Registered Nursing

The nursing seminar course facilitates student success in the nursing program and the nursing profession by introducing theories and concepts basic to nursing practice.  Students learn about the history of the nursing profession and issues facing nurses in the 21st century. Discussions focus on the different levels of nursing education and the importance developing an attitude of lifelong learning. The course introduces concepts in critical thinking and problem solving, as well as the Quality and Safety in Educating Nurses (QSEN) competencies and conceptual frameworks used to support nursing practice. Students examine the New Hampshire Nurse Practice Acts to discuss scope of practice and appropriate delegation. Legal and ethical issues in nursing practice are discussed using historical and current events. Students access professional nursing research articles and discuss the importance of using evidence to support nursing practice.

This course focuses on fundamental concepts of nursing practice such as nursing process, health and wellness, therapeutic communication, teaching learning, and ethical-legal principles which provide the foundation for safe and effective nursing practice. Theoretical concepts of person, health, nursing, and environment are integrated with intellectual, interpersonal, and psychomotor competencies to form an understanding of the roles of a nurse as provider and manager of care and member of a profession. The roles of the nurse are developed through simulation and clinical practice using QSEN competencies and Benner’s model of skill attainment. Culture, spirituality, and alternative therapies prepare for care of a diverse healthcare population. Pharmacological principles and common medications are introduced with a focus on safe medication administration principles. The focus of this course is nursing management of adults with common or chronic health disorders.

HOURS: 2 lab, 10 clinical

This course expands on concepts of nursing practice introduced in the fundamentals course. Concepts of nursing process, therapeutic communication, and teaching-learning, and ethical-legal principles are integrated with knowledge, skills, and attitudes reflected in QSEN competencies, best practice models, and licensing and accrediting bodies. Concepts related to health and wellness are expanded to include acute health disorders of adults in a medical-surgical setting. Medical, nursing, and pharmacological management of health disorders is acquired through intellectual, interpersonal, and psychomotor competencies at the advanced beginner level in Benner’s model of skill acquisition. Critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving skills are developed in simulation and clinical practice. Mental health concepts are introduced across the lifespan and explored in a variety of teaching environments. Pharmacology and safe medication administration correlates to health disorders in this course and is expanded to include intravenous medications.

HOURS: 2 lab, 13 clinical

This transition course expands upon knowledge and skills learned in a practical nursing education program. Emphasis is on differentiating the scope of practice for the associate degree nurse; nursing process related to chronic disease, mental health, medication administration, and associated clinical skills; delegation; treatment plan development; enhancing critical thinking skills; and reviewing legal and ethical issues in nursing practice.

This course expands on concepts of previous nursing courses with the addition of nursing care to the childbearing family, including parents, infants, and children. Lifespan development and health disorders of infant and pediatric populations are introduced, providing insight into nursing in a specialty area. Nursing care of the adult expands to include complex acute health disorders requiring a higher level of critical thinking and nursing skills. The simulation lab and clinical practice provide opportunities to develop these skills which are based on Benner’s model of skill attainment, the Creighton competency evaluation instrument, and deliberate practice for skill proficiency. Concepts of health promotion and prevention, patient education, therapeutic nutrition, and legal-ethical principles are integrated throughout the course. Clinical learning experiences in community health settings as well as acute care facilities provide opportunities to integrate theory with clinical practice as well as introduce students to specialized nursing care.

HOURS: 4 lecture, 2 lab, 13 clinical

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to comprehensively apply and integrate synthesized theoretical and clinical experiences from previous nursing courses. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide quality, individualized, entry level nursing care. The focus of this course is nursing care of the patient across the lifespan with complex health disorders. Intellectual, interpersonal, and psychomotor competencies are developed through simulation and clinical practice and based on Benner’s model of skill attainment, the Creighton competency evaluation instrument, and the AACN synergy model for patient care. Nursing care is holistic and includes integration of health promotion and prevention, patient education, therapeutic nutrition, and legal-ethical principles with safe and effective, culturally sensitive patient centered care. The role of nurse as a manager of care is a focus of this course with opportunities for delegation, supervision, collaboration, and team communication skills provided in simulation and clinical settings. This course is designed to prepare graduates for entry level nursing practice.

HOURS: 4 lecture, 2 lab, 16 clinical

Transfer in a Microbiology for Healthcare type course in lieu of BIOL205R Microbiology.

Take one 3 or 4-credit math course of your choice.