This course examines the basic concepts of professional nursing, its historical and social context, its code of ethics, and its social contract with society. The intersection of culture and professional nursing's values will be examined, with a focus on self-development of cultural awareness and competence in nurses. U.S. and global health care, including the influence of culture, will be explored.
This course explores the development of professional nursing. Students are introduced to selected concepts, themes and theories which will be used as a foundation throughout the curriculum. Major contemporary nursing issues are explored within historic, economic, philosophical and political contexts. The concepts of health and illness as influenced by psychological, social, cultural, ethical and legal issues are examined. Nursing theories, the ANA Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics for Nurses, and the Illinois Nurse Practice Act are explored. The development of nursing knowledge, diagnoses, interventions and outcomes are emphasized. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
This course focuses on the important role of professional nursing on improving patient outcomes with a focus on safety and quality care and quality improvement. The course covers the role of nursing informatics in case management, quality improvement, transitional care, sentinel events, and other areas of nursing practice that affect patient outcomes.
In this course, the RN student will be introduced to selected concepts, themes, and theories that present an understanding of the historical, legal, and contemporary context of nursing practice and serve as a foundation throughout the curriculum. The concepts of health and illness as influenced by psychological, social, cultural, ethical, and legal issues are examined. Nursing theories, the ANA Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics for Nurses, and the Illinois/Wisconsin Nurse Practice Act are explored. This course fulfills the university requirement for a 3000 level writing intensive course within the nursing major.
This course applies major concepts from the liberal arts and sciences to the understanding of the nursing profession. The framework for nursing knowledge base is developed and fundamental nursing interventions (physiologic, communicative, behavioral, and environmental) are taught using the evidence upon which the profession and the care of patients and populations is based. The course introduces the nursing student to the professional nursing role and its influence on health and illness, health promotion and disease prevention at the individual and population level across the lifespan. The professional role is explored within the context of the social, cultural, ethical and legal issues inherent in the nurse's role as provider of care, educator and advocate and as a member of the profession. The student is introduced to the health care system and the nurse's role as a member of a multidisciplinary care team. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
Additional fee required
This course applies major concepts from the liberal arts and sciences to the understanding of the nursing profession. The framework for nursing knowledge base is developed and fundamental nursing interventions (physiologic, communicative, behavioral, and environmental) are taught using the evidence upon which the profession and the care of patients and populations is based. The course introduces the nursing student to the professional nursing role and its influence on health and illness, health promotion and disease prevention at the individual and population level across the lifespan. The professional role is explored within the context of the social, cultural, ethical and legal issues inherent in the nurse's role as provider of care, educator and advocate and as a member of the profession. The student is introduced to the health care system and the nurse's role as a member of a multidisciplinary care team. Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to begin to systematically analyze information and implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to begin to systematically analyze information and implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to begin to systematically analyze information and implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to begin to systematically analyze information and implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to begin to systematically analyze information and implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
This course builds on the conceptual framework developed in Principles of Nursing I. The professional nursing role is explored further to gain a deeper understanding of the nurse's role as provider of care, educator, advocate and member of the profession. The student continues to function within the health care system as a member of an inter-professional care team.
Additional fee required
Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to expand the ability to systematically analyze information, implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs. The course uses a blend of experiential and simulated learning activities.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: An integration of laboratory and clinical experiences will focus on the development of the nursing student to expand the ability to systematically analyze information, implement fundamental nursing interventions based on evidence-based practice and recognize patterns of patient needs. The course uses a blend of experiential and simulated learning activities.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
This course utilizes the basic knowledge from the physical and life science foundation to study the effects and interactions of pharmacologic agents on the client population. The focus of the course is to gain an understanding of the underlying physiology of the human body and the pharmacologic effects an agent will have on the human body. The pharmacological concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are applied to each pharmacologic agent therapeutic category. The course also explores the ethical, legal, cultural and age implications of pharmacologic therapy across diverse populations and the lifespan.
This course draws on the foundational knowledge of human biology, anatomy, and physiology to develop a systems-based understanding of specific disease processes, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and associated pharmacological therapies. After examining the pathophysiology and mechanisms of various diseases, students will continue to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of agents used in managing these ailments. In addition to understanding the physiological effects of medications, students will gain an appreciation for the ethical, legal, and lifespan implication involved in their use. Admission into the RN to BSN Program required.
This course provides the framework for the systematic collection, organization, interpretation, integration and communication of data reflecting the health status of individuals across the lifespan with emphasis on aging. This includes assessment of mental status, basic psychosocial status, functional health patterns, and physical assessment skills. The National Health Objectives provide the organizing framework for promotion of health and reduction of risks that impact individuals, families, and communities in aggregate. Health promotion strategies and practices are explored. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
Additional fee required
Clinical Laboratory: The clinical laboratory provides integration for advancing critical thinking skills. Open only to students admitted to the School of Nursing.
This course addresses the concepts, knowledge, and skills necessary to complete and interpret a holistic health assessment and physical examination for patients across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the major elements, sequence, and methodology for health assessments and health promotion and disease prevention strategies. Students obtain health histories, perform physicals and psychosocial assessment, and formulate initial nursing plans using the nursing process. This course will prepare the student to identify issues related to marginalized communities with attention to the intersections of race, ethnicity, sexuality, socio-economic position, gender age, trauma, and ability.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: Clinical opportunities include experiential learning activities involving psychiatric patents across the lifespan in acute care and community-based settings. Exposure to self-help groups and other community resources are included. Simulated experiences may be utilized.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Reflecting the ANA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, this course prepares the nurse generalist to utilize effective communication to develop therapeutic interpersonal relationships fundamental to all nursing practice. The dynamic interaction of physical and mental illnesses requires holistic nursing approaches developed from broad based ways of knowing. Purposeful use of self is the art of psychiatric-mental health nursing while nursing, psychosocial, neurobiological theories, and research evidence provide its scientific base. A comprehensive exploration of major psychiatric disorders and current treatments prepares the nurse to function as an effective member of the inter-professional care team.
Additional fee required
Clinical: Clinical opportunities include experiential learning activities involving psychiatric patents across the lifespan in acute care and community-based settings. Exposure to self-help groups and other community resources are included. Simulated experiences may be utilized.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Research provides the foundation for evidence-based professional nursing practice. The role of the baccalaureate nurse as consumer of research is the focus of this course. Students will develop skills to accurately interpret evidence to improve patient outcomes utilizing clinical judgement, interprofessional perspectives, and patient preferences.
This course focuses on the interpretation and use of research evidence to inform nursing practice. The course also applies previously learned nursing content to the research process. Content of interest to nursing research is covered and includes information management systems, evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, collaboration, and communication. Clinical judgment is used to develop a research proposal applicable to contemporary nursing practice.
This course incorporates concepts from nursing and applies them to public health functions and community-based client care. The focus shifts from individual health to population-focused nursing. The dynamic influence of social justice, political agendas, health disparities and culture on the collective values of health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and quality and accessibility of health services are emphasized. Current trends in the global health community are explored.
Additional fee required
Clinical: The clinical component for this course will apply nursing concepts and public health and community- based practices to selected populations to facilitate the promotion, maintenance and restoration of optimal health across the lifespan.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
This medical surgical nursing course builds on the conceptual foundations learned in the principles of nursing practice, health assessment, pharmacology and behavioral health nursing courses. Pathophysiologic processes of all body systems are discussed focusing on evidence-based nursing interventions in the acute care setting. Application of the nursing process in interdisciplinary practice to prevent, promote, maintain and restore health throughout the lifespan is emphasized.
Additional fee required
Clinical: The clinical practicum focuses on intermediate nursing care and critical thinking within a collaborative practice setting. Emphasis is placed on the integration of evidence-based nursing interventions with the goal of meeting the diverse health needs of vulnerable adult patients from young adulthood to older adults. The course uses a blend of experiential and simulated learning activities.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
This course focuses on the care and support of women, children and families. The course assists students in using critical thinking to identify the options for holistic, evidence-based practice within the realm of maternal and child nursing. In addition, students will explore strategies and resources for the provision of appropriate care in various clinical settings within social, ethical and multicultural frameworks.
Additional fee required
Clinical: The nursing care of women, children and families in various clinical settings is the focus of this clinical. Simulation learning experiences may be utilized to augment clinical experiences.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
Clinical: The nursing care of women, children and families in various clinical settings is the focus of this clinical. Simulation learning experiences may be utilized to augment clinical experiences.
This course for the pre-licensure student facilitates the transition from student to professional nurse. The roles, traits, and contributions of the nurse in leadership and managerial positions are explored. Conceptual aspects of power, problem solving/ decision making, effective communications, conflict resolution, delegation, team building, quality improvement and patient safety are applied to a variety of situational contexts. The course is designed to facilitate student self-assessment of leadership and management abilities as they develop the necessary skills to enter and thrive within the professional nursing workplace. The final paper requires the student demonstrate the ability to integrate and synthesize learning from general education in the arts and sciences with nursing knowledge.
This course is designed to facilitate the review of concepts required for licensure examination and entry into the practice of professional nursing. This course will utilize a comprehensive approach to review the four major client needs categories outlined within the NCLEX-RN Test Plan to address the physiological, psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural considerations of nursing care for diverse patients across the lifespan with common and complex alterations in the health continuum. The course will include both at home and in class assignments, exercises, quizzes, as well as standardized testing designed to enhance student success on the NCLEX-RN examination.
Additional fee required
In this course, the RN student will explore the development of the nurse leader role which includes an awareness of complex systems, organizational strategies, societal trends, and leadership theories with implications for decision-making in healthcare. Care coordination and management, delegation, conflict resolution strategies, communication and collaboration with the interprofessional team, and continuous quality improvement will be examined. This course includes a leadership project where the student, in collaboration with nursing faculty and practicum liaison, will identify, plan and develop an evidence-based quality improvement project consistent with the professional leadership role.
This course explores current healthcare policy as it affects vulnerable populations. Students will examine the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion as components of patient-centered care. A primary concept studied is social determinants of health. Students learn the intersection of bias, structural racism, and social determinants of health with healthcare inequities and learn interventions to ensure equal access to care.
The medical surgical course builds on the conceptual foundations developed in Medical-Surgical Nursing I and in Nursing Research. Pathophysiological processes are discussed, focusing on evidence-based nursing interventions in the acute care setting with an emphasis on the high-acuity patient, examining a diverse population across the adult lifespan. The professional nursing role is explored further to gain a deeper understanding of the nurse's role as provider of care, educator, advocate, researcher and manager of care. The student continues to function as a member of the inter-professional care team and is expected to continue to gain skills and confidence when collaborating with others.
Additional fee required
Clinical: The clinical experience emphasizes complex decision making through collaborative practice in high acuity and critical care settings. The student must demonstrate increasing autonomy and assume an assignment that more closely approximates a realistic workload for the novice nurse by developing skills in delegation, prioritization and management of care as an integral part of the inter-professional team.
Grading Type: Credit/No Credit
This course transitions the RN to population-focused nursing practice. Concepts from nursing and the liberal studies are applied to public health functions and community-based patient care. The dynamic influence of social justice, political agendas, health disparities and culture on the collective values of health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and quality and accessibility of health services are emphasized. Current trends in the global health community are explored. Projects assigned during the course apply nursing concepts and public health and community based practices to selected populations to facilitate the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of optimal health across the lifespan.