Check the Current Course Schedule to see when a particular Notre Dame College course is currently being offered.

| Course Offerings | Nursing Electives |

NR 200 Health Assessment Across the Life Span 3cr.
Didactic and lab with 2 hours/week of class and one three hour lab per week.
A systems approach is used to provide students with a comprehensive approach for basic health assessment of the individual. Cross cultural approaches for interviewing and communication principles are presented. Collection of data and identification of patterns and relationships provide a foundation for personal health assessment and the nursing care planning process. Developmental theories across the lifespan serve as a framework for assessment of normal growth and development. Prerequisites: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program; BI 240/ 241, Introductory Microbiology/Lab (or concurrent); PY 251, Lifespan Development (or concurrent).

NR 215 Foundations of Nursing I 4 cr.
Didactic, lab, clinical with 2 class hours/week, one 3-hour lab/week and 45 hours clinical/semester.
Introduction to the theoretical foundations of nursing and conceptual framework of the curriculum. Concepts presented include critical thinking and the nursing process, basic health care needs of the individual, diversity, systems theory, communication, and evidence based practice. The process of values clarification is discussed. Legal, professional and ethical standards of the profession are introduced. Prerequisites: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, BI 240/ 241, Introductory Microbiology/Lab (or concurrent)

NR 225 Pharmacology 3 cr.
Didactic with 3 class hours/week.
Pharmacokinetics and clinical applications of a variety of classes of drugs based on body systems and clinical concepts are presented. Drug interactions with living systems are examined. Role of the nurse is discussed, including legal and ethical issues related to medication administration. Opportunities to develop skill in drug calculations are provided. Prerequisites: Admission to the Baccalaureate Nursing Program, BI 240/241, Introductory Microbiology/Lab, NR 215, Foundations of Nursing I.

NR 216 Foundations of Nursing II 4 cr.
Didactic, lab, clinical with two class hours/week, one 3-hour lab/week and 45 hours clinical/semester.
Builds on concepts, knowledge and skills introduced in Foundations of Nursing I. Establishes a foundation for safe nursing practice in meeting basic care needs for individuals with common disruptions of body systems. Presents scientific principles and evidence base for skill development, including medication administration. Opportunities for self mastery and application of skills are provided in a variety of settings. Use of critical thinking in application of skills is stressed. Prerequisites: NR 200, Health Assessment Across the Lifespan; NR 215, Foundations of Nursing I; NR 225, Pharmacology (or concurrent)

NR 300 Professional Transitions 3 cr.
(For RN’s ONLY)
Didactic with 3 class hours/week.
Introduction to the philosophy and curriculum framework for BSN completion program. Theoretical foundations of nursing practice are presented. Systems theory and complexity theory are introduced. Process of values clarification is introduced. Current nursing issues are discussed. Prerequisites: Unencumbered license as a registered nurse; evidence of satisfactory completion of an accredited diploma or Associate of Science in Nursing program.

NR 310 Evidence-Based Practice 3 cr.
Didactic with 3 hours class/week.
Sources, levels and strength of evidence for best practice are reviewed. Process for critiquing evidence is discussed. Methods and tools for implementation of evidence-based practice to achieve optimal patient outcomes are examined. Relationship of health care policy to evidence-based practice is discussed. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Level I nursing courses; MA 221, Statistics I (or concurrent).

NR 320 Adult Nursing Practice 7 cr.
Didactic, clinical with 5 hours class/week and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Study of health alterations of the adult through the lifespan. Application of critical thinking and the nursing process in the care of adults with short-term acute and/or chronic health alterations. Interrelationships of body systems are emphasized as well as interrelationships with other complex adaptive systems. Application of strategies for health promotion, maintenance and restoration of the adult. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level I nursing courses; NR 310, Evidence-Based Practice (or concurrent).

NR 330 Mental Health Nursing 4 cr.
Didactic, clinical with 3 hours class/week and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Focus is on promotion and maintenance of mental health and care of individuals, and groups experiencing mental health alterations. Emphasis is placed on vulnerable populations and the context in which mental health alterations occur. Health care policy implications of mental health issues are discussed. Service-learning opportunities are provided with vulnerable populations experiencing or at high risk for mental health alterations. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level I nursing courses; NR 320, Adult Nursing Practice.

NR 340 Family Nursing 6 cr.
Didactic, clinical with 4 hours/week class and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Family assessment and diversity of family styles. Issues related to providing health care services for vulnerable family populations are compared with issues related to healthy families. Strategies to minimize health risk and to promote health and well being of the family are discussed. Care of parents, including pregnancy, and children from newborn through adolescence are presented in the context of a childrearing family as a complex adaptive system. Service learning opportunities are provided with vulnerable family populations. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level I nursing courses; NR 320, Adult Nursing Practice.

NR 410 Health Care Policy in Complex Adaptive Systems 3 cr.
Didactic with 3 hours of class/week.
Analyses of economic, legal and social factors impacting health care policies. Discussion of relationship between emerging social issues/trends and health care disparities. Discussion of social justice and equity in access and delivery of health care services. Opportunities are provided to participate in political processes impacting nursing and health care policy. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level II nursing courses. NR 300, Professional Transitions, (or concurrent) for students in the RN to BSN Track. Open to non-nursing majors with permission of instructor.

NR 420 Community/Populations Nursing Practice 5cr.
Didactic, clinical with 3 hours class/week and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Introduces concepts and strategies to promote culturally sensitive care for communities and populations. Diversity and culture are examined in relation to social context and patterns of interconnected relationships. Epidemiological concepts are integrated throughout. Examines the role of the nurse in caring for communities. Emergency preparedness and bioterrorism are introduced. Collaboration and coordination with community members and agencies is emphasized. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level II nursing courses; NR 410, Health Care Policy (or concurrent). NR 300, Professional Transitions (or concurrent) for students in the RN to BSN Track.

NR 430 Nursing Care of Adults/Families with Complex Multisystem Health Alterations 5 cr.
Didactic, clinical with 3 class hours/week and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Application of critical thinking and use of the nursing process with adults/families experiencing complex, multisystem health alterations. Role of technology in the assessment and management of acutely ill adults is discussed. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level II nursing courses.

NR 440 Professional Issues 3 cr.
Didactic with 3 hours class/week.
Analyses of economic, legal, historical and social issues affecting the practice of nursing and health care within complex adaptive systems. Discussion of the role of the nurse as a provider of care, a designer/manager/ coordinator of care and a member of the profession. Examines scope and standards for the nursing profession and ethical issues related to the practice of nursing. Emerging trends in practice, education and delivery of care are discussed. Law regulating the practice of nursing is reviewed. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Level II nursing courses.

NR 450 Gerontology 3 cr.
Didactic, Clinical/Service Learning with 2 class hours/week and 45 clinical/service learning hours/semester.
Study of theories of aging and systems impacting older adults. Literature and art are used as a medium to examine issues related to aging. Discussion of end-of-life concepts and theories. Examines responses of the older adult in health and illness from an interdisciplinary perspective. Prerequisites: PY 251, Lifespan Development; satisfactory completion of Level II nursing courses; NR 300, Professional Transitions (or concurrent) for students in the RN to BSN track; or permission of instructor for non-nursing majors. Junior or senior status is required.

NR 460 Health Care Leadership/Management 5 cr.
Didactic, clinical with 3 hours class/week and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Exploration of leadership and management theories/ concepts applied to the role of the nurse as a leader, manager and coordinator of care. Examines concepts and theories related to negotiation, conflict management, and delegation. Legal implications of documentation and delegation are emphasized. Strategies to improve cost and quality of care, based on evidence-based practice, are applied within complex adaptive health care systems. Prerequisites: NR 430, Nursing Care of Individuals with Complex Multisystem Health Alterations. Must be taken concurrent with NR 461, Professional Practicum for students enrolled in the BSN Pre-Licensure Track; NR 300, Professional Transitions, for students enrolled in the RN to BSN Track.

NR 461 Professional Practicum 3 cr.
Seminar/Clinical with one hour seminar/week and 90 hours clinical/semester.
Role development of the professional nurse. Prepares students for transition to practice as a professional nurse. Students develop an individualized program of study to integrate concepts/theories of the nursing program into their professional practice. Includes discussion of strategies for organization and time management. Prerequisites: NR 410, Health Care Policy; NR 420, Community/Populations Nursing Practice; NR 430, Nursing Care of Individuals with Complex Health Alterations. Prerequisites: NR 440, Professional Issues; NR 460, Health Care Leadership/Management (or concurrent).

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NURSING ELECTIVES

NR 470/471 Complementary/ Alternative Heath 2-3 cr.
Didactic with 2 class hours/week.
May involve a service learning component. Introduction to use of complementary and alternative health modalities (CAM). Analysis of evidence base for selected CAM. Prerequisites: Junior or senior level status for nursing majors. Junior or senior status and HP 110 or 112 or equivalent, for non-nursing majors.

OR

NR 472/473 Selected Topics in Nursing 2-3 cr.
Focus is a special topic related to nursing. Course is taught in seminar format. Topic for seminar to be announced. May involve a service learning component. Prerequisites: Junior or senior level status for nursing majors.

OR

NR 474/475 International Nursing in a Developing Country 2-3 cr.
Didactic with 2 class hours/week.
May involve a service learning component. Comparison of health care systems in a developing versus developed country. Introduction to tropical and other diseases seen in developing countries. Cultural beliefs impacting health care are discussed. May include a travel abroad component. Prerequisites: Junior or senior level status for nursing majors.

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