Nursing

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

NURS 100: Nursing Assistant

Credits 4

The 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 course is a blend of both didactic and laboratory instruction. This class 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, assist with nutritional intake. This class is presented in a face-to-face and an asynchronous hybrid format. Upon completion of this course both the didactic and the laboratory portion a student is eligible to complete the certified nurse assistant examination which consists of a written test and skills demonstrations. (F, S)

NURS 111: Fundamentals of Nursing

Credits 5

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)

NURS 112: Fundamentals of Nursing Clinical

Credits 2

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)

NURS 114: Role Development

Credits 1
In this course the student is introduced to the roles and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse in providing nursing care to clients according to the RN Scope of Practice. Emphasis is on the role of the professional nurse and provides an overview of the delivery of professional nursing practices and role development. Principles of evidence-based nursing research will be identified to guide the teaching/learning process. Content regarding legal, ethical responsibilities, quality improvement, and historical trends in nursing is provided to direct the practice of the Registered Nurse. Corequisites: NURS 115 and NURS 116. (F)

NURS 115: Essentials for Registered Nursing I

Credits 4
This course emphasizes basic nursing concepts and incorporates the development of conceptual skills needed for therapeutic nursing interventions for culturally diverse individuals, families and communities. Focus is placed on providing a solid foundation of technical and interpersonal skills including written, verbal and therapeutic communication. An introduction to the major disease processes, symptomatology, diagnostic testing, medical-surgical nursing interventions, aspects of nutritional and pharmacological therapy to provide nursing care is included. Students will be introduced to evidence-based nursing care and the use of the nursing process to determine and evaluate nursing care. In the laboratory setting, the student will practice nursing procedures including beginning physical health assessment. Corequisites: NURS 114 and NURS 116. (F)

NURS 116: Essentials for Registered Nursing I Clinical

Credits 1
This course develops the skills necessary to provide basic safety and infection control in a supervised clinical setting. Using the nursing process, data collection skills are used to obtain basic adult health assessment information that is reflected in the client's plan of care. The student will demonstrate written, verbal and therapeutic communication to deliver client-centered care that respects client differences, values, preferences and needs. Corequisites: NURS 115 and NURS 116. (F)

NURS 117: Mental Health Nursing/Clinical

Credits 3
This course includes mental health nursing principles, concepts of mental health psychopathology, and treatment modalities related to the nursing care of clients/families. Building on the foundation of previous nursing courses and the nursing process, concepts of biological-behavioral modalities in psychiatric nursing care will be addressed. The clinical experience of the course provides opportunities with in-patient acute and chronic mental health concerns across the life span. Using the nursing process, opportunities are provided for the student to provide care to culturally diverse individuals with emphasis on stressors that may interrupt the physiological and psychosocial integrity of individuals 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. Corequisites: NURS 201, NURS 202 and NURS 203. (F)

NURS 118: Essentials for Registered Nursing II

Credits 4
Emphasis on medical-surgical nursing concepts and application to evidence-based clinical practice with culturally diverse individuals will be expanded from NURS 115. Disease processes, diagnostic measures, and interventions including nutritional and pharmacological therapies to culturally diverse individuals and families over the lifespan will be presented. The concepts of health promotion/protection and maintenance for the individual and families will be included. In a laboratory setting students will acquire advanced technical skills appropriate for the registered nurse caring for a diverse population in multiple care settings. Building on previous health assessment information, the student will refine and enhance skills necessary to perform a complete health assessment of the individual across the lifespan including variances from expected findings. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first semester 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 119 and PHRM 210. (S)

NURS 119: Essentials for Registered Nursing II Clinical

Credits 2
This clinical course provides opportunities to conduct comprehensive health assessments with the emphasis to acquire, process and interpret data collected from clients in the medical/surgical setting. Using a collaborative physical, psychological, socio-culture and spiritual approach the student will use the nursing process to plan, implement and evaluate nursing care. The student will use evidence-based research and theoretical concepts to problem solve and critically reason to manage common clinical problems. The student will apply the teaching/learning process in the reinforcement of education to the client and family. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the first semester of the Associate Applied Science Registered Nursing curriculum with a minimum of a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Corequisites: NURS 118 and PHRM 210. (S)

NURS 132: Adult Health Nursing

Credits 5

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)

NURS 133 : Practical Nursing Clinical

Credits 4

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)

NURS 134: Specialty Nursing Topics (Mental Health, Maternal, and Peds)

Credits 3

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)

NURS 201: Complex Nursing Care Concepts I

Credits 4

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)

NURS 202: Complex Nursing Care Concepts I Clinical

Credits 3

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)

NURS 203: Preventative Community Health

Credits 2
This course is composed of an overview of community-based nursing practice and the role of the nurse in health promotion for clients and families in their environment. The course will present basic epidemiology concepts, specific concerns related to communities, including environmental threats and cultural influences. The student will utilize teaching/learning principles to support health promotion and disease prevention for clients/families and communities. Preventative health will include concepts of family health, including women's health. Utilizing critical reasoning and the nursing process, the student will research, design and present a community-based project that promotes health within a community setting. 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. Corequisites: NURS 117, NURS 201 and NURS 202. (F)

NURS 204: Maternal Child

Credits 3 Max Credits 4

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)

NURS 205: Complex Nursing Care Concepts II

Credits 3

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)

NURS 206: Complex Nursing Care Concepts II Clinical

Credits 4

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)

NURS 207: Leadership

Credits 2

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)

NURS 208: Transition to Practice

Credits 1
Course topics will direct the student to plan and develop professional opportunities to transition into practice such as writing a resume, the interview process, professional expectations, relationships, and organization. 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. Corequisite: NURS 204, NURS 205, NURS 206, and NURS 207. (S)

NURS 210: Pharmacology for Nursing

Credits 3

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)

NURS 245: Maternal Child Nursing

Credits 4
This course builds on prior learning to gain knowledge of the childbearing family, developing child and women's health. The focus is placed on the normal process of childbearing, the biopsychosocial, spiritual, culturally diverse family, the child through the developmental stages, common disorders associated with childbearing process, children's and women's health. Emphasis is on health maintenance and selected study of diseases and disorders affecting women, children, and families. The student will apply the nursing process in providing holistic care to the client, assess developmental and biopsychosocial, spiritual and culturally diverse needs of the client. The student will apply the teaching-learning process in the education of families, women, infants and children. Emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the practical nurse in the maternal child settings. This class meets for an average of four hours per week. Prerequisites of this course are satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the associate in applied science practical nursing curriculum with a minimum of 'C' in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Pre or Corequisites: ENGL 120, SOC 110. Corequisites: NURS 246, NURS 250, and NURS 251. (Fourth semester of the curriculum) (F, S)

NURS 246: Maternal Child Nursing Clinical

Credits 2
This course provides supervised clinical experience in which the student applies theories in the care of the biopsychosocial, spiritual, culturally diverse childbearing families, women, infants, and children at various developmental levels. The student will apply the nursing process in providing holistic care to the client, assess developmental and biopsychosocial, spiritual, and culturally diverse needs of the client. The student will apply the teaching-learning process in the education of families, women, infants, and children. Emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the practical nurse in the maternal child settings. This class meets for 96 hours and approximately two days per week. Prerequisites of this course are satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the associate in applied science practical nursing curriculum with a "C" in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Pre or Corequisites: ENGL 120, SOC 110. Corequisites: NURS 245 , NURS 250, and NURS 251. (Fourth semester of the curriculum) (F, S)

NURS 250: Leadership in Practical Nursing

Credits 1

This course is an introduction to the leadership responsibilities of the practical nurse in the long-term care setting and/or clinic.  The concepts necessary for effective management are presented in lecture and applied in the various clinical settings. Student learning is facilitated through assignments related to leadership concepts. F,S

NURS 251: NCLEX-PN Review

Credits 1
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive review of the current test plan for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam for graduate practical nurses. This course includes content review of fundamental skills and PN program curriculum inclusive of medical-surgical, maternal, pediatric, and psychiatric areas of nursing practice. Focus will also be placed on the client need areas of safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. The review utilizes the nursing process to problem solve using analytic thought. Tips for test taking and success as well as study skills are also included in the review. Written material and computer assisted testing (CAT) will be utilized to reinforce lecture content. Course requirements and means of evaluation include proficiency in test taking skills and successful completion of a practice, comprehensive NCLEX-PN exam. Prerequisites of this course are satisfactory completion of the first three semesters of the associate of applied science degree nursing curriculum with a minimum of a ¿C¿ in each course that applies to the nursing curriculum. Corequisite courses for this course include NURS 245, NURS 246, and NURS 250. (Fourth semester of the curriculum) (F, S)

NURS 252: LPN IV Therapy Certification Course

Credits 2

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)

NURS 255: Role Transition

Credits 1
This course is designed to promote role development and transition of the LPN to the RN. The student is introduced to the definition, roles and responsibilities of the registered nurse in providing nursing care to clients, families, and communities in their environment. Role concepts essential for the RN to provide and manage care as a member of the professions emphasized. The student will utilize critical reasoning as it relates to the assessment, diagnosis, management and evaluation in the provision of professional nursing practice. Principles of evidence based nursing research will be identified to guide the teaching/learning process. Focus is directed to guide practice within the regulatory framework of professional, ethical and legal responsibilities of the registered nurse and encourages a desire for lifelong learning. Corequisites: NURS 256 and NURS 257.

NURS 290: Nurse Internship

Credits 1

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)

NURS 292: Experimental Course

Credits 1
A course designed to meet special departmental needs during new course development. It is used for one year after which time the course is assigned a different number.