Trinity Washington University’s pre-licensure B.S.N. program combines the academic structure and clinical preparation necessary for a career in nursing. Our students focus initially on liberal arts courses that provide a framework for their chosen major in nursing. The rigorous academic coursework in the nursing program then lays the foundation for a progressive mastery of the knowledge, skills, values, ethics and abilities required of a professional nurse. Toward the end of the program, students will have ample opportunities to experience firsthand the rewards of nursing in closely supervised clinical settings.
Pre-licensure students complete the general education core curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as their pre-nursing requirements before applying for formal acceptance into the nursing program in the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Requirements for admission include completion of the College of Arts and Sciences core curriculum and pre-nursing courses with a grade of “C” or higher, an overall G.P.A. of at least 2.5 and a satisfactory score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (T.E.A.S.).
Trinity’s B.S.N. program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (C.C.N.E.) and has conditional approval from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing (D.C.B.O.N.).
Last On-Site Evaluation: Spring 2017
Next CCNE On-Site Evaluation: TBD
Pre-Requisite Courses (See Academic Catalog for full list of required courses)
BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); pass BIOL 101 with a C or better or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area.BIOL 122 Human Anatomy and Physiology IIA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The second part of this year-long course emphasizes the endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 121. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 creditsBIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health ProfessionsAn introduction to the study of microorganisms with emphasis on disease-causing bacteria. Topics include the nature of microorganisms, their relationships with humans, infectious diseases, and immunity. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab per week. Does not fulfill microbiology requirement for Biology major. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 creditsCHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108HPNU 120 Medical TerminologyThis is a self-paced, 8-week online course designed for individuals interested in learning the language of medicine required to work within a variety of health care fields. The student will work independently to acquire word-building skills in the field of medicine and will have a solid understanding of basic medical language and a foundational start on basic medical science and health related concepts that will be useful for other courses within the health professions.
1 credit
Prerequisites: NoneHPNU 200 Nutrition, Diet Therapy, and Health PromotionThis course provides the foundation for an understanding of the relationships of nutrition and diet therapy to optimum health. It includes physiological, psychosocial and cultural influences on nutritional status. Students will explore their own nutritional status and values as they relate to health and wellness.
3 creditsHPNU 210 PathophysiologyThis 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
Pre/Corequisites: BIOL 121, BIOL 122, BIOL 130, CHEM 113MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.
Nursing Specific Courses (See Academic Catalog for full list of required courses)
NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing PracticeThis course introduces basic concepts, values and nursing skills required for nursing care across the life span. An emphasis is placed on critical thinking, communication skills and the nursing process as the underlying foundation for professional nursing practice in health care settings.
This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
5 credits (4/1)
Prerequisites: HPNU 210, Admission to the Nursing ProgramNURS 222 Health AssessmentThe focus of this course is the development and acquisition of professional nursing skills used in health assessment required for nursing practice across the life span. Requires two class hours and three hours of lab per week.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Admission to the Nursing Program.NURS 215 PharmacologyThis 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 g 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: Admission to the Nursing ProgramNURS 220 Health Promotion, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health CareThe focus of this course is the development and acquisition of professional nursing skills used in health assessment required for nursing practice across the life span. Requires two class hours and three hours of lab per week.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Admission to the Nursing ProgramNURS 330 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based PracticeResearch and Evidence-Based Practice focuses 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. Formerly NURS 330 - Nursing Theory & Research.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 117, NURS 220, NURS 222, and NURS 215NURS 350 Medical-Surgical Nursing IThis course focuse on nursing science and knowledge applicable to persons with imbalances of health in comples conditions. Students are introduced to the values, knowledge and competencies that are the foundation for safe, evidence-based, professional holistic nursing care of adults with common medical and surgical needs. The student will explore the pathophysiology of common diseases and the essentials of the nursing process. Ultimately it focuses on the expected outcomes and effects of nursing interventions with adults experiencing selected health conditions at multiple levels of care. They will apply critical thinking skills as they examine sociocultural diversity and holistic, caring practices in medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
6 credits (4/2)
Prerequisites: NURS 117, NURS 220, NURS 222, and NURS 215NURS 360 Psychiatric and Mental Health NursingThis course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for nursing care of and 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 behavior disorders. This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
5 credits (3/2)
Prerequisite(s): All Junior Level Nursing Courses and NURS 361, NURS 410, NURS 460, NURS 480NURS 361 Medical-Surgical Nursing IIThis course builds on knowledge gained in NUR 350 incorporating complex, multi-system disease processes requiring more developed critical thinking. Students integrate knowledge, skills and competencies to appropriately and effectively assess and manage clients in the hospital environment. The students will provide safe, evidence-based, professional, holistic nursing care related to the management of clients with advanced medical and surgical needs. They will examine sociocultural diversity and holistic, caring practices in medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
6 credits (4/2)
Prerequisites: All Junior Level Nursing CoursesNURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health CareThis course is designed to assist the student to synthesize the intersection of nursing care with leading people and managing organizations and systems. 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 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(s): All Junior Level Nursing Courses
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)NURS 420 Community and Public Health NursingThis course is designed to prepare students for community/public health practice in a changing health care system. Concepts of primary health care to the assessment, planning, and delivery of care to diverse families will be emphasized. Factors influencing the primary health care of communities and the impact of globalization, politics, socioeconomics, and environmental factors on the health vulnerability and resiliency of communities are examined. This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
5 credits (3/2)
Pre-requisites: All Junior Level Nursing Courses and NURS 361, NURS 410, NURS 460, NURS 480NURS 460 Maternity and Newborn NursingThis course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for providing comprehensive nursing care for women, newborns, and their families during ng 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.
This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
5 credits (3/2)
Pre-requisites: All Junior Level Nursing CoursesNURS 461 Pediatric NursingThis course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, and meanings necessary for comprehensive nursing care of the pediatric 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. This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
5 credits (3/2)
Pre-requisites: NURS 117, NURS 220, NURS 222, and NURS 215NURS 491 Senior Clinical SeminarThis course provides opportunities for a comprehensive classroom seminar whereby students consider their associated clinical experience within the context of provider, patient advocate, educator, and counselor within a holistic, caring framework. The student also has the opportunity to perform as a designer/coordinator/manager of care. Students will integrate previously learned knowledge, skills, and values needed to transition to the role of the novice professional. The course is also 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.
2 credits
Prerequisites: This must be taken in the last semester of nursing courses, prior to graduation.SNHP 405 Informatics and Data ManagementThe focus of this course is on the integration of nursing, computer, and information science for the support of professional nursing practice including critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Discussion and examination will be conducted of: ethical considerations in nursing informatics use of social networking tools, handheld computers and e-portfolios in health care environments.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
Trinity Washington University’s pre-licensure B.S.N. program combines the academic structure and clinical preparation necessary for a career in nursing. Our students focus initially on liberal arts courses that provide a framework for their chosen major in nursing. The rigorous academic coursework in the nursing program then lays the foundation for a progressive mastery of the knowledge, skills, values, ethics and abilities required of a professional nurse. Toward the end of the program, students will have ample opportunities to experience firsthand the rewards of nursing in closely supervised clinical settings.
