Course Descriptions

NUR 510 OLDER WOMEN AND THEIR HEALTH. (3)

This course is designed to increase the awareness and understanding of the relationships among gender, health status and the aging process among older women. Such issues as changing social and cultural mores, public policies and utilization of health care resources are discussed as they impact women. Prereq: Upper division or graduate standing. (Same as HSE 510.)

NUR 511 END OF LIFE CARE IN THE ACUTE CARE SETTING. (3)

This course is designed to provide insight into the special needs of adult and pediatric patients in the acute care setting who are near the end of life. This course will cover pain and symptom management; ethical issues in palliative care nursing; cultural considerations in end-of-life care; communication, loss, grief, and bereavement; achievement of quality care at end-of-life; and preparation for and care at the time of death. Prereq: Admitted to Nursing Program or consent of instructor.

NUR 512 COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO HEALTH CARE. (3)

Using a holistic approach to wellness, this course is an overview of alternative ways of conceptualizing health and illness. Non-traditional methods of managing illness and promoting health and well-being will be discussed. Practitioners of these methods will participate in discussions and involve students in experiencing some of these practices. Alternative methods that reflect use in a number of other cultures will be explored as complementary to the traditional western style of medicine which is used almost exclusively in this country. Prereq: Junior level. Consent of instructor for students outside the health professions.

NUR 514 ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT. (2)

This advanced health assessment course offers essential assessment and skill development opportunities for advanced practice nursing. It includes intensive work on the principles and techniques of performing a comprehensive health assessment in the context of developmental, physiological, psychological, and environmental parameters. Individual, family, and community assessment models are analyzed for use with diverse populations. Clinical emphasis will be placed on comprehensive health assessment of individual clients consistent with advanced nursing practice. Prereq: Enrollment in graduate program in Nursing, or the RN-BSN program and consent of instructor.

NUR 530 EXPLORING MEDICAL MISSIONS: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE. (3)

This seminar is designed to provide information on: (1) historical perspectives of mission work; (2) health, political, economic, and cultural diversities of mission sites in selected countries; and (3) eligibility and funding criteria for selected sites. This course provides an opportunity to learn about short-term humanitarian medical missions (sponsored by independent non-governmental and multidenominational religious organizations). Health care professionals who have participated in medical missions will share their experiences. Prereq: Available to graduate or senior level undergraduate students.

NUR 824 CLINICAL DECISION MAKING IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING I. (6)

The focus of this course is methods for making clinical decisions. Emphasis will be on how to collect and utilize data in formulating judgments about patient states and in choosing nursing actions for patients with health problems with predictable outcomes. Lecture, four hours; laboratory, six hours per week. Prereq: Junior standing in the RN-BSN curriculum in the College of Nursing. Prereq or coreq: NUR 831 and NUR 833.

NUR 826 CLINICAL DECISION MAKING IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING II. (6)

This course emphasizes clinical decision making with clients, families or groups experiencing complex or multiple health problems with unpredictable outcomes. The emphasis is on interpreting and using complex patterns of data in making decisions about patient care. Lecture, four hours; laboratory, six hours per week. Prereq: NUR 824. Prereq or coreq: NUR 835, NUR 837.

NUR 831 BIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS: THREATS TO HUMAN HEALTH. (2)

This course addresses biological concepts basic to nursing practice. Concepts essential for understanding major health problems which occur across the life span and that are encountered in multiple health care settings are discussed. Prereq: Junior year standing in the College of Nursing; coreq: NUR 832, NUR 834 for non-RN students.

NUR 833 EPIDEMIOLOGIC CONCEPTS FOR HEALTH CARE. (2)

This course is an introduction to epidemiologic concepts and interdisciplinary applications to health care of aggregates; structure of the community as it relates to access and utilization of available resources; structure of the health care system; levels of prevention; levels of care and economic factors affecting health. Field assignments will allow students to explore data sources. Prereq: Junior standing in the College of Nursing; STA 200.

NUR 835 FAMILY HEALTH CONCEPTS. (2)

This course provides theoretical perspectives on family functioning throughout the lifespan. The focus will be on the developmental stages of families as influenced by social, cultural, economic, and political forces. Family assessment, promotion of health in families, and resources for referral will be emphasized. Prereq: Junior year standing in the College of Nursing; coreq: NUR 834 and NUR 836.

NUR 837 MENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS. (2)

This course presents concepts which are foundational to psychiatric-mental health nursing and are fundamental to professional nursing practice. Prereq: Junior year standing in the College of Nursing.

NUR 839 NURSING RESEARCH. (3)

This course provides a theoretical and methodological basis for applying nursing research to clinical practice. Skills necessary for participating in the use of nursing research are addressed. Legal and ethical ramifications of research are discussed. Prereq: Junior year standing in the College of Nursing; coreq: STA 200.

NUR 841 ISSUES IN NURSING. (2)

This course involves a critical analysis of the emerging issues and problems affecting nursing and their impact on health care. The responsibilities of the individual practitioner and of the professional are emphasized. Prereq: Senior year standing in the College of Nursing or consent of the instructor.

NUR 843 NURSING ETHICS. (1)

A variety of vignettes/case studies will be used to enable students to use decision-making processes to explore viable options to ethical dilemmas confronted in nursing practice. Delineation of facts and principles involved in each case will be prepared by the student in advance of each class in order for them to select a particular stance which they will then be prepared to defend. Prereq: Senior standing in the College of Nursing.

NUR 846 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT IN NURSING. (5)

This course is designed for the student to demonstrate management and leadership skills as they relate to human and material resource management and clinical decision-making. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, six hours per week. Prereq: Senior standing in the College of Nursing; coreq: NUR 844.

NUR 854 ADVANCED CONCEPTS IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING. (4)

This course provides experiences that will enable students to become acclimated to a self-directed learning environment and to develop skills pertinent to advanced concepts of professional nursing practice with diverse populations. These skills include: effective professional writing, the efficient use of computers to enhance nursing practice, the performance of effective patient teaching, and the judicious use of theory and literature to guide clinical decision-making. Prereq: Admission to College of Nursing RN-BSN or RN-MSN program.

NUR 860 FOUNDATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING. (2)

Enable nursing students to develop skills for student success. Discover nursing as a discipline in historical and emerging contexts of today’s health care delivery system. Prereq: Admission to professional standing in College of Nursing.

NUR 861 FAMILY HEALTH PROMOTION AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. (8)

This course introduces the baccalaureate student to the concepts of health and physical assessment, health promotion, and therapeutic communication skills as they are applied with diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings. In addition, students will develop critical thinking skills useful to the nurse in promoting health in individuals and families across the life span. Lecture, five hours; laboratory nine hours per week. Prereq: Admission to the College of Nursing, COM 199, NUR 852, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Credentialing, First Aid Certification, and Basic Cardiac life Support Certification (BCLS), required immunizations, or consent of instructor.

NUR 862 PHARMACOLOGY. (3)

This is a general introductory course to drugs and drug therapy. Various drugs will be studied and categorized in the context of clinical pathological disorders or problems. The general approach will involve a study of the pathophysiology of specific disorders and the categories of drugs currently employed in the treatment of these problems. The students will learn mechanism of action, therapeutic effect, side effects, drug interactions, and toxicities of these drugs, and will be provided with examples of commonly used drugs (both old and new) in each of these categories. Prereq: NUR 861 or consent of instructor. Co-req: NUR 863, NUR 864.

NUR 863 PROFESSIONAL NURSING CARE ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. (8)

The course will provide didactic and clinical experiences that enable the student to provide beginning professional nursing care with individuals and families requiring interventions across the lifespan. Students will use the key concepts of nursing process, teachinglearning, and physical and psychosocial assessment in the care of people with basic alterations in ability to meet human needs. Content related to providing a safe care environment, such as administering and monitoring medications and aseptic technique will be addressed. Lecture, five hours; laboratory, nine hours per week. Prereq: NUR 861, BCLS Certification, required immunizations, or consent of instructor. Co-req: NUR 862, NUR 864.

NUR 864 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY. (3)

This course addresses pathophysiological concepts basic to nursing practice. Concepts essential for understanding major health problems which occur across the life span and that are encountered in multiple care settings are discussed. Emphasis is on understanding how and why various pathophysiologic signs and symptoms occur. Prereq: ANA 299, PGY 206, NUR 861, or consent of instructor. Co-req: NUR 862, NUR 863.

NUR 866 PATHOPHARMACOLOGY I. (3)

This course is the first of a two semester course sequence that addresses pathophysiological and pharmacologic concepts basic to nursing practice. Prereq: ANA 209, PGY 206, NUR 861.

*NUR 869 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING CARE ACROSS THE LIFESPAN FOR SECOND DEGREE STUDENTS. (8)

This course introduces the baccalaureate student to the concepts of health and physical assessment, growth and development, health promotion and therapeutic communication skills as they are applied with diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings. The course will provide didactic and clinical experiences that enable the students to provide beginning professional nursing care with individuals and families requiring interventions across the lifespan. Students will use the key concepts of nursing process, teaching-learning, and physical and psychosocial assessment in the care of people with basic alterations in ability to meet human needs. Content related to providing a safe care environment, such as administering and monitoring medications and aseptic technique will be addressed. In addition, students will develop critical thinking skills useful to the nurse in promoting health in individuals and families across the lifespan. Prereq: ANA 209, PGY 206, CHE 106, PSY 100 and baccalaureate degree in another field.

NUR 870 PATHOPHARMACOLOGY II. (3)

This course is the second of a two semester course sequence that addresses pathophysiological and pharmacologic concepts basic to nursing practice. Prereq: ANA 209, PGY 206, NUR 863, NUR 866.

NUR 871 FAMILY CENTERED CARE OF ADULTS WITH COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS. (7)

This course will provide classroom and clinical experiences to enable the student to provide continuity of nursing care for adult populations with a variety of common health problems across settings. Lecture, three hours; clinic, 12 hours per week. Prereq: Junior year standing in nursing, NUR 862, NUR 863, NUR 864, BCLS Certification, required immunizations, or consent of instructor. Coreq: BIO 208, HSM 241.

NUR 872 CLINICAL REASONING: QUANTITATIVE, QUALITATIVE AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL APPROACHES. (3)

Students develop the clinical reasoning skills needed to use quantitative, qualitative and epidemiological findings to solve clinical problems. Each of these three approaches is examined for its history, philosophy and relevance to health care. Legal and ethical issues inherent in each of the three approaches are discussed. Students learn to communicate findings from these clinical reasoning approaches to a variety of audiences. Partial fulfillment of the oral communication requirement in the University Studies Program. Prereq: STA 200 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.

NUR 873 NURSING CARE OF CHILDREARING FAMILIES. (4)

This course is designed to provide classroom and clinical experiences to enable the student to provide continuity of nursing care for families when children and adolescents experience a variety of health problems. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, 6 hours per week. Prereq: NUR 871, BCLS Certification, required immunizations; coreq: NUR 875.

NUR 875 NURSING CARE OF CHILDBEARING FAMILIES. (4)

This course is designed to provide classroom and clinical experiences to enable the student to provide continuity of nursing care for families during uncomplicated labor and delivery, postpartum and neonatal periods. Lecture, two credits; clinical, two credits (six hours per week). Prereq: NUR 871, BCLS Certification, required immunizations; coreq: NUR 873.

NUR 880 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT IN NURSING CARE DELIVERY. (3)

This course is designed to advance the student’s ability to use leadership and management theory in nursing practice within current and emerging organizational systems. The professional nurse’s role in management of care will be examined. Responsibilities for resource management and management of legal and ethical dilemmas in various organizational systems also will be addressed. Prereq: HSM 241, NUR 873 or consent of instructor.

NUR 881 PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING. (5)

This course is designed to develop students’ skill in the use of psychiatric/mental health concepts to provide nursing care to clients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. Lecture, three hours; clinic, six hours per week. Prereq: NUR 872, NUR 873, BCLS Certification, required immunizations, or consent of instructor.

NUR 882 SPECIAL TOPICS IN NURSING. (1-3)

Study and analysis of current and topical problems and issues in nursing. Directed by a faculty member with expertise in the topic under study. May be repeated to a maximum of 18 credits. Prereq: Admission to the College of Nursing.

NUR 883 PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING. (5)

This course is designed to develop students’ skills in applying health promotion and disease prevention frameworks and in using epidemiological and public health concepts to deliver nursing care with diverse populations in a variety of settings. Emphasis will be placed on the effect of changing health care delivery systems on nursing practice. Lecture, three hours; clinic, six hours per week. Prereq: NUR 872, NUR 873, HSM 241, BCLS Certification, required immunizations, or consent of instructor.

NUR 884 CAREER MANAGEMENT IN NURSING. (2)

The course provides students with the skills for ongoing professional development and success in nursing. Prereq: NUR 880, NUR 881, NUR 883 or consent of instructor. Co-req: NUR 885.

NUR 885 HIGH ACUITY NURSING. (5)

The course emphasizes critical thinking and data analysis skills in the nursing management of patients with complex health problems with and unpredictable outcomes. Students will collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, implement, and evaluate familycentered nursing care across the lifespan in high-acuity settings. Lecture, four hours; clinic, three hours per week. Prereq: NUR 881, NUR 883, BCLS Certification, required immunizations, or consent of instructor. Co-req: NUR 884.

NUR 886 SYNTHESIS OF CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR NURSING PRACTICE. (6)

This course was designed to provide opportunity to develop independence and competence in applying principles of care management and leadership to nursing practice in a variety of clinical settings. Lecture, one hour; clinic, 15 hours per week. Graded pass/fail. Prereq: All other courses in the curriculum, BCLS Certification, required immunizations, or consent of instructor. Co-req: NUR 884, NUR 885.

NUR 895 ELECTIVE STUDY IN NURSING. (1-4)

An independent study project investigating an area of interest under the guidance of faculty. May encompass library study or patient care utilizing aspects of scientific approach. May be repeated to a maximum of four credits. Prereq: Approval of sponsoring instructor and the assistant dean.

NUR 896 STUDENT NURSE ACADEMIC PRACTICUM. (3)

A 10 week clinical practicum (summer only) that allows student nurses to apply in clinical setting what they have learned to date. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, management of responsibilities, and professionalism in the clinical setting. Prereq: Currently enrolled in an accredited school of nursing, within 2 semesters of graduation with either BSN or ADN. Cumulative GPA of 2.75 and GPA of 2.75 in all NUR courses; current American Heart Association Basic Life Support Certification and meet current immunization requirements of the UK Chandler Hospital as determined by University Health Service.