The School of Nursing

Dean: Elizabeth Poster, Ph.D.

669 Pickard Hall • Box 19407 • 817-272-2776 • www.uta.edu/nursing

Philosophy

The School of Nursing, an integral component of The University of Texas at Arlington, seeks to assure health care of the highest quality for the people of Texas. The faculty believe in the promotion and support of excellence in professional nursing through teaching, scholarly endeavors and community service. Through its undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs, the School of Nursing is committed to preparing and developing individuals for professional nursing roles and for collaboration with other professionals and consumers in the delivery of health care.

Learning, a continuous lifelong process, is a personal responsibility. The faculty believes students must be actively involved in the learning process to acquire clinical proficiency and to be socialized into professional roles. In nursing education, learning experiences are planned to achieve sequence, continuity, and synthesis of knowledge and skills as defined by the educational objectives. The teaching and learning processes involve the teacher and learner in setting goals, selecting learning experiences, evaluating progress, and revising instructional methods and curriculum as appropriate. The educational process facilitates the development of each person's potential and reflects democratic values and ethical principles.

Faculty and students share the responsibility for creating an educational climate which fosters mutual respect, integrity, intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, creativity and effective communication. Faculty and students together contribute to the knowledge base of the profession through their scholarly endeavors, including the application of nursing science, conduct of research, and the dissemination of knowledge through presentations and publications. Faculty and students provide service to the University and the community, promoting health through their involvement and leadership.

Undergraduate nursing education is based upon studies in the arts, sciences and humanities, and provides a foundation for continuing personal, professional and educational development. The baccalaureate program is designed to prepare a competent, self-directed general practitioner of nursing who can assume increasing responsibility and leadership in the delivery of nursing care.

The master's program articulates with a foundation of undergraduate nursing education and provides an opportunity for professional nurses to continue developing a specialty practice that is congruent with an expanding theoretical and empirical knowledge base. The graduates of the master's program are prepared for advanced clinical and functional roles that demand increased accountability, expertise and leadership.

The faculty believe that doctoral education is essential to develop and advance an empirical knowledge base for nursing as a discipline. The doctorate provides a basis for future research programs and other scholarly activities.

Continuing education in nursing is based upon the premise that maintaining competency in nursing practice is the responsibility of each professional nurse. The faculty believes it is the responsibility of the School of Nursing to be sensitive to the influences inherent in a changing society and to respond to the continuing educational needs of professional nurses in Texas.

The faculty believes that all components of the nursing programs are based on a holistic perspective. The curricula of the School of Nursing educational programs encompass the major concepts of person, health, environment and nursing. The person is defined as an individual, a family, an aggregate, a community, or a society, each having relationships with and responsibilities to the others. The person has unique environmental, physiological, psychosocial-cultural, philosophical, developmental and spiritual dimensions and possesses inherent dignity and worth. The person's unique, complex needs are communicated through a variety of behaviors across the lifespan.

Health is a dynamic state and implies a continuous response by the person to stimuli from the environment. Health encompasses many processes: promoting and maintaining health, preventing illness, recovering from illness, and dying with dignity. Nurses are accountable for assisting persons toward health. Each person has the right to health care provided through a collaborative process, resulting in informed health decisions and shared accountability for outcomes.

The environment consists of physiological, psychosocial-cultural, philosophical, developmental and spiritual conditions and forces impacting the person's health. Environmental conditions and forces continually change and interact, forming a complex context for nursing practice. The nurse has the responsibility to assess the environment at the level impacting the person, manage its constraints and utilize its resources to promote the health of the person.

Nursing is enacted by applying the nursing process within the roles of clinician, teacher, manager and researcher. The professional nurse functions in diverse practice settings with persons of various cultures. Within the context of a caring interpersonal relationship and guided by ethical, legal and professional standards, the nurse uses critical thinking to apply evidence-based knowledge and skills in the management of nursing care. As an essential part of the health care delivery system, nursing is a socially determined profession whose practice evolves in response to the needs of persons. These needs provide direction for future roles of professional nursing practice.

Undergraduate Objectives

The purpose of this program is to prepare a graduate for practice as a professional nurse in diverse settings. The focus is on the application of knowledge of nursing art and science; implementation of nursing roles within professional, ethical and legal standards; demonstration of responsibility for continued personal and professional growth; and action based on knowledge of current and emerging health and social issues.

Objectives

•Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing,
the sciences and the humanities in the practice of professional nursing.

•Demonstrate critical thinking in professional nursing practice.

•Use therapeutic nursing interventions to assist persons to achieve their maximum health potential.

• Use effective communication and interpersonal skills in professional nursing practice.

• Use nursing roles and nursing process interactively to provide care in diverse settings.

• Integrate professional values, ethics and standards in the practice of nursing.

• Provide culturally competent and developmentally appropriate nursing care.

• Apply research findings appropriately in nursing practice.

• Coordinate resources within and between agencies and disciplines to promote effective and efficient health care delivery.

• Analyze the impact of health policy on access to and delivery of health care.

• Assume responsibility for personal and professional development.

• Accept accountability for one's own nursing practice.

Admission Criteria, 1999-2000

Pre-Nursing

Students may be admitted or may transfer into the pre-nursing program of the School of Nursing upon meeting the admission or transfer requirements established by the University and the School of Nursing. (See Undergraduate Admission and College Transfers.)

BSN

Students desiring admission to the sequence of nursing courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing must have completed the required 60 hours of credit with a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and, in addition, a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all prerequisite lower-division courses (excluding electives). A health history and physical examination (reported on a form supplied by the School of Nursing) must be completed prior to enrollment.

Enrollment in the professional nursing program is limited by the available resources. The program is unable to accommodate all qualified applicants; preference will be given to candidates considered to have the best qualifications.

RN to BSN

The RN to BSN program has been developed for registered nurses who wish to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Curricular content is designed to assist the student in socialization to the professional nursing role. Classroom activities, independent learning and individualized clinical experiences are planned to assist the student achieve the terminal program objectives for the undergraduate program. Admission requirements for this alternative are the same as those for the BSN undergraduate program.

Credit by RN Licensure

Twenty-eight (28) semester hours will be awarded toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for individuals who have a license to practice in Texas as a Registered Nurse and who have completed 12 credit hours in the School of Nursing's RN to BSN Program.

Admission Criteria Beginning Fall 2000 for BSN Program and 2001 for RN to BSN Program

Pre-Nursing

Students may be admitted or may transfer into the pre-nursing program of the School of Nursing upon meeting the admission or transfer requirements established by the University and the School of Nursing. (See Undergraduate Admission and College Transfers.)

BSN

Students desiring admission to the sequence of nursing courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing must:

1. Complete 60 hours of prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Twelve hours of science prerequisites must be completed prior to application.

2. Achieve scores at or above the following minimum criteria on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET)—Reading Comprehension-55 percent, Essential Math Skills-62 percent.

As enrollment in the BSN program is limited by the available resources, the most qualified applicants who meet the minimum GPA, science prerequisite completion requirement, and the minimum NET scores will be invited to interview with nursing faculty. Students who have a previous baccalaureate degree and credit hours at UTA will be given additional consideration.

A health history and physical examination (reported on a form supplied by the School of Nursing) must be completed prior to enrollment.

RN to BSN

The RN to BSN program has been developed for registered nurses who wish to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Curricular content is designed to assist the student in socialization to the professional nursing role. Classroom activities, independent learning and individualized clinical experiences are planned to assist the student achieve the terminal program objectives for the undergraduate program. Registered nurses desiring admission to this alternative must:

1. Complete 60 hours of prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Twelve hours of science prerequisites must be completed prior to application.

2. Achieve scores at or above the following minimum criteria on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET)—Reading Comprehension-55 percent, Essential Math Skills-62 percent.

Credit by RN Licensure

Twenty-eight (28) semester hours will be awarded toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for individuals who have a license to practice in Texas as a Registered Nurse and who have completed 12 credit hours in the School of Nursing's RN to BSN Program.

Immunizations

State law or regulation requires persons applying for admission to be immunized against the following: polio, tetanus/diphtheria, measles and mumps (if born after January 1, 1957), rubella, hepatitis B and chicken pox. The TB test is required by the School of Nursing.

Certification-Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Evidence of successful completion of an approved course is required upon admission and must be maintained throughout the program.

Professional Liability Insurance

All U.T. Arlington nursing students enrolling in the nursing courses are required to have evidence of professional liability insurance coverage for a minimum of $1,000,000 limit each claim and $3,000,000 limit aggregate. The charge for coverage will be assessed as a mandatory fee at the time of registration.

Transfer

Students desiring transfer credit for nursing courses must submit requested information about the courses and may be asked to take selected written examinations for acceptance of credits and placement in the nursing program. Only upper-division nursing courses completed within the past five years with a grade of C or better will be considered for transfer credit. Further information about the transfer procedure may be obtained from the Office of the Dean, School of Nursing. Processing of the transfer procedure will not be initiated until the student has met the requirements for admission to the professional nursing program. (See Admission.)

Eligibility to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX RN)—Declaratory Orders

The Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE) for the state of Texas has set out guidelines and criteria on the eligibility of persons with criminal convictions to obtain a license as a registered nurse. The BNE may refuse to admit persons to its licensure examinations, may refuse to issue a license or certificate of registration, or may refuse to issue a temporary permit to any individual who has been convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or engaged in conduct resulting in the revocation of probation imposed pursuant to such conviction.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas has set out the guidelines and criteria on the eligibility of persons with mental illness and/or chemical dependency to obtain a license as a registered nurse. The BNE may refuse to admit persons to its licensure examinations, may refuse to issue a license or certificate of registration, or may refuse to issue a temporary permit to any individual with lack of fitness to practice by reason of mental illness or intemperate use of alcohol or drugs that could result in injury to patients or the public. (Detailed information available from the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas or the School of Nursing Dean's office.)

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing

The National League for Nursing* accredited nursing program consists of two academic years (or four semesters) of lower-division courses taken in an approved college or university followed by two academic years (or four semesters) of upper-division nursing courses which are taken in The University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is awarded the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for licensure as a registered nurse. Full-time students enrolled in the RN to BSN program may complete the upper-division courses in two semesters.

* National League for Nursing, 61 Broadway, New York, NY, 10006. PH: (212) 363-5555.

Lower-Division Courses

The following 60 hours must be completed prior to enrollment for upper-division courses in nursing:

Hours

Natural Sciences

Human Anatomy and Physiology 4 ^1,5

Microbiology or Bacteriology 4

Chemistry 4 ²

Electives 3

15 ³

Behavioral Sciences

Psychology 3

Sociology 3

Growth and Development 3

9

History and Political Science 12 ⁴

Other

Fine Arts/Philosophy 3

College Algebra 3

Statistics 3

English 12

Nutrition 3

TOTAL (Lower-Division) 60 hours

plus exercise and sport activities (EXSA) or ROTC or marching band as required

¹ If part of a two-semester sequence, both courses are required.

² Must contain a lab component.

³ No fewer than six hours must be in courses which contain laboratory experience.

⁴ House Bill 935, passed by the Sixtieth Legislature, provides that no person may receive an undergraduate degree unless she/he has taken and passed six semester hours in American political science and six semester hours in United States history.

⁵ Credit will not be granted for courses taken more than five years ago.

The program outlined here will satisfy the lower-division requirements toward a baccalaureate degree program at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year

First Semester: ENGL 1301; BIOL 1441; HIST 1311; MATH 1302; PSYC 1315; EXSA—Total Credit 17 hours.

Second Semester: ENGL 1302; CHEM 1451; HIST 1312; BIOL 2457; SOCI 1311; EXSA—Total Credit 18 hours.

Sophomore Year

First Semester: English, 3 hours; POLS 2311; BIOL 2458; MATH 1308; Fine Arts/Philosophy, 3 hours; EXSA—Total Credit 17 hours.

Second Semester: English, 3 hours; POLS 2312; BIOL 3444; PSYC 3310; BIOL 1301; EXSA—Total Credit 17 hours.

The nursing major begins in the junior year after completion of the 60 hours of basic liberal arts courses providing a foundation for understanding the holistic person's response to the health processes.

Upper-Division Major

BSN

Junior Year

Semester I:* NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, 3366, 3532—Total Credit 16 hours.

Semester II: * NURS 3421, 3561, 3681—Total Credit 15 hours.

Senior Year

Semester I:* NURS 4321, 4361, 4531, 4541—Total Credit 16 hours.

Semester II:* NURS 4223, 4451, 4462, 4581—Total Credit 15 hours.

* Satisfactory completion (C) of prerequisite courses is required prior to enrolling in courses in subsequent semesters.

RN to BSN

Semester I:* NURS 3222, 3242, 3320, 3334, 3335, 3341—Total Credit 16 hours.

Semester II:* NURS 4225, 4281, 4321, 4324, 4451, 4463—Total Credit 18 hours.

Credit by RN Licensure: NURS 3360, 3365, 3431, 3831, 4561, 4571—Total Credit 28 hours.

Total Required Nursing Hours in both Generic and RN-BSN programs: 62 hours

Upper-Division Electives: 6 hours

Total (for degree): 128 hours**

* Satisfactory completion (C) of prerequisite courses is required prior to enrolling in courses in subsequent semesters.

** Plus exercise and sport activities (EXSA) or ROTC or marching band as required.

Clinical Courses

To pass a theoretical and clinical course, the student must pass both the theory and the clinical component of that course.

Progression

Students will not be permitted to continue in the nursing program nor to enroll for additional nursing courses if they:

•Receive a grade of D or F in more than one nursing course, or

•Receive any combination of grades of D or F on two attempts of the same course.

The University grade replacement policy is limited by the School of Nursing and not applicable to nursing courses.

Honors Degree in Nursing

Nursing students who wish to graduate with an Honors Degree in Nursing must be members of the Honors College in good standing. They must complete the Nursing degree requirements and the requirements of the Honors College. Contact School of Nursing Honors Coordinator for further information.

Oral Communication Proficiency Requirement

Oral proficiency is recognized to be a critical component of providing safe nursing care. In addition to content-specific presentations in various nursing courses, all nursing students are required to communicate effectively with clients, members of the health care team, and faculty. Contact Undergraduate Program Directors for more information.

Computer Proficiency Requirement

The School of Nursing recognizes the value of computer skills in our technologically advanced society. In order to verify that students graduate with experience in word processing, spreadsheet and database use, E-mail communication, Internet access, and computer library search, appropriate assignments will be made throughout the nursing program. Contact Undergraduate Program Directors for more information.

School of Nursing Faculty

Dean

Professors

Associate Professors

Assistant Professors

Specialists

Nursing (NURS)

All fees listed in the Nursing course descriptions include a $3 School of Nursing multimedia fee.

3100. COOPERATIVE NURSING WORK EXPERIENCE (1-0) 1 hour credit. Designed for nursing cooperative education students to integrate classroom study with career-related practical experience in the workplace. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

3200. COOPERATIVE NURSING WORK EXPERIENCE (2-0) 2 hours credit. Designed for nursing cooperative education students to integrate classroom study with career-related practical experience in the workplace. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

3222. GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING (2-0) 2 hours credit. Introduction to gerontologic nursing principles and standards. Selected concepts and issues related to aging and its impact on society and health care. Registered Nurse Students only. $13 course fee. *

3240. CONCEPTS OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING (2-0) 2 hours credit. Selected concepts and processes for professional nursing. Introduction to nursing's theoretical, philosophical, ethical and legal dimensions. Socialization into nursing roles. $28 course fee.

3242. CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING (2-0) 2 hours credit. Introduction to concepts foundational for professional nursing practice. Essential values, behaviors, and processes required for implementing professional nursing roles. Registered nurse students only. Prerequisites: All lower division courses. $18 course fee. *

3320. HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (2-3) 3 hours credit. Theory and practice of holistic health assessment of individuals and families across the life span with emphasis on normal findings. Prerequisite or concurrent enrollment: NURS 3240. Concurrent enrollment: NURS 3365, 3366, 3532, or Registered Nurse Students. $28 course fee. *

3334. INTRODUCTION TO POPULATION-FOCUSED NURSING PRACTICE (2-3) 3 hours credit. Concepts and processes of public health science and community health nursing. The nursing process is applied for individuals, family, and population-focused care. Registered nurse students only. Prerequisite or concurrent: NURS 3320. $13 course fee. *

3335. HEALTH PROMOTION ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (3-0) 3 hours credit. Health and health promotion for individuals, families, and communities. The nurse's role in health promotion. Registered nurse students only. Prerequisites or concurrent enrollment: NURS 3242, 3320, 3341. $3 course fee. *

3341. THEORIES IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Theories from nursing science, social sciences, and humanities for application in the practice of professional nursing. Registered nurse students only. Prerequisite or concurrent enrollment: NURS 3242. $3 course fee. *

3360. PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGIC PROCESSES IN THE PERSON (3-0) 3 hours credit. Focus is on providing a knowledge base of pathophysiologic and psychopathologic processes which affect health status. Integration of structural, functional, and regulatory processes and their effects on health of the individual. Registered nurse students only. $3 course fee.

3365. PHARMACOLOGY IN NURSING PRACTICE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Introduction to current concepts of pharmacology and their relationship to nursing practice. Included are basic principles of drug actions, side effects for major drug classifications, and the role of the nurse in drug therapeutics. Prerequisite or concurrent enrollment: NURS 3240. Concurrent enrollment: NURS 3320, 3366, and 3532. $3 course fee.

3366. PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC PROCESSES: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Pathophysiologic alterations, their interactions, and effects on persons across the life span as a basis for therapeutic nursing interventions. Concurrent enrollment: NURS 3320, 3365, and 3532. Prerequisite or concurrent enrollment: NURS 3240. $3 course fee.

3421. HEALTH PROMOTION AND ILLNESS PREVENTION ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (3-3) 4 hours credit. Focus on health promotion and disease prevention strategies that can reduce morbidity and mortality, promote healthy lifestyles and empower indi
viduals and aggregates to become informed health care consumers. Prerequisites: NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, 3366, and 3532. $13 course fee.

3431. PROFESSIONAL NURSING SEMINAR I (4-0) 4 hours credit. Theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Focus on primary and secondary prevention throughout the life span and in providing professional nursing care in diverse settings. Registered nurse students only. $3 course fee.

3532. CLINICAL NURSING FOUNDATIONS (2-9) 5 hours credit. Basic therapeutic nursing interventions with individuals and families in diverse settings using nursing process framework. Required to receive 90 percent or above (three opportunities) on medication competency test. Prerequisites or concurrent enrollment: NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, and 3366. $28 course fee.

3561. NURSING OF ADULTS (3-6) 5 hours credit. Application of the nursing process with emphasis on critical thinking, therapeutic nursing interventions, and effective communication for persons experiencing medical-surgical problems. Theory and clinical application in diverse settings. Prerequisites: NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, 3366, and 3532. $28 course fee.

3681. PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND GROUPS (4-6) 6 hours credit. Application of the nursing process with emphasis on critical thinking, therapeutic nursing interventions, and effective communication and interpersonal skills as they relate to persons with psychiatric mental health conditions. Prerequisites: NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, 3366, 3532. $13 course fee.

3831. PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR II (1-21) 8 hours credit. Clinical application of theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Primary and secondary prevention throughout the life span; focus on professional nursing care in diverse settings. Registered nurse students only. $3 course fee.

4100. COOPERATIVE NURSING WORK EXPERIENCE (1-0) 1 hour credit. Designed for nursing cooperative education students to integrate classroom study with career-related practical experience in the workplace. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

4200. COOPERATIVE NURSING WORK EXPERIENCE (2-0) 2 hours credit. Designed for nursing cooperative education students to integrate classroom study with career-related practical experience in the workplace. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

4223. PROFESSIONAL NURSING TRENDS (2-0) 2 hours credit. Analysis of societal issues and trends influencing health care. Application of ethical, legal, economic, and political concepts. Identification of strategies for personal and professional empowerment. Prerequisites: NURS 4321, 4361, 4531, and 4541. $38 course fee.

4225. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING (2-0) 2 hours credit. Emerging health care and societal issues and trends and the effect on professional nursing roles. Future directions for enhancing the quality of nursing care. Registered nurse students only. Prerequisites: All Junior level courses. Prerequisites or concurrent enrollment: NURS 4281, 4321, 4324, 4463, 4451. $3 course fee. *

4281. PROFESSIONAL NURSING SEMINAR V (2-0) 2 hours credit. Theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Secondary and tertiary prevention throughout the life span; focus on professional nursing care in diverse settings. Registered Nurse Students only. Prerequisites: All Junior level courses. $3 course fee. *

4321. NURSING RESEARCH (3-0) 3 hours credit. Basic concepts, processes, and applications of nursing research. Research role of the nurse in decision making and clinical practice. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, 3681 or registered nurse students who have completed all Junior level courses. $3 course fee. *

4324. PROFESSIONAL NURSING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Ethical, legal, legislative, and political processes that have impact upon the practice of professional nursing in contemporary health care. Identifying strategies for personal and professional empowerment. Registered Nurse Students only. Prerequisites: All Junior level courses. $3 course fee. *

4361. NURSING OF OLDER ADULTS (2-3) 3 hours credit. Selected concepts and issues related to aging and its impact on society and health care. Introduction to gerontologic nursing principles. Clinical application in diverse settings across the continuum of care. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, 3681. $13 course fee.

4451. NURSING LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT (2-6) 4 hours credit. Exploration of organizational strategies, leadership theories and societal trends with implications for decision making in health care. Introduction to management skills needed by professional nurses with clinical application in diverse settings. Prerequisites: NURS 4321, 4361, 4531, 4541 or Registered Nurse Students who have completed all Junior level courses. $13 course fee. *

4462. COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING (2-6) 4 hours credit. Integrate knowledge from nursing theory and public health science in assessing health care needs of aggregates, communities and society. Prerequisites: NURS 4321, 4361, 4531, 4541. $13 course fee.

4463. ADVANCED CONCEPTS OF POPULATION-FOCUSED PRACTICE (2-6) 4 hours credit. Exploration of population-focused settings for community health nursing practice. Application of models and methods of community health, health planning, epidemiology, and research. Registered Nurse Students only. Prerequisites: All Junior level courses. $13 course fee. *

4531. NURSING OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (3-6) 5 hours credit. Nursing care for infants, children, adolescents, and their families. Theory and clinical application in diverse settings. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, 3681. $15 course fee.

4541. NURSING OF THE CHILDBEARING FAMILY (3-6) 5 hours credit. Application of the nursing process with emphasis on critical thinking, communication and therapeutic nursing interventions as related to care of individuals and families during the childbearing experience. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, 3681. $15 course fee.

4561. PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR III (1-12) 5 hours credit. Clinical application of theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Secondary and tertiary prevention throughout the life span; focus on professional nursing care in diverse settings. Registered nurse students only. $3 course fee.

4571. PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR IV (1-12) 5 hours credit. Clinical application of theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Secondary and tertiary prevention throughout the life span; focus on professional nursing care in diverse settings. Registered nurse students only. $3 course fee.

4581. NURSING OF ADULTS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS (3-6) 5 hours credit. Use of critical thinking, therapeutic nursing interventions and communication skills in promoting quality of life for persons with complex health needs. Application of nursing roles in diverse settings. Prerequisites: NURS 4321, 4361, 4531, and 4541. $15 course fee.

The following electives may or may not be taught every semester.

3350. ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL IN HEALTH CARE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Experience in the use of electronic information tools to access and manage health care information in an electronic format. $3 course fee.

3351. ADVANCED NURSING: NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (2-3) 3 hours credit. Investigation of natural family planning, strategies, and the application of these methods to various reproductive states. Development of a knowledge base for patient teaching and practice in natural family planning education. Prerequisite: BIOL 2458 or consent of instructor. $5 course fee.

3352. THE LEGACY OF THE FAMILY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Explore and enhance understanding and application of principles of family science knowledge in therapeutic relationships with families across the lifespan. $3 course fee.

3353. NURSING ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTIONS FOR THE VIOLENT FAMILY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Explores the dynamics of family violence as to etiologies, assessments and interventions for both survivors and perpetrators of violence. An interdisciplinary approach is followed. Prerequisite: Lower division psychology course. $3 course fee.

3354. NURSING COMMUNICATION WITH SPANISH SPEAKING CLIENTS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Identification, discussion and practice of communication strategies specific to Spanish speaking clients. Focus on vocabulary specific to assessment and intervention with persons whose primary language is Spanish. Prerequisite: Admission to the nursing program or consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

3361. HOLISTIC NURSING/ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES (3-0) 3 hours credit. Students will explore aspects of holistic health care, the psychophysiology of body/mind healing, lifestyle behaviors and select alternative therapies of care. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, 3681, or Registered Nurse Students. $3 course fee.

3362. SPIRITUAL CARE IN NURSING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Students will explore the aspects of spiritual care including the meaning of spirituality, assessment of spiritual well-being, diagnosis of spiritual needs, delivery of spiritual care, and evaluation of intervention effectiveness. Transcultural views of spirituality will be discussed along with ethical implications of spiritual care in nursing. Prerequisites: NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, 3366, 3532 or Registered Nurse Students. $3 course fee.

3363. ETHICAL ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY HEALTH CARE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Examines philosophic foundations of ethical decision making in contemporary health care. Methods of moral reasoning based upon traditional ethical frameworks will be applied to selected ethical issues. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, 3681, or Registered Nurse Students. $3 course fee.

3637, 3537, 3437, 3337, 3237, 3137. INDEPENDENT STUDY (Variable credit from 1 to 6 semester hours as arranged). Topic and mode of study are agreed upon by the student and instructor. May be repeated with various topics. $3 course fee.

3647, 3547, 3447, 3347, 3247, 3147. SPECIALIZED TOPICS IN NURSING (Variable credit from 1 to 6 semester hours as arranged). Areas of special interest. May be repeated with varied topics. Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

3652. OPERATING ROOM - CONTINUOUS CARE EXPERIENCE (3-9) 6 hours credit. Clinical experience with patients who require surgical intervention. Focus on the complete cycle of care: preoperative teaching, an intraoperative segment, and postoperative care. Prerequisites: NURS 3366 and 3561 or consent of instructor. $13 course fee.

3653. EMERGENCY NURSING (3-9) 6 hours credit. The application of the nursing process to the care of patients experiencing medical or surgical emergencies, or traumatic injuries. In-depth study of nursing problems related to selected emergency situations. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, and 3681 or consent of instructor. $13 course fee.

4351. THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Identification, discussion, and practice of specific communication techniques to aid health care professionals in confronting and dealing effectively with conflict. $3 course fee.

4352. DEVELOPING PROBLEM SOLVING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SKILLS IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Identification of client problems, making referrals, and the development of programs with the client to resolve identified problems. $3 course fee.

4386. HEALTH CARE LAW (3-0) 3 hours credit. Health care law as it affects professionals, institutions, and entities that deliver and finance health care. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, and 3681, or Registered Nurse Students. $3 course fee.

4641. ADVANCED NURSING OF THE CHILDBEARING FAMILY (4-6) 6 hours credit. Focus on the skills, issues and care required for high risk antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum childbearing families. Theoretical and clinical components with emphasis on development of clinical and critical thinking skills. Prerequisite: NURS 4541. $3 course fee.

4652. CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP (2-12) 6 hours credit. Expansion of nursing knowledge and skills; application of the nursing process concepts. Prerequisites: NURS 3421, 3561, and 3681. $5 course fee.

4654. ADVANCED NURSING: PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE (3-9) 6 hours credit. Practice of nursing in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Nursing care using the nursing process needed by critically ill pediatric patients who require life support and monitoring systems. Prerequisites: NURS 4541, 4531, 4361, and 4321, or consent of instructor. $13 course fee.

4655. CULTURAL VARIATION IN NURSING PRACTICE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TWO CULTURES (6-0) 6 hours credit. A comparative analysis of two cultures and the influences of cultural beliefs and practices upon the delivery of nursing care. Includes field study in a foreign country. Prerequisites: Completion of Junior I required nursing courses or consent of instructor. $3 course fee.

* In addition to the fees listed, courses with an asterisk require a $20 Distance Education Fee for only those students at the four distance sites: Grayson, Kaufman, Paris and Waco.