Nursing Degrees Online

Nursing Associate Degree at Bryant and Stratton College Ohio

Program: 369 Semesters: 5m Total Credit Hours: 72

Description
The mission of the Nursing Program is to provide quality nursing education in North Central Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin and to facilitate the provision of exceptional healthcare in the regions. The Nursing Program emphasizes classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences that prepare students for both the world of work and for life-long learning. Computer aided instruction, telecommunications technology, clinical simulation and other technical learning strategies are seen as integral components of the delivery methods needed to serve the educational needs of students in the 21st century.

The purpose of the Nursing Program is to prepare Nursing Program graduates to function in professional registered nursing roles. The program provides a foundation of learning which promotes integration of clinical decision making processes into the provision of nursing care for meeting the health/illness needs of patients across the life span. The three roles of the associate degree nurse (Provider of Care, Manager of Care, and Member of the Discipline of Nursing) describe nursing practice and role expectations of the entry level registered nurse. The core components of those roles, as established by the National League for Nursing (NLN, 2000) are as follows: professional behaviors, communication, assessment, clinical decision making, caring interventions, teaching and learning, collaboration, and managing care. The organizing framework provides direction for the selection and ordering of learning experiences to achieve program outcomes.

THE COURSE
The course as general nurses, able to act in the promotion, prevention, protection and rehabilitation of health, individual and collective, committed to the act of caring, to manage, to educate, to research and get ongoing training. Could work in the Family Health Program (FHP) in clinics, hospitals, businesses, services, health surveillance, daycare, emergency services and emergency and SAMU, hospitals and schools and universities.

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
From the first sentence of course, the courses are structured so you learn, alternating theory and practice through classroom, laboratory, field work, technical visits, research activities and research. The course highlights both the technical and scientific training as a humanistic and social training, including courses in the areas of Life Sciences and Health, Humanities and Social Science and Nursing. In the last two periods, you will be supervised and, along the course, may conduct training agreements with institutions in the PUC Minas, which allows early contact with the world of work.

FIELDS OF RESEARCH
Throughout the course, you will develop research activities and work in interdisciplinary groups. At the end of the course, submit a work completion carried out under the guidance of a teacher in the following areas of research: health care in the cycles of life, work in health and nursing, and health in contemporary humanism.

FEATURED COURSE
A highlight of the course is the link between education, research and extension, the subjects of investigative practices and extension, in which all students will have the opportunity to learn from a social practice and to contribute to the development of communities, with proposals for joint intervention and research.

Because of the shortage of nurses in the nation, when today’s nurses graduate and become licensed, a job comes looking for them. Mount Marty College prepares nurses to step into a variety of nursing roles, care for an increasingly diverse population, and use increasingly complex technology.

The MMC baccalaureate nursing program is among the best in the region with pass rates on the licensure exam for registered nurses above the national and regional average.

MMC nursing students will receive excellent classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. The MMC nursing health science lab is designed specifically to develop clinical practice skills. MMC works with more than twenty area health agencies to make sure students get the variety of clinical experience they need.

The nursing program, leading to a bachelor of science degree, is approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) (61 Broadway, NEW York, NY 10006; 1-800-669-1656).

MMC offers small clinical groups to maximize learning opportunities in the clinical setting. Much of the clinical experience takes place at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, located adjacent to the Mount Marty College Campus. Additional experience is provided at the Mickelson Center for Neurosciences, Yankton Community Health Nursing Agency, area nursing homes, and other community and area agencies.

Students are introduced to nursing research for planning professional nursing care, and they explore contemporary and ethical issues encountered in real practice.

At Mount Marty, we believe it is important to combine theory and practice to ensure confident and competent nurses.

Supervised clinical experience begins in the sophomore year and continues throughout the program. Students are introduced to current technologies used in quality nursing care. The MMC nursing curriculum combines a core of pre-professional studies and nursing courses to help develop personal and professional competence.

MMC’s Nursing Program facilitates a value-centered nursing education that:
Enhances personal growth and development
Fosters critical thinking and problem solving skills
Supports responsibility for community service
Provide the educational foundation necessary for advanced professional preparation and graduate study

MMC’s Nursing Programs develops a professional nurse who provides holistic nursing care based on nursing theory and research who:
Appreciates the uniqueness of each individual and family
The influence of society
The multidimensional aspects of health

Gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to enter the health care system as a Practical Nurse and to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination in Ontario. Develop knowledge, skills and judgement in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for all age groups. Particular focus is placed on the ability to communicate in a caring and therapeutic manner.

The program consists of four levels. There is a strong emphasis on practical hands-on experience in a variety of health care settings. Practical experience moves from long term care, maternal-child, school-age, and retirement to medical, surgical, mental health and community environments. The program will conclude with a consolidated experience in a health care setting.

Learning occurs in a variety of settings and through a variety of delivery methods: the classroom, laboratory, simulation, various health facilities, online and independent study to name a few. Practical experiences may involve a variety of shifts and may include weekends. Clinical placements will take place in a variety of agencies throughout Renfrew County. Travel arrangements and any incurred costs are the responsibility of the student.

Nursing courses are upper division (junior and senior years). Eleven courses taught by Nursing faculty of the two colleges in the Nursing Consortium progress from nonacute to acute nursing, from simple to complex situations, and include the individual, the family, and the community as clients. Electives are offered during the January Interim.

Each nursing course provides the student with 39 class periods, or the equivalent, of instruction. One class period equals fifty minutes at Gustavus. Three and a half hours of classroom laboratory or clinical laboratory is the equivalent of one class period.

Clinical experiences are provided in each semester of the Nursing major in a variety of rural and metropolitan settings. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical experiences. Nursing faculty design and evaluate all classroom and laboratory experiences; in some courses registered nurses working as adjunct instructors assist faculty to guide student learning in the classroom and clinical laboratories. A fee is assessed annually for program expenses.

210 Parenting (1 course) This course examines contemporary parenting and is intended as an introduction for students’ preparation for or examination of parenthood. Topics include the stages of pregnancy including fetal growth and development, preparation for labor and birth, parent-infant attachment, and stages of childhood development. Discussion of historic and current parenting roles, parenting skills, parenting styles, gender issues, cultural variations in parenting, discipline, effective communication, and a variety of contemporary challenges relating to the parenting role will be included. SOSCI, Offered occasionally.

239 Nutrition and Wellness (1 course) This course explores the sources, chemical composition, and metabolic behavior of nutrients. Nutritional requirements for a balanced diet are examined as well as the consequences of nutrient excesses and deficiencies. Students will use nutritional assessment tools and guidelines to make sound food choices, learn how to read food labels, and consider factors affecting food consumption. Students will also examine the effects of the typical American diet as it relates to chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Spring semester.

300 Research for Wellbeing (.5 course) This course is designed to give students who are interested in human wellbeing/health care the knowledge and opportunity to design, implement, analyze, and disseminate the findings of a research study. Students will learn about and become engaged in the research process beginning with a review of the literature in order to refine a research question. After writing a research prospectus, students will obtain approval from the Institutional Review Board prior to data collection. Following data collection and analysis, students will submit an abstract to the National Conference for Undergraduate Research to present their findings. Students can register for an additional .5 course to prepare and submit a manuscript for publication of their research. Fall Semester.

302 Health Care Issues (1 course) This course focuses on critical issues in contemporary health care. Topics include principles of wellness, health promotion, interpersonal communication, cultural competency, and ethical, legal, political, and economic aspects of the health care system in the United States. Students have the opportunity to explore health care issues, such as interpersonal violence, genomics, bioterrorism, and global health problems. Prerequisite: FTS-100 or CUR-100. SOSCI, Fall semester.

304 Nursing Concepts (1 course) This course explores the foundational and philosophical concepts of the discipline of nursing. Topics include the history and image of nursing, scope of practice and professional roles, research, and lifelong learning. Students will develop the ability to assess an individual’s state of health from a holistic perspective, using the Neuman System Model as a theoretical framework. Emphasis is on the use of critical thinking and evidenced-based practice. Corequisite: NUR-302. Fall semester.

306 Health Assessment (1 course) Classroom and laboratory experiences in nursing and health assessment skills develop the student’s ability to provide nursing care. Opportunities to apply knowledge from the liberal arts and nursing theory to simulated patient care situations are provided. Individual practice sessions in the nursing laboratory are expected. Performance testing determines readiness for the role of caregiver in a variety of clinical settings. Corequisite: NUR-302. Fall semester.

308 Adult Health I (1 course) This course focuses on principles of pharmacology and care of the hospitalized adult. Topics include pain management, sleep and rest, and sensory perceptual alterations. Students will apply the nursing process to the care of adults, with emphasis on the elderly. Using a holistic perspective, students will collect and analyze information related to an individual’s health status. Students will begin to develop the professional role of caregiver and patient advocate. Corequisite: NUR-304. Fall semester.

336 Adult Health II (2 courses) This course explores health problems in adults requiring medical or surgical care. Students will utilize the roles of caregiver, patient advocate, educator, and collaborator in the care of individuals. Classes integrate patho-physiology, pharmacology, and knowledge of acute and chronic health problems in the adult population. Experiences will be provided in a variety of settings serving adult and elderly populations. Prerequisite: NUR-308. Spring semester.

338 Child Health (1 course) This course explores health problems of children requiring medical or surgical care. Students integrate knowledge of developmental, transcultural, and communication theories in the care of children from infancy through adolescence. Trends and issues related to family-centered health care will be explored. Students further develop the roles of educator, collaborator, advocate, and caregiver. A variety of pediatric clinical settings will be utilized. Prerequisite: NUR-308. Spring semester.

386 Perinatal Health (1 course) This course explores the childbearing process in healthy and high-risk families. Clinical experiences are provided with families during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and following birth. Clinical settings include hospital birth centers, clinics, and home care agencies. Students develop the role of educator by working with parents to integrate and care for a new member of the family system. Prerequisite: NUR-336. Fall semester.

388 Community Health (1 course) This course emphasizes the health of communities and populations. Topics include population-based health issues such as environmental health, epidemiology, and communicable disease. Students will assess and screen individuals and families within communities, address identified needs and educate populations across the lifespan, collaborate with other health care professionals, make referrals, and participate in health promotion clinics. Clinical experiences occur in rural public health agencies and community-based programs. Prerequisite: NUR-336. Fall semester.

291, 391 Independent Study (Course value to be determined.) Independent investigation of a selected nursing topic. Open only to junior or senior Nursing majors by special permission of the department.

392 Mental Health (1 course) Students will explore issues related to the care of individuals suffering from acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. The course will include topics such as major mental illnesses, substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders. Students develop the roles of counselor and collaborator by working with an interdisciplinary team in providing care to patients in psychiatric settings. Clinical experiences emphasize the use of therapeutic communication, psychiatric assessment, and interpersonal relationship skills. Prerequisite: NUR-388. Spring semester.

397 Nursing Leadership (1 course) This course explores the theories of leadership, management, and organizations and the process of managing personnel and work. Concepts of change, conflict negotiation, and preparation for professional practice are examined. Professional communication is emphasized through writing and conducting a teaching conference for personnel. The roles of leader, manager, and coordinator are emphasized. Clinical experiences focus on providing nursing care to groups of adults with complex health problems. Prerequisite: NUR-336. WRITD, Spring semester.

The Nurse Refresher Series includes courses combining classroom, laboratory and clinical practice. It is designed for RNs and LPNs who have been out of the field for two or more years or have been working in an alternative setting and desire to seek employment in a hospital. The unique design permits RNs and LPNs to enroll in the complete series (the full refresher experience) or only one course (excluding the Nursing Clinical Practicum). View current course schedules.
RNs and LPNs who enroll in the complete series of courses will be refreshed in:
Nursing process and physical assessment;
Disease process and nursing intervention;
Nursing skills laboratory; and
Nursing clinical practicum.

Once the first three courses are successfully completed, the refresher experience culminates in the Nursing Clinical Practicum at a local hospital.
Nursing Process and Physical Assessment
Course: HPI 0515
Hours: 32
Fee: $426.56
Prerequisite: None

This course focuses on the steps of the Nursing Process including assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation.

An in-depth review of nursing diagnosis provides nurses with guidelines to provide comprehensive quality nursing care of the patient. Included in the Nursing Process are accurate documentation; problem solving; critical-thinking exercises; decision making; and thorough and accurate physical assessment skills. HIPPA requirements are discussed as well.

The course also reviews and enhances medication administration; dosage calculations; care of a central line; and the role of the RN/LPN and patient assignments.

Required text: Application of Nursing Process and Nursing Diagnosis (4th edition) by Marilynn E. Doenges and Mary Frances Moorhouse; F.A. Davis Publications.
Disease Process and Nursing Intervention
Course: HPI 0514
Hours: 38
Fee: $506.54
Prerequisite: HPI 0515

This course focuses on the Disease Process as it affects each system of the body; the skills needed to assess each system; and current medical interventions. Nursing Interventions for the client with various disease processes are identified to assist with quality and safe nursing care.

Required texts: Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking in Client Care (4th edition) by P. LeMone and K. M. Burke and Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking in Client Care Study Guide by P. LeMone.
Nursing Skills Laboratory
Course: HPI 0513
Hours: 35
Fee: $466.55
Prerequisite: HPI 0515 and HPI 0514

The course will focus on motor skills and the competent performance of each required skill. IV therapy will be covered by calculating infusion rate; changing IV solution/tubing; discontinuing an IV; changing a peripheral IV dressing; flushing a heparin lock; and more. Other skills, such as feeding (bolus); changing all types of dressing; administering heparin; administering insulin; using Accucheck; inserting N/G tube; changing vascular access dressings; doing tracheal suctioning via ET or trach; doing tracheal care; doing sterile technique; demonstrating proper body mechanics; inserting a Foley catheter; transferring a patient; and restraining a patient will be covered, as well as dosage and calculations. A lab kit is included. Labs will occasionally be held on Saturdays.
Nursing Clinical Practicum

Note: This course is available only to nurses completing the SCC Nurse Refresher Series of courses.
Course: HPI 0516
Hours: 120
Fee: $624
Prerequisite: HPI 0515, HPI 0514 and HPI 0513

The final course of the series provides a hospital experience under the supervision of a preceptor. It is open to RNs and LPNs who have met the following criteria in advance of the scheduled start date:
Successful completion of the three other courses within one year prior;
Proof of an active Florida license;
Proof of recent attendance in the Medical Errors Course;
Completion of SCC Health Assessment Form;
Proof of current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers;
Proof of recent attendance at HIV/AIDS Update Course;
Proof of recent attendance at Domestic Violence Course;
Proof of health insurance;
Malpractice (liability) insurance (included in fees); and
Completion of Criminal History Information Request.

The specially-designed Bachelor of Science in Nursing provides an opportunity for students who have completed the associate’s degree program in nursing to continue their studies and advance their careers.

The program also will prepare nursing students for graduate school and jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree.

The Bachelor of Science builds on the strengths of the university’s two-year program in nursing. RSU’s program is one of Oklahoma’s most academically-rigorous and highly-regarded nursing programs.

Nursing is a respected and challenging academic discipline and the faculty at the RSU Nursing program recognizes that while skills remain important today, nursing requires critical thinking and a high level of intellectual ability. It’s not just what you do with your hands, but what you do with your brain that impacts patient care.

The Bachelor’s program is designed to prepare registered nurses to assume leadership positions in medical centers, home health, and community health centers. The degree has a special emphasis on rural health care and federally-operated facilities.

The Bachelor’s degree is designed to foster advanced clinical reasoning and analytical skills and the curriculum is built on a broad foundation of biological, physical, and social sciences. The degree program builds on prior course work to prepare students for a broader scope of practice. Through a solid liberal arts component, the program helps students understand the cultural, political, economic, and social issues impacting patients and influencing care delivery. Students will be admitted to the B.S.program on a full or part-time basis.

Preparing for Leadership with Other Degrees

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) in Nursing degree leads to registered nurse licensure. This rigorous five-semester program introduces the student to the Nursing profession through classroom, laboratory and clinical learning experiences.

Some students may choose to complete the A.A.S. degree and the B.S. degree within four academic years. This academic pathway is designed for the full-time student only.

Paramedics and Licensed Practical Nurses can choose a degree option which allows qualified students to bypass the first year of clinical nursing courses.

The Department of Health Sciences also offers an Associate of Science degree in Pre-Nursing. This degree is designed for students preparing to transfer to a baccalaureate nursing program.

COURSES

Nursing courses which count toward the major are upper division (junior and senior years). Courses progress from nonacute to acute nursing, from simple to complex situations and include care of the individual, the family, and the community. Each nursing course which counts toward the major provides the student with 39 class periods, or the equivalent, of instruction. One class period equals 55 minutes at St. Olaf. Three and a half hours of classroom laboratory or clinical laboratory is the equivalent of one class period. Clinical experiences are provided in each semester of the nursing major in a variety of rural and metropolitan settings. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical experiences. Nursing faculty design and evaluate all classroom and laboratory experiences; in some courses registered nurses working as adjunct instructors assist faculty to guide student learning in the classroom or clinical laboratories. A fee is assessed each semester for off-campus program expenses.

110 Nutrition and Wellness

This course explores the sources, chemical composition, and metabolic behavior of nutrients. Nutritional requirements for a balanced diet are examined as well as the consequences of excesses and deficiencies. Students use nutrition tools and guidelines to make sound food choices, learn how to read food labels, and consider factors affecting food consumption. Class activities increase students’ awareness of a healthy diet, help students evaluate nutrition behaviors, and facilitate a nutritionally sound lifestyle. Prerequisite: High school biology and chemistry strongly recommended.

120 Images of Wellness

This course examines how contemporary culture influences present day wellness perspectives. Values, lifestyle, daily stresses, and corresponding coping mechanisms affecting one’s well-being are explored. Students study health behaviors as a function of social influences and, conversely, the impact of unhealthy coping behaviors on the social enterprise. This course also includes an exploration of wellness from the perspective of non-western cultures.

130 Family Violence

Violence between family members and intimates is recognized as a significant social and public health problem. This course explores the magnitude, causes, and consequences of family violence in America. Students examine the factors predisposing individuals to violence and the institutional and societal responses to the problem. The issue is addressed from health care, legal, religious, and public policy perspectives. Offered during Interim.

294 Internship

Does not count toward the major.

298 Independent Study

Does not count toward the major.

302 Health Care Issues

This course focuses on critical issues in contemporary health care. Topics include principles of wellness, health promotion, interpersonal communication, cultural competency, and ethical, legal, political, and economic aspects of the health care system in the United States. Students have the opportunity to explore health care issues, such as interpersonal violence, genomics, bio-terrorism, and global health problems. Prerequisites: Non-Nursing majors: FYW; nursing majors: all Nursing prerequisites.

304 Nursing Concepts

This course explores the foundational and philosophical concepts of the discipline of nursing. Topics include the history and image of nursing, scope of practice and professional roles, research, and lifelong learning. Students develop the ability to assess an individual’s state of health from a holistic perspective, using Neuman’s Systems Model as a theoretical framework. Emphasis is on the use of critical thinking and evidence-based practice. Taken concurrently with Nursing 302, 306, 308.

306 Health Assessment

Classroom and laboratory experiences in nursing and health assessment skills develop the student’s ability to provide nursing care. Opportunities are provided to apply knowledge from the liberal arts and nursing theory to simulated patient care situations. Individual practice sessions in the nursing laboratory are expected. Performance testing determines readiness for the role of caregiver in a variety of clinical settings. Taken concurrently with Nursing 302, 304, 308.

308 Adult Health I

This course focuses on principles of pharmacology and care of the hospitalized adult. Topics include pain management, sleep and rest, and sensory perceptual alterations. Students apply the nursing process to the care of adults, with emphasis on the elderly. Using a holistic perspective, students collect and analyze information related to an individual’s health status. Students begin to develop the professional role of caregiver and patient advocate. Taken concurrently with Nursing 302, 304, 306.

336 Adult Health II (2.0)

This course explores health problems in adults requiring medical or surgical care. Students utilize the roles of caregiver, patient advocate, educator, and collaborator in the care of individuals. Classes integrate pathophysiology, pharmacology, and knowledge of acute and chronic health problems in the adult population. Experiences are provided in a variety of settings serving adult and elderly populations. Prerequisites: Nursing 302, 304, 306, and 308.

338 Child Health

This course explores health problems of children requiring medical or surgical care. Students integrate knowledge of developmental, transcultural, and communication theories in the care of children from infancy through adolescence. Trends and issues related to family-centered health care are explored. Students further develop the roles of educator, collaborator, advocate, and caregiver. A variety of pediatric clinical settings are utilized. Prerequisite: Nursing 336 or concurrent registration.

371 Health Care in Norway (abroad)

This course explores health and nursing in Norway. Students learn about culture, compare nursing and health care in Norway and the U.S., examine the influence of government and economics, explore settings where health care is provided, analyze the effectiveness of the social welfare system in meeting health needs, and identify factors affecting health care in the future. Activities include lectures by Norwegian health professionals, seminars with St. Olaf faculty, readings, journals, short papers, visits to health agencies, and cultural field trips. Does not count toward the major. Open to non-majors on a space-available basis. Offered during Interim 2006 and in alternate years.

386 Perinatal Health

This course explores the childbearing process in healthy and high-risk families. Clinical experiences are provided with families during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and following birth. Clinical settings include hospital birth centers, clinics, and home care agencies. Students develop the role of educator by working with parents to integrate and care for a new member of the family system. Prerequisite: Nursing 336.

388 Community Health

This course emphasizes the health of communities and populations. Topics include population- based health issues such as environmental health, epidemiology and communicable disease. Students assess and screen individuals and families within communities, address identified needs and educate populations across the lifespan, collaborate with other health care professionals, make referrals, and participate in health promotion clinics. Clinical experiences occur in rural public health agencies and community-based programs. Prerequisite: Nursing 336.

392 Mental Health

Students explore issues related to the care of individuals suffering from acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. The course includes topics such as major mental illnesses, substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders. Students develop the roles of counselor and collaborator by working with an interdisciplinary team in providing care to patients in psychiatric settings. Clinical experiences emphasize the use of therapeutic communication, psychiatric assessment, and interpersonal relationship skills. Prerequisite: Nursing 388.

394 Internship

Does not count toward the major.

396 Directed Undergraduate Research: “Topic Description”

This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to his/her research interests. Prerequisite: Determined by individual instructor. Offer based on department decision. Does not count toward the major.

397 Nursing Leadership

This course explores the theories of leadership, management, and organizations and the process of managing personnel and work. Concepts of change, conflict negotiation, and preparation for professional practice are examined. Professional communication is emphasized through writing and conducting a teaching conference for personnel. The roles of leader, manager, and coordinator are emphasized. Clinical experiences focus on providing nursing care to groups of adults with complex health problems. Prerequisite: Nursing 336.

398 Independent Research

Does not count toward the major.

Nursing is a caring profession that provides preventative, acute and chronic care to the patient and their family. It is a profession that helps individuals and their families handle their illness, their wellness, or their loss. In short, nurses deal with the human response to illness. Nursing is a science, one that requires in-depth scientific knowledge, skill, and understanding in order to care for an individual family or community. Nursing is also an art that focuses on developmental, psychosocial and cultural needs. Click on Philosophy to learn about the Macomb Nursing Program.

A license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) is granted to an individual who has completed instruction at a State accredited school and has successfully passed the State’s qualifying exam.

In Summary

Nursing is for caring people. Nursing is a profession in which you can make a difference and can learn and grow with new roles. Macomb’s nursing program offers the chance to acquire knowledge, skills and values necessary for the practice of nursing. The program consists of liberal arts and nursing courses. . The program provides opportunities through classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences. After completion of this program, you’ll start work immediately as a graduate nurse.