Nursing

An introduction of theory and practice necessary to meet the patient's needs within the scope of the beginning nursing assistant. Topics will include basic information about body structure and function and related terminology, growth and development with emphasis on aging and the role and responsibilities of the nursing assistant to help the client with personal hygiene and mobility within a safe environment. The course includes clinical experience in a subacute health care setting. The student will provide care to individuals who need assistance with the activities of daily living.

ELA Placement: No ELA Requirement
Prerequisite: Meet admission criteria of: 1. Candidate must be at least 16 years of age 2. Candidates who do not have a high school diploma or GED must be able to read at grade level 8. Students must establish proof of an 8th-grade or higher reading level. The options for establishing the required reading level are as follows: An official transcript indicating high school graduation or an earned GED; a valid Accuplacer reading score of 230+; ACT English score of 16+; SAT EBRW score of 390+ 3. Students will be asked to take a math assessment at orientation, with results given the first day of class. 4. Candidates meet health and immunization requirements that are detailed at the orientation session. 5. Forms for fingerprint approval will be coordinated with the Health Professions office upon receipt of your orientation/ admission letter. Criminal background checks are required prior to the first day of class for all sections except dual credit.
Semester Hour(s): 4 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 3 lec/2 lab/week

This course will focus on advanced nursing assistant skills. Topics will include the role and responsibilities of the nursing assistant in relation to measuring vital signs, assisting the patient with nutrition, fluid balance and elimination; special procedures, such as the application of heat and cold therapies, admission, discharge and postmortem care. Students will care for patients with common medical surgical conditions, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This course includes clinical experience in a subacute health care setting.

Prerequisite: NRS 101
Semester Hour(s): 4 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 3 lec/2 lab/week

This course is designed to introduce the practical nursing student to the understanding of basic pharmacology. Safe and effective care principles will be applied. The students will be expected to manage medication safely, and apply critical thinking skills to medication administration and monitoring. Concepts related to assessment, ethics, legal aspects, and therapeutic response to medications will be presented. The principles and practices of medication administration will be expanded upon. Skills and attitudes needed to perform competent nursing care will be applied to the care of the adult and older adult patient.

Prerequisite: NRS 117, BIO 108 with a grade of C or better
Semester Hour(s): 2 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 2 lec/week

NRS 116 is an internet-based medical terminology course designed for students pursuing health careers. Students will develop knowledge of the foundation of word parts, combining forms, anatomical terminology, and medical terms organized by body systems. The course includes the study of definition and use of medical terms common to many health related disciplines.

ELA Placement: No ELA Requirement
Prerequisite: None
Semester Hour(s): 3 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

This course is designed to introduce the beginning practical nursing student to the profession of nursing with particular focus in the long-term care setting. Safe and effective care principles will be applied. The students will be expected to manage hygiene related needs, basic safety, and nutritional provision of oral fluids and foods. Concepts related to assessment, culture, values and ethics, legal aspects, and therapeutic interpersonal communication skills will be presented. The principles and practices of medication administration will be introduced. Alterations in bowel and urinary elimination, oxygenation, rest and sleep will be discussed. The concepts of pain, teaching and learning, death and dying, and spirituality will be addressed. The nursing process will be introduced and integrated throughout the course. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to perform competent nursing care will be applied to the care of the geriatric/adult patients. Clinical experience will focus on the basic care of the geriatric/adult resident in the long-term care settings and hospital settings.

Prerequisite: Admission to the LPN program.
Semester Hour(s): 14 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 9 lec/10 lab/week

This course introduces the practical nursing student to the comprehensive care of patients across the lifespan, focusing on maternal, newborn, and pediatric health, as well as the care of adults experiencing specific health alterations. The course integrates the principles of health promotion, patient-centered care, and evidence-based practice.

Prerequisite: NRS 117 and BIO 108 with a grade of C or better
Semester Hour(s): 6 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 4.5 lec/3 lab/week

Topics will include the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nursing care related to gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, diabetes, respiratory, cardiovascular, and endocrine system disorders, as well as the care of the intraoperative, immobile patients, and the patient with wounds. The clinical and laboratory component provides experience in the care of the patient throughout the adult lifespan (ages 18 years through old age) with medical and surgical conditions with integration of the nursing process.

Prerequisite: NRS 117 and BIO 108 with a grade of C or better.
Semester Hour(s): 8 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 4 lec/8 lab/week

This learning experience will equip students to enter the workforce as well-prepared novice nurses. Evidence based knowledge, skills, and attitudes of practical nursing regarding education, teamwork, and employment opportunities; preparation for licensure; career evaluation; legal responsibilities, and the concept and management of patient centered care are incorporated. The clinical component will provide experience in the adult acute, long term, or outpatient nursing care settings.

Prerequisite: NRS 114, NRS 118, and NRS 119 with a grade C or better.
Semester Hour(s): 4 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 2.5 lec/3 lab/week

This course is designed to introduce the beginning student to the profession of nursing in the long term care and acute care settings. Safe and effective care will be emphasized. Students will be expected to manage hygiene related needs, safety, and nutritional provision of oral fluids and foods. Concepts related to assessment, culture, values, ethics, legal aspects, and therapeutic interpersonal communication skills will be presented. The principles and practices of medication administration and safe maintenance of an IV infusion will be introduced. Alterations in bowel and urinary elimination, oxygenation, rest and sleep will be discussed. The concepts necessary to support a patient's psychosocial integrity including pain, teaching and learning, death and dying, and spirituality will be addressed. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to perform basic nursing skills competently will be applied to the care of the aged and adult patients with medical/surgical conditions in the classroom, lab and clinical setting. The nursing process will be introduced and integrated throughout the course.

Prerequisite: Admission to ADN program. BIO 109 with a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment.
Semester Hour(s): 10 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 5.5 lec/9 lab

The fundamental principles previously learned are applied to the management of the perioperative patient, management of patients with problems of the endocrine, nervous, skin, and immune systems. Other concepts include intravenous therapy, fluid & electrolytes, shock, community health nursing, emergency care, bioterrorism, and the concepts of management for safe and effective care. The lab and clinical components provide experience in meeting the needs of the aged patient and adult patient with medical and surgical problems.

Prerequisite: NRS 140 Fundamentals of Nursing Practice or current LPN licensure. NRS 143 with a grade of "C" or better, BIO 110 with a grade of "C" or better or concurrent enrollment or consent of instructor.
Semester Hour(s): 9 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 5 lec/8 lab

This course is designed to provide nursing students an introduction to the concepts of pharmacology, safe pharmacotherapy and drug administration, gas exchange, comfort, infection, circulation and elimination/absorption. The course emphasizes the adult health care recipient (18->85 years)

Prerequisite: Admission to the ADN program or current LPN licensure. BIO 108 or 109 with a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment or consent of instructor.
Semester Hour(s): 1 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 1 lec

This course builds on Pharmacology for Nursing I, to provide nursing students a continued introduction to the concepts of pharmacology, safe pharmacotherapy and drug administration as related to homeostasis, the central and peripheral nervous systems, metabolism, psychobiological disorders, sensory disorders, cellular regulation, immunity, and infection. The course emphasizes the adult health care recipient (18->85 years).

Prerequisite: NRS 140 or current LPN licensure. NRS 143 with grade of C or better or consent of instructor. BIO 110 with a grade of "C" or better or concurrent enrollment.
Semester Hour(s): 1 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 1 lec

The fundamental principles previously learned are applied to the management of the perioperative patient, management of patients with problems of the endocrine, nervous, skin and immune systems. Other concepts include intravenous therapy, fluid & electrolytes, shock, community health nursing, emergency care, bioterrorism, and the concepts of management for safe and effective care. The lab components provide experience in meeting the needs of the aged patient and adult patient with medical and surgical problems.

Prerequisite: Completion of LPN program from an accredited school and current LPN licensure and consent of instructor. Completion of NRS 143, NRS 144, BIO 110 with a grade of "C" or better or concurrent enrollment.
Semester Hour(s): 6 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 5 lec/2 lab

Requires students to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes for or towards the care of adult patients in a simulated laboratory and acute care environments. Complex multisystem disruptions and the subsequent nursing needs for patient care will be experienced. Focus will be on patients with related cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, hematologic, renal, shock and acid/base imbalances. Students will apply the nursing process and utilize information literacy skills to achieve deliberative and competent decision-making that is grounded in evidence based practice to achieve best practice outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on prioritization of care through collaboration with other members of the health care team, patients and their families.

Prerequisite: NRS 142 or NRS 152, and NRS 143, NRS 144, and BIO 110 with a "C" or better.
Semester Hour(s): 9 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 5 lec./8 lab

This course explores the physiological alterations of clients with acute and chronic health care needs. Building on the foundations of previous nursing courses and the nursing process, students will examine the impact of and plan nursing care for pediatric clients experiencing acute and/or chronic alterations. Utilizing the nursing process and nursing management, psychosocial and physiological adaptations will be examined in the context of social justice, cultural competence, and equity of health care.

Prerequisite: NRS 142 or NRS 152, and NRS 143, NRS 144, and BIO 110 with a "C" or better.
Semester Hour(s): 2.5 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 2 lec/1 lab

This course introduces and examines past, present and future trends involving male and female reproductive health (from puberty through menopause). Nursing discussions will emphasize and expand student knowledge regarding pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum and newborn (antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn care) for normal and complicated care situations. Lifestyle choices and the effects on an individual's health will be discussed as well as family dynamics, abuse, and reproductive illnesses (diseases/issues). The clinical component will help reinforce knowledge and skills needed in maternal and infant areas concerning assessments, planning, decision making abilities, and critical thinking.

Prerequisite: NRS 142 or NRS 152, and NRS 143, NRS 144, and BIO 110 with a "C" or better.
Semester Hour(s): 3.5 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 2 lec/3 lab

The course focuses on the concepts related to nurse management of patients with mental illness. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes, such as therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, which are essential to the care of persons with mental health problems. The lab and clinical component provides experience in utilizing the nursing process to meet the needs of patients with varying degrees of illness behavior in the acute, chronic and outpatient settings.

Prerequisite: NRS 142 or NRS 152, and NRS 143, NRS 144, and BIO 110 with a "C" or better.
Semester Hour(s): 4 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 2.5 lec/3 lab

This concept-based learning experience will equip students to enter the workforce as well-prepared novice nurses. The course emphasizes the adult health care recipient (18-85+ years), health and illness, professional nursing concepts, and transition into practice.

ELA Placement: ENG 101 Requirement
Prerequisite: NRS 243 Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing with a grade of "C" or better.
Semester Hour(s): 6 hour(s)
Lecture / Lab Hours: 3 lec/6 lab