Nursing Courses (NUR)

NUR 1010, Perspectives in Health Care (2). This course is designed to introduce the components and complexities of the health care delivery system, the variety of populations served and settings in which health care providers practice.  The roles and responsibilities of nursing and the various members of health care team will also be explored.

NUR 1100, Wellness Nutrition (1). An introductory course, taught online, in wellness nutrition. Course topics will include basic foundations of nutrition for a healthy lifestyle, cancer and heart disease prevention, foodborne illness, food additives and pesticides, weight management and eating disorders. Students will learn to discern between health claims, food fads, and sound nutrition advice based on a scientific approach. The course will utilize a variety of teaching/learning strategies, including reading and online discussion, computerized diet analysis, case studies, interactive exercises, and examinations.

NUR 1110, Wellness and Mental Health (1). An introductory course in mental health wellness issues utilizing a seminar/internet format. This course encourages students to discuss and explore relevant information and enables them to make informed decisions regarding mental health issues and wellness across the lifespan. Course topics explored will include stress management, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse and addiction, childhood disorders, and memory disorders. This course utilizes alternative learning assignments to explore mental health issues. This course is web-based.

NUR 1310, Healthy Beginnings: Wellness Across Pregnancy and Birth (1). An introductory course that helps students develop an understanding of the importance of behavior and lifestyle changes that prepare the woman and her family for a positive pregnancy experience. Students will complete a pregnancy risk assessment on a woman in her childbearing years and develop a preparation-for-pregnancy plan, which will identify preexisting risk factors and suggest behavior modifications to promote wellness. Wellness issues related to pregnancy, labor, and birth will be highlighted, using individual and group assignments to explore the differences in how men and women approach the pregnancy experience. This course will be primarily web-based.

NUR 1320, Women's Health: Wellness Across the Lifespan (1). An introductory course in women’s wellness issues, using a seminar/internet teaching model. This course encourages students to identify and discuss relevant information that will enable them to make informed wellness and healthcare decisions throughout the lifespan. It uses alternative learning assignments to explore issues, from the female perspective, that are not traditionally discussed in liberal arts or professional courses. This course will be primarily web-based.

NUR 1330, Health Promotion of the Family (1). An introductory course in the development of the family, based on Duvall, that stresses the wellness behaviors that are recognized as important during the development family stages. In addition, this course will include current issues in relation to the family and society. This course will be primarily web-based.

NUR 1340, Men's Health: Wellness Across the Lifespan (1). An introductory course in men's wellness issues, using a seminar/internet teaching model. This course encourages students to identify and discuss relevant information that will enable them to make informed wellness and healthcare decisions throughout the lifespan. It uses alternative learning assignments to explore issues, from the male perspective, that are not traditionally discussed in liberal arts or professional courses. This course will be primarily web-based.

NUR 1600, Wellness, Assessment & Health Promotion (3). Co-requisite: BIO 2230. This course will explore the concepts of wellness and health promotion as they apply to the individual across the lifespan. National wellness recommendations with an emphasis on primary and secondary prevention, as well as the barriers to behavioral change, will be discussed. Information from Anatomy and Physiology will be applied to develop the necessary skills to comprehensively assess the health status of well individuals, including therapeutic communication, history taking, physical examination techniques, as well as perform various developmental and other health related screenings.

NUR 1990, Special Studies (1-3).

NUR 2040, Health Assessment (3). Prerequisite: BIO 2230. Provides an introduction to the basic skills utilized in data collection and physical assessment. The focus is on interviewing skills and systematic physical examination in assessing the physiological and psychosociocultural health status of clients of various age groups. Campus laboratory provides the opportunity for application of theoretical knowledge and performance of health assessments, with healthy individuals. Two hours lecture and two hours campus laboratory a week. Students will also enroll in NUR 2041, Health Assessment Lab.

NUR 2100, Nutrition for Health Care (3). Prerequisite: BIO 2230. This course addresses nutrition as a major component of health maintenance and promotion throughout the lifespan. Content serves as a foundation for clinical application in other nursing courses.

NUR 2230. Lab: Assessment & Foundational Skills (2).  This course introduces the application of evidence-based health assessment strategies. Emphasis will be placed on the exploration, acquisition and practical application of foundational nursing skills including therapeutic communication, history taking, physical examination techniques, as well as developmental and other health related screenings.

NUR 2240, Pathophysiology (3). Prerequisites: BIO 2230 and BIO 2240. Co requisite: NUR 2410. A study of concepts and diseases common to the general practice of nursing.

NUR 2250. Lifespan Nutrition (2). This course teaches the foundations of nutritional principles, and the relationship between balanced nutritional status and overall health and wellbeing. Personal and social factors which impact nutrition, as well as strategies for nutritional assessment, and health promotion will be included.  

NUR 2260. Introduction to Pharmacology (1). This course introduces pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacodynamics of drugs and provides a foundation for future study of drug classes. Emphasis will be placed on safety and patient-centered care related to medication administration, error prevention and performing dosage calculations. Legislative control and standards of practice will also be addressed.

NUR 2270. Foundations of Care Management (3). This course covers the basic concepts related to professional identity formation and implications of physiological changes for patients across the lifespan. Emphasis will include implementation of evidence-based care that reflects quality and safety standards for individuals from diverse socioeconomic, cultural and contextual backgrounds.

NUR 2280. Foundations of Experiential Learning (2). This clinical practicum and lab course will focus on application of the nursing process to promote the wellbeing of individuals across the lifespan. The concepts of professional identity formation and implications of physiological changes for patients across the lifespan will be incorporated. Emphasis will be placed upon implementation of evidence-based care that reflects quality and safety standards for individuals from diverse socioeconomic, cultural and contextual backgrounds.

NUR 2290. Nursing Research (2). This course introduces scientific inquiry related to nursing research. Emphasis will be placed on the concepts and processes utilized in the investigation of nursing science used in quantitative and qualitative research.

NUR 2300, Diversity in Health Care (3). The purpose of this course is to expose nursing students to a broad view of the concept of diversity in caring for others.

NUR 2410, Introduction to Nursing (5). An introduction to nursing concepts and theory, nursing processes and those skills which are basic to the practice of professional nursing. ($350.00 course fee) Students will also enroll in NUR 2411 (lab), NUR 2412 (Clinical).

NUR 2920, Christian Service in Health Care (3). This course is designed to focus on Christian concepts and principles to global health service. The use of prayer, story telling and Scripture in a Christian based service arena will be explored in conjunction with practical knowledge and skill development in these areas: improvising in less than ideal health care environments, specific health conditions related to climate and poverty, working with and within official and unofficial agencies, and interpersonal skills essential for service within areas of conflict. The concepts of guilt, forgiveness, suffering and hope will be addressed in the group experience. An experiential component in a local, national, or international health care setting with a Christian philosophy will be facilitated.

NUR 3000, Professional Nursing (2). Co requisite: NUR 3210 or consent of the instructor. This course will explore moral, ethical and legal issues in nursing practice. Personal and professional awareness is encouraged through values clarification and other methodologies.

NUR 3140, Pharmacology (3). Prerequisite: Junior standing in Nursing or consent of the instructor. Co requisite: NUR 3210. Provides a study of the nurse's role and responsibilities in clinical pharmacology. The course focuses on the major drug classifications, principles of drug actions/interactions, and nursing implications. Current trends in pharmacologic therapy will be discussed.

NUR 3210, Adult Health Nursing I (5). Prerequisites: NUR 2240 and NUR 2410. Co requisite: NUR 3140. Studies in theories, skills and responses of adults in health and illness. ($325.00 course fee) Students will also enroll in NUR 3211 (lab), NUR 3212 (Clinical).

NUR 3410, Mental Health Nursing Concepts (5). Prerequisite or Co requisite: PSY 3210, Abnormal Psychology. A study of theories, concepts and responses related to mental health and illness. ($300.00 course fee) Students will also enroll in NUR 3412 (Clinical).

NUR 3430, Spirituality in Nursing (3). The concept of spirituality/religiosity will be explored in a 3-hour didactic and seminar format. The role of the nurse as a provider of spiritual care and as distinguished from religious care will be addressed. The course incorporates the School of Nursing's belief that all individuals are viewed holistically, an approach that takes into consideration the bio-pscho-social-spiritual needs of the client. Another outcome of the course will be a greater understanding of one's own spiritual nature.

NUR 3450, Culture and Healthcare (3). This course will explore the relevance of racial,ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity in today's US healthcare system.  It will focus on the critical factors in the provision of culturally competent health care services that include understanding of beliefs, values, traditions and practices of a culture; culturally-defined, health-related needs of individuals, families and communities; cuturally-based belief system of the etiology of illness and disease  and those related to health and healing; and attitudes toward seeking help from health care providers.  Students will acquire knowledge of skills necessary to work with diverse populations as they make healthcare decisions.

NUR 3530, Nursing Informatics (3). Students will explore the use of computer technology in accessing, managing, and analyzing various types of information systems. Students will improve computer usage and will access and use various types of databases and software programs.

NUR 3630, Basic Arrhythmia Interpretation (3). Prerequisite: NUR 2410. This elective course provides the student with the skills utilized in interpretation of basic cardiac arrhythmias. This focus is on recognition of the key features of each arrhythmia along with the physiological consequences and signs and symptoms of each. In addition, management of each arrhythmia will be reviewed.

NUR 3712, Nursing Externship (3). Prerequisite : NUR 3210. This course is an elective clinical practicum of planned and supervised clinical experiences. Seminar and independent research study will be utilized to meet course requirements for this work-study experience. Students will spend approximately 350 hours in clinical affiliate on day, evening, night, or weekend shifts and 10 hours in seminar (total 360 hrs) working with an RN preceptor. Enrollment is limited to qualified students chosen by a selection committee and approved by the Dean of Nursing.

NUR 3850, Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (3). This course teaches students how to use research findings to provide evidence-based nursing care in their current and future clinical practices.  A model of evidence-based practice will be used as the framework to teach practical applications of research and its findings to clinical practice.  Steps of the research process as they apply to evidence-based practice will be examined. (This course was formerly called Scientific Inquiry, and it is for nursing majors only).

NUR 3920, International Health Care Delivery Systems (3). A travel abroad course on the health care delivery systems of selected countries. It will examine the health care delivery system, its philosophy, and technology of the country (countries) visited and compare these systems with the health care delivery system of the United States. Learning activities also include lecture, small group discussion, and pertinent readings.

NUR 3950-4950, Studies Abroad (3-6). Study in a foreign country. Individual course titles and locations are assigned for each course taken. See Studies Abroad program for details.

NUR 3970, Health Care of Vulnerable Populations (3). An elective course focusing on the delivery of holistic health care to vulnerable populations. Learning activities include health teaching, sociocultural experiences, spiritual dimensions, and relationship building. Small group discussions, pertinent readings, journal of daily experiences and public presentations of the experience are course expectations.

NUR 4015, Senior Nursing Capstone (3). Prerequisites: NUR 3210, NUR 3410. This course will explore moral, ethical and legal issues in health care delivery. The student's transition into professional nursing practice will be addressed.

NUR 4210, Family Nursing: Childbearing (5). Prerequisite: NUR 3210. A study of theories, concepts and responses related to childbearing individuals and their families. ($300.00 course fee) (Formerly NUR 331/ 3310). Students will also enroll in NUR 4212 (Clinical).

NUR 4310, Family Nursing: Infant to Adolescent (5). Prerequisites: NUR 3210, NUR 3410. Study of theories and concepts combined with the practical application related to the responses of the infant, child, adolescent and the family in health and illness. ($250.00 course fee). Students will also enroll in NUR 4312 (Clinical).

NUR 4410, Adult Health Nursing II (5). Prerequisites: NUR 3210, NUR 3410. The course is a study of theoretical knowledge and skills associated with the care of the acutely ill adult. The focus will be on utilization of the nursing process in providing nursing care to clients with complex physiological and psychosocial needs. ($250.00 course fee). Students will also enroll in NUR 4412 (Clinical).

NUR 4500, Family Nursing: The Aging Adult (2). Prerequisites: NUR 3210, NUR 3140 . This course is a study of the theories of the aging process and the responses of the older adult in health and illness.

NUR 4510, Community Health Nursing (5). Prerequisites: NUR 3210 and NUR 3410. This course is the study of theoretical knowledge and skills used in the nursing process related to individuals, families and the community as a client. Theoretical concepts integral to community health nursing and strategies for nursing intervention for the promotion of community health will be identified. ($250.00 course fee). Students will also enroll in NUR 4512 (Clinical).
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS & EL (V – Service Learning).

NUR 4610, Leadership and Management in Nursing (5). Prerequisite: NUR 4310. This course presents leadership and management principles related to nursing practice in the health care system. ($250.00 course fee). Students will also enroll in NUR 4612 (Clinical).

NUR 4710. Senior Practicum (2). Prerequisite: NUR 4310. This course is a concentrated senior clinical experience in a selected practice area. This course is only offered on a Pass/Fail basis. ($250.00 course fee).
Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (I – Internships, Clinicals, Practica).