Nursing

Students are introduced to the profession of nursing as a lifelong career in health care. A historical perspective of nursing will include significant individuals and their contribution to the profession. College of Saint Mary Nursing Philosophy will serve as a basis for discussion related to curriculum strands of patient-centered care, communication, leadership, safety and professional role. Students will also be introduced to introductory nursing skills in the skills laboratory.

This nursing course will provide the theoretical framework upon which subsequent nursing courses will build. Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and principles of patient-centered care, communication, safety, leadership, professional role, and the nursing process. The concepts and principles are integrated in the provision of holistic nursing care for the general population with a focus on the adult in a variety of clinical and health care settings.

Students develop an understanding of pharmacological principles as related to nursing practice with application of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic. Emphasis is placed on medications commonly encountered in the acute medical/surgical population.

The course is designed to help students refine history taking, along with physical, psychosocial, and spiritual assessment skills. Students will synthesize knowledge from general education and nursing courses during a health assessment of individuals throughout the lifespan from multicultural and diverse backgrounds.

Students will explore professional nursing concepts specific to the transition from the LPN role to the Baccalaureate prepared nurse. Specific emphasis will be placed on scope of practice, evidenced-based practice and quality improvement, client assessment, medication safety, and the nursing process/nursing clinical judgement measurement model. 

Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and principles of psychiatric-mental health nursing. The concepts and principles are integrated in providing holistic nursing care for vulnerable individuals, families, and groups in various psychiatric inpatient and outpatient settings.

Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and principles of community health nursing. The concepts and principles are integrated into the provision of holistic nursing care for vulnerable individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a variety of community health settings.

This course provides an overview of medications used in the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral health conditions, with emphasis on psychotropic drug classifications, pharmacological actions, dosage considerations, side effects, and nursing implications. Students also examine medication use across diverse care settings, including public health and community environments.

Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and principles of maternal/newborn health nursing. The concepts and principles are integrated in the provision of holistic nursing care and will focus on health maintenance, health promotion, and the study of diseases and disorders affecting women, neonates, families, groups, communities, and populations along the health-illness continuum in a variety of maternal/newborn inpatient and outpatient settings.

Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and principles of pediatric nursing. This course will focus on health promotion, health maintenance, and the study of diseases and disorders affecting infants, children, adolescents, and families along the health-illness continuum. Concepts and principles are integrated in the provision of holistic nursing care for individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a variety of pediatric inpatient and community-based settings.

Students will apply principles and practice of medication therapy, drug classification, and client-related variables for the maternal/child client. Emphasis is on drug classifications, pharmacological action, dosage, side effects, nursing implications, and indications of medication prescribed for maternal/child clients. Nursing assessment and evaluation of client responses to medications in relation to health, age, lifestyle, gender, ethnicity, and other cultural factors are explored.

Students are introduced to concepts regarding culture and spirituality in providing nursing care. Culture and spirituality are discussed as related to the provision of holistic nursing care for all individuals, especially vulnerable individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and public health settings. Additionally, students will explore the historical and current challenges faced by individuals from different cultural and spiritual backgrounds and develop skills to assess, intervene, and improve healthcare access and quality. The course will emphasize the importance of culturally sensitive care, the social determinants of health, and the ethical responsibilities of nurses in promoting equity and inclusiveness in healthcare.

The focus of this nursing course is to provide an introduction and overview of nursing research, evidenced-based practice, and concepts of quality improvement at the baccalaureate level. This course will examine the basic components of qualitative and quantitative research as well as the ethical considerations in nursing research. The course emphasizes correlations between client-centered care, safety, professional role, evidence-based practice, and patient outcomes.

The course is designed to help students refine history taking, along with physical, psychosocial, and spiritual assessment skills. Students will synthesize knowledge from general education and nursing courses during a health assessment of individuals throughout the lifespan from multicultural and diverse backgrounds.

Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and principles of acute medical/surgical nursing. The concepts and principles are integrated in the provision of holistic nursing care for vulnerable individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in medical/surgical settings. Emphasis is on skill development in systematic assessment utilizing the nursing process, developing competency in selected nursing therapies, and developing a role as a professional nurse.

Students continue to develop an understanding of pharmacological principles related to nursing practice with the application of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Emphasis is placed on medications commonly encountered in the acute medical/surgical population.

This course builds on foundational concepts of acute medical/surgical nursing, with a focus on the role of the professional nurse in caring for individuals experiencing multi-system alterations. Students will expand on previously acquired knowledge and skills while applying principles of prioritization, delegation, and coordination of care. Emphasis is placed on advancing clinical judgment and refining professional nursing practice in complex care settings.

This course focuses on the role of the professional nurse in caring for individuals with multi-system alterations. Students will integrate and expand on previously learned skills and theories. Students will have opportunities to apply principles of prioritization, delegation, and coordination of care as part of the interdisciplinary care team.

This course focuses on the knowledge and skills that new nurses need to effectively respond to challenges in the rapidly evolving healthcare system. Students will examine issues regarding select social, ethical, political, legal, and organizational communication and issues that influence professional nursing practice and the healthcare system.

This baccalaureate nursing course provides students with the opportunity to apply leadership and management concepts/principles relevant to professional nursing. The course is designed to enhance leadership self-awareness as students examine how leadership and management affect client-centered care, safety, professional role, and communication.

In this course, students will provide and manage client care in selected clinical settings under the supervision of a Registered Nurse preceptor. This preceptorship fosters professionalism, integration of theory, refinement of clinical skills, organization of care, clinical judgment, and effective teamwork. Students will demonstrate safe, client-centered care within an interdisciplinary team, applying evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics consistent with the IOM core competencies and QSEN guidelines. The course also includes a virtual and live NCLEX-RN review.