Course Descriptions

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 member and provider of basic nursing care.  Skills lab allows the student to practice and refine basic nursing skills.  Supervised clinical experience takes place in the episodic and extended care units.

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 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.  Skills 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 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.  Skills lab completes the fluid and gas transport skills such as IV insertion and monitoring, chest tube care, and tracheostomy care.  Students are introduced to EKG 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 clients 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 selected Graham Hospital departments and an outpatient dialysis clinic.  Prerequisites:   NUR 111, PSY 130, BIO 200, BIO 201, and HS 106 with a grade of "C" or better. 

NUR 230 is the study of the nursing care of childbearing families.  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.  Skills lab enhances the clinical experience by facilitating the development of nursing skills needed to care for mothers and newborn infants.   Alternative clinical experiences include tours of facilities that offer varied services for women and infants. 
Prerequisites:  NUR 210 and PSY 236 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, and schools; special education classrooms; a pediatrician’s office; and a long-term follow-up clinic for children with chronic illness. A pediatric skills lab is available for instruction and practice of pediatric nursing procedures. Prerequisites: NUR 210 and PSY 236 with a grade of “C” or better.

NUR 250 is designed to study the concepts and theories of community health and geriatric nursing.   Students are assisted in the application of concepts from the biological, physical and psychosocial sciences to adult and geriatric populations in 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 the adult and geriatric client in the community.   Communication, teaching and critical thinking skills are explored and practiced.   Various roles of the professional nurse in community health and geriatric nursing are explored.  Current trends, legal and ethical issues are also discussed.   Clinical experiences are provided in a variety of community settings including:  home health, hospice, an outpatient clinic, and public health case management. Various community activities entail program planning, health promotion, health screening, and health evaluation.
Prerequisites: NUR 210 & PSY 236 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 and critical thinking 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 discussed.  The variety of clinical settings demonstrating the application of the individual, family and group treatment includes: CICTA, Bridgeway, a tour of a Department of Corrections forensic area and a student selected community mental health support group.
Prerequisites:  NUR 210 and PSY 236 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 experiences.  Settings for clinical experiences include the intensive care unit and adult medical-surgical unit in different hospitals.   During the last weeks of the semester, an independent study clinical experience is provided in the area of the student's choice as available.  Classroom seminars examine critical illnesses and nursing leadership theory.  The process of critical thinking is enhanced in student-led seminars that address current issues and attitudes in nursing. 
Prerequisites: NUR 230, NUR 240, NUR 250, NUR 260, BIO 206, SOC 100, MAT 132, ENG 101, ENG 102, PHI 120, COM 103, Humanities/Fine Arts with a grade of "C" or better.  Previous or concurrent enrollment in 2 humanities courses.

This course is a study of the structure and function of the human body.  The systems studied include the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, and nervous. Lecture and laboratory.(L1-904L) Prerequisite: High school biology within the past five years, or BIO 101 or 105

A continuation of Biology 200.  Systems studied include the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, and reproductive.  Lecture and laboratory. (Prerequisite:  BIO 200.)

Microbiology is a general survey of microorganisms with a detailed study of the biology of the bacteria, their metabolism, growth, and death.  The course includes the general characteristics and methods of cultivation and identification of bacteria, their role in nature, agriculture, disease and sanitation.  The course consists of lectures, demonstration and laboratories. (L1-903L) Prerequisite: High school biology within the past five years, or BIO 101 or 105, with one year of chemistry recommended.

General Psychology is an introduction to the scientific study and interpretation of human behavior in everyday life with consideration given to such topics as personality, emotions, motivation, learning, intelligence, sensation, and perception and group processes. (S6-900)

This course is a study of the physical and psychological development from prenatal period through old age.  Emphasis is placed on basic processes of learning and motivation and on the interactions of physical, intellectual, emotional, and social factors in the development of adjustment during these periods.  Experiences will include the observing, recording and evaluating of behavior at the various stages of development. (S6-902) Prerequisite:  PSY 130 or P/I.

English 101 is the basic course in expository composition with an emphasis on argumentation or persuasive writing.  The various elements of the writing process are stressed and include development of a specific thesis.  Attention is given to paragraph development, sentence construction, and other stylistic elements.  A research paper is required, and critical-thinking strategies are encouraged.  The course is designed around the primary, rhetorical modes.  (C1-900) Prerequisite:  Testing Criteria.

English 102 seeks to refine the writing competencies stressed in English 101.  The rhetorical modes are the basis for emphasis on stylistic elements, analysis, and research.  Logical thought and critical thinking are included, also. (C1-901) Prerequisite:  ENG 101.

Emphasis is placed on the interrelated components of all verbal communication and upon the general forms of communication:  intrapersonal, interpersonal, and public as well as the related areas of small groups and nonverbal communication.  Students will also learn specific skills of public presentation construction and delivery. (C2-900)

Introduction to Sociology introduces the student to the ways that the structure of society, institutions, and organizations cause individuals to interact in groups and organizations in particular ways. Emphasis will be placed on the organizational structure of institutions and the role that culture plays in affecting individual behavior and ideas. (S7-900)

An introductory course in statistics requiring a minimum of mathematical preparation.  Topics to be covered include sample data handling (computation of means, standard deviations, etc.), probability, theoretical frequency distributions (binomial, poison, normal, student's T, Chi square), random sampling, estimation of distribution parameters, testing hypotheses, correlation, and regression. (M1-902) Prerequisite:  H.S. Algebra I & II, Geometry, testing criteria, or MAT 040 and MAT 060 with grades of "C" or better.

A basic nutrition course which focuses on the physiological utilization of nutrients, the various aspects that affect man's consumption of food, and a cross section of current nutrition topics.

This course is an introduction to logic and reasoning. The course presents the basis and structure of arguments, enabling the student to distinguish between good reasoning and bad, and practically apply rules of logic in composing good arguments and making good decisions. (H4 906)