Nursing Program Course Descriptions

This course is designed to enhance the nursing student’s ability to read, interpret, and solve dosage calculation problems. Critical thinking skills are applied to medication situations to emphasize the importance of accuracy and the avoidance of medication errors.

Prerequisite: Admission to nursing program
Pre/Co-requisites: A & P 1
Co-requisites: Introduction to Nursing Concepts, Health Assessment and Diagnostics I

This course is designed to introduce the nursing student to the knowledge and skills required to perform a health assessment across the lifespan and to document appropriate findings. The nursing student will be introduced to normal lab values and basic diagnostic procedures.

Prerequisite: Admission to Nursing Program
Pre/Co-requisites: A & P 1
Co-requisites: Introduction to Nursing Concepts, Drug Dosage and Calculation I
Course Credit Hours: Two (2) credit hours. One (1) credit hour classroom; one (1) credit hour laboratory (3 contact hours).

This foundational course is designed to introduce concepts to the beginning nursing student that will focus on maintaining health and promoting wellness throughout the lifespan. Concepts and core values basic to the foundation of nursing practice are presented. Classroom and laboratory experiences provide opportunity for understanding of the nursing process, clinical judgment and decision making.

Prerequisite: Admission to Nursing Program
Pre/Co-requisites: A & P I
Co-requisite: Drug Dosage and Calculation I; Health Assessment and Diagnostics I
Course Credit Hours: Eight (8) credit hours. Five (5) credit hours classroom; three (3) credit hours lab/clinical (9 contact hours).

This course expands the nursing student’s ability to read, interpret, and solve increasingly complex dosage calculation problems. Critical thinking skills are applied to age and acuity specific variations in select populations.

Prerequisite: A & P 1, Drug and Dosage Calculation I, Introduction to Nursing Concepts Health and Diagnostics I
Co-requisites: A & P 2, Health Assessment and Diagnostics II

This course is designed to focus on abnormal assessment and diagnostic findings. Modifications of assessment for select populations will be addressed.

Prerequisite: A & P 1, Drug and Dosage Calculation I, Introduction to Nursing Concepts Health and  Diagnostics I
Pre/Co-requisites: A&P 2, Drug and Dose Calculation II
Co-requisites: Nursing Concepts of Health and Illness I

This course builds upon foundational concepts across the lifespan while introducing the concepts of the wellness-illness continuum and the individual and family response. Classroom and laboratory experiences provide opportunity for application of the nursing process and development of clinical judgment and decision making.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Nursing Concepts
Pre/Co-requisites: A & P II
Co-requisite: Drug Dosage and Calculation II; Health Assessment and Diagnostics II
Course Credit Hours: Nine (9) credit hours; five (5) contact hours classroom; four (4) credit hours lab/clinical (12 contact hours).

This course expands the concepts of the wellness-illness continuum, with emphasis on the expanding family and tertiary care within the community. Classroom and laboratory experiences provide opportunity for analysis within the nursing process and application of clinical judgment and decision making.

Prerequisite: Nursing Concepts of Health and Illness I
Pre/Co-requisites: Psychology; English Composition
Course Credit Hours: Nine (9) credit hours. Five (5) credit hours classroom; four(4) credit hours lab/clinical (12 contact hours).

This course focuses on the integration of interrelated concepts across the wellness-illness continuum. Classroom and laboratory experiences provide opportunity for synthesis of the nursing process and integration of clinical judgment and decision making.

Prerequisite: Nursing Concepts of Health and Illness II
Co-requisite: Professional Nursing and Health System Concepts
Pre/Co-requisites: General education elective
Course Credit Hours: Nine (9) credit hours. Four (4) credit hours classroom; five (5) credit hours lab/clinical (15 contact hours).

This capstone course will focus on current issues in health care and the nursing profession and is designed to facilitate the transition from student to professional registered nurse. Topics of discussion will include national health policy and politics, ethical and bioethical issues, career development, application for state licensure and preparation for the NCLEX-RN examination.

Prerequisite: Nursing Concepts of Health and Illness II
Co-requisites: Synthesis of Nursing Concepts
Course Credit Hours: Three (3) credit hours. Two (2) credit hours classroom; one (1) credit hour laboratory (3 contact hours).