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.

Graduate nursing education builds on 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 graduate program in nursing is designed to assist professional nurses to prepare for advanced clinical and functional roles that require increased accountability, expertise and leadership. The master’s program facilitates the use of the research process through the course of study and prepares the graduate to be a critical thinker and a self-directed professional who collaborates with consumers and other health care providers.

The faculty believes 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.

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
Pre-Nursing
Students may be admitted or may transfer to U.T. Arlington upon meeting the admission or transfer requirements established by the University. Students who designate themselves as pre-nursing will be advised by the School of Nursing in the Undergraduate Student Services Office.

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.
2. Scores on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) must be on file in the School of Nursing.

As enrollment in the BSN program is limited by the available resources, the most qualified applicants will be invited to interview with nursing faculty and to submit a writing sample. Students who have a previous baccalaureate degree and credit hours at U.T. Arlington will be given additional consideration.

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 to achieve the terminal program objectives for the undergraduate program.

Registered nurses desiring admission to this program must:

1. Complete 60 hours of prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
2. Scores on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) must be on file in the School of Nursing.
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 or provide titer reflecting immunization 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
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.

Health History and Physical Examination
Nursing students must complete a health history and physical examination (reported on a form supplied by the School of Nursing) prior to enrollment.

Drug Screen and DPS Criminal Background Checks
Nursing students must complete a drug screen and DPS Criminal Background check prior to the School of Nursing orientation.

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 Undergraduate Student Services Office, 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 is available from the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas (www.bne.state.tx.us) or the School of Nursing Dean’s Office.)

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science

Degree in Nursing
The nursing program, accredited by the National League for Nursing* and the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, 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 who have completed an accredited Associate Degree or Diploma Nursing Program and are 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 in upper-division courses in nursing:

Natural Sciences
Human Anatomy and Physiology   4 1,5,7
Microbiology or Bacteriology         4 6
Chemistry                                   4 2,6
Electives                                     3
                                                15 3

Behavioral Sciences
Introduction to Psychology            3 7
Sociology                                    3 6
Human Growth and Development  3 7
Across the Lifespan                    
                                                  9
American History I and II              6 6
Political Science I and II
(U.S. and Texas State)                  6 6
                                                 12 4

Other
Fine Arts (architecture, art, dance,
music or theatre arts)                     3 6
College Algebra                              3 6
Statistics                                        3 6
English Composition I and II            6 6
Sophomore English                         3 6
Computer Science or substitute
(speech, sophomore English
or technical writing)                        3 6
Nutrition                                        3 7
                                                  24

TOTAL (Lower-Division)               60 hours

plus exercise and sport activities (EXSA/DNCA) 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. Currently practicing RN to BSN students may request a waiver.
6 Degree Plan Core Curriculum courses.
7 Degree Plan Program Specific courses.

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: Sophomore English, 3 hours; POLS 2311; BIOL 2458; MATH 1308; Fine Arts, 3 hours; EXSA—Total Credit 17 hours.
Second Semester: Sophomore English or substitute, 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, 3320, 3334, 3335, 3341, 3342—Total Credit 17 hours.
Semester II:* NURS 4321, 4324, 4381, 4451, 4463—Total Credit 17 hours.

Credit by RN Licensure: NURS 3360, 3365, 3431, 3831, 4561, 4571—Total Credit 28 hours.
Total Required Nursing Hours in both BSN and RN to 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/DNCA) or ROTC or marching band as required.

Clinical Courses
To pass a clinical course, the student must pass both the theory and the clinical components 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. Each student will be provided an e-mail address. Contact Undergraduate Program Directors for more information.

School of Nursing Faculty
Dean
Professor Poster
Professors
Bond, Burns, Cason, Grove, Jones
Associate Professors
Courtney, Gibson, Hegstad,
Heusinkveld, O’Quinn, Schmelzer
Assistant Professors
C. Anderson, Duggleby, Gray, Raudonis
Specialists
Adams, Aguilar, Althaus, C.M. Anderson, M. Anderson, Baker, Barr, Carlson, Chappell, Cline, Cochran, Cravener, Duncan, Fox, Gillman, Given, Goller, Green, Hadnot, Handy, Hennes, Hicks, Hildebrand, Hill, Hudgins, Hargrove-Huttell, Jackman, Jewell, Judkins, Kardong-Edgren, Kopplin, Kyba, Leipheimer, Lieser, Marks, McClean, Miles, Miller, Monastesse, Palmer, Parker,
N. Patrick, V. Patrick, Pensabene, Perley, Pinkerton, Priddy, Rickard, Royes, Runzheimer, Schira, Singer, Smith, Snow, Stam, Stephens, Sullivan, Tamasy, Turpin, Weber, Willson, Wright

Nursing (NURS)
Course fee information is published in the online student Schedule of Classes at www.uta.edu/schedule. Please refer to this Web site for a detailed listing of specific course fees.

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.

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.

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. *

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.

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. *

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. *

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. *

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. *

3342. CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Introduction to foundational concepts for professional nursing practice. Essential values, behaviors, and processes required for implementing professional nursing roles. Registered Nurse students only. Prerequisites: All lower division courses. *

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.

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.

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.

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 individuals and aggregates to become informed health care consumers. Prerequisites: NURS 3240, 3320, 3365, 3366, and 3532.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.* Prerequisite for those taking the course online: Computer Technology Skills CE course or permission of the instructor.

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. *

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.

4381. PROFESSIONAL NURSING SEMINAR V: SYNTHESIS OF PRACTICE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Synthesis of theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Focuses on evolution and transition of professional nursing practice in diverse settings within a context of emerging societal issues and trends. Registered Nurse students only. Prerequisites: All junior level courses. *

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. *

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.

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. *

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

3352. THE LEGACY OF THE FAMILY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Explore and enhance understanding and application of the principles of family science knowledge in therapeutic relationships with families across the lifespan. Prerequisite for those taking the course online: Computer Technology Skills CE course or permission of instructor.

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.

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.

3355. HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Focus is on a national and international comparison of health care systems with consideration of social, economic, and delivery structures. Emphasis is on U.S. health care delivery systems and roles of the advanced practice nurse. Prerequisite: Computer Technology Skills CE course for distance learning, or permission of instructor.

3356. NURSING CARE AT THE END OF LIFE (3-0) 3 hours credit. An overview of the nursing care of the terminally ill patient and family. Explores the impact of personal values and beliefs about death on nursing care, the physiology of end stage disease processes, clinical approaches to pain and symptom management, societal issues and trends in end of life care and models of care delivery. Prerequisites: BSN students must complete all required Junior II courses. RNs enrolled in RN to BSN program.

3357. GENETICS AND NURSING (3-0) 3 hours credit. An overview of genetics principles and their application to health care, the genetic impact on health care, and the nursing implications of this health care revolution.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

4381. PROFESSIONAL NURSING SEMINAR V: SYNTHESIS OF PRACTICE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Synthesis of theories and concepts for professional nursing practice. Examine emerging health care and societal issues affecting professional nursing roles. Future directions for enhancing the quality of nursing care. Registered Nurse students only. Prerequisites: All junior level courses. *

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.

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.

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.

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.

4655. CULTURAL VARIATION IN HEALTH CARE: 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 health care. Includes field study in a foreign country. Prerequisites: Completion of Junior I required nursing courses or consent of instructor.

* Courses with an asterisk require a $20 Distance Education Fee for students at any of the distance education campuses in the RN to BSN Program.

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