Nursing

This course offers high quality training for those entering the CNA field or using the CNA course as a pathway to a nursing or other Allied Health career. Emphasis is placed on working with clients in the long-term care setting. This portion focuses on the hands-on skills required of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Topics include such things as: personal hygiene and cares, including handwashing, bathing, bedmaking and assisting with ADL's (activities of daily living), body mechanics, including transferring and mobility, measuring vital signs, and assist with nutritional intake. This class consists of 32 hours of face-to-face learning in the laboratory setting and attendance is mandatory. Upon completion of this course and the didactic portion, a student is eligible to complete the Certified Nurse Assistant examination which consists of a written test and skills demonstrations. Corequisites: NUS 100. (F, S, Su)

This course is the first in the nursing curriculum. It includes an introduction to trends in nursing today. An emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the individual practical nurse as a person in today¿s society and as a professional in the delivery of health care. An introduction to the mission and conceptual framework of the North Dakota State College of Science Nursing Program is included. Nursing principles are taught in the lecture setting. Class discussion begins with basic nursing care and progresses to introduce various disease processes in the biopsychosocial, spiritual, and culturally diverse adult client. Emphasis is placed on the care of the client in the long-term or transitional care setting. Course content will incorporate the nursing process concepts of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Incorporation of the nursing process will aide in student learning to provide safe and effective care within the clinical setting.  Communication techniques, physical assessment, and complex nursing procedures are discussed in lecture, with demonstration/application in the laboratory. The class consists of both scheduled didactic and laboratory sessions to provide students with practical hands-on learning experiences. (F, S)

This clinical course focuses on communication techniques, physical assessment, and complex nursing procedures which are demonstrated, evaluated, and applied in the clinical setting. Nursing process concepts are utilized to provide safe and effective nursing care by helping each client adapt to his/her environment.  Emphasis is placed on the disease process, assessments, and interventions utilizing the nursing process.  Nursing care of the client in the long-term or transitional care setting are the focus of this clinical experience. (F, S)

This course builds on prior learning to gain knowledge of disease processes of the biopsychosocial, spiritual, and culturally diverse adult client. It prepares the student to recognize the symptomatology of major disease processes and changes in the health status of the client within their environment. It will provide knowledge in the methodology of diagnostic testing, medical-surgical interventions along with aspects of nutritional and pharmacological roles in the delivery of nursing care to the client. The emphasis will be placed on nursing care and utilizing the nursing process. Assessment will follow the system utilizing Maslow¿s Hierarchy of Needs and Erickson¿s Developmental Stages to determine plan of care. Application of the teaching-learning process will be emphasized. Problem-solving skills will be utilized in the identification of environmental risks in planning care of the adult client. Using the nursing process as a framework, students explore the collaborative role of the nurse with the adult client, families, and other members of the health care delivery system. (F)

This course provides supervised clinical experience in which the student applies theories in the care of the biopsychosocial, spiritual and culturally diverse maternal, pediatric and adult clients at various developmental levels. The student will utilize nursing process concepts in providing holistic care to the acutely and chronically ill stable patient/client. Students assess developmental and biopsychosocial, spiritual and culturally diverse needs of the clients and family on the health/illness continuum to assist the client in setting goals to adapt to their environment and plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care to meet those goals under the direction of the registered nurse. The student will apply the teaching/learning process in the education of the client and family. Emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the practical nurse in the acute care settings including medical surgical nursing, pediatric and maternal nursing. This clinical will also include a leadership rotation at the end of the program. (F)

This course will build on prior learning to gain knowledge of nursing care in specialty nursing areas such as mental health, pediatrics and the childbearing family. Various concepts of the nursing process will be utilized to facilitate the patient¿s/client¿s adaptation.  Assessment will follow the systems approach utilizing developmental stages to determine the nursing care of the biopsychosocial spiritual, culturally diverse patient/ client and family within the health-illness continuum. The teaching-learning process will be utilized to provide the patient/client with the knowledge to prevent, maintain, and restore health status to assist them attain a safe, and therapeutic environment. Using the nursing process concepts as a framework, the students explore the collaborative role of nursing with the client, family and other members of the health care delivery system. (F)

Concepts that continue to build on evidence-based clinical judgement and skills in clinical management for the level and scope of registered nursing practice are included in the course curriculum. The course will provide a continuation of biological, physical, social and behavioral sciences, including disease process concepts in the health illness continuum. Nutrition and pharmacology are included to plan, implement and evaluate the delivery of complex client-centered care that supports client differences, values and preferences. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first two semesters of the Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum or successful admission to the LPN to RN ASN program. Corequisites: NURS 202 and NURS 203 or NURS 262. (F)

This course allows the student to use the nursing process to assess, plan, manage and evaluate the provision of professional nursing care including the acute, unstable client in multiple settings. It places emphasis on the use of critical reasoning and skills necessary to collect and interpret data, and use knowledge synthesized from the bio-psychosocial and physiological sciences to evaluate nursing care. Students will explore the interdisciplinary, collaborative role of the nurse to demonstrate technical and interpersonal skills in the management of health promotion and maintenance for the individual and families. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first two semesters of the Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum or successful admission to the LPN to RN ASN program. Corequisites: NURS 201 and NURS 203 or NURS 262. (F)

This course focuses on the role and scope of practice of the registered nurse in the care of childbearing families and the developing child. Content and learning objectives are designed to utilize critical reasoning and skills necessary to collect and interpret data, use knowledge synthesized from psychosocial and physiological sciences to evaluate nursing care. The student will explore the nurse¿s responsibilities in the provisions of holistic, safe, competent nursing care for the child bearing process and selected study of diseases/disorders affecting women, children and families. Students will explore the inter-disciplinary, collaborative role of the nurse to demonstrate technical and interpersonal skills in the management of health promotion and maintenance of culturally diverse clients including women, infants and children. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a ¿C¿ in each course that applies the nursing curriculum. Corequisites: NURS 205, NURS 206, NURS 207 and NURS 208. (S)

This course focuses on the care of culturally diverse individuals and families experiencing life-threatening, critical events. Advanced medical-surgical concepts and skills will be presented to care for the critical, unstable client in multiple acute care settings. Ethical concepts will be explored in relation to critical events and end of life care. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the Associate in Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum or satisfactory completion of the first semester of the Associate in Science in Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a ¿C¿ in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Corequisites: NURS 204, NURS 206, NURS 207 or NURS 263. (S)

This clinical course provides students opportunities to deliver evidence-based care, including application of evidence-based practice in managing acute clinical problems for clients experiencing life-threatening, critical events. The student functions effectively as an interdisciplinary team member exercising goal-setting strategies and problem-solving techniques in the application and management of care that respects client differences, values, preferences and expressed needs, based on scientific evidence. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum or the first semester of the Associate in Science in Nursing curriculum with a minimum of ¿C¿ in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Corequisites: NURS 204, NURS 205, NURS 207 or NURS 263. (S)

Comprised of lecture and clinical practice, this course is designed to assist students to develop and apply the knowledge and skills essential to lead and manage nursing care in a dynamic health care system. Areas presented and explored will include leading and managing concepts; including interdisciplinary teamwork and delegation and supervision of other members of the health care team, evidence-based practice, quality improvement processes, initiation and management of change, budget and resource allocation and professional preparedness and responsibility. The student will collaborate using critical reasoning to make informed nursing clinical judgments, effectively define problems, gather and evaluate information, and determine measures to provide optimal health for clients. A preceptorship clinical experience will be assigned by the student's advisor in collaboration with the student in a health care facility. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Corequisites: NURS 204, NURS 205, NURS 206 and NURS 208. (S)

An introduction to drug legislation, sources, forms, major classifications, actions, side effects and nursing assessments and nursing interventions of selected medications. It prepares the student to begin a systematic and continuing study of drug therapy associated with common health problems and provides necessary information for safe administration of medications to the biopsychosocial, spiritual and culturally diverse client.(F, S)

This course is an introduction to the leadership responsibilities of the practical nurse in the long-term care setting. The concepts necessary for effective management are presented in lecture and applied in the long-term care setting. Student learning is facilitated through assignments related to leadership concepts. This course consists of 20 hours theory and 36 hours clinical. Prerequisites of this course are satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the Associate of Applied Science Practical Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a 'C' in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Prerequisites or Corequisites: ENGL 120, SOC 110, NURS 245, NURS 246 and NURS 251. (Fourth semester of curriculum) (F, S)

Designed for an LPN to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to perform selected components in the management of intravenous therapy (IV). This course will discuss the application of advanced IV therapy including types of IV devices, various types of IV therapy, complications of IV therapy, venipuncture techniques along with safe administration  of intravenous fluids and medications. The course meets the requirements for the North Dakota Board of Nursing IV therapy rules and regulations for the LPN. Course will consist of 30 hours of theory and 4 hours supervised lab/clinical experience. Attendance is mandatory to complete the class. (F, S, Su)

This course focuses on the application and integration of nursing concepts, assessment skills, and interventions necessary to provide safe and effective holistic nursing care. Internships will occur in a variety of settings with a focus on clinical decision-making and the development of the professional nursing role. Internships will occur with a nurse preceptor in a variety of clinical settings. Students enrolled in this course must be participating in a nurse internship with a qualified healthcare facility. (F, S, Su)