Course Descriptions
Nursing 302: Wholistic Nursing Care (5 s.h.)
Pre-requisite: Admission to the nursing program
This course introduces the learner to the nursing profession and contemporary nursing practice. It is designed to provide the learner with a theoretical framework for nursing practice. The mission, philosophy, and conceptual framework of Methodist College of Nursing are reviewed with the learner focusing on the roles of the professional nurse, and the tools of practice required in the delivery of Wholistic nursing care to a culturally diverse client system. Laboratory and clinical experiences allow the learner to examine the scope of professional nursing. Syllabus
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Nursing 306: Pathophysiology in Nursing Practice (4 s.h.)
Pre-requisite: Admission to the nursing program
This course introduces pathophysiologic processes as they relate to alterations in normal functioning over the lifespan. Stressors that disrupt or modify the client's lines of defense and lines of resistance are examined. Emphasis is placed upon understanding the underlying causes and assessments of pathological processes providing a link between the sciences and theoretical rationale for nursing process and evidence-based practice. Syllabus
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Nursing 312: Health Assessment Across the Lifespan in Nursing Practice (3 s.h.)
Pre-requisite: Admission to the nursing program
The course is designed to provide the learner the theoretical knowledge and clinical competency needed for evaluating a client's state of health. The physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual variables are examined as they relate to client's state of health and health practices. Emphasis is placed on data collection, interpretation, and documentation of findings. Syllabus
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Nursing 316: Pharmacology in Nursing Practice (3 s.h.)
Pre-requisite: Admission to the nursing program
This course enables the learner to explore the basic concepts and principles of pharmacology and provides an overview of the major drug classifications. The theoretical basis for pharmacological interventions is based on a systems approach to pharmacology. The collaborative role of the nurse in the context of the multi-disciplinary team and use of the nursing process are stressed in developing a comprehensive approach to the clinical applications of drug therapy. An emphasis is placed on the therapeutic use of medications, focusing on attaining and maintaining the client system's normal lines of defense and lines of resistance. The legal and ethical aspects of safe medication administration and client education are also examined. Syllabus
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Nursing 325: Nursing Care of the Aging Population (2 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N302, N306, N312, N316
This course is designed to provide the learner with the theoretical knowledge of the aging population. In addition, the learner will identify client stressors and investigate the three levels of prevention, primary, secondary, and tertiary, to attain, maintain, and retain the integrity of the aging client. Syllabus
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Nursing 342: Maintenance of Mental Health in Nursing Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N302, N306, N312, N316
This course is designed to assist learners with the development of theoretical knowledge and skills needed to support various client systems in attaining and maintaining optimal mental health. Emphasis is placed on assessing diverse client populations, utilizing therapeutic communication, and selecting culturally appropriate nursing interventions to support adaptation within client systems. The learner relates with clients in a variety of mental health milieus. Syllabus
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Nursing 360: Health Alterations in Nursing Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N302, N306, N312, N316
This course focuses on Wholistic nursing care of the client system experiencing stressors that alter health. Emphasis is placed on the role of the professional nurse in assisting client systems to cope with intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal stressors. The learner will apply therapeutic nursing interventions based on empirical evidence and critical thinking to assist the client system in achieving an optimal level of wellness. Major concepts taught include the management of the client with disorders of integumentary, hematological, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, urinary, and endocrine systems. Clinical opportunities correlated with course content are provided to enable the learner to create positive outcomes for the client system. Syllabus
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Nursing 390: Selected Topics in Nursing Practice (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N302, N306, N312, N316
This course will provide students opportunities to explore a variety of topics in nursing and healthcare, which will enhance their roles as practicing nurses. Students will be provided with have the option of exploring two different topic areas over two semesters, or complete a focused, intense two-semester study of one topic. Selected topics will be provided by faculty members. Syllabus
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Nursing 400: Child-bearing Family In Nursing Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N325, N342, N360, N390
This course provides the learner the theoretical knowledge to apply the nursing process to culturally diverse family client systems during childbearing. The pregnancy experience from conception through post delivery will be explored. Selected health issues for men and women with an emphasis on primary prevention will also be examined. The clinical component will provide for correlation of theory to practice in the community, as well as the acute care setting. Syllabus
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Nursing 405: Child-rearing Family In Nursing Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N325, N342, N360, N390
This course enables the learner to integrate a theoretical knowledge base with clinical practice in order to provide care for children in culturally diverse family client systems. The learner will explore the collaborative role of the professional nurse in assessing and intervening with child-rearing family systems. Emphasis is placed on secondary and tertiary prevention in assisting the client system to attain or maintain wellness from stressors common to children from birth to adolescence. Primary prevention through health promotion of children of all ages is also addressed. Clinical experiences are offered in both acute care and community settings. Syllabus
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Nursing 416: Research in Nursing (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N325, N342, N360, N390
The course focuses on the beginning level competencies the student needs in order to use the process of scientific inquiry as the basis for professional nursing practice. Opportunities are provided for the student to apply the research process to critically read and analyze nursing research studies. A general understanding of and appreciation for research is provided. Presents research data through poster and paper presentations. Syllabus
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Nursing 425: Community as Client (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N325, N342, N360, N390
This course provides a broad introduction to contemporary dimensions of the community client system and cultivates an awareness of the multifaceted role of the community health nurse in the promotion of optimal wellness in the community client system. The learner integrates the concepts of prevention, adaptation, environment, continuity of care, multidisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice, and cultural diversity to provide Wholistic care to community client systems experiencing potential or actual stressors. Sources for local and global information and resources for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are explored. Structured clinical experiences in selected settings facilitate the functioning of the learner to practice as a nurse generalist in the community setting and to apply community theory and concepts. Syllabus
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Nursing 432: Complex Health Alterations in Nursing Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N400, N405, N416, N425
This theoretical course is intended to be taken in conjunction with a supporting clinical component. Concurrent classroom and clinical enrollment offers the student the opportunity to care for the client with actual and potential complex stressors and thus reinforces theoretical content and adds to the growing body of knowledge and experience needed to enter professional nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on the nurse's role in assessing the wholistic client in regard to intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal stressors and their affects on the five client variables. Although a significant portion of the classroom time addresses secondary prevention and acute care issues, the student will also explore the role of the nurse in illness prevention and in discharge planning for the home or extended care settings. Major concepts addressed include the nursing management of the client with disorders of the kidney and alterations of the peripheral vascular, cardiac, respiratory, and neurological systems. Additionally, the student is expected to demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the collaborative nature of health care and to recognize the contributions of other health-related disciplines. Syllabus
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Nursing 466: Leadership and Management in Nursing Practice (5 s.h.)
Prerequisites: N400, N405, N416, N425
This course enables the learner to analyze, synthesize, apply, and evaluate concepts related to leadership and management theory. The nurse as a leader/manager, the nursing unit, or the healthcare agency is viewed as the core system with lines of defense and lines of resistance. Leadership and management strategies are used as interventions aimed at maintaining or restoring stability and order within the core system. Students apply leadership and management theory to the direct care of a culturally diverse group of clients by collaborating, planning, and coordinating care with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Concurrent clinical experiences provide opportunities for the student to utilize the nursing process in the delivery of care to client systems requiring primary, secondary, and/or tertiary levels of prevention. Syllabus
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Nursing 470: Senior Seminar-Capstone Course (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: N400, N405, N416, N425
This is the capstone course for the baccalaureate nursing program. In this course, the learner will integrate knowledge and demonstrate the use of key concepts in the critical analysis of issues related to professional nursing practice. These key concepts include professionalism, communication, leadership and management, critical thinking, cultural competence, lifelong learning, and evidenced-based practice.