NURS courses are reserved for the RN to BSN program
NUR 3201 Foundations of Nursing Informatics (2-0). This course introduces students to fundamental concepts related to nursing information, communication technologies, systems and skills and their impact on patient centered care. A variety of learning activities will engage students in the use of clinical information systems, electronic databases and health care records used to communicate and manage patient care data, support patient care decision making, a and promote patient safety. Principles of legal, ethical and policy issues associated with information management in health care systems and how these concepts are used to analyze workflow, data trending and system change in health care settings are addressed.
NUR 3304 Introduction to Rural and Border Communities (3-0). This course introduces the students to the concept of rural and border communities compared to urban/suburban. The focus is on the changes over time, differences, impact of health awareness, and access to health care, preventive, and treatment resources. This course addresses potential for health promotion and disease prevention in the rural and border community. Skills include identifying sources of health-related information for population/community assessment as basis for policy planning. The unique role of being known to the population as a member of the community and also the professional health provider role related to confidentiality and trust. Students will engage in the community to assess perceptions and practices. The role and challenges of the community health nurse are introduced.
NUR 3310 Introduction to Nursing Research (3-0). This course is one component of baccalaureate education for professional nursing focusing on students becoming competent consumers of research in nursing and related fields. Various models of inquiry in nursing, including basic concepts, research principles, processes and applications needed to develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills will be examined. Theories of evidence informed practice, appraisal of published research, and translation of findings into clinical practice serve as the foundation for knowledge development and skills that foster clinical reasoning, decision making and practice. Students will have the opportunity to apply evidence when participating in planning and implementing nursing care, inter-professional communication, population health for rural and border communities and demonstrating professionalism and professional values.
NUR 3311 Essence of Professional Nursing in Rural/Border Communities (3-0). This first nursing course taken by students entering the BSN Program, introduces students to the program mission, philosophy, conceptual framework, faculty philosophy of nursing and student learning processes. Students will explore nursing’s history and relationship with a rapidly evolving health care system. Students will explore the major concepts of concern in the discipline of nursing; person, environment, nursing and health within the context of rural/border communities. Students will begin to appreciate personal values, and the impact of culture and environment on health and wellness in the frontier regions of Texas. In this course students initiate nurse-patient relationships during the first phase of the Geriatric Project. The course introduces the students to professional writing, inquiry, reflection, and self-care as the foundation for individual professional development.
NUR 3312 Introduction to Patient Centered Concepts (3-0). This course is an introduction to selected behavioral and pathophysiological concepts that commonly occur with patient care situations. Analysis of these concepts include data for all age groups. Students will obtain introductory information through class preparation and class room discussion for each concept which will be exemplified in the skills and simulation laboratory and external clinical agency activities. Recall of growth and development will enhance knowledge obtained for each age group and concept. Basic nursing activities linked to selected concepts will be experienced and guided within Concept-Based Clinical Competencies.
NUR 3314 Nursing Pharmacology (3-0). This course is an introduction to pharmacology with emphasis on the actions, interactions, dosage, half-life, adverse effects, and nursing implications for medications in each drug classification. Emphasis on medications as a major treatment modality for all age groups will continue throughout the nursing education experience. In addition to learning key medications in each drug classification, topics will include the roles and responsibilities of the nurse in safe administration of medications, observation and documentation of desired and adverse effects from the medication and principles to be followed in patient teaching within a legal/ethical framework. Rural and frontier community characteristics that pose unique challenges or successful pharmacological therapies will be addressed. Knowledge of how medication effectiveness may be altered by circadian rhythms; incompatibilities with other prescribed rugs, over the counter drugs and alternative medications; conflict with nutritional intake and poor compliance with drug intake will be acquired in classroom, skills lab, and external lab clinical learning activities.
NUR 3320 Professional Nursing I (3-0). This course establishes the role of the registered nurse as a member of the profession with individual accountability to the public, with responsibility for coordination of patient care, and for patient advocacy. The course addresses decision making related to providing direct care in any setting. The course addresses the ANA code for Nurses principles 1, 2 and 3 related to the individual professional nurse.
NUR 3413 Patient Centered Concepts Across the Life-Span (4-0). This concept-based integrated approach to learning continues with concepts analyzed across the life-span with the inclusion of frequently occurring exemplars (diagnoses). Nursing management and treatment modalities are included for each of the exemplars. The course begins with psycho-socio-cultural concepts commonly encountered in patients of any age and progresses through reproductive events which introduces the newborn infant. Concepts and exemplars in this course are foundational to developing clinical judgement required for the nursing process. Simulation activities will provide opportunities to link classroom data to potential patient clinical experiences.
NUR 3441 Competencies for Patient Centered Care I (2-8). This course continues the development of professional nursing skills/competencies required to provide competent nursing are to patients of all ages. Focus is on psychomotor skills with attention to clinical judgment required to perform skills in a safe, effective manner to each age group. Competencies are centered around curriculum concepts which are repeated and evaluated during skills and simulation lab to achieve mastery before performed in the clinical setting. Administration of medications, including intravenous access, delivery of medications, and blood products, is initiated in this course. Clinical scheduling will provide for continuation of the Geriatric Modules and initiation of Obstetric and Per-operative Modules.
NUR 3540 Comprehensive Patient Assessment in Rural Border Communities (2-12). This course addresses techniques and application of bio-psycho-socio-behavioral and cultural principles of assessment applicable across the life span for individuals with health care needs in rural/border communities. This educational process links previous basic knowledge and experience with concepts, skill to utilize diagnostic tools and equipment, therapeutic communication skills, body systems assessment, screenings, diagnostic data, pathophysiologic knowledge and standardized data scales to obtain a comprehensive patient assessment. Assessment techniques will be applied in all areas of nursing including obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, medical-0surgical patients, mental health, and acute care. Classroom, laboratory and on-line experiences will be utilized throughout the semester.
NUR 4222 Professional Nursing III (2-0). This course addresses the role of the nursing profession in the context of local, state, national, and global systems impacting health and well being of individuals and populations. This course addresses the role of the nurse and profession in the evolution of regulation and policies that impact health and safety of populations. The course prepares the nurse graduation, licensure and anticipation of life-long nursing career. The course addresses the ANA Code for Nurses Principles 7, 8, and 9 related to the context of nursing practice including regulation and policy. Prerequisites: NUR 3311, 3220, 4321
NUR 4305 Rural and Border Community Public Health (3-0). This course emphasized the role of community and public health concepts and is designed and adapted to rural and border individuals/populations/communities. Assessment of national, state, and local services and policies that address health promotion and disease prevention and goals. The various roles of nurses in the community health systems are explored and practiced, building on previous clinical experiences in the community. The course addresses community assessment and policy planning unique to the setting. Challenges faced by community health nurses are explored. Students actively engage in local community health services in an antonymous role with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and in the Emergency Room (ER). The course also addresses rural health issues at the state, national, and global levels.
NUR 4321 Professional Nursing II (3-0). This course addresses the role and accountability of the professional nurse engaged in the health care system as primary coordinator of patient care and safety. The course addresses decision-making within the health care setting including delegation, performance improvement, and peer review. The course addresses the ANA Code for Nurses Principles 4, 5 and 6 related to the nursing practice environment including health care systems and various practice settings. Prerequisites: NUR 3311, 3220
NUR 4414 Patient Centered Concepts Across the Life-Span II (4-0). Coverage of health care concepts with application of selected exemplars continues to enhance development of clinical judgment knowledge and skills. Exemplars for each concept include conditions across all ages with expanding intensity of conditions and complexity of treatment modalities which demonstrate evidence-based practice. Simulations are designed to enhance nursing knowledge and skill through model, related, and borderline cases for selected concepts.
NUR 4415 Patient Centered Concepts Across the Life-Span III (4-0). Progression to advanced health/illness conditions is the focus of this course for each component of nursing care across all ages in the life span. Understanding biological changes consistent with advancing conditions including influences of behavioral, psychological, cultural environmental and ethnicity variables are incorporated in this course. Simulation lab experiences provide the opportunity to demonstrate planning and implementation of nursing care for life-threatening conditions in all ages. Contrary cases which depict conditions of differential diagnosis challenges nursing management skills.
NUR 4542 Competencies for Patient Centered Care II (5-0). This course focuses on integrated concepts for the development of the professional nurse/s role in complex nursing situations across the life span. Emphasis is on knowledge and competency development while incorporating clinical judgment, professional values, and evidence-based practice within the nursing process. Learning experiences will occur in all clinical nursing areas throughout the semester with guidance from faculty members and preceptors. Clinical learning opportunities will incorporate previously learned and current concepts. Clinical scheduling will provide opportunities for continuation of Geriatric, obstetrical, and Peri-operative Modules. Effective communication with members of the health-0care team increases the potential for positive outcomes in patients across the life span.
NUR 4544 Competencies for Patient Centered Care III (5-0). This course focuses on integrated concepts and skills for the development of the professional nurse’s role in advanced nursing situations with a all aged patents/families involving multiple body systems in intermediate and critical care settings. Emphasis is on knowledge, judgment, skills and professional values within a legal/ethical framework. Development of beginning leadership and management skills will be reflected in direct-patient learning activities in all clinical sites. Incorporation of evidence-based practice is evident as the basis for decision making for nursing intervention, leadership and management. Clinical scheduling will provide opportunities to complete Geriatric, Obstetrical, and Per-operative Modules.
NURS 3301 Trends and Issues in Professional Nursing (3-0). Explores current societal health trends, political issues, informatics, and trends related to nursing and contemporary health care. Application to professionalism, empowerment and key components for clinical judgment.
NURS 3303 Nursing Theories and Concepts (3-0). Exploration of nursing theories and concepts that provide the foundation for and guide nursing interventions. Analysis of multi-cultural concepts that apply to selected populations across the life span.
NURS 3305 Nursing Research and Application (3-0). Basic concepts, research principles, processes and applications provide information for the role of the nurse as means of acquiring and refining knowledge and using data to enhance clinical judgment. Application of core concepts of informatics, computer skills, technology and ethical issues in patient confidentiality in clinical practice and data management.
NURS 3307 Role of Evidence Based Professional Nursing Practice (3-0). Concepts of evidence-based nursing practice are applied to selected clinical situations. Care of aging patients and patient safety issues are included. Focuses on meeting individual patient needs with evidence-based methods in multidisciplinary situations is the focus.
NURS 3309 Comprehensive Nursing Assessment (2-4). This course increases techniques, process, and bio-psycho-social-behavioral and cultural nursing principles utilized to achieve comprehensive patient assessment. General communication and psychomotor skills will be addressed across the lifespan while students are encouraged to focus on their selected patient population. This educational process builds on previously acquired assessment knowledge and skill as well as continued experiential skills gained from clinical practice experience. Exploration and incorporation of current therapeutic communication skills, systems assessment, screenings, diagnostic data, pathophysiologic knowledge, and use of standardized data scales will contribute to comprehensive patient assessment.
NURS 4301 Nursing Management and Leadership (3-0). Examines leadership, management and organizational theories in relation to resource management, safety, and effective delivery of nursing to sets of clients. Focuses on the value of inter-professional teamwork, communication, reflection, and collaboration in systems and mid-level management in diverse settings.
NURS 4303 Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care (3-0). Applies legal and ethical guidelines to clinical situations pertaining to the role of the professional nurse. Examines philosophic foundations of decision making in contemporary health care with extension to identification and management of ethical dilemmas. Applies legal guidelines from the Texas Nurse Practice Act and landmark court cases to clinical situations with consideration for the role of the professional nurse.
NURS 4305 Population-Focused Community Health (3-0). Examines roles and functions of nurses within the community including epidemiologic principles. Emphasis is on application of community/public health concepts and design and implementation of nursing systems of care for individuals, at-risk families and vulnerable populations with diverse needs.
NURS 4307 Risk Analysis, Quality Management and Implications for Practice (3-0). Application of ethical, legal, economic, and political concepts to nursing practice. Identification of methods to decrease sentinel events through consistent promotion of nursing actions that influence quality improvement and simultaneously reduce morbidity and mortality.
NURS 4310 Special Topics in Nursing (3-0). This course provides the opportunity for intensive study of selected issues in nursing. May be repeated one time with progression of the selected topic or a new topic with approval from the Director of the RN to BSN Completion Program.
NURS 4311 Nursing Informatics (3-0). This course introduces students to fundamental concepts related to nursing information, communication technologies, systems and skills, and their impact on patient centered care. A variety of learning activities will engage students in the use of clinical information systems, electronic databases and health care records used to communicate and manage patient care data, support patient care decision making, and promote patient safety. Principles of legal, ethical, and policy issues associated with information management in health care settings and how these concepts are used to analyze work flow, data trending, and system change in health care settings are addressed. This course will be added as a potential elective for upper division requirements.
NURS 4313 Clinical Nursing Practice (1-8). This course addresses the application of bio-psycho-socio-cultural concepts to individuals with health care needs. The educational process links previous basic nursing knowledge and obtained experience with content from baccalaureate courses to build new clinical nursing principles and practice. Students will utilize advanced systems assessment, screenings and diagnostic data, and pathophysiologic knowledge to guide professional nursing care planning and delivery for a selected patient population with attention to health promotion, patient education, safety issues, cultural needs, and spirituality. Leadership and management principles are evident throughout the course.
NURS 4610 Baccalaureate Nursing Practice (Internship Area Selected by Student) (6-0). A capstone course which applies multi-cultural concepts and principles of evidence-based practice, quality improvement, informatics, patient safety, and population-focused community health to health care needs of individuals, families and communities through reflection and analysis. Utilize advanced health systems assessment, screenings and diagnostic data and pathophysiologic knowledge to guide nursing planning for selected patient populations with attention to health promotion, patient education, safety issues, culture, and spirituality.