RN-B.S. Course Descriptions
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NUR 148: Transitioning into Professional Nursing
This course builds on the registered nurse's desire for a baccalaureate in nursing by explaining the mission and philosophy of Salve Regina University and the Department of Nursing, the development of the discipline of nursing, and the expectations of the nurse of the future. Topics include nursing history, nursing theories and models of practice, the various settings of practice and the roles of the professional nurse, the social policy statement of the profession, the scope and standards of nursing practice, and the responsibility of the nurse to advocate for both the patients and the profession. Students will be given assignments that develop skills in the use of library information systems and information technology, professional writing in APA format, and public speaking/ presentation skills for professional nurses. (Open to degree-completion students only.) 3 credits.
NUR 230: Human Pathophysiology
This course includes the concepts of matter, energy, motion of fluids, and electrical impulses from the field of physics as it explores the disruptions of normal physiology and the related signs, symptoms, physical and laboratory findings. The etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and sequelae of various alterations of human structure and function will be examined. Transcultural pathologies will be reviewed as well as pathological conditions that have a higher incidence in humans at specific stages of growth and development. Prerequisites: BIO 205, BIO 206, BIO 210, CHM 121. 3 credits.
NUR 240: Pharmacotherapy
This course provides an introductory study of the principles of drug action and drug therapy in health and illness. Prototypical agents from major drug classifications, routes of administration, standards of care, legislation requirements, and nursing responsibilities will be explored. Distinctions in medication administration related to patient variations in gender, age, culture, environmental challenges, and diagnoses will be considered. Emphasis is on nursing responsibilities for accurate dosage calculation, patients' rights in safe administration, and legal considerations in the delivery of medication. Pre-requisite: NUR 230. 3 credits
NUR 250: Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition
This course introduces the science of nutrition. The normal nutritional requirements of humans throughout the lifespan are presented as a basis for planning an adequate diet with consideration for variation in food choices due to social, economic, cultural, ethnic, and psychological factors. Health promotion guidelines and patient diet therapy for various genetic and systemic disorders are discussed. Implications of possible interactions between foods, herbal therapies and pharmaceutical therapies will be explored. Prerequisite: CHM 121. 3 credits.
NUR 332: Holistic Health Assessment and Health Promotion
This course focuses on knowledge, procedures and skills required to perform and then document a holistic health assessment and diagnosis of patients from across the lifespan and in various settings. Techniques for assessment of the physical, spiritual, psychological and socio-cultural aspects of a patient are presented with special considerations of unique populations and age groups. Assessment skills will be performed in both the nursing lab and in community settings. The use of the nursing process to determine nursing diagnoses, document findings, and develop interventions for health and wellness promotion, illness prevention, and risk anticipation, and the utilization of referral to colleagues will be included. Prerequisites: All 200 level nursing courses or permission of the Chair of the Department of Nursing. 3 credits.
NUR 334: Genetics and Genomics
This course introduces the advances made in the field of genetics (the study of individual genes) and genomics (the study of all the genes in the human genome) and the application of resulting technologies to patient care. Essentially all human conditions and diseases have a genetic or genomic component. Options for care are increasingly including genetic and genomic information for disease prevention, screening, diagnostic prognosis, selection of treatment, and monitoring of treatment effectiveness. Anticipated future research findings and their expected impact on patient care, the possible ethical, fiscal and social justice issues will be considered. Prerequisites: BIO 205 and BIO 206. 3 credits.
NUR 328: Ethical Challenges in Nursing
This course explores the prominent principles of ethical theories and the utilization of the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Understanding that living an ethical life requires following the spirit of ethical principles, the focus is on respectfully caring for all patients, acting with concern for the welfare of others, entering into relationships of trust, and developing character traits that foster ethical practice. Ethical dilemmas encountered in practice will frame discussions. (Open to degree completion students only.) 3 credits.
NUR 336: Research and Evidence-based Practice
This course focuses on the role of the professional nurse as an informed consumer of research and other evidence to facilitate care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Emphasis is placed on the introduction to the values, characteristics and process of quantitative and qualitative research. The student examines the research process and develops the beginning skills of analysis and critique of nursing research for utilization in evidence-based practice. Emphasis is placed on the development of clinical reasoning by analyzing published studies and applying findings to patient care and developing best practices in nursing care. Prerequisite: STA 201. 3 credits.
NUR 371: Service Learning I
In this course students initiate their involvement in processes of health promotion, illness prevention and risk reduction in a collaborative and tangible way within a community. Prerequisite: Pre-licensure students - NUR 339; Degree-completion students - Junior level standing or permission of Chair of Department of Nursing. 1 credit.
NUR 436: Care of Families in Transition: Aging and End-of-Life Care
This course presents the knowledge and skills necessary to provide holistic nursing care of families challenged by the loss of abilities of family members due to aging and the need for end-of-life care, with special attention to issues of quality of life of the patient and family members. Emphasis will be placed on assessment of function, physical, cognitive, psychological, and social changes common in old age, and the complex symptomatology, pain management, and risk factors associated with decline in health status. Attitudes and values that affect care to the aged and the dying process will be explored. Content related to end of life issues for the elderly, including communication, evidence-based practice, cultural expectations, spiritual and religious values, and planning advanced directives will be explored. Prerequisites: 300 level nursing courses. Co-requisite NUR 437. 3 credits.
NUR 437: Experiential Learning: Families in Transition: Aging and End-of-Life Care
This course presents students with the opportunity to provide appropriate, safe, holistic nursing care to families with aged members and patients who are approaching the end-of-life, while also minimizing the potential for the occurrence of additional health challenges for patients and their family. Collaboration with the patient will provide the basis for appropriate patient-centered, ethical, cost-effective nursing care to aged individuals, dying patients and their families in a variety of settings. Appropriate therapeutic responses will be based on the patient's perception of health and understanding of risk factors, critical analysis of clinical findings, clinical research, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning skills, methods of patient advocacy and teaching, issues of patient safety, processes for documentation and communication, and the nursing roles within a multi-professional team. Co-requisite NUR 436. 3 credits.
NUR 444: Public Health and Disaster Response Planning
This course introduces the student to public health nursing. Epidemiological principles will be utilized in discussing global health issues, environmental health, infectious disease, and health disparities within populations. Concepts of vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters, and the challenges of prevention and health care advocacy for the preparedness of all will be explored within the context of social justice. Community disaster preparation and management will be explored. Local, regional and national preparedness will be evaluated with an emphasis on the effect on the local community. (This course may include fieldwork on a public health issue.) 3 credits.
NUR 446: Leadership and Management
This course presents concepts of organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, risk management, and patient safety that promote high quality patient care within institutional and community arenas. Principles of leadership and management are discussed with emphasis on the mission and vision of an organization, models of care delivery, and communication across the continuum of care. After analyzing trends and issues in the current healthcare system, students will determine ways they can provide the leadership required to affect a positive change within the evolving environment of health care. (This course may include fieldwork.) 3 credits.
NUR 472: Service Learning II
In this course students maintain their involvement in processes of health promotion, illness prevention and risk reduction in a collaborative and tangible way within a community. Prerequisite: NUR 371. 1 credit.
NUR 473: Service Learning III
In this course students conclude their involvement in processes of health promotion, illness prevention and risk reduction in a collaborative and tangible way within a community. Prerequisite: NUR 472. 1 credit.
NUR 475: Service Learning IV
This service-learning course provides a unique opportunity for students to become involved in an immersion experience. This course will provide an intensive, short-term health care experience within a community either in the United States or abroad. 3 credits.
NUR 480: Senior Thesis in Nursing 1
This course provides eligible students with the opportunity to initiate a two-semester process of serious scholarship focused on an issue integral to the discipline of nursing. Adhering to scholarly standards for research and writing in the profession, the student will develop a professional paper for presentation in the subsequent course, NUR 482. 1 credit.
NUR 482: Senior Thesis in Nursing 2
Registration for this course is necessary to complete the process of writing and making a presentation of the proposition, findings, and recommendations. Pre-requisite NUR 480. 1 credit.