BSN Completion Program

Complete your BSN in just Five Semesters!

Required Courses

First Semester - Fall (18 Credits)
HPNU 210 Pathophysiology (3 credits)
HPNU 220 Pharmacology (3 credits)
NURS 230 Nursing Health Assessment/Lab (3 credits)
NURS 217 Nursing Skills Comp I /lab (2 credits)
NURS 117 Foundations and Skills for Professional Nursing Practice/lab (4 credits)
HPNU 110 Professional and Career Success (3 credits)

Second Semester - Spring (16 Credits)
NURS 350 PNP: Psych/Mental Health/Clin
NURS 360 PNP: Adults I /clinical
NURS 330 Theory - Research
NURS 320 Policy & Politics

Third Semester - Summer (9 credits)
NURS 461 PNP: Peds & Adol/clinical+ (4 credits)
NURS 462 PNP: Newborns & Childbearing Women/clinical+ (4 credits)
NURS 417 Nursing Skill Comp/lab II (1 credit)

Fourth Semester - Fall (13 Credits)
NURS 361 PNP: Adults II (5 credits)
NURS 460 PNP: Adult III (5 credits)
NURS 410 Leadership & Professional Develop(3 credits)

Fifth Semester - Spring (15 Credits)
NURS 420 PNP: Community & Public Health/clinical
NURS 490 Capstone-Synthesis (KSVME)
NURS 430 Emergency Prep & Disaster Management
NURS 401 PNP: Senior Clinical Elective
NURS 491 NCLEX Prep Course/lab last week of class

Total Credits: 71 (62 NURS + 9 HPNU)

Prerequisite Requirements: (34 credits): (May meet the General Education requirements

Anatomy & Physiology (lab) (8 credits)
Microbiology (lab) (4 credits)
Chemistry (lab) (4 credits)
Psychology (3 credits)
Statistics (3 credits)
Ethics (3 credits)
Public Speaking (3 credits)
Sociology (3 credits)
Genetics (3 credits)

General Education Requirements (34 credits):

Skills for Life and Work - 15 credits
- Writing (3), Communication (6), Numeracy (3), and
- Information and Computer Literacy (3)
Understanding the Self, Society, and Nature - 16 credits
- Appreciation of Arts and Humanities (6),
- Personal, Civic and Global Awareness (6), and
- Understanding the Scientific Method (4)
Ethics and Moral Reasoning - 3 credits
- Religious Studies and Ethics (3)

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Program Policies

Required Documentation:
Prior to enrolling in any Nursing course, students are required to present documentation of the following:

Professional Liability Insurance in the amount of $1 million/$ 3 million
BLS/CPR Certification
Current immunization or titers for the following:
DPT; MMR; Hepatitis B (3 doses); Tetanus;
Influenza (annual); TB (annual).
National criminal background check
Including all alias and nationwide sexual offenders index with a set of fingerprints
Current major medical health insurance

Grades in Major Courses: Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0), or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.

Pass/No Pass: The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted in courses to be applied for the major.

Transfer Policy: Students may transfer up to 96 credits to fulfill the degree requirement of 128 credits.

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Course Descriptions

NURS 117 Foundations and Skills for Professional Nursing Practice/lab
This course is designed as an introduction to the concepts of knowledge, skills, values, meanings, experiences, and the nursing process as the underlying foundation for professional nursing practice. Historical and contemporary issues in nursing are examined, including philosophical beliefs, nursing theory, legal responsibilities, contemporary nursing roles, cultural competence and bioethics. The clinical component prepares the student to provide direct patient contact through the practice of critical thinking, communication and psychomotor skills in the campus learning lab and long-term care clinical sites. Certified Nursing Assistants may challenge the 1 credit for clinical skills lab.
4 credits
Prerequisites: HPNU 110 or Permission of nursing faculty

NURS 217 Nursing Skills Comp I /lab
The focus of this didactic and skills lab course is the development and acquisition of the technical/psychomotor skills required for nursing practice. Students will apply new and previously learned scientific principles to procedures required for the delivery of nursing care. Principles and methods of medication calculation and administration are also included.
3 credits
Co Requisites: Health Assessment

NURS 230 Nursing Health Assessment/Lab
This course is designed to assist the student to develop and refine their clinical skills in the assessment of the individual’s health by identifying common health deviations, at-risk behaviors, and altered findings through the use of appropriate knowledge, skills, and interview techniques. Health history taking methods, physical examination skills, health promotion techniques, clinical assessment tools, and the use of age related data instruments are the content foci for lectures and lab experiences. Students will practice conducting health histories and physical examinations including interpretation of normal findings and identification of deviations from normal during their weekly lab experience.
3 credits

NURS 320 Policy & Politics in Nursing & Health Care
Engages the student in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems and helps to determine accessibility, accountability, and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed and the effect this has on patient care; based on the student's findings, they will identify political factors that they may influence in a proactive response to quality patient outcomes.
3 credits

NURS 330 Theory/Research in Nursing
Focus is on relevant scientific and phenomenological information to assist the student to understanding the role of theory and research in nursing practice and health care. The course will provide an overview and analysis of theoretical approaches and research methodologies. Students will learn how to critically review and utilize research supporting common aspects of nursing practice.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Statistics; Pre/corequisite: NURS 300

NURS 350 Psych/Mental Health
This theory and clinical course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences necessary for nursing care of for clients with psychiatric and mental health disorders. Using an integrative approach, course content is based on the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural aspects of behavioral disorders. Students have the opportunity to apply theory in practice situations that include both in-and outpatient hospital and community settings.
5 credits
Pre/Co Requisite: NURS 360

NURS 360 Young through Older Adults I
This theory and clinical course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences necessary for nursing care of the adult client. Course content includes a focus on the health promotion needs of young, middle-aged, and older adults, as well as psychosocial aspects related to health care. Using a physiological systems approach, classroom content will focus on fluid and electrolyte, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal disruptions. An integrated biological, psychological, socio-cultural, environmental, and spiritual approach to care of the client and his family will be employed. The clinical component will include peri-operative and acute patient care settings.
5 credits
Prerequisites: All 200 level NURS AND HPNU courses

NURS 361 Young through Older Adults II
This theory and clinical course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences necessary for delivery of comprehensive nursing care of the adult client in the acute care setting. Using a physiological systems approach, classroom content will focus on endocrine, hematological, gastrointestinal, renal/urinary, and oncology disorders. Pain management and palliative care will be integrated. An integrated biological, psychological, sociocultural, environmental, and spiritual approach to care of the client and his family will be employed. The focus will include acute, chronic and palliative care activities. The clinical component will include experiences in in-patient care facilities.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 360 and NURS 350

NURS 401 Clinical Preceptorship
Offers an intensive study in an area of professional practice and an opportunity to describe, integrate and demonstrate competencies pertaining to the area. The clinical component of this course includes advanced knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences (KSVME) needed to transition into a particular nursing specialty.
3 credits
Prerequisites: All 300 level courses and NURS 410; Corequisite: NURS 420

NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health Care
Intersection of nursing care with leading people and managing organizations and systems is the focus for this course. While looking through the rearview mirror and visualizing the horizon, this forum will assist students to critique key issues contributing to the success of professional nurses. The course incorporates the application of management principles and leadership, change, and administration theories in nursing practice and health care delivery. Content discussions include delegation, working with large groups, communication and collaboration, cultural and diversity, legal and ethical dilemmas, budget management, staff development, resource management, quality improvement and risk management, evidence based practice, and the healthcare consumer.
3 credits
Prerequisite: All 300 level nursing courses

NURS 417 Nursing Skill Competencies II /lab
The focus of this didactic and skills lab course is the development and acquisition of the technical/psychomotor skills required for nursing practice of newborn, pediatric, adolescent, and childbearing clients. Students will apply new and previously learned scientific principles to procedures required for the competent delivery of nursing care to those specific populations. Principles and methods of medication calculation and administration for the newborn, pediatric, and adolescent client are also integrated.
4 credits
Prerequisites all 300 level courses

NURS 420 Community Health Nursing
Introduction to community/public health practice in a changing health care system is the focus for this course. Students will apply the concepts of primary health care to the assessment, planning, and delivery of care to diverse families and vulnerable populations. Factors influencing the primary health care of communities and the impact of globalization, socioeconomics, politics, and environmental factors on the health vulnerability and resiliency of communities are examined. Clinical experience will take place in a variety of community settings.
5 credits
Prerequisite: All 300 level courses and Sociology. Corequisite: NURS 410 and NURS 430.

NURS 430 Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Management
A guide to the basic components preparing nurses to provide health care under disaster conditions and to respond effectively in emergency situations. The student will be introduced to the principles of disaster preparedness and management, the common tasks consistent across all disaster responses, the key components of a disaster preparedness plan, health care systems frameworks for disaster response, impact of disasters, legal and ethical issues, and types of disasters and their causes.
3 credits
Corequisite with NURS 420

NURS 460 Adult III
This theory and clinical course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences necessary for comprehensive nursing care of the adult client with complex, multi-system, medical/surgical disruptions. Using a physiological systems approach, classroom content will focus on the provision of care for clients with neurological, hepatic, integumentary, infectious, and reproductive disorders. An integrated biological, psychological, sociocultural, environmental, and spiritual approach to care of the client and his family will be employed. The clinical component will include the opportunities for working with multiple and/or high acuity clients in an acute care setting.
5 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 361

NURS 461 Pediatric and Adolescent Client
This theory and clinical course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences necessary for providing comprehensive nursing care for the pediatric and adolescent client. A family-centered approach is used with emphasis on child developmental stages and health promotion strategies for the child and family unit. Contemporary socio-cultural issues influencing the family unit are explored. Clinical experiences include in-patient and community settings.
4 credits
Pre/Co Requisites: NURS 460 and NURS 462

NURS 462 Newborns and Childbearing Women
This theory and clinical course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences necessary for providing comprehensive nursing care for women, newborns, and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. A family-centered approach is used with emphasis on family developmental stages, family assessment and health promotion strategies for the family unit. Contemporary socio-cultural issues influencing the childbearing family unit are explored. Clinical experiences include acute care and community settings.
4 credits
Pre/Co Requisites:NURS 460 and NURS 461

NURS 490 Capstone - Synthesis (KSVME) of Professional and Health Care Issues
Culminating learning experience demonstrating the curriculum model of knowledge, skills, values, meaning, and experience (KSVME) within the professional practice of nursing. Assists students to critique and utilize research and analyze a clinical nursing problem that illustrates a sophisticated level of knowledge of best practices and of gathering and applying evidence. Each student will make a major presentation that is open to the educational and professional company.
3 credits
Prerequisites: All 300 level nursing courses and NURS 410; Corequisites of NURS 420 and NURS 430

NURS 491 NCLEX Prep
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX RN). Content includes information for registering to take the exam; test taking strategies and developing a study plan for review of core nursing content. Students will take a mock NCLEX RN exam.
1 credit
Prerequisites: Must have completed all course work for nursing and prepared to graduate

HPNU 110 Professional and Career Success
An introductory genesis course for students entering the health professions. Students are introduced to the concepts of knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences as the basis for professional practice. They will explore the evolution of the various disciplines in the health professions and models of professional socialization. Current issues and trends influencing the health care delivery system such as the increase in the use of technology, the cost of health care, professional standards and maintaining quality in health care agencies are among the varied topics of discussion. Students will be exposed to the use of select electronic data bases as information sources, as well as the techniques of professional writing.
3 credits
Permission of Nursing faculty

HPNU 210 Pathophysiology
This course is designed to assist the student in applying knowledge from anatomy and physiology and developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences associated with pathophysiology. Emphasis is placed on cellular, organ, and tissue concepts as they relate to and influence health and illness.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Bio A&P I/lab, Bio A&P II/lab, Bio Micro/lab, CHEM, ENGL 107

HPNU 220 Pharmacology
This course is designed to assist the student in developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences related to drug therapy. Emphasis is placed on drug classification, mechanism of action, drug interactions, adverse reactions, and therapeutic response. The role and responsibilities of the nurse in relationship to drug therapy is highlighted. The student is expected to apply knowledge from previous courses in the health sciences.
3 credits
Prerequisites: HPNU 210