nature of the normal childbearing and childrearing experience, as well as the health issues that affect women. Major maternal and neonatal risk factors and complications are highlighted. The impact of illness on children, adolescents, and families along with the physiological and psychological alterations are explored from a holistic perspective. Integrated throughout the course are concepts that relate to nutrition, pharmacotherapy, educational principles, spirituality, culture, and sexuality. Students apply the nursing process to the care of women, mothers, children and families, that vary in age, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status and have a variety of family structures. Critical thinking skills are enhanced to help the student explain the growth and development changes that occur from newborn to adolescence. Reflective thinking continues to be used to assist the students to analyze and evaluate all clinical interactions while using evidence-based practice and best practices.
Placement: Required Course, Second Year
Credits: 10
Hours: Theory 80 hours/Clinical 160 hours
Pre-requisites: Nursing 101,102, 103, 104, 201, and 202
Nursing 204 Medical-Surgical Nursing IV:
This course is designed to broaden the student's perspective of the nurse's role in influencing and improving healthcare systems and using best practices in the care of the acutely ill patient. The holistic framework continues to assist students to care for patients with complex multi-system pathophysiology, while using evidence-based practice. Emerging healthcare concerns, paradigm shifts, governmental regulations, and financing are discussed to provide a more global view of nursing. Students apply basic management and leadership concepts to previously acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote quality care for a group of patients. Concepts related to nutrition, pharmacotherapy, educational principles, spirituality, culture, sexuality ,ethical and legal issues are integrated throughout the course. Students enhance critical thinking skills through the use of the reflective thinking tool that helps appraise every clinical interaction. All learning experiences are designed to ease the transition of student to that of graduate nurse.
Placement: Required Course, Second Year
Credits: 10
Hours: Theory 80 hours/Clinical 160 hours
Perquisites: Nursing 101,102, 103, 104, 201, 202, and 203
