Course Descriptions

The list below is NOT a complete list of program courses and shows courses taught in the previous, current, and two future terms. View complete degree/certificate requirements and course offerings by clicking the links below.


RNUR 126 - Fundamentals of Professional Nursing - 6.00 credits

Prerequisite: Admission to the Professional Nursing Program. The student will acquire knowledge fundamental to the development of basic skills and attitudes essential for the practice of nursing. The principles of physical, biological, behavioral sciences and nursing theory serve as the foundation. This first clinical laboratory course is designed to introduce the student to the role of the professional nurse in meeting basic needs common to all clients. Students are prepared to establish the nurse-client relationship through communication skills. Planned clinical experience is designed to allow the student to utilize the nursing process to deliver safe, individualized nursing care according to legal/ethical guidelines.

RNUR 131 - Essential Nursing Concepts - 2.00 credits

Prerequisite: Admission to the Professional Nursing Program. This course presents the concepts underlying the nursing curriculum and provides a basis for beginning nursing practice. It introduces the student to nursing as a profession with its component parts: professionalism, health care delivery systems, the health care team and legal/ethical issues. The student is introduced to communication theory, the hierarchy of basic needs, developmental theories, the impact of culture and ethnicity on health practices and the nurse-client relationship. The fundamental principles of health assessment are also a part of this course. Competency in calculation of medication dosages will be addressed.

RNUR 134 - Mental Health Nursing - 4.00 credits

Prerequisite: RNUR 126, RNUR 131 and PSYC 243 with a grade of C or higher; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 138 and RNUR 141. The student will acquire a basic knowledge of the causes, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders across the life span including the impact of environmental forces. Ethical/legal concepts are integrated throughout. Emphasis is placed on application of therapeutic communication techniques, psychiatric assessment skills, and the nursing process. The impact of the therapeutic environment upon the treatment of specific psychiatric populations across the life span will be presented.

RNUR 138 - Nursing Care of Women and Neonates - 4.00 credits

Prerequisite: RNUR 126, RNUR 131 and PSYC 243 with minimum grades of C; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 134. This nursing course focuses on nursing care of women and neonates. The course is designed to provide a holistic view of women and their health-related, self-care practices. While major emphasis is placed upon providing experiences in meeting the basic needs of the family during the childbearing years, women’s changing health care requirements throughout their lifetime are also addressed. Communication with women, mothers, and significant others is emphasized. Developmental tasks of the neonate, adolescent, and adult are identified. The nursing process is utilized in the clinical setting to determine needs and related interventions for childbearing women, neonates, and support systems. Emphasis is placed on incorporating teaching-learning needs as part of the plan of care for the culturally diverse family.

RNUR 141 - Adult Nursing I - 3.00 credits

Prerequisite: RNUR 126, RNUR 131, and PSYC 243 with minimum grades of C; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 134 and RNUR 138. Adult Nursing I is the first of three medical-surgical nursing courses and builds upon the basic nursing content and skills learned in Fundamentals of Professional Nursing and Essential Nursing Concepts. Gerontological concepts are presented along with selected medical-surgical problems associated with this population. The nursing process will serve as a framework to integrate the concepts of legal-ethical issues, culture and ethnicity, developmental stages/tasks and communication. Emphasis is placed on identifying physiological and psychological changes of clients aged 65 and older.

RNUR 230 - Leadership/Management/Trends - 2.00 credits

Prerequisite: RNUR 234 and RNUR 238 with minimum grades of C; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 244. This course will focus on leadership and management principles necessary for the professional nurse to function in an effective manner in the leader/manager role. Concepts and theories of nursing care delivery models, leadership and management, delegation of patient care, communication, time management, conflict resolution, legal responsibilities, ethical issues, decision making, issues, trends in nursing, and graduate role integration and professional development will be explored.

RNUR 234 - Child-Centered Nursing - 4.00 credits

Prerequisite: BIOL 208, RNUR 134, RNUR 138, & RNUR 141; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 238. This course is designed to introduce the student to the role of the professional nurse in promoting health care in children and their families. Nursing care will be provided in primary, secondary and tertiary settings. This course stresses the uniqueness of each child and the family unit. Communication is employed to assist the child and family in health maintenance with the goal of independence and autonomy of function. The nursing process will be used as the interactive tool linking all aspects of care for culturally diverse clients and their families. Developmental stages/tasks will be stressed in assisting the family unit toward health maintenance.

RNUR 238 - Adult Nursing II - 5.00 credits

Prerequisite: BIOL 208, RNUR 134, RNUR 138 and RNUR 141 with minimum grades of C; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 234. Adult Nursing II is the second of three medical-surgical nursing courses and is the first with a clinical component. This course allows students to utilize previous nursing concepts as they apply their skills to clients in a variety of secondary and tertiary settings. Students assume professional nursing roles in meeting basic needs by demonstrating skills in communication, critical thinking, and the nursing process. Students interact with culturally/ethnically diverse clients and integrate legal/ethical issues into the plan of care. Content regarding medical-surgical disease processes continues, giving the student the basis of knowledge to assist the client to reach optimal status on the health-illness continuum.

RNUR 244 - Adult Nursing III - 7.00 credits

Prerequisite: RNUR 234 and RNUR 238 with minimum grades of C; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in RNUR 230. This is the final of three adult nursing courses and is designed to prepare the student to transition to the role of the professional nurse. Students will expand their knowledge of therapeutic communication and skills related to health care technology. Concepts from previous nursing courses are integrated to provide comprehensive nursing care to select adult clients and their families experiencing multisystem failure/trauma. Students use the nursing process to organize and manage care in conjunction with other health team members. Critical thinking, developmental stages, cultural/ethnic diversity, and legal/ethical issues are implemented in the care planning process. Clinical laboratory practice occurs in primary, secondary, and tertiary settings with diverse client populations and includes a concentrated practicum which prepares the student to enter the work force. A community health nursing experience is incorporated in theory and clinical practice.