Nursing (ASN)

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of nursing across the lifespan, along with the application of basic skills related to health history collection and physical assessment of all body systems. The course includes the consideration of nutritional, bio/psychosocial, developmental, cultural and spiritual needs, and transitional changes related to variations in health status of the client. The establishment and maintenance of a therapeutic nurse/client relationship is emphasized. Critical thinking skills are developed through activities and exercises presented in the classroom and skills lab. With a focus on patient-centered care, the nursing process will be utilized to identify and provide the building blocks of nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on developing skills needed to provide safety, minimizing the risk of harm to patients and providers, and evidence-based practice. Guided learning experiences in the skills and computer laboratories will assist the student in making a learning transition. The transition occurs as the student moves from basic skills to more advanced skills Concepts presented include beginning teamwork and collaboration, documentation, patient safety, informatics, physical assessment, infection control, patient education, and the Nursing Process. Inpatient and outpatient clinical rotations will provide opportunities for the student to achieve course competencies. The course provides opportunities for the student to acquire an adequate knowledge utilizing understanding from the biophysical sciences, humanities, growth and development, problem solving abilities, critical thinking and the nursing process.

This course will provide the student with an opportunity to provide patient-centered care by exploring and applying the conceptual basis for professional nursing with clients in the mental health field. With a focus on psychiatric nursing services to individuals, within the context of their families, with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, health patterns, evidence-based practice, safety, ethics, and role development, supervised inpatient and outpatient clinical rotations will provide the opportunities for the students to achieve the course competencies. This course provides opportunities for the student to acquire an adequate knowledge utilizing evidence-based practice from the biophysical sciences, humanities, growth and development, problem solving abilities and the nursing process. This course will explore pharmacology, cultural diversity, nutrition and the legal and ethical aspects of mental health nursing.

This course is designed to prepare associate degree nursing students to provide nursing care unitizing concepts and skills introduced in the Fundamentals course (RNSG 2020). Nursing care that promotes healthy transitions for clients experiencing variations of health status related to gastrointestinal, respiratory, musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, and psychosocial functions is included. Special consideration is given to the care of the elderly and clients during the operative period. Critical thinking skills are unitized to meet the bio/psychosocial, developmental, cultural, and spiritual needs of the client. Emphasis is placed on the application of the roles of associate degree nursing practice.

This course focuses on the information required to safely administer drugs and monitor the effects of drug therapy. Emphasis is placed on dosage calculations and principles of pharmacology including drug actions, interactions, and nursing implications for broad classifications of medications. Students are expected to utilize the nursing process and critical thinking in the administration of prescribed medications, taking a medication history, and teaching patients about medications in a simulated setting prior to administering medications in a variety of health care settings.

Medical Surgical II course focuses on the care of clients with critical care/acute/chronic/complex needs and problems related to health transitions in cardiac, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, endocrine, and immunological systems across the life span. Emphasis in this course is placed on the refinement of assessment; care planning; critical thinking and decision making; communication: and nursing skills appropriate with the level of the associate degree-nursing student.

Maternal child course is designed to prepare associate degree nursing students to provide care to mothers and children with an emphasis on the refinement of assessments, care planning, critical thinking and decision making, communication, and nursing skills appropriate with the level of the associate degree-nursing student.

Medical Surgical Ill Capstone Course will challenge students to synthesize and incorporate knowledge gained in the nursing profession and roles and responsibilities related to associate degree nursing. The student is expected to apply knowledge gained through the ASN program to the care of diverse clients in various practice settings. Information gained from historical perspective as well as current trends/issues in nursing will be utilized throughout the course. Emphasis is placed on ensuring the transition from student to graduate nurse via actual Hospital and Simulation Hospital, preceptorships and opportunities for leadership. These reality-based practice experiences will allow the student opportunity to provide and manage care while serving in the role of team member and team leader. Students will provide care to clients experiencing complex, acute, and emergency variations in health status related to the pathophysiological changes that occur with burns, organ failure, organ transplants, end-of-life issues, and disaster situations. The student will demonstrate critical thinking skills; utilize the principles of delegation; and exhibit communication and collaboration techniques in the management of a client caseload.