Nursing
(NURS)
221—Gerontology Nursing: Concepts
and Clinical Application, 3 Cr.
This course provides knowledge of the
older adult and related nursing skills. It introduces age related changes,
their impact on the functional health patterns and issues concerning the older
adult population. Clinical experience takes place in long-term care facilities
and in the community with older adults. Immunization and health record must be
complete and on file in the university health services office. Prerequisites: C.N.A.;
certification in CPR; 230, 290, 342; BIOL 296; PSYC 220
230—Health Assessment Across the
Life Cycle, 3 Cr.
Designed to teach students the skills
required to collect health history data and to perform a systematic physical
examination. Developmental and trans-cultural considerations are addressed.
Emphasis is placed on integrating the components of the nursing health
assessment. Taken concurrently with 290, 342. Prerequisites: BIOL 114; CHEM 106
or 121; PSYC 100 or 171; SOCL 125.
240—Professional Communication in
Nursing, 3 Cr.
This course focuses on basic
communication skills essential for working with clients of various ages and
with health care professionals. Content includes interpersonal communications
and group dynamics. Students will practice communication skills with
individuals and within groups. Prerequisites: 230, 290, 342; BIOL 296; PSYC
220.
290—Professional Nursing Concepts, 3
Cr.
The course is an introduction to the
art and science of nursing. The Viterbo University School of Nursing conceptual
framework is introduced with focus on professionalism, nursing process,
critical thinking and values/ethics. Basic concepts related to the research
process are presented. Prerequisites: BIOL 114; CHEM 106 or 121; PSYC 100 or
171; SOCL 125.
300—Parish Nurse Ministry, 2 or 3
Cr.
Focuses
on the seven roles of the nurse: health educator, integrator of faith and
health, personal health counselor, referral agent, health advocate, volunteer
coordinator, and support program developer. This course is endorsed by the
International Parish Nurse Resource Center and prepares the RN to practice as a
parish nurse.
301—Death and Dying, 3 Cr.
Students examine the behaviors,
attitudes and practices related to dying, death, and bereavement. Focus is
twofold: personal in surveying one’s own attitudes about death and dying and
professional in identifying the needs of others during the grieving process.
Prerequisites: PHIL 100 or 101; PSYC 100 or 171.
302—Health Care Issues of Older
Adults, 2 or 3 Cr.
Focus
is on current issues relevant to promoting and maintaining health in older
adults. Discussion will include the major concepts and theories while exploring
the aging process as it relates to the health care continuum. A third credit
may be earned through an additional project related to the older adult.
Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.
303—Spirituality of Health and
Healing, 2 or 3 Cr.
This course will promote an
understanding of the influence that spirituality, beliefs, and values have on
human health and healing. Utilizing theories from nursing and theology and
revisiting theories from the physical and social sciences, the student will be
guided to explore a personal definition of spirituality and its application in
professional nursing practice. This course will facilitate a personal holistic
approach in the care of self, patients, families, and communities. Students
will have the opportunity to meet and interact with persons from various
spiritual traditions. Prerequisites: 221, 230, 240, 290, 342, 349; three credit
hours RLST.
322—Maternal-Newborn Nursing:
Concepts and Clinical Application, 4 Cr.
A holistic approach to the assessment
and management of the healthy and high risk woman and her family during the
childbearing cycle, as well as the healthy and high risk newborn is presented.
Maternal newborn nursing concepts are applied on the hospital maternity unit
and in the community by caring for normal and high risk childbearing women and
newborns, within a family context. The clinical module includes a family care
study in which the student completes a prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum
experience with a family. Prerequisites: 221, 230, 240, 290, 342, 349.
332—Child Health Nursing: Concepts
and Clinical Application, 4 Cr.
A family centered approach to health
promotion and health alterations in children from birth through adolescence is
used. Well-child and child health nursing concepts are applied in the school
laboratory as well as in a variety of pediatric clinical and community
settings. Emphasis is placed on application of developmental theory when
providing nursing care to this population. Prerequisites: 221, 230, 240, 290,
342, 349.
340—Nursing Transitions, 3 Cr.
BSN completion students are introduced
to the curricular framework used in the School of Nursing. The developmental concepts
based on the historical and educational perspectives of professional nursing
are explored. Students are also introduced to concepts of computer literacy in
nursing. This includes learning how to access and use concepts of computer
literacy n nursing. This includes learning how to access and use information
ethically, legally, and responsibly; determine the extent of information
needed; evaluate information and sources critically; and use information to
accomplish specific purposes. The American Psychological Association (APA)
writing style and various styles of professional presentation are also
introduced.
342—Pathophysiology, 3 Cr.
Concepts of disease/illness in the
person’s biological system are introduced. Focuses on the disease process,
associated physiologic responses and manifestations, and diagnostic testing of
selected health alterations. Must be taken concurrently with BIOL 296. Prerequisites:
BIOL 114; CHEM 106 or 121.
346—Nursing Research, 3 Cr.
The research process will be explored
with equal consideration of qualitative and quantitative methods. The course
includes an in-depth discussion of the application of research to nursing practice;
e.g., evidence-based practice. Critical reading of research literature is also
emphasized.
349—Pharmacology, 3 Cr.
This
course covers the general principles of drug therapy including absorption,
distribution, metabolism and excretion of the agent. Also included are
biochemical and physiological effects and how the agent is used in treatment of
disease. Critical thinking in the application of the nursing process to drug
therapy in individuals across the life span is stressed. Prerequisites: 230,
342; BIOL 114; CHEM 106 or 121.
351—Women’s Health Issues, 2 or 3
Cr.
Designed to examine women’s health
issues from a feminist perspective, this course explores the relationship of
women to the health care system, discusses the historical role of women as
providers and consumers of health care, and uses a holistic model to examine
women’s issues and concerns across the lifespan. The third credit is earned
through an independent action project. (Equivalent to WMST 351.)
365—Nursing Research: Methods and
Application, 2 Cr.
Nursing students will examine a variety
of quantitative, qualitative as well as evidence-based research methodologies
useful in their role as care provider and member of the nursing profession.
Each step of the quantitative research process will be reviewed/critiqued and
then presented by students. Students will read and analyze qualitative data. Additionally,
ethical principles and values important to the conduct of research will be
explored. Prerequisites: 221, 230, 240, 290, 342, 349; MATH 130 or 230.
372—Adult Health Nursing: Concepts,
4 Cr.
This course incorporates the nursing
process theory related to care of adults needing restorative and maintenance
care. The general concepts of pain, cancer, and the perioperative experience
are discussed. In addition, a holistic approach will be emphasized in studying
the following systems: musculoskeletal, respiratory, neurological, sensory,
cardiovascular, endocrine/matabolic, gastroinestinal, reproductive, hematologic,
immunologic, and genitourinary. Taken concurrently with 382. Prerequisites:
221, 230, 240, 290, 342, 349.
382—Adult Health Nursing: Clinical
Application, 4 Cr.
Application of the nursing process to a
diverse adult population needing restoration and maintenance care relating to
the concepts and systems included in NURS 372. Taken concurrently with 372.
Prerequisites: 221, 230, 240, 290, 342, 349.
390—Mind Body Therapies:
Applications to Health and Illness, 2 or 3 Cr.
Current scientific research in the
emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) and the implications of this
research in maintaining health and preventing illness are presented.
Demonstration and supervised practice of a variety of mind-body therapies
provide opportunities for hands-on experience. The third credit is earned
through independent study and practice of one of the therapies presented during
the course. Prerequisite: completion of a course in anatomy and physiology is
strongly recommended.
408—Organizational Management for
Nurses, 3 Cr.
This course focuses on theory, issues,
and applications relevant to nursing leadership and management. Skills
necessary to manage organizational resources and programs are examined such as
information and fiscal management, grant writing, facilitating change,
marketing strategies, conflict resolution, and team building. Professional
skills relevant to nursing management and leadership are emphasized.
Prerequisite: 340.
422—Adult Health Nursing: Advanced
Concepts and Clinical Application, 4 Cr.
This course continues adult health
nursing theory and clinical application in critical care settings related to
the care of adults needing complex restorative and maintenance health
interventions. Prerequisites: 322, 332, 365, 372, 382.
428—Reforming Approaches to Patient
Education: Exploring New Skills and Strategies, 2 or 3 Cr.
In nursing practice patient education
is a core and critical responsibility. Competing demands and diverse patient
populations in nursing practice make it increasingly challenging for nurses to
provide effective patient education. This course focuses on interpretive
teaching methodologies that provide the BSN completion student with approaches
to patient education that are responsive to the complexity of providing patient
education in contemporary health care settings.
432—Psychiatric/Mental Health
Nursing: Concepts and Clinical Application, 4 Cr.
This course focuses on a broad-based
understanding and clinical application of mental health concepts and behavioral
aberrations that occur in mental illness. Nursing students analyze the nursing
process with a critical view towards the individual, family, ethical aspects,
and resources for the mentally ill. Prerequisites: 322, 332, 365, 372, 382.
435—Professional Nursing, 3 Cr.
Current
issues and trends in nursing are explored along with the theoretical
foundations of the profession. A theme of cohesiveness within the nursing
profession is interwoven throughout. The process of professional portfolio
development is also included. Prerequisite: 340.
443—Ethics in Nursing Practice:
Genetics and Genomics, 2 or 3 Cr.
This course examines ethical issues
from a nursing perspective, with emphasis placed on the integration of genetics
and genomics into ethical principles, ethical frameworks, and ethical decision
making. Students will develop an understanding of the ethical issues most
commonly faced by nurses in regards to genetics and genomics in their
healthcare practice. Students will also develop ethical decision making skills
to integrate into their practices for dilemmas involving genetics and genomics.
Prerequisite: 340.
450—Public Health Nursing Theory, 2
Cr.
Public health theory, health promotion,
and the nursing process are utilized as they apply to diverse individuals,
families, groups, and communities across the life span in a variety of
community settings. Health care systems, policies, politics, and economics, and
disaster nursing are explored. Must be taken concurrently with 451. Prerequisites:
340, 435, MATH 130.
451—Public Health Nursing: Clinical
Application, 2 Cr.
Public
health theory and the nursing process is explored in relation to individuals,
families, groups, and communities. Clinical experiences include principles of
epidemiology, environmental health, communicable disease, and self-care. The
role of the public health nurse: care provider, teacher, manager, researcher,
and member of the nursing discipline is examined and incorporated in a variety
of selected community settings. Must be taken concurrently with 450.
452—Public Health Nursing: Concepts
and Clinical Applications, 5 Cr.
Public health theory, health promotion,
and the nursing process are studied and applied to individuals, families,
groups, and communities across the life span in a variety of settings.
Environmental health, epidemiology, health care systems, policy development,
economics, and disaster nursing are studied. The roles of the public health
nurse: care provider, educator, manager, patient advocate, researcher, and member
of the nursing profession are discussed and incorporated into a variety of
clinical experiences and settings. Prerequisites: 322, 332, 365, 372, 382.
460—Professional Nursing Leadership,
2 Cr.
General concepts of nursing leadership roles
and management functions are explored including organizational structure,
employee recruitment, staffing, fiscal management, change theory, motivation,
ethical issues, team building, and problem-solving of selected management
issues. Students are introduced to leadership concepts and management skills
necessary to function effectively within an organization. Prerequisites: 322,
332, 365, 372, 382.
461—Professional Nursing
Perspectives, 2 Cr.
This course explores the major issues
and trends facing the nursing profession and healthcare. Historical,
philosophical, and social development are studied, through which nursing can
increase its value to itself and to society. Students explore the process and
prepare for the transition into the role of professional nurse. Prerequisites:
322, 332, 365, 372, 382, 460.
472—Leadership Concepts, 3 Cr.
The concepts of leadership and
management will be explored from a nursing perspective. Organizational
behaviors and the financial issues of health care will also be discussed. Prerequisite:
340.
474—Transcultural Nursing, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to provide the
professional nurse with beginning knowledge of individuals and families from
different cultures, ethnic groups, and diverse ways of being in the world that
the nurse may encounter in the ever-expanding nursing practice arena. Included
in the course content will be explorations of how one’s culture/ethnicity influence
communication practices, space, time orientation, social interactions, health
beliefs/practices, and use of alternative therapies and folk remedies. After
explorations of similarities and differences in these dimensions, the nurses
will reflect on how these dimensions influence nursing care for individuals
from different cultures/ethnicities and diverse lifestyles.
481—Clinical Synthesis Portfolio, 4
Cr.
All graduates of the Viterbo University
School of Nursing are expected to fulfill the program outcomes known as the graduate
outcomes. Acknowledging the varied backgrounds of the BSN completion students
and recognizing their uniqueness, the ability of the RNs to meet the graduate
outcomes will be validated with the NURS 481 portfolio. Integration of the
concepts, skills, and values acquired through the humanities, liberal arts, and
other nursing courses will be evaluated through the use of the synthesis paper.
Prerequisites: 340, 346, 435.
482—Professional Nursing: Clinical
Synthesis, 4 Cr.
This clinical course provides an
opportunity for the practice of leadership and management skills, utilization
of the conceptual framework, and the development of a personal philosophy of
nursing in the clinical setting as well as through written work including
journals, a professional manuscript, and a quality improvement paper. Taken
concurrently with 461. Prerequisites: 422, 432, 452, 460.