Nursing 110 is designed to give the student a basic foundation of the concepts of man, nursing, wellness/illness, and environment. The student is assisted in applying principles from the biological and psychosocial sciences to promote the adaptation of the individual. Basic human needs, adaptation theory, and the nursing process are introduced as the student assumes the roles of professional team member and provider of basic nursing care. Skills lab allows the student to practice and refine basic nursing skills. Supervised clinical experiences take place in hospital acute and rehabilitative care units. Observational clinical experiences that correlate with theory are offered based on availability.

Nursing 111 is designed to give the student an opportunity to promote the adaptation of the individual experiencing alterations in health status. The student is assisted in applying concepts and roles introduced in the preceding course. The nursing roles of professional team member, provider of care, communicator, and teacher are studied and utilized. Assessment skills are expanded to include the total body in a systematic plan to facilitate priority planning, documentation and evaluating of the nursing process. Clinical lab allows the student to facilitate development of expanding nursing skills. Supervised clinical experience takes place in selected hospital units. To enhance the student’s knowledge base, there are observational experiences in various hospital departments and community clinics. (Prerequisites: NUR 110, Anatomy & Physiology I, and Medical Terminology with a grade of “C” or better.)

Nursing 210 is a course designed to facilitate the student’s utilization of the nursing process for individuals, families, and groups experiencing maladaptations in wellness/illness within the body’s homeostasis and regulatory processes throughout the adult years. Clinical lab completes the fluid and gas transport skills such as IV insertion and monitoring, chest tube care, and tracheostomy care. Students are introduced to ECG monitoring and evaluation during their clinical experience. These skills facilitate evaluation of the internal and external environmental effects on man. Pertinent assessments of and evaluation of the interventions for clients experiencing maladaptations are offered in all levels of care. Students are encouraged to utilize critical thinking while planning and executing care for their clients experiencing illness. Students communicate directly with other hospital departments to coordinate and improve the quality of health care provided. Students are guided in the teacher, care giver and communicator roles to enhance positive change on the wellness/illness continuum for their clients. Legal and ethical issues are explored in terms of client’s right to know, right to refuse treatment/procedures, while maintaining confidentiality to facilitate man’s inherent dignity, self-worth, and self-determination. Clinical experience settings include various Graham Hospital departments and selected community clinics. Prerequisites: NUR 111, Anatomy & Physiology II and General Psychology with a grade of “C” or better.

NUR 230 is the study of the nursing care of the child-bearing family. Students are assisted in the application of concepts from the biological, physical and psychosocial sciences to the nursing care of these families across the wellness-illness continuum. Principles of normal growth and development of the female and the neonate from conception to the newborn period are emphasized as a basis for nursing care of clients with adaptive/maladaptive responses. Students are guided in the adaptation of the nursing process, therapeutic communication, teaching, and critical thinking skills to the care of women, infants and their families. Current trends, legal, ethical and cultural issues of maternal and neonatal health are evaluated. Clinical experiences are obtained on acute care maternity inpatient units. Clinical lab enhances the clinical experience by facilitating the development of nursing skills needed to care for mothers and newborn infants. Alternative clinical facilities include tours of facilities that offer varied services for women and infants are also experienced.

Prerequisites: NUR 210 and Human Growth & Development with a grade of “C” or better.

NUR 240 is a study of the nursing care of children from infancy to late adolescence. Students are assisted in the application of concepts from the biological, physical and psychosocial sciences and nursing to the pediatric population. Principles of normal growth and development are emphasized as a basis for the identification and care of children with maladaptive patterns.  Students are assisted in the adaptation of the nursing process and skills in communication, teaching and critical thinking to the care of children and their families along the wellness-illness continuum.  Evaluation of  the role of the professional nurse in current trends, legal, ethical, and cultural issues of pediatric health care is stressed.  Clinical experiences are varied including: health promotion and screening activities at a well-child clinic, day care center, pediatric physician offices, schools, inpatient pediatric unit, Child Life Specialist, and specialty clinics for children with chronic illness. A pediatric skills simulator lab is available for instruction and practice of pediatric nursing procedures and clinical decision-making. Web-based programs and digital clinical experiences are utilized to learn various pediatric nursing skills, processes, and procedures.

Prerequisites: NUR 210 and Human Growth Development with a grade of “C” or better.

NUR 250 is designed to study the concepts and theories of community health. Students are assisted in the application of concepts from the biological, physical and psychosocial sciences using a population approach to wellness and illness in the community setting. Health needs, problems, and cultural issues impacting on the community, and available community resources are discussed and evaluated. Students are assisted in the adaptation of the nursing process to the care of individuals, families, and groups in the community. Communication, teaching, and critical thinking skills are explored and practiced. Various roles of the professional nurse in community health  are examined. Current trends, legal and ethical issues and how health care is delivered will be explored. Clinical experiences are provided in a variety of community settings including: home health, hospice, school nurse, correctional and public health nursing. Students will engage in health promotion and health evaluation activities through live assessments and observations, case studies, simulation, and digital clinical experiences.

Prerequisites: NUR 210 & Human Growth & Development with a grade of “C” or better.

NUR 260 assists students in the study of the mental health-illness continuum throughout the life cycle. The nursing process, critical thinking and nursing research are utilized in selecting nursing diagnoses which direct specific nursing actions to assist the client in adapting productively to internal and external environmental stressors. Therapeutic interactions and communication skills continue to be explored and refined. Medication, professional standards and legal issues specific to mental health nursing are also evaluated. Clinical experiences demonstrating the application of individual, family, milieu, and group treatment are provided in a variety of community settings.  A simulations and/or digital clinical experiences are utilized to replicate common patient diagnoses that students encounter during their psychiatric mental health clinical rotation.

Prerequisites: NUR 210 and Human Growth & Development with a grade of “C” or better.

NUR 310 is designed to facilitate the utilization of advanced concepts of the nursing process for individuals, families, and groups experiencing illness. One focus of the course is evaluation of internal and external environmental stressors that affect the state of wellness. A second focus of the course is exploration of leadership/managerial roles of nursing. Students evaluate interdisciplinary interventions that are implemented to assist the client toward homeostasis. Leadership and management roles are applied to clinical experiences throughout the semester. Advanced nursing skills such as hemodynamic monitoring, care of the ventilated client, patient advocacy, and delegation are explored during the varied clinical, classroom, and simulation experiences. Settings for clinical experiences include various Graham Health Systems departments and alternate clinical settings in different healthcare environments.  

Prerequisites: NUR 230, 240, 250, 260, Composition I, Composition II, Principles of Microbiology, Introduction to Sociology, Speech Communications, and a General Elective with a grade of “C” or better. Previous or concurrent enrollment in Statistics.

The semester hour is the unit of academic credit. Semester credit hour calculation is based on the number of theory and clinical hours (clock hours) in our 16-week semester. A clock hour is equal to 60 minutes. Theory and clinical hours listed in the course descriptions refer to clock hours per week.