department courses
NU: Courses in Nursing
NU 101 Introduction to Professional Nursing (2 Cr.)
The purpose of this course is to begin a discovery into the science and
art of nursing. Exploration will be focused on the history and future
of nursing, nursing as a profession, nursing roles, nursing as an integral
part of the healthcare delivery system and health promotion concepts.
No prerequisites. Fall and spring semester.
NU 201 Fundamentals and Health Promotion (4 Cr.)
The purpose of this course is to apply the nursing process while learning
fundamental nursing skills. Emphasis is given to health promotion
and the aging adult. The course has one component, approximately
2 semester hours, focusing on the nursing process and basic nursing
procedures beyond those of a Certified Nursing Assistant, to be taken
by all students wishing to pursue nursing as a major. The second
component of the course is specifically designed for those with no
experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Nursing procedures are
practiced in the laboratory and in the community with basically well
adults who are in need of personal care and health promotion nursing
assistance. Prerequisites: CH 111, PSY 105, NU 101, EN 102, CO
101, BI 201, BI 202. Or concurrent CH 112. Fall semester.
NU 202 Assessment and Health Promotion (4 Cr.)
The purpose of this course is the acquisition of beginning level health
assessment for the professional nurse. Content for the course focuses
on health assessment and health promotion for the well and ill adult.
This course includes three hours of theory, one 3-hour lab per week,
and one hour individual lab practice. Prerequisites: CH 111, PSY
105, NU 101, EN 102, CO101, BI 201, BI 202. Or concurrent: CH
112. Fall semester.
NU 208 Basic Nutrition (3 Cr.)
This course covers the major classes of nutrients and their main
functions, how nutrients are digested and absorbed throughout the
lifecycle, and the relationship between certain nutrients and diseases.
This course will assist students in offering basic nutritional guidance
to clients through the lifespan. Prerequisites: CH 111, CH 112.
Spring semester.
NU 301 Care of the Childbearing Family (4 cr.)
This course introduces the student to family health nursing theory and
nursing practice with emphasis on the childbearing family and wellchild.
Nursing care of the childbearing family from conception, to
pregnancy, through childbirth and the postpartum period, including
care of the newborn and pediatric client is presented within the context
of a family-centered, developmental approach. The concepts of family
structure, functions, values, culture, and spirituality are explored and
applied to health promotion interventions for the childbearing family.
Prerequisites: NU 201, NU 202. Or concurrent: BI 214. Fall
and spring semester.
NU 302 Psychosocial Health (4 cr.)
The exploration of selected psychosocial concepts and theories basic to
nursing practice. The use of self as a therapeutic agent is emphasized
in the promotion of psychosocial health. Students develop strategies of
intervention based on the nursing process, nursing theories and research.
Clinical experience is provided within an inpatient psychiatric treatment
facility. Prerequisites: NU 201, NU 202. Or concurrent: BI 214. Fall
and spring semester.
NU 304 Illness Across the Lifespan I (4 Cr.)
Utilizes applications of the nursing process and management of pathophysiological problems in providing nursing care to the ill child, adult,
and geriatric clients and their families in the acute care and community
settings. Assessment of the physiological, psychological, sociocultural,
and spiritual factors influencing existing or potential health problems
provides direction for nursing management. This course includes a
weekly three-hour laboratory experience in nursing skill development
that focuses on the mastery of core scientific principles that underlie all
skills, thus preparing the student nurse to incorporate current and future
technological skills into other nursing responsibilities, and apply skills in
diverse context of health care delivery. Prerequisite: NU 301, NU 302,
NU 308. Spring semester.
NU 305 Clinical Nursing Care I (4 Cr.)
Utilizes a head to toe assessment and management of symptoms of
pathophysiological problems affecting the child, adult and geriatric client
in an acute care setting. The emphasis is to maximize the quality of
life and maintain an optimal level of functioning throughout the course
of the illness. Clinical experiences will be related to classroom content.
Prerequisites: NU 301, NU 302, NU 308. Spring semester.
NU 307 Nursing Research (3 Cr.)
NU 307 is an introduction and exploration into the basic understanding
of the processes of theory, research, database evaluation and
evidence-based practice. Prerequisites: NU 301, NU 302, MA 207.
Spring semester.
NU 308 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology (3 Cr.)
The study of underlying changes in body physiology that result from
disease or injury and result in alteration in body structure and function
in adults and children. The mechanisms and clinical manifestations associated
with various dieseases are explained according to body systems.
The interrelationships of factors that contribute to increased morbidity
and disease are discussed. Objective and subjective perspectives are
studied that take into account the complex interactions among body,
mind, and spirit. Basic pharmacological principles are studied to create
an understanding of how drugs affect human beings across the lifespan.
Application of the nursing process to drug therapy is identified.
Specific categories of drugs and their therapeutic effects and potential
toxicities are examined in conjunction with disease processes. Prerequisites:
BI 214. Or concurrent: NU 301, NU 302. Fall semester.
NU 404 Illness Across the Lifespan II (4 Cr.)
Utilizes the nursing process and management of pathophysiological
problems for providing care to ill persons across the lifespan with acute
and chronic conditions. Assessment of physiological, psychological,
sociocultural, and spiritual factors that influence existing or potential
health problems is considered. Prerequisites: Completion of 300-level
nursing courses. Fall semester.
NU 406 Nursing Management (4 Cr.)
This course explores the relationship between management and leadership.
The student will consider and practice the skills needed by a nurse
manager to effectively plan, organize, staff, direct and control nursing
and health care as it is provided by groups of workers. In this course,
the student is beginning the process of being socialized into the novice
registered nurse role. This role development is accomplished by having
the student consider the staff and management roles as interdependent.
Prerequisites: Completion of 300-level nursing courses. Fall and spring
semester. Fulfills writing intensive requirement.
NU 413 Clinical Nursing Care II (3 Cr.)
NU 413 is the clinical experience for Illness Across the Life Span II.
Utilizing the nursing process, the student cares for the child, adult and
geriatric client in acute care settings. The student will also observe and
participate in the care of home health clients under direct supervision
and participate in interdisciplinary team meetings. The emphasis is
to maximize quality of life and maintain optimal level of functioning.
The concepts of critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making,
and priority setting are emphasized utilizing the nursing process as the
foundation. Collaboration, communication, delegation, and patient
teaching are incorporated into the total care of the client/family.
Prerequisite: Completion of 300-level nursing courses. Fall semester.
NU 414 Community Health Nursing (4 Cr.)
The student will apply all previously gained knowledge from course
work toward the baccalaureate in nursing to working with individuals,
families, and communities and other aggregates. The concept of community
health nursing being a blend of nursing and public health science
is central to the course. The epidemiological process is introduced as the
unifying concept for the wide range of programs and services found in
community health. The nursing process is applied in providing services
to the community as client. Beginning skills in assessing health needs
of communities in order to identify high-risk groups are practiced.
Coordination with other disciplines to provide disease prevention,
health promotion, and protection interventions is stressed. The impact
of the external environment on the health of individuals, families, and
aggregates is emphasized. The student examines the role of the nurse as
an advocate for health care policy to ensure the health of populations.
Prerequisites: completion of 300-level nursing courses, NU 404, NU 413.
Spring semester. Fulfills National Diversity requirement.
NU 417 Capstone Clinical (4 Cr.)
The Capstone Clinical is designed to assist students in the integration
of the competencies essential for the practice of professional nursing.
During the semester, the student will progress from a structured
supervised framework of practice to a framework where the student
becomes able to have general supervision from the faculty and agency
preceptors. The clinical site will be dependent upon the student’s needs
based upon the joint analysis of the student and faculty prior to the
placement. A 1-credit NCLEX Lab will be taught during the spring
semester of the senior year as part of the Capstone Clinical course
(students taking NU 417 in the fall for 3 credits will take the 1-credit
NU 417 Lab in the spring). This lab is intended to assist the student’s
own preparation for their NCLEX examination. Students will be
expected to retain accountability and responsibility for their personal
NCLEX preparation plan and for the completion of their preparation
plan. The lab will utilize on-line computerized resources, information
from multiple published written NCLEX review resources, as well as
NCLEX review DVD resources. Prerequisites: completion of 300-level
nursing courses, or concurrent NU 414, NU 413. Fall and spring
semester. (NU 417 Lab offered only in spring).
NU 420 Professional Role: Leader (3 Cr.)
The purpose of this course is for the student to develop a personal
pledge to becoming a nursing leader. The overall concept for the course
is that all professional nurses are leaders – (not just those in who are
in positions of authority) and that professional nurses need to develop
their leadership role and abilities in order to create nursing’s preferred
future of quality health care for all. Through classroom presentations
and discussions, selected readings, examinations and the development
of a personal leadership portfolio, the student will engage in a semester
long journey into the exploration and commitment to leadership.
Prerequisites: completion of 300-level nursing courses. NU 404, NU
413. Spring semester.
NU 430 Cardiac Nursing (1 Cr.)
This course will prepare students with knowledge and skill of Advanced
Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Skill development will focus
on the mastery of core scientific principles of Advanced Cardiac Life
Support sponsored by the American Heart Association. Prerequisites:
Completion of 300-level nursing courses. Offered at the discretion of
the department.
