In this course students will learn the difference between private, public and nonprofit hospital systems; how to define types of patient care including primary care, specialty care and emergency care; how to identify the roles and responsibilities of various members of the healthcare team; the Patient Bill of Rights and why it is important to follow HIPAA guidelines and protect patient information; and to list things that can be done to protect patient health information. 

This course introduces the student to the art and science of nursing care, including its history and current trends. Subsequent courses are built upon the concepts and skills learned in this course. The course emphasizes individuals as holistic beings with basic human needs, emphasizing the determination of functional health patterns of the patient across the lifespan. Basic nursing concepts discussed in this course include health promotion, the nursing process, legal/ethical aspects of nursing, health across the lifespan, critical thinking, nursing care plans, individual education, family involvement, cultural diversity, growth and development, interpersonal/ communication skills, professional adjustments and other related areas. The major periods of life-span development (infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood) are introduced into this course. The course also addresses application of wellness and disease concepts, the death and dying process, safety/ security procedures, and diagnostic procedures utilized in the health care setting.

This practicum will develop the skills necessary for the student to deliver total care to the adult. The practicum emphasizes safety, legal, ethical, and pharmacological issues and incorporates care of the adult dealing in a variety of in-patient, outpatient and community settings. The practicum also includes a review of basic math skills (including systems of measurement and conversion between systems) and calculation of drug dosages.

This course introduces the study of the properties, effects, and therapeutic value of the primary agents in the major drug categories. Topics include nutritional products, blood modifiers, hormones, diuretics, cardiovascular agents, respiratory drugs, and gastrointestinal agents. Upon completion, students should be able to place major drugs into correct therapeutic categories and identify indications, side effects, and trade and generic names.

This course introduces the student to the concepts of medical-surgical nursing in the sub-acute environment. The course involves the study of simple to moderately complex deviations from normal health in adult patients. The course includes instruction in HIV/AIDS. The course places emphasis on application of adult developmental theory, cultural diversity, therapeutic communication and legal/ethical approaches to helping adults return to health after experiencing common alterations in health relating to nutrition, metabolism, sexuality, sensory perception and sensation health problems. Basic classifications of disease states, their manifestations and nursing interventions are discussed and explored in the course. The concepts of body mechanics, pharmacology, interpersonal relationships, communication, nutrition and diet therapy, and the physical and biological sciences are also studied. This course is designed to help the student apply the acquired knowledge from previous courses to adult nursing and upgrade basic skills with those necessary to meet the needs of the moderately and chronically ill patient. 

This practicum provides the student with the opportunity to build on acquired knowledge and skills from the fundamentals of nursing practicum and to practice and develop skills in other areas, including administration of medications, care plans, patient and family education, and the role of the practical nurse in providing care for medical-surgical patients. Basic medical-surgical nursing care is directed toward the adult in the sub-acute settings in this practicum.

This course focuses on mental health and psychopathological nursing care. Specifically, the nurse’s role in promoting mental health for psychiatric and behavioral phenomena (e.g., anxiety, mood, personality, substance abuse, and psychotic disorders) is discussed. The course also explores addictive illnesses and their resulting behaviors and implications on nursing care, including chemical dependence, food addictions, and other addictive behaviors. Effective treatment modalities are also reviewed in this course.

This course introduces the older adult on a continuum, defines and identifies the diversity of the older client and studies the characteristics of this population. Emphasis will be placed on the principles of nursing care for the aging client, the aging process, and holistic care of the older adult. In this course, the student learns to develop critical thinking skills, utilize educational resources, and investigate biological, sociological and psychological theories applicable to the aging client. The family unit is emphasized and alternatives in care are explored. In addition, legal and ethical concerns relating to elder law and abuse are considered in this course.

This practicum focuses on the elder population and the nursing skills and knowledge necessary to practice in this field. Clinical practice may take place in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community agencies, and/or simulation labs. Integrated into this practicum will be principles of nutrition therapy, pharmacology/medication administration and diagnostic testing.

This course explores individualized health promotion and maintenance during the neonatal and women’s reproductive life stages of growth and development. The course content expands concepts necessary to provide a safe, effective care environment promoting individual development for both mother and child, psychosocial coping, adaptation and physiological integrity for women, neonates, and their significant others, in diverse settings. Didactic content and clinical experience will integrate relevant concepts of critical thinking in nursing process, caring, communication, cultural awareness, documentation, self-care, and teaching/learning. Concepts relevant to medication administration/pharmacology, diet and nutrition, cultural and religious diversity, health teaching and legal/ethical issues are incorporated into the course.

This practicum provides the student with the opportunity to build on acquired knowledge and skills, to practice and develop skill in selected procedures, to apply nursing principles in meeting the needs of the obstetrical patient and the newborn and to practice the role of the practical nurse as a member of the health care team and to participate in the health and wellness aspects of the patient and family. Knowledge and skill development may take place in hospitals, community agencies, and/or simulation labs.

This course focuses on the growth and development of the newborn through the adolescent. Normal growth and development, as well as, deviations from normal, are explored. To integrate holistic care for the individual and the family, concepts relevant to medication administration/pharmacology, diet and nutrition, cultural and religious diversity, health teaching and legal/ethical issues are incorporated into the course.

This practicum develops the student’s knowledge and skills in pediatrics. The practicum may take place in the simulation labs and various child health care facilities, including nursery or day care settings. The practicum provides the student with the opportunity to build on acquired knowledge and skills, to practice and develop skill in selected procedures, to apply nursing principles in meeting the needs of the pediatric patient and to practice the role of the practical nurse as a member of the health care team and to participate in the health and wellness aspects of the pediatric patient and their family.

This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide nursing care to adult patients in acute care setting. The course covers both nursing care before, during and after surgical procedures and treatment of acute and chronic medical conditions requiring hospitalization. Pharmacotherapeutics, as well as, nutrition, psychosocial, legal and ethical aspects of care are incorporated into the course. Leadership skills, such as delegating to
the health care team members, effective communication with health care professionals, and time management are also explored in this course.

This practicum builds on the skills developed in Adult Nursing I. Problem solving skills and clinical judgment as components of the nursing process are emphasized in the practicum. In the practicum, students employ the nursing process for adult clients and families in an acute care setting and learn about the assistive role of the practical nurse in caring for patients with complex health patterns. The practicum provides the student with the opportunity to further build their skills in applying the nursing principles in meeting the needs of acute patients and practicing and understanding the role of the practical nurse in providing care for medical patients.