School of Nursing
KRISTEN M. SWANSON, Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor
Gwen D. Sherwood, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Beverly Foster, Director, Undergraduate Program
Rumay Alexander, Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Katherine Moore, Director, Office of Admissions and Student Services
Professors
Linda Beeber, Linda Cronenwett, Catherine Fogel, Sandra Funk, Donna Havens, Diane Kjervik, George Knafl, Kathleen Knafl, Mary Lynn, Barbara Mark, Merle Mishel, Marilyn Oermann, Mary H. Palmer, Margarete Sandelowski, Gwen Sherwood, Anne Skelly, Kristen Swanson.
Associate Professors
Debra Barksdale, Barbara Carlson, Jennifer D’Auria, Edward Halloran, Cheryl Jones, Shawn Kneipp, Deborah Mayer, Virginia Neelon, Pamela Rowsey, Sheila Santacroce, Suzanne Thoyre, Marcia Van Riper, SeonAe Yeo.
Assistant Professors
Anna Beeber, Diane Berry, Beth Black, Susan Brunssen, Cheryl Giscombe, Jill Hamilton, Eric Hodges, Coretta Jenerette, Jennifer Leeman, Mi-Kyung Song, Theresa Swift-Scanlan, Debbie Travers, Jia-Rong Wu.
Research Professors
Barbara Germino, Joanne Harrell, Margaret Miles.
Research Associate Professor
John Carlson.
Research Assistant Professors
Jamie Crandell, Todd Schwartz.
Research Instructor
Karl Gustafson.
Clinical Professors
Rumay Alexander, Carol Durham, Mary Tonges.
Clinical Associate Professors
Kathy Alden, Tom Bush, Janna Dieckmann, Noreen Esposito, Beverly Foster, Katherine Gallia, Jane Kaufman, Vicki Kowlowitz, Gail Mazzocco, Laura McQueen, Sonda Oppewal, Mary Lynn Piven, Theresa Raphael-Grimm, Sheilda Rodgers, Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, Deborah Thompson.
Clinical Assistant Professors
Barbara Benjamin, Marianne Cockroft, Donna Helen Crisp, Nancy Crowell, Victoria Cryer, Jean Davison, Dustine Dix, Constance Domino, Patricia Gingrich, Christina Harlan, Elaine Harwood, Renee Hill, Denise Hirst, Sandra Hoffman, Grace Hubbard, Ann Jessup, Maureen Kelly, Liska Lackey, Beth Lamanna, Christina Leonard, Regina McCarthy, Carolyn McKenzie, Margaret Miller, Katherine Moore, Laura Nasir, Ann O’Hale, Julianne Page, Susan Pelliccio, Julie Jacobson Vann, Jennie Wagner, Wanda Wazenegger, Joan Williams, Megan Williams, Virginia Wittig, Lisa Woodley, Diane Yorke, Meg Zomorodi.
Clinical Instructors
Jennifer Alderman, Janice Bernhardt, Nakia Best, Andrea Biondi, Angela Clark, Abigail Coffin, Susan Davidson, Suja Davis, Louise Fleming, Marquita Ford, Michael Goley, Theodore Heiser, Jami Howell, Sara Hubbell, Dana Irons, Ramona Irabor, Rhonda Lanning, Vickie Lester, Julie Lewis, Betty Nance, Beth Pack, Carrie Palmer, Karen Sheffield, Angelic Sorrell, Kristen Stokes, Judith Summer, Mary Charles Sutphin, Elizabeth Wells, Michelle White.
Introduction
Established in 1950, the School of Nursing was the first institution in North Carolina to offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing (1950); the first to offer a master’s degree program in nursing (1955); the first to offer continuing education for nurses (1964); the first in the state—and one of the first three in the nation—to offer a nurse practitioner program (1970); the first in the state to offer a Ph.D. program (1989); the first in the South—and one of only nine in the country—to establish a Center of Excellence in Nursing Research funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health (1994); and the first in the state to offer an accelerated baccalaureate degree in nursing for those who already hold undergraduate degrees in other fields (2001).
The school is committed to educating nurses for entry into practice at the baccalaureate level and entry into advanced practice at the graduate level, enhancing and improving the health and well being of people through education, research, scholarship, clinical practice, and community service. Its undergraduate and graduate curricula and continuing education courses seek to reflect the changing health problems of society and to provide students with the tools to deal with those problems effectively. Admitted students exhibit the level of preparation, intellectual competence, and personal qualities judged necessary for the study of nursing in a university. School of Nursing graduates consistently achieve one of the highest NCLEX (licensure examination) passing rates in the state, well above the national average.
The school welcomes men and women from diverse cultural, economic, geographic, and academic backgrounds to apply to our undergraduate and graduate programs of study. The school is committed to sustaining a learning community in which students, faculty, and staff feel valued, challenged to achieve their greatest potential, and responsible for sustaining an environment where all are welcome. The faculty actively engages in advancing the profession through research, with the conviction that this scholarly activity enhances teaching, patient care, and health policy. The school is ranked in the top 12 nationally among nursing schools for receipt of research funds from the National Institutes of Health, based on the 2010 rankings. School facilities include modern research (biobehavioral) and computer-based laboratories, a comprehensive research support center, and an educational design center.
Over 7,000 alumni have automatically become members of the School of Nursing Alumni Association upon graduation. Membership in the Alumni Association is complementary and a benefit of having graduated from the School. An active group of alumni and friends supports the School, provides mentoring for students and graduates, and participates in panels and class discussions to enrich the learning experience. Alumni Day, Family Day, and continuing education programs are offered to alumni.
Program of Study
The degree offered is the bachelor of science in nursing.
The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers an undergraduate program of study designed to provide students with the knowledge, skill, and understanding necessary to function effectively in all areas of professional nursing. The curriculum leading to the bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.) degree offers three options for study: 1) two years of upper-division courses in the School of Nursing, which follow two years of lower-division courses in the General College (B.S.N. Option); 2) an accelerated second degree option for students with a previous bachelor’s degree (A.B.S.N. Option); and 3) an R.N.–B.S.N. option for registered nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing (R.N.–B.S.N. Option). Students are subject to the requirements in place when they are admitted to the School of Nursing; consequently, the requirements described in this bulletin particularly apply to students admitted to the School of Nursing during the 2011–2012 academic year.
Admission to the School
First Degree Students
Students seeking a first bachelor’s degree are admitted to the upper division (junior/senior), typically in the spring semester of the sophomore year. Students must complete all lower-division (first-year/sophomore) courses prior to matriculating into the School of Nursing. The first nursing courses begin either in the first summer session (May) preceding the junior year or in the spring semester (January) of the junior year.
Admission Criteria
Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive. The minimum cumulative grade point average for admission to the B.S.N. option is a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Admission to UNC–Chapel Hill as a first-year student does not guarantee admission to the School of Nursing as a junior. Applicants must be eligible to return to all institutions previously attended.
The admissions committee critically evaluates each applicant’s academic performance, descriptive essays, community service history, and special skills and abilities that have the potential to affect care delivery or contribute overall to the nursing profession. The ideal applicant will clearly demonstrate a strong academic history as well as a commitment to the ideology of nursing and service to others. Performance in required science courses is particularly important.
Application
Applications may be submitted for either spring (January) or summer (May) matriculation. UNC–Chapel Hill students applying to the School of Nursing as sophomores or juniors complete the electronic nursing application. The application link, instructions, deadlines, and decision timeframe can be found on the School of Nursing Web site at nursing.unc.edu/admissions/application.html.
Second Degree Students
Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing may pursue admission to the B.S.N. option (six semesters) or the more accelerated and intensive A.B.S.N. option (four semesters) for completing the degree. Second degree students will have 60 credit hours from their previous degree counted toward the B.S.N. These students have to complete (or verify completion as part of their previous degree) only six courses from the lower-division requirements: BIOL 252, MCRO 251 or 255, PHYI 202, PSYC 101, STOR 151, and a U.S. diversity or global issues Connections course.
Admission Criteria
Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive. The minimum cumulative grade point average for admission to the B.S.N. option is a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and the minimum cumulative grade point average for the A.B.S.N. option is a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All applicants seeking admission as second degree students must have earned the first degree prior to submitting the nursing application. Applicants must be eligible to return to all institutions previously attended. Admissions committee review is as described previously.
Application
Applications may be submitted for either spring (January) or summer (May) matriculation. All first and second degree applicants must complete the electronic nursing application. The application link, instructions, deadlines, and decision timeframe can be found on the School of Nursing Web site at nursing.unc.edu/admissions/application.html.
Registered Nurses
Registered nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing may pursue the B.S.N. through the R.N.–B.S.N. completion option, a Web-based program known as Carolina R.N.–B.S.N. Online. Students in this option earn a total of 122 to 126 credits: 60 to 64 lower-division credits completed prior to enrollment; 35 credits for previously acquired nursing knowledge and skills (as validated by course work in the B.S.N. program); and 27 upper-division nursing credits. All upper-division major courses for this option are designed specifically for registered nurses and are offered online only. These courses are tailored to meet the needs of adult learners while providing theory-based content, critical thinking skills, and opportunities to apply concepts, theories, and research in clinical practice. Carolina R.N.–B.S.N. Online is designed to be completed in one to two calendar years depending on each student’s previous course history. To access and work comfortably with online nursing course materials, students will need computer equipment that meets certain specifications. Information about computer hardware, software, and skill requirements is located on the option Web site (nursing.unc.edu/current/rn-bsn).
Admission Criteria
Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive; admissions may be limited due to resource availability. Requirements for admission to the Carolina R.N.–B.S.N. Online program are as follows:
• Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which the student will do clinical course work. An “unencumbered license” means neither the license, the licensee’s practice, nor the licensee is associated with any type of restriction, encumbrance, or probationary limitations imposed by the applicable Board of Nursing or any judicial entity.
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 in all postsecondary course work
• Applicants must be eligible to return to all institutions previously attended.
• Completion of all lower-division (prerequisite) requirements prior to enrollment
Application
Applications may be submitted for spring (January), summer (May), or fall (August) matriculation. All applicants must complete the electronic nursing application. The application link, instructions, deadlines, and decision timeframe can be found on the School of Nursing Web site at nursing.unc.edu/admissions/application.html.
Majoring in Nursing: Bachelor of Science
The baccalaureate program in nursing prepares graduates to 1) understand the problems of contemporary health and illness; 2) utilize a systematic approach to assess human responses to actual and potential health problems in a variety of settings; 3) directly provide and manage competent care for individuals, families, and groups who have simple to complex health care needs throughout the life span; 4) employ interpersonal processes and therapeutic communication skills; 5) integrate professional values and role behaviors; and 6) collaborate with other groups in shaping health policies that affect both individual and community health.
Courses in the nursing major are taken at the upper-division level. The courses build on a strong foundation in the sciences and humanities to develop the knowledge and skills needed to practice nursing in contemporary society. Clinical experiences take place in a broad variety of settings that reflect current patterns of health care delivery and provide opportunities for students to develop competence in empathetic care, critical thinking, technical skills, clinical judgment and decision making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and management of care.
Lower-Division Courses in the General College
Students are admitted to the baccalaureate nursing program at the upper-division level. All lower-division courses must be completed before beginning nursing courses. Lower-division courses taken at another college or university must be approved for transfer by the UNC–Chapel Hill Office of Undergraduate Admissions as comparable to the courses offered on this campus. Prospective students can request an unofficial transfer evaluation to determine the status of compliance with lower-division requirements. The unofficial transfer evaluation request form should be attached to copies of all United States college transcripts and sent to the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Nursing address on the form. (The form is available at nursing.unc.edu/degree/pdf/transcript_evaluation_form.pdf.)
All students must meet the Foundations and Approaches requirements outlined elsewhere in this bulletin. Students with a bachelor’s degree must complete only the six courses marked with an asterisk (below) or verify completion of these courses as a part of the previous degree. Note: second degree applicants may meet either the global issues or U.S. diversity prerequisite. For nursing students, these requirements must include the following courses:
• *For the Foundations quantitative reasoning requirement: either STOR 151 Basic Concepts of Statistics and Data Analysis or 155 Introduction to Statistics
• For the Approaches physical and life sciences requirements (for a total of 28 credits):
• BIOL 101/101L Principles of Biology
• *BIOL 252 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with lab; online lab is unacceptable)
• CHEM 101/101L and CHEM 102/102L General Descriptive Chemistry or BIOC 107 and BIOC 108 Introduction to Biochemistry
• *MCRO 251 Introductory Medical Microbiology or MCRO 255 Elementary Pathogenic Microbiology (with lab; online lab is unacceptable)
• *PHYI 202 Introduction to Physiology
• *PSYC 101 General Psychology
Nursing students also must satisfy the following Connections requirements: global issues*, U.S. diversity*, and at least two others, bringing total credit hours required of B.S.N. applicants to 68. Effective with January 2011 matriculation (August 2010 application cycle), applicants must have earned at least a grade of C or better in the five key science courses: BIOL 252, PHYI 202, MCRO 251/255, PSYC 101, and STOR 151/155 (or approved equivalents).
Special Notes
• Effective with May 2011 matriculation (December 2010 application deadline), B.S.N. and A.B.S.N. option applicants must have completed ALL science prerequisites within 10 years of the application deadline.
• Effective with January 2011 matriculation (August 2010 application deadline), applicants must have earned at least a grade of C or better in the five key science courses: BIOL 252, MCRO 251/255, PHYI 202, PSYC 101, and STOR 151/155 (or approved equivalencies).
• Effective with May 2009 matriculation (January 2009 application deadline), A.B.S.N. option applicants must have completed ALL science prerequisites, and B.S.N. option applicants must have completed at least three of the science prerequisites at the time of application.
• Effective with January 2010 matriculation (August 2009 application deadline), ALL B.S.N. option fall applicants (for spring/January matriculation) must have completed physiology as one of the science prerequisites at the time of application.
Overview of the Major
A.B.S.N. and B.S.N. Options
• NURS 253, 254, 261, 354, 360, 361, 362, 364, 366, 371, 382, 454, 470, 472, 477, 479, 588, 590, and one of the following courses: 487, 488, or 489
R.N.–B.S.N. Option
• NURS 369, 377, 379, 490, 491, 494, 595, and 596
Critical Information for ALL Nursing Students
Technical Standards
The curricula leading to degrees in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing require students to engage in diverse and complex experiences directed at the acquisition and practice of essential nursing skills and functions. Unique combinations of cognitive, affective, psychomotor, physical, and social abilities are required to perform these functions satisfactorily. In addition to being essential to the successful completion of the requirements of a nursing degree, these skills and functions are necessary to ensure the health and safety of patients, fellow students, faculty, and other health care providers.
The technical standards describe the nonacademic qualifications, required in addition to academic qualifications, which the School considers essential for entrance to, continuation in, and graduation from a UNC–Chapel Hill School of Nursing degree program. Candidates for nursing degrees, with the exception noted for selected graduate programs, must be able to meet these minimum standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, for successful completion of degree requirements. Refer to the School’s Web site for additional information: nursing.unc.edu/current/handbook/disability.html.
Professional Risk
The practice of nursing involves the care of individuals who are ill or injured. Communicable diseases are common in health care delivery settings and may be a threat to nursing students. During the performance of clinical practice/research activities, a student may have contact with patients/subjects with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infections. Such contact, although rare when proper preventive measures are used, may result in a student’s being exposed to infectious agents and/or transmitting an infectious disease to other students, faculty, patients, family members, and subjects. During pregnancy, the fetus may be at risk. As a student enrolled in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, students are expected to provide care to patients who may have known or unknown communicable diseases. Application to and acceptance of an offer from the School of Nursing indicates a student’s understanding of related professional risks.
Fitness for Practice
All students admitted to the School of Nursing are required by the North Carolina Board of Nursing to provide documentation of their fitness to provide safe nursing care to the public. Failure to provide requisite documentation will result in the withdrawal of the admission offer. Additionally, North Carolina law requires incoming students to present to the University, before the first day of enrollment, evidence verifying that the student has received all required immunizations.
Further, federal and state statutory regulations and clinical affiliate contractual mandates require that nursing students demonstrate particular cognitive and clinical competencies consistent with their minimum professional practice standards. As such, students must attain and maintain full compliance with all requirements. The school also requires students to undergo a criminal history database check following admission acceptance. The check covers all states in which the student has lived or worked in the past seven years or since the 16th birthday, whichever is less. Database checks will address all criminal charges, felony and misdemeanor level convictions (except minor traffic related violations), and the Sexual Offender/Predator Registry for all states in which the student has lived. Questions about these requirements may be directed to the Office of Admissions and Student Services.
Disability Statement
Consistent with its mission and philosophy, the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to providing educational opportunities to students with disabilities. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the school provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified students with disabilities. The decision regarding appropriate accommodations will be based on the specifics of each case.
Students who seek reasonable accommodations for disabilities must contact the Academic Success Program for Students with LD/ADHD (formerly known as Learning Disabilities Services) for all learning disabilities or ADHD needs ([919] 962-7227) or the Department of Disability Services for all other disabilities ([919] 962-8300). These offices will determine a student’s eligibility for, and recommend, appropriate accommodations and services. More information may be obtained through the respective Web sites: www.unc.edu/depts/lds/ and disabilityservices.unc.edu/. Also see the School of Nursing’s policy located at: nursing.unc.edu/current/handbook/disability.html.
Computer Requirements
All School of Nursing students are required to use e-mail, as considerable important information is conveyed using e-mail. All e-mail communication from the School of Nursing will be sent to the student’s University e-mail address only. School of Nursing courses increasingly use Internet resources as part of their curriculum. For both these reasons easy access to personal computers and the Web are imperative. The School of Nursing provides a PC lab solely for the use of undergraduate students, and students may also access PC lab facilities elsewhere on campus.
Special Note
Effective May 2011, all B.S.N. and A.B.S.N. option students are required to have a laptop computer that meets the minimum requirements specified for the preloaded laptop computers available through the University’s Carolina Computing Initiative (CCI) program. Specifications can be found at cci.unc.edu/minimum-specs.html. Additionally, the School requires that students purchase an extra battery to ensure an adequate power supply for extended classroom, lab, or special project use. Choosing a vendor for the laptop purchase is the student’s prerogative; however, it is important to note that the University provides “software and operating system support for non-CCI laptops on a best-effort basis, and hardware support for non-CCI laptops is the responsibility of the owner” (source: CCI.unc.edu). In addition to the computer itself, students must have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and an account for a high-speed access service.
Vehicular Requirements
Because of the broad scope of clinical facilities and locations, undergraduate nursing students must have access to a car. For information about the North Carolina requirements for automobile liability insurance, vehicle registration, and operator’s license, write to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Raleigh, NC 27602. Students and/or parents are responsible for maintaining appropriate insurance coverage. Some insurance companies may consider such travel as “business driving.” Expenses for travel are the responsibility of the student.
Registered Nurse Licensure Examination Requirements
The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) requires all graduates of the School of Nursing who apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to undergo a routine criminal background check, which necessitates submission of a complete set of fingerprints with the NCLEX application. Note: a Social Security Number is required for licensure application to the NCBON.
Special Opportunities in Nursing
Departmental Involvement
Students are encouraged to participate in student leadership opportunities. These include the elected class governance system, the dean’s Student Advisory Council or course management team options, the Association of Nursing Students (the only preprofessional nursing organization available), and the Student Health Action Coalition. More details can be found online at nursing.unc.edu/current/handbook/org_general.html.
Experiential Education
The nursing program requires extensive direct clinical practice in a wide variety of acute care, chronic care, and community-based settings considered essential for the preparation of competent practitioners. Clinical contact time varies by study option and course but averages approximately 12 to 16 hours per week for prelicensure students.
Financial Aid
Students granted admission to the School of Nursing seeking the baccalaureate degree at UNC–Chapel Hill may be considered for a variety of nursing-specific scholarships and other financial aid opportunities. For assistance, contact the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid by phone at (919) 962-8396 or through the Web at studentaid.unc.edu, or call the Office of Admissions and Student Services at (919) 966-4260.
Study Abroad
Students may participate in selected study abroad options offered through required or elective courses.
Undergraduate Awards
During the final semester of study, the top one-third of students in each option will be invited to membership in Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. The George Livas Award recognizes the graduating student who most clearly demonstrates academic excellence and leadership. Other awards presented during the school’s commencement ceremony honor those students achieving the highest grade point average in their respective option.
Undergraduate Research
Through the honors program, the University and the School of Nursing recognize undergraduates who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability and independent work in their major (www.unc.edu/depts/honors). Qualified and interested students in their last two semesters of study will be paired with a faculty advisor who guides the student in an independent study honors project. The director of the undergraduate program supervises the honors program. Students participating in the honors program must have a cumulative University grade point average that meets University requirements. In addition, students must have and maintain a 3.4 cumulative nursing grade point average. Calculation of the cumulative grade point average is based solely on the required hours earned to date for the nursing degree. Grade point averages are not rounded. The student and honors advisor must complete a written contract, and the student must register for NURS 691H and 692H Honors Study in Nursing. Each honors course carries three hours of credit and is assigned a letter grade by the advisor. A student’s project must show evidence of independent, creative, abstract, analytical, and critical thinking.
Facilities
The School of Nursing is located in Carrington Hall and its new addition. The Education-Innovation-Simulation Learning Environment (EISLE) provides undergraduate students with a simulated clinical environment in which to practice and acquire fundamental psychomotor and psychosocial skills necessary for clinical application. Under the close supervision of nursing faculty and teaching assistants, students learn therapeutic techniques and procedures, utilize problem solving approaches, and prioritize patient care in simulated situations.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
The school offers a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree in six advanced practice areas and a Ph.D. degree in nursing science. B.S.N. graduates may pursue the M.S.N. after one year of clinical practice, or they may pursue the Ph.D. directly following the B.S.N., prior to completion of any master’s level course work. For further information on the graduate program, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services as noted below or see the school Web site.
The school works closely with University Career Services to prepare all B.S.N. graduates for the transition from student to professional practitioner. A preparatory career development series and career fair are offered annually. Additionally, the school cooperates with clinical agencies across the country to make available to students an array of information on employment opportunities in a myriad of settings and entry-level roles.
Contact Information
For general information on the School of Nursing, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services, School of Nursing, CB# 7460, Carrington Hall, (919) 966-4260. Web site: nursing.unc.edu. E-mail: nursing@unc.edu.
NURS
253 Individual Development across the Lifespan (2). Majors only. This course emphasizes a lifespan approach to theories and perspectives on individual growth and development. Content focuses on physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development, and risk factors from birth to death.
254 Discipline of Nursing I (1). Majors only. This course introduces the discipline, profession, and practice of nursing through a study of history, values, culture, legal issues, and education. Critical thinking central to nursing practice is introduced.
261 Nursing Role in Normal Nutrition (2). Majors only. This course involves the nursing application of nutritional concepts to the care of individuals, families, groups, and populations across the life span.
354 Discipline of Nursing II (1). Prerequisite, NURS 254. Majors only. This course introduces the student to concepts and knowledge germane to the practice of artful nursing. Caring compassion, spirituality, presence, hope, truth telling, advocacy, and principles of ethics are explored.
360 Concepts, Processes, and Skills for Evidence-Based Nursing (4). Majors only. The course focuses on understanding basic nursing concepts. The development of communication, teaching, and psychomotor skills are emphasized in conjunction with nursing process. Research as a basis for practice is recognized.
361 Pathophysiology (3). Majors only. This course is concerned with alterations involved in disruptions of normal physiology as well as pathophysiological principles underlying therapeutic interventions and outcomes.
362 Pharmacology across the Lifespan (3). Majors only. Using the science of pharmacology and pharmacologic principles underlying therapeutic interventions, this course focuses on an introduction to nursing responsibilities regarding pharmacologic therapy across the lifespan.
364 Nursing Care of Adults with Major Health Problems, Part I (6). Prerequisites, NURS 253, 261, 361, and 366. Corequisites, NURS 360 and 362. Majors only. This is the first of two adult health courses in which students apply critical thinking skills to nursing care of adults with major health problems.
366 Health Assessment (3). Majors only. This course addresses concepts and methods of comprehensive health assessment of children, adults, and elders. Emphasis will be on data collection as a basis for initiation of caring and decision making in nursing practice.
369 Physical Assessment (3). Permission of the school. Majors only. This course provides an introduction to patient assessment, including interviewing, history taking, physical exam, and recording, analysis, and use of assessment data in planning patient care.
371 Introduction to Nursing Research (3). Prerequisite, NURS 360. One other clinical course is required as prerequisite. Majors only. This course helps students conceptualize both the basic research process and the importance of research to nursing, and enables students to understand and use published health care research.
377 Research in Nursing Practice (3). Majors only. This course introduces the registered nursing student to the components of the research process with application to the theory and practice of nursing.
379 Leadership in Nursing Practice (3). Majors only. Students will examine health care organizations from a systems perspective and develop leadership skills necessary in professional practice.
382 Family-Centered Genomic Health Care (1). Majors only. This course explores essential competencies in genetics and genomics for registered nurses. The learner gains knowledge about family assessment and the impact of genomic issues on individuals and families.
454 Discipline of Nursing III (1). Corequisites, NURS 254 and 354. Majors only. This course emphasizes professional development through exploration of a variety of roles and practice environments. Students analyze personal and professional goals and values to develop a framework for nursing practice.
470 Public Health Nursing (5). Prerequisites, NURS 364 and 371. Corequisites, NURS 472, 477, and 479. Majors only. Students apply public health concepts to community practice to improve health and reduce disparities across the lifespan, emphasizing interventions using partnership strategies at individual/family, organizational, and policy levels.
472 Nursing Care of Infants, Children, and Their Family (5). Prerequisites, NURS 253, 261, 360, 361, 362, 364, and 366. Majors only. Nursing care of infants, children, and their families is explored. Knowledge from a variety of disciplines is applied through the nursing process to the direct care of infants and children.
477 Psychiatric Mental Health Concepts for Broad Clinical Application in Nursing (5). Prerequisites, NURS 253, 361, and 362. Corequisites, NURS 364 and 382. Majors only. Using theories of psychosocial development, psychopathology, therapeutic communication, and psychotherapy, this course requires students to examine the range and complexities of human emotional suffering and methods of effective intervention.
479 Maternal/Newborn Nursing (5). Prerequisites, NURS 253, 254, 261, 360, 361, 362, 364, and 366. Majors only. The course focuses on application of caring and critical thinking skills in providing evidence-based nursing care to childbearing families.
487 Practicum in Nursing: Nursing Assistant Work Experience (3). Prerequisites, NURS 254 and 364. Majors only. Certification as a Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II also required as pre- or corequisite. Practice in health care settings is the course focus. Students participate in a reflective experience that provides the context to integrate classroom and experiential learning into an evolving professional identity.
488 Practicum in Nursing: Health Services Improvement Work Experience (3). Prerequisites, NURS 254 and 364. Majors only. Certification as a Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II also required as pre- or corequisite. Practice in health care settings is the course focus. Students participate in a reflective experience that provides the context to integrate classroom and experiential learning into an evolving professional identity.
489 Practicum in Nursing: Global Health Experience (3). Prerequisites, NURS 254 and 364. Majors only. Certification as a Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II also required. Practice in global health care settings is the course focus. Students participate in a reflective experience that provides the context to integrate classroom and experiential learning into an evolving professional identity.
490 Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing Practice (3). Majors only. Selected concepts and theories are explored as a basis for making judgments and decisions in nursing practice. Critical thinking skills are developed as an essential component of professional practice.
491 Improving Nursing Practice: Application of Concepts, Theories, and Research (3). Majors only. This course emphasizes analysis of clinical problems that affect the nursing care of selected populations. Students apply the nursing process, therapeutic communication skills, and teaching-learning principles in clinical situations.
494 Community Health Nursing for the Public’s Health (3–6). Majors only. Prepares R.N. students for population-focused practice in community health nursing. Analyses and applications of selected theories; health promotion/protection and disease prevention strategies are emphasized.
496 Advanced Practicum in Nursing (1–3). Majors only. The focus of this course is the development of knowledge and experience related to research or service learning and its application to the practice of nursing and health care.
588 Leadership in Health Care Organizations (4). Prerequisites, NURS 364, 371, and 487 or 488 or 489, and 472 or 477 or 479. Majors only. This course explores organizational leadership and management practices and theories. Current social, economic, legal, ethical, and policy issues affecting practice, education, and the profession of nursing are examined.
590 Nursing Care of Adults with Major Health Problems, Part II (8). Prerequisites, NURS 354, 364, 371, 472, 477, and 487 or 488 or 489. Corequisite, NURS 470. Majors only. This senior-level course focuses on applying critical thinking, clinical decision making, and evidence-based nursing practice to complex health problems of adults. Unique health needs of older adults are addressed.
595 Alternative Paradigms for Nursing Practice (3). Majors only. Concepts and principles underlying biomedical and biopsychosocial approaches to health care delivery are analyzed to determine their impact on health and to provide a framework for integrating both approaches to care.
596 Contemporary Issues in Nursing Practice (3). Majors only. The context of professional nursing practice will be analyzed from a social, economic, and policy perspective. Analysis will include projections for the future of the profession.
599 Special Problems (1–3).
600 SHAC: Student Health Action Coalition (0). This course provides service learning opportunities to apply nursing practice within the context of interprofessional care for vulnerable populations by participating with Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) activities.
609 Health Care in the Global Context (1). Majors only or permission of the instructor. A faculty led experiential learning opportunity focusing on development and knowledge related to research, health care systems, or service learning and its application to nursing and health care.
613I Intermediate Spanish for Health Care I (AHSC 613I, PHCY 613I, PUBH 613I, SOWO 613I) (3).
614I Intermediate Spanish for Health Care II (AHSC 614I, PHCY 614I, PUBH 614I, SOWO 614I) (3).
615I Advanced Spanish for Health Care (AHSC 615I, DENT 615I, MEDI 615I, PHCY 615I, PUBH 615I, SOWO 615I) (3).
685 Care of the Dying and Bereaved throughout the Life Span (3). Permission of the instructor for nonmajors. Students from a variety of health sciences-related disciplines gain an understanding of issues in working with dying and bereaved individuals of all ages and their families.
686 Advanced Concepts in the Clinical Care of Older Adults (2). Majors only or permission of the instructor. Focuses on advanced concepts for nursing management of older adults and their families with an emphasis on interdisciplinary care.
687 Ethical Issues in Nursing (2). Majors only. One clinical nursing course or R.N. status is required as prerequisite. Examination and discussion of major ethical issues arising in the professional practice of nursing in the context of systematic consideration of the nature of ethical choice.
691H Honors in Nursing, Part I (3). Permission of the program director. Majors only. Preparation of a two-semester honors project under the direction of department advisors.
692H Honors in Nursing, Part II (3). Permission of the program director. Majors only. Preparation of a two-semester honors project under the direction of department advisors.