University of Nebraska at Kearney

1996 - 98 UNK Undergraduate Catalog

UNDERGRADUATE NURSING COURSES

Courses Level I

NU 262. Professional Nursing - 2 credits
This course begins the student's development as a professional nurse. It will cultivate students as co - participants engaging in a variety of learning interactions. The traditional and evolving roles of the professional nurse will be explored with an emphasis on societal forces. The philosophy and conceptual framework of the College of Nursing at UNMC will be examined and the relationship among the concepts will be explored. Course content will promote acquisition of the professional role through the development and enhancement of lifelong learning skills. Class - 2 hours. Prerequisite - Admission to Nursing Major.

NU 266. Process of Relating - 2 credits
This course provides theory and practice focusing on interpersonal interactions and processes as the foundation for relating in nursing practice. Individuals are viewed from a holistic and developmental perspective. Students learn to use a variety of communication skills that can be applied in therapeutic and professional relationships with individuals and groups. Emphasis is placed on the therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the individual client. Selected concepts related to self awareness, teaching/learning, change, assertiveness, and conflict resolution are explored. Class - 2 hours. Prerequisite - Admission to Nursing Major.

NU 268. Health Assessment and Promotion - 4 credits
The major focus of this course is a holistic approach to lifespan assessment of the well individual. Through the processes of knowing, relating, and developing the student will attain a better understanding of self and others. Students will examine health beliefs, identify factors impacting adoption of healthy life - style, and develop a health promotion plan for self and others. Students will use knowledge from prerequisite and concurrent courses as they obtain health histories and perform physical examinations on selected clients. They will identify expected findings, identify the presence of alterations, and explore health promotion behaviors. Further skills to be developed include: interviewing, developing a narrative, formulation a health history, developing assessment skills in the physical, psychosocial, developmental, cultural, spiritual, and environmental areas. Completed assessments will be used in the framework of the nursing process. The role of the nurse as a competent, caring professional will be applied to health assessment and health promotion. Class - 2.5 hours. Lab - 1.5 hours. Prerequisite or Concurrent - NU 262 and NU 266.

NU 325. Pathophysiologic Basis of Alterations in Health - 4 credits
This course focuses on the pathophysiologic basis for selected alterations in health across the life span. Theories of disease causation will be explored. Acquired, immune, infectious, carcinogenic and genetic alterations in health in the body systems will be presented with an emphasis on etiology, cellular and systemic pathophysiologic response and clinical manifestations. Interdisciplinary management will be introduced. Class - 4 hours. Prerequisite - Anatomy and Physiology or Permission of Instructor.

NU 270 - Pharmacology - 2 credits
The primary goal of this course is to provide basic pharmacologic information that will impart an understanding of the action of drugs on the human organism, so that the nursing student can apply this knowledge prior to, during, and after the judicious administration of drugs in the practice of nursing. Familiarity with the general pharmacologic actions of common classes of drugs will enable the nurse to be better able to evaluate expected therapeutic responses in patients, as well as to evaluate for possible adverse effects. The student will be introduced to basic pharmacology with an emphasis on how drugs act in humans in ways that relate to nursing. This is accomplished through utilization of the nursing process: assessment, intervention and evaluation. Knowledge of the science of pharmacology is integrated by nursing in the care of humans as bio - psycho - social - spiritual beings. This course provides the nurse with an indispensable base of current knowledge that is utilized to make effective clinical judgements when providing nursing for health care consumers. Prerequisites - none.

NU 310. Foundations of Nursing Care - 2 credits
This course introduces basic concepts, time management, and skills relevant to professional nursing practice. Laboratory and clinical settings will be used for the performance of nursing care. Class 1 hour. Lab 1 hour. Prerequisites - NU 262, NU 266, NU 268; Prerequisite or Concurrent - NU 321.

NU 320. Family Centered Nursing Care of Adults I - 7 credits
This course focuses on the nursing care of individual adult clients within the context of their families. Core knowledge from prerequisite and corequisite courses will be used to support integration of content. Emphasis will be placed on the students' beginning utilization of decision making models and development of clinical judgment to restore, promote and protect the health care of adult clients. A variety of health care settings will be utilized to maximize student experiences. Through the processes of knowing, relating, and developing the student will attain a better understanding of self and adult clients and their families. Class 4 hours. Lab 3 hours. Prerequisites - NU 262, NU 266, NU 268; Prerequisite or Concurrent - NU 270, NU 310, NU 321, NU 325.

NU 321. The Adult Client and Family Responses to Health - 1 credit
This seminar examines concepts related to the responses by the adult client and the family to health promotion or alterations to health status. The student will gain an understanding of how the family's structure and process affects the adult client's health status. The student will also identify family - oriented and interdisciplinary health care interventions used in promoting the adult client's health and in caring for the adult client with health alterations. Throughout the course factors influencing the family's responses will be integrated. These factors include health knowledge, cultural, spiritual, legal, social and economical forces as will as the nurse's own perceptions. A seminar format will be utilized to promote student and faculty dialogue. Class to promote student and faculty dialogue. Class - 1 hour. Prerequisites - NU 262, NU 266, NU 268.

NU 399. - Evaluating Nursing Research - 2 credits
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the research process and its relationship to nursing science. Emphasis placed on the components of the research process, the concepts and terms associated with the process, and the evaluation of published research reports so that research may be utilized in professional practice. Class 2 hours. Prerequisites: Statistics; All Level I and Level II courses or permission of instructor.

NU 340. - Family - Centered Maternity Nursing - 4 credits
This course focuses on the nursing care of the at low/high risk childbearing family across antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn periods. Decision - making processes are applied in a family centered approach to promote and to restore health in the low and high risk pregnant woman/fetus/newborn. The concepts of wellness, developing, relating and knowing are integrated into the nursing care. Current trends and issues related to family centered maternity nursing will be explored. Ambulatory, inpatient and home management of various levels of wellness will be implemented in a variety of clinical settings. Class 2 hours - Lab 2 hours. Prerequisites: All Level I and Level II courses or permission of instructor.

NU 350. - Family - Centered Nursing Care of Children - 4 credits
This course focuses on the application of problem - solving approaches to promote, protect, and restore the health of children from infancy through adolescence within the context of the family. The concepts of growth, developing, relating and knowing are emphasized. Current trends and issues related to family - centered health care of children will be explored. A variety of clinical experiences will be provided in ambulatory, inpatient and community settings. Class 2 hours - Lab 2 hours. Prerequisites: Completion of Level I and II courses or permission of instructor.

NU 345. - Seminar in Family Health Issues - 2 credits
This seminar focuses on issues related to the family's responses to change in health. Relationships between an individual's and family's development will be examined. The student will gain an understanding of basic family assessment, selected family theories, and family responses to selected acute/life - threatening illnesses, losses, addiction, domestic violence and changes in parenting and sexuality. Legal, ethical, environmental, cultural, spiritual, and economical factors affecting family responses to selected health issues will be discussed. Implications for the health care professional to use in protecting, promoting and/or restoring the family's function will be identified. Class 2 hours. Prerequisites: Completion of Level I and II courses or permission of instructor.

NU 355. - Introduction to Ambulatory Care - 2 credits
This course introduces the student to nursing roles and functions in caring for clients with health care needs in ambulatory settings. Emphasis is placed on the coordination of health care role as it relates to health promotion, protection, and restoration for clients of all ages and development stages. The processes of knowing, developing, and relating are integrated into the learning experiences of interviewing, teaching, anticipatory guidance, and collaboration with other health care providers. Cultural, economic, environmental, and ethical factors influencing client responses in ambulatory settings are also examined. Opportunities for enhancement of clinical practice skills focus on health assessment and screening, priority - setting, information and time management. Class 1.5 - Lab .5. Prerequisites: All Level I and II courses or permission of instructor.

NU394 - Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing Education - 1 credit
This course facilitates the transition of the advanced placement student into the educational program to the UNMC - CON. Development of a faculty and peer support system is central to this transition process. The student will explore concepts central to the development of a baccalaureate prepared nurse. Students will be introduced to strategies that will facilitate their educational process. Seminar - I hour.

NU399 - Evaluating Nursing Research - 2 credits
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the research process and its relationship to nursing science. Emphasis is placed on the components of the research process, the concepts and terms associated with the process, and the evaluation of published research reports so that research may be utilized in professional practice. Class - 2 hours. Prerequisites - Level I and Level II Standing Courses, Statistics. Permission of Instructor.

NU 410 - Client - Centered Psychiatric Mental Health - Nursing - 4 credits
This course presents nursing care which emphasizes the process of relating to promote, restore, and protect the mental health of individuals and groups. This course will explore the human experience of mentally ill clients as they interact with environmental forces including their families an(] health care providers, Current trends and issues related to psychiatric mental health nursing will be explored, A variety of settings will be used to provide learning experiences. Class - 2 hours. Clinical - 2 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II and Level III Standing Courses. Concurrent - NU420. Permission of Instructor.

NU 420 - Community Health Nursing - 5 credits
In this course the students learn about community - focused nursing practice. The process of knowing focuses on introductory concepts of public health, community assessment, health program development, case management for individuals and families, and analysis of health risks for populations. Health promotion, protection, and restoration interventions for clients across the lifespan are emphasized in clinical practice. Concepts consistent with the nursing dimensions of relating and developing are expanded to include aggregates and multidisciplines in this community - focused experience. The influence of cultural diversity, economics, politics, environments, and ethics as they impact community health nursing practice are explored throughout the course. Opportunities to practice comprehensive, independent nursing care roles and function in unstructured, diverse health care environments are provided. Class - 2 hours. Clinical - 3 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II, and Level III courses. Prerequisite or Corequisite - NU 410 and NU 435.

NU 425 - Concepts, Issues, and Nursing Care Related to Chronic Health Conditions - 2 credits
This course focuses on the developmental tasks and biopsychosocial coping of clients and families experiencing chronic health conditions across the life span. The instructional strategy of problem based learning will be used to assist students to examine major problems and issues related to chronicity. During seminar sessions, students will use their decision making skills to plan promotive, protective, and restorative care for selected case studies of clients with chronic health conditions and their families. Cultural, ethical, legal, and economic issues related to chronicity will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on collaboration and coordination to provide continuity of care in a variety of environments. Class - 2 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II, and Level III.

NU 435 - Health Policy and Issues - 3 credits
Emphasis in this course is on professional role development in relation to environmental, social, political, and economic factors which influence health care policy. Selected topics are examined to help students analyze issues, compare and contrast multiple views on issues, and formulate appropriate responses to health care policy. Class - 3 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II and Level III Standing Courses. Permission of Instructor.

NU 438 - Independent Study (elective - students must file a plan of study with the instructor the semester before they intend to take this course)
Independent Study is designed to meet needs and interests of individuals and/ or groups of students for nursing theory and/or practice not offered in other courses. Self - directed learning requires independence in motivation and direction as students use their own unique learning abilities to accomplish their selected goals. Prerequisites - senior level standing in the College of Nursing or permission of the instructor.

NU 450 - Family - Centered Nursing Care of Clients with Acute Complex Problems - 5 credits
This course focuses on nursing care of clients and their families who are experiencing acute alterations in health. Emphasis will be on restoration, protection and promotion of health in high acuity settings. Students will have the opportunity for follow - up of clients they have cared for during acute health alterations. Problem based approaches will be utilized in the planning, organization, and implementation of nursing care. Through the processes of knowing, relating, and developing, the student will gain an understanding of the human health experience as it relates to the acutely ill. Class - 2 hours. Clinical - 3 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II, Level III Standing Courses; NU 410, NU 420 and NU 425. NU 435. Prerequisite or Corequisite - NU 435.

NU 460 - Gerontological Nursing - 4 credits
This course synthesizes scientific, conceptual and nursing content while focusing on the unique biopsychosocial factors related to the aging client. Demographic. Environmental, ethnic, and cultural issues related to aging are explored. Emphasis is placed on the students' ability to apply complex clinical judgment and skills in promoting, protecting, and restoring older adults highest functional capacity. Clinical experiences are provided in diverse environments. Class - 2 hours. Clinical - 2 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II, Level III and Level IV Standing Courses.

NU 470 - Nursing Management Strategies - 3 credits
Management of human, fiscal, and material resources to promote an environment facilitating delivery of health care is the focus of this course. Skills in influencing, collaborating, facilitating, negotiating, and building teams, selected management strategies, and development of personal effectiveness, accountability, and responsibility for maintaining standards of quality client care are emphasized. Class - 2. Clinical - I hour. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II, Level III, and Level IV courses.

NU 480 - Transition to Professional Nursing - 2 credits
This course is a clinical practicum which provides each student an opportunity to assume the role of a beginning professional nurse in concert with a registered nurse preceptor in a health care setting selected by the student in collaboration with faculty. During the practicum students integrate previously acquired knowledge and experience to develop self - reliance, build expertise, and begin role transition. Students employ the human processes of knowing, developing, and relating as they explore and demonstrate competency in the roles of provider of health care, coordinator of health care, and member of the profession. Clinical - 2 hours. Prerequisites - Level I, Level II, Level III, Level IV Standing Courses and NU 450, NU 460, and NU 470.