Course Descriptions

NUR 207 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING AND THE CARING PROCESS (4 hours)

This course is designed to introduce nursing as a healing ministry based on the example of Jesus Christ. The history, theories, and concepts of the nursing profession are explored with an emphasis on caring as the spiritual core of nursing practice. The nursing process is discussed as it relates to moral and ethical decision-making. Focus of the clinical experience is on the use of effective communication, health assessment techniques, and skills development as related to functional abilities of individuals. Competency in basic assistive techniques with an introduction to nursing skills is emphasized. Community agencies and health care facilities provide the setting for clinical practice experiences. Prerequisites: Admission to the Yancey School of Nursing. BIO 111, BIO 112, ENG 101, ENG 102, HCP 101. (3 hours of class per week; 3 hours of lab/clinical per week)

NUR 209 HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND WELLNESS PROMOTION (3 hours)

This course focuses on health assessment of individuals and promotion of healthy lifestyles. Students will develop skills for obtaining health histories and performing physical examinations as well as strategies for healthy living. Functional health patterns are explored from a caring perspective. Pre-requisites: Admission to the Yancey School of Nursing, BIO 111, BIO 112, ENG 101, ENG 102, HCP 101, or approval of instructor. (2 hours of class per week; 3 hours of lab per week)

NUR 210 PHARMACOLOGY IN NURSING (3 hours)

This course focuses on the action and therapeutic use of medication and application of drug therapy. Legal and ethical responsibilities associated with the use of pharmacological agents are explored. Major classes of drugs are examined for pharmacologic properties and effects. Pre-requisites: NUR 207, 209, or approval of instructor. (3 hours of class per week)

NUR 212 INTRODUCTION TO ADULT NURSING AND THE CARING PROCESS (6 hours)

This course focuses on implementation of nursing and the caring process for ill or injured adults experiencing health alterations as evidenced by vision, auditory, integumentary, immune, fluid and electrolyte, cardiac, respiratory, hematologic, and neoplastic disorders and pre, intra, and post operative care. Factors that affect the individual's health care behaviors are also examined. Focus of the clinical experience is caring and critical thinking in the application of the nursing process with ill adults in health care facilities and community agencies. Prerequisites:NUR207,209.(4 hrs class weekly; 6 hrs of lab/clin. weekly.)

NUR 290 TRANSITION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING (2 hours)

This course is designed to build on existing nursing practice by introducing nursing as a healing ministry based on the example of Jesus Christ. The theories and concepts of the nursing profession are explored with an emphasis on caring as the spiritual core of nursing practice. Students build on existing knowledge and skills in using the nursing process as it relates to moral and ethical decision-making. Prerequisites: RN-BSN, admission to Yancey School of Nursing. (2 hours of class per week)

NUR 293 HOLISTIC NURSING (3 hours)

The focus of this course is on holistic management of client health problems throughout the life cycle. Emphasis is placed on continued cognitive and affective development integrating previous knowledge and skills, complex biopsychosocial and spiritual problems, and utilizing caring with an intersystems thinking approach to health care. (3 hours of class per week)

NUR 293C HOLISTIC NURSING (1 hour)

The focus of this course is on holistic management of client health problems throughout the life cycle. Clinical settings will be chosen by the student to address complex health situations from a holistic Christian perspective. Prerequisite: RN-BSN.(45 hours of clinical activities)

NUR 305 NURSING LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT (3 hours)

This course focuses on leadership roles in practice. Leadership theories and models of planned change and decision-making are used to develop plans for solving problems in health care systems and health care policy. Lifelong learning and how to find and use health information are discussed. Management roles and functions are addressed. (3 hours of class per week)

NUR 307 NURSING CARE OF WOMEN AND CHILDBEARING FAMILIES (4 hours)

This course focuses on a wellness approach to the developmental changes women experience and family influences. The nursing process will be used to meet the health care needs of childbearing families and women with an emphasis on the caring relationship in a variety of settings. Prerequisites: NUR 210, NUR 212, HCP 201, BIO 312. 3 hours of class per week; 3 hours of lab/clinical per week)

NUR 308 INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH (3 hours)

This course provides an introduction to the basic principles of the research process and problem solving method. Examination of selected nursing research for applicability to clinical practice is included. Critical analysis of nursing research studies for application to practice is emphasized. Pre-requisite: MAT 302. (3 hours of class per week)

NUR 309 ADULT NURSING AND THE CARING PROCESS (6 hours)

This course offers continued focus on the nursing process and caring relationship with ill adults and their families. Environmental and family influences that affect the individual’s health care behaviors are also examined. Emphasis is placed on caring and a wellness oriented approach in the nursing care of adults experiencing disorders of gastrointestinal, renal, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and endocrine function. Opportunity is provided for the application of nursing concepts and skills in multiple settings. Prerequisite: NUR 212. (4 hours of class per week; 6 hours of clinical per week)

NUR 310 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING (5 hours)

The focus of this course is on the theory and practice of psychiatric mental health nursing. Emphasis is on the development of therapeutic caring relationships using the nursing process with individuals and families in a variety of settings. Clinical experiences will be in acute care facilities and community settings. Prerequisite: NUR 210, HCP 201, BIO 312. (3 hours of class per week; 6 hours clinical per week)

NUR 312 ADVANCED MEDICAL-SURGICAL CONCEPTS (4 hours)

This course offers continued focus on the nursing process and caring relationship with ill adults and their families. Emphasis is placed on caring for adults with complex health problems. This course enables students to apply nursing concepts and skills in the management of acutely ill adults and families in complex health care environments. Students develop mechanisms to enhance their personal caring and coping strategies in high-stress inpatient and community settings. Prerequisites: NUR 309. (2 hours of class per week; 6 hours of clinical/lab per week).

NUR 405 COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING (5 hours)

This course provides an introduction to the theories, principles, practices, and research relating to issues in the delivery of health care to a community and the environment of the community. The nursing process and caring relationship are emphasized, while collaborating and partnering with other health care providers to empower individuals, families, and communities to effect change. (3 hours of class per week; 6 hours of clinical per week).

NUR 406 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUES (2 hours)

This course assists students to critically examine current and emerging trends and issues in nursing and health care. Using a seminar format, students lead discussions and explore nursing’s independent and interdependent relationship with other health care providers in a dynamic health care field. (2 hours of class per week)

NUR 415 NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN (5 hours)

This course provides application of the nursing process and caring relationship in a family-centered approach to the care of children. The focus is on nursing care of children and families with a goal of health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. Clinical experiences will be in acute care facilities and community settings. Prerequisites: HCP 201, BIO 312. (3 hours of class per week; 6 hours clinical per week)

NUR 418 CLINICAL INTEGRATION PRACTICUM AND DIAGNOSTIC SEMINAR (5 hours)

This course is designed to prepare the student for role transition to the practice of entry-level professional nursing. The student will collaboratively plan the experience with a faculty member and a professional registered nurse who has been approved to serve as a preceptor to the student. The experience can be arranged to focus upon one specific setting or to create an experience in which a variety of settings are merged where the student can practice the knowledge, skills, and attitudes in professional nursing and the caring relationship. Emphasis is on the application of advanced nursing concepts, skills, and personal, professional, and spiritual growth. This course must be taken the final semester by pre-licensure students. (2 hours of class per week; 135 clinical hours with 120 of these as precepted clinical experience completed in seven consecutive weeks)

NUR 452 ADVANCED MEDICAL-SURGICAL CONCEPTS* (3 hours)

This course offers continued focus on the nursing process and caring relationship with ill adults and their families. Emphasis is placed on caring for adults with complex health problems. This course enables students to apply nursing concepts and skills in the management of acutely ill adults and families in complex health care environments. Students develop mechanisms to enhance their personal caring and coping strategies in high-stress inpatient and community settings. Prerequisites: completion of NUR 306/309. (2 hours of class per week, 3 hours of clinical per week.)

*This course is for students entering the Yancey School of Nursing prior to the fall of 2008.

NUR 490 NCLEX INTENSIVE (4 hours)

This course will provide intensive, structured remediation for students who have identified areas for prior to taking the NCLEX-RN. Students will be assisted to design an individualized program based upon exit-testing data (e.g., HESI, ATI, etc.). (Pre-requisite: Completion of senior-level Capstone course. Required of all KCU students who receive an "I" in NUR 418.)

NUR 504 CLINICAL PRACTICE CONCEPTS (5 hours)

This practicum course will assist students to explore advanced nursing roles through didactic and clinical experiences. Issues to be explored include role behaviors and transitions, educational preparation, and regulatory guidelines. This course will provide students with foundational information on which to build sound advanced practice competencies. 5 credit hours (90 clinical contact hours)

. (Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN program, graduate standing, or instructor’s consent.)

NUR ___ SPECIAL TOPICS IN NURSING (1 to 4 hours)

This course is an intensive study of specific topics to assist students who have had previous nursing education with the transition to the KCU Yancey School of Nursing curriculum. The course is based on individual analysis of student needs. (1 to 4 hours of class per week.)