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 Master of Science in Nursing prepares advanced practice nurses to care for individuals and families. The curriculum builds on the nursing and scientific knowledge base of the baccalaureate prepared nurse and focuses on advanced clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills. Graduates are prepared to accurately and critically assess the health and illness experiences of individuals and families, to develop health interventions and to evaluate healthcare outcomes. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers three options: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, and a variation in the Family Nurse Practitioner option for BSN-prepared nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. The program begins in the fall. Nursing 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, and 690 require up to two days per week for daytime clinical hours. NURS 633 requires one day per week for daytime clinical hours. Clinical experiences take place under the guidance of experienced advanced practice nurse or physician preceptors. The Nurse Practitioner programs may be completed in two academic years plus one summer of full-time study. Students may take up to six years of part-time study to complete the program. Faculty advisors work closely with each student to plan an appropriate course of study and to ensure progress through the program. There is also a bridge sequence of courses to the MSN for RNs with a non-nursing baccalaureate.

The Master of Science in Nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, 202-887-6791.

The Master of Science in Nursing prepares advanced practice nurses to care for individuals and families. The curriculum builds on the nursing and scientific knowledge base of the baccalaureate prepared nurse and focuses on advanced clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills. Graduates are prepared to accurately and critically assess the health and illness experiences of individuals and families, to develop health interventions and to evaluate healthcare outcomes. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers three options: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, and a variation in the Family Nurse Practitioner option for BSN-prepared nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. The program begins in the fall. Nursing 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, and 690 require up to two days per week for daytime clinical hours. NURS 633 requires one day per week for daytime clinical hours. Clinical experiences take place under the guidance of experienced advanced practice nurse or physician preceptors. The Nurse Practitioner programs may be completed in two academic years plus one summer of full-time study. Students may take up to six years of part-time study to complete the program. Faculty advisors work closely with each student to plan an appropriate course of study and to ensure progress through the program. There is also a bridge sequence of courses to the MSN for RNs with a non-nursing baccalaureate.

The Master of Science in Nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, 202-887-6791.

The Master of Science in Nursing builds upon the baccalaureate nursing degree. The core courses of the program emphasize advanced work in: Management, Interpersonal Communication, Health Care Policy, Theoretical Frameworks, Research, Issues and Clinical Decision Making.

The Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing (PHSSN) functions within the structure of an educational consortium consisting of Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University. The PHSSN faculty accept the underlying philosophy and objectives of the consortium universities that young men and women be educationally prepared in a manner that promotes the development of intellectual, cultural, moral, and religious values which leads to economic self-improvement. Building upon the baccalaureate degree, master’s students can concentrate in the areas of nursing education, administration, gerontology, or family nurse practitioner. PHSSN is located at 2149 Hickory.

The nursing degree program at RMU builds on the natural and behavioral sciences, integrating liberal arts and professional courses into a cohesive program. Students develop strong technical skills, as well as the clinical judgment and critical thinking necessary to succeed in todays rapidly changing health care system. Clinical experiences are conducted in community and hospital settings.

The program has a unique focus on business, communications, global perspective and technology in addition to strong clinical skills. All students receive personal digital assistants (PDAs) capable of storing two to three textbooks of medical and nursing information at their fingertips. Students learn to care for patients in state-of-the-art clinical facilities as well as in RMU’s new nursing laboratory, where bedside computers and a SIMMAN patient simulator assist in developing clinical decision-making skills. Students also have the opportunity to travel internationally to better understand global health issues.

Students are admitted to the program in the fall semester and can complete the program in eight semesters (fall and spring) over four years. The first two years involve mostly core courses in liberal arts and science. Clinical courses begin in fall of the junior year. Students are admitted to the program as freshmen but must meet progression criteria to advance to clinical courses.

Program Objectives
The B.S.N. degree program prepares students to:
Demonstrate critical thinking, clinical decision-making and psychomotor skills necessary for safe and competent practice;
Integrate methods of research and scholarship to make and prioritize diagnoses, plan, implement and evaluate the care of individuals, groups and communities;
Assess health and incorporate principles and methods of health promotion and health education in nursing care of individuals, groups and communities;
Integrate traditional and developing methods of discovering, retrieving and using information in nursing practice;
Demonstrate professional behaviors when providing nursing care to individuals and families;
Describe how health care delivery systems are organized and financed and the effect on patient care; and
Communicate clearly and succinctly in speech and writing.

NSNP 9000 - Applied Physiology and Human Responses in Health and Illness: The purpose of this course is to equip the learner with the theory and knowledge necessary to understand human responses to health and illness. In this course, particular emphasis is placed on exploring normal physiology, relational anatomy and on understanding the pathophysiology underlying illness and injury in the human body. The pathophysiology of common acute and chronic conditions found in the Canadian population is a focus. In addition, the influence of individual client characteristics such as age, gender, social history, ethnic background and psychological responses to illness will be examined. Because the emphasis is on clinical application of this knowledge, case studies are used extensively. Learners will examine the relationship between knowledge and practice with an emphasis on understanding normal and abnormal human adaptive processes. This course is offered in an online format. Prerequisites: NSCC 7300 or NSCC 7310

NSNP 9005 - Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning: The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary knowledge, experience and skills to enable learners to carry out advanced holistic health assessments for adults. This course will assist learners to expand their existing assessment frameworks (physical and psychosocial), using a systematic approach and to identify risk factors for potential health promotion/prevention strategies. Understanding and interpreting diagnostic test results will be a focus. In addition, learners will study a variety of approaches to documentation and to communication in the context of consultation and referrals. Frameworks for clinical decision making related to diagnosing and treating common acute and chronic illnesses will be explored. Because the emphasis is on clinical application, a substantial portion of this course will involve clinical experiences related to assessing adults. This course will be offered in an online format with two on campus residency components. Prerequisites: NSNP 9000

NSNP 9010 - Applied Therapeutics and Diagnostics: The purpose of this course is to equip learners with the necessary theory and knowledge needed to select therapeutic interventions and to prescribe appropriate medications in the context of social holistic client assessment and diagnostic reasoning. Emphasis is placed upon understanding the physiology underlying selected interventions, with a focus on safe practice in relation too pharmaceuticals. And, there is a strong focus on selecting appropriate, evidence-based and cost effective interventions with consideration of current, research-based, Canadian, clinical practice guidelines; individual characteristics; access to services; and knowledge of pharmacodynamics. The influence of legislation and the pharmaceutical industry on prescribing practices is also explored. And, the importance of forming therapeutic partnerships in making treatment decisions with clients is emphasized. The course will be offered in an online format and will include a clinical component when possible. The latter will consist of an average of 3 hours a week. This course is designed to prepare the learner for a nurse practitioner role specifically prescribing medications, including the legal and professional responsibilities of prescribing medication. The focus is on clinical application and therapeutic issues for selected drug categories commonly used in advanced practice in the adult clinical setting. Pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacotherapeutic concepts will be applied to the pharmacological treatment of clients with diseases or conditions found in the adult population. This course critically examines drug classes. Categories are compared and contrasted as to indications for use, efficacy, therapeutic and adverse effects, monitoring parameters, dosing principles, and drug interactions. Emphasis is placed on client education, individual drug requirements, health status, age, gender, socio-economic consideration, and cultural norms. Learners will apply knowledge of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics through case studies, assignments, and study questions contained in the weekly sessions. Prerequisites: NSNP 9000

NSNP 9015 - Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice: The purpose of this course is to educate learners about the history, politics and legislation that underpins advanced nursing practice in general and NP practice in Canada in particular. In addition, learners will study issues related to practice as a member of a “new” health care role in this province. Specifically, the fit of NPs within the health system will be explored, as will issues related to scope of practice, funding, licensing, autonomy in practice, liability, trends of NP practice in North America, and the pivotal importance of forming supportive practice networks. Material related to leadership, change, research and education will be discussed. This course will be offered online. In order to provide a variety of perspectives, guest speakers will play a role in this course.

NSNP 9100 - Assessment and Management of Adults’ Health and Illness-Clinical 1: The purpose of this six-credit course is to provide learners with opportunities to consolidate a systematic approach to the assessment of adults, and to diagnose patients presenting with common stable, single system health challenges in a variety of health care settings. In this course, learners will focus on assessment, analysis of symptoms, generating differential diagnoses, and selecting and interpreting appropriate diagnostic tests. In addition, learners will begin to consider treatment options. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing and accessing the appropriate resources to support diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. During this clinical course, learners will begin to recognize when to appropriately begin a referral process. Documentation and communication will also be a focus. This course is comprised of a combination of theory, lab, and clinical hours (minimum 150 hours), with an expert clinical preceptor in either a primary, acute, or long-term care setting, and is supported by a faculty liaison. This course will also include a mandatory on-campus residency of 5 or 6 days in duration. Prerequisites: NSNP 9000 and NSNP 9005 and NSNP 9010 and NSNP 9015

NSNP 9200 - Assessment and Management of Adults’ Health and Illness-Clinical 2: The purpose of this course is to provide learners with opportunities to integrate learning from the first clinical course into the provision of care for clients with common acute and/or chronic conditions. In this course, learners will focus on assessment, analysis of symptoms, generating differential diagnoses, selecting appropriate diagnostic tests, and identifying treatment options in conjunction with their preceptors, in the context of common acute and/or chronic illness presentations. Emphasis will be placed on continuing to access the appropriate resources to support diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. During this clinical, learners will also continue to build on their knowledge of recognizing when to appropriately begin a referral process with a focus on how to accomplish effective referrals. Documentation, communication, and building partnerships with clients and other team members will also be highlighted. This course is comprised of a combination of lab and a minimum of 125 clinical hours with a clinical expert in a primary, acute, or long-term care setting and is supported by a faculty liaison. This course will also include a mandatory on-campus residency of 5 or 6 days in duration. Prerequisites: NSNP 9000 and NSNP 9005 and NSNP 9010 and NSNP 9015 and NSNP 9100

NSNP 9300 - Assessment and Management of Adults’ Health and Illness-Clinical 3: The purpose of this clinical course is to provide learners with a significant block of clinical time during which to integrate learning from the theory and clinical courses into their practice when providing care for adult clients within an identified clinical focus area. In addition, a major focus is to provide learners with opportunities to assess, diagnose, and manage adult patients presenting with common health challenges within the identified clinical specialty. Learners will focus on consolidating skills in assessment, analysis of symptoms, generating differential diagnoses, selecting appropriate diagnostic tests, and identifying treatment options in the context of an adult population. In conjunction with their preceptors, learners will support and promote patients’ capacities during all stages of diagnosis and treatment. Emphasis will be placed on accessing the appropriate resources related to support diagnostic and therapeutic decision making within the clinical focus area. During this preceptorship, learners will initiate referrals using appropriate documentation and communication. This course is comprised of a minimum of 400 clinical hours spent with a clinical expert in a primary, acute care or long term care setting, with the support of a faculty liaison. Prerequisites: NSNP 9000 and NSNP 9005 and NSNP 9010 and NSNP 9015 and NSNP 9100 and NSNP 9200

Pre-requisite Course:
NURS 652 Statistics (3 credit hours)

Core Courses
Semester Hours
Total

NURS 605 Foundations for Advanced Practice
3

NURS 606 Health Care Systems
3

PHTX 650 Advanced Nursing Pharmacology
3

NURS 651 Evidence Based Nursing
3

NURS 600 Genetics
2

NURS 653 Advanced Practice Roles
2

PHKC 610 Introduction Health Informatics
3

NURS 655 Pathophsiology in Clinical Decision Making*
4

NURS 656 Advanced Clinical Assessment*
4

NURS 657 Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Across the Lifespan
3

NURS 698 Research Project
2

NURS 604 Transition to Practice
1

WHNP core total hours = 33

33

Advanced Nursing Practice Component: Offered every 2 years: 2007-2008; 2009-2010.

NURS 601 Primary Care I
2

NURS 603 Family Health
1

NURS 615 Women’s Health NP I
4

NURS 616 Women’s Health NP II
7

NURS 617 Women’s Health NP III
3

Total Credit Hours

50

An Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) is prepared as an advanced practice nurse. With a Master of Science in Nursing, the ANP graduate will have the practice skills necessary to provide primary care to diverse populations of adults in a variety of health care settings.

The ANP graduate student has learning experiences in clinical practice settings that facilitate integration and synthesis of theory about health and disease, clinical research, knowledge of advanced pharmacotherapeutics, and disease management in order to meet health care needs of patients and their families. Students have opportunities to be precepted with physicians and experienced Adult Nurse Practitioners in a variety of primary health care settings in the Savannah and Coastal Atlantic regions.
A total of 45 semester credit hours is required for completion of the Master of Science Degree in Nursing with an Adult Nurse Practitioner major. The major courses prepare students in health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision making, and advanced therapeutics. Graduates of this track are eligible to take the ANCC Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification exam.

Program Description
Degree Awarded: DNP Advanced Nursing Practice (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program may be completed for certification to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. Graduate courses in application of theory to advanced practice, application of evidence to advanced practice, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced health assessment, advanced practice nursing role provide a foundation for this specialty. Nursing of children theory and clinical courses focus on the development of a framework for family centered, culturally appropriate, advanced nursing practice with children and families. Individual courses focus on well child maintenance as well as diagnosis, clinical decision making, and intervention strategies for children with common health problems.
Degree Requirements

The Association of Nursing for Critical Care (ANCC) has recommended a minimum of 1000 postbaccalaureate hours for all students completing a DNP. The College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation’s program allows post-baccalaureate entry students to complete 630 hours of supervised clinical in their chosen specialty before receiving their Master of Science degree. This will allow students to then meet the requirements for certification and licensure in their specialty. The additional 450 hours are completed after certification and licensure while practicing as an advance practice nurse and completing the final DNP courses. The culminating document needed for completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice is an evidence-based mentoring applied project. Each student will have a primary mentor and at least one committee member working with them on the project. Clinical practice residency hours will be used to carry out the project in a practice setting (work settings may be included, but speci
Admission Requirements

“Admission to graduate status in the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation is based upon meeting the following requirements:
1. an undergraduate junior or senior GPA equal to 3.00, or a cumulative GPA equal to 3.00 (4.00=A) or higher for any baccalaureate or graduate degree attained;
2. a baccalaureate degree in nursing (or another field) accredited by a nationally recognized and regionally accredited agency;
3. a current unencumbered license in the state where clinical practice will be concluded and/or an unencumbered Arizona license to practice as a registered nurse to enroll in nursing practicum courses;
4. satisfactory completion of only the analytical writing section of the Graduate Record Examination;
5. three professional recommendations from individuals knowledgeable about the applicant¿s academic and nursing leadership potential and one self-evaluation;
6. an interview with a representative of the specialty area;
7. eligibility for admission to the Graduate College;
8. completion of the TOEFL with a score of 550 or higher and of all requirements for the Commission on Foreign Graduate Nursing Schools (CFGNS) if considered an international student; and
9. completion of a baccalaureate-level health assessment course within the preceding three years (as may be required for some nurse practitioner concentrations).

General Education Requirements (27 Semester Hours)
Communication - 6 Hours
Speech
ENGL 1301 - Freshman Composition I
Humanities - 3 Hours
Humanities
Mathematics/Natural Sciences - 15 Hours
BIOL 2401 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2402 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 2421 - Microbiology
MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics I

(or any college level Mathematics course)
Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3 Hours
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology
Related Required Course (3 Semester Hours)
HECO 1322 - Principles of Nutrition
Major Course Requirements (42 Semester Hours)
RNSG 1110 - Introduction to Community-Based Nursing
RNSG 1115 - Health Assessment
RNSG 1209 - Introduction to Nursing
RNSG 1247 - Concepts of Clinical Decision-Making I
RNSG 1248 - Concepts of Clinical Decision Making II
RNSG 1251 - Care of the Childbearing Family
RNSG 1260 - Clinical-Care of the Childbearing Family
RNSG 1263 - Clinical-Concepts of Clinical Decision- Making I
RNSG 1301 - Pharmacology
RNSG 1331 - Principles of Clinical Decision Making
RNSG 1362 - Clinical- Principles of Clinical Decision Making
RNSG 2161 - Clinical-Mental Health Nursing
RNSG 2163 - Clinical- Community-Based Nursing
RNSG 2201 - Care of Children and Families
RNSG 2213 - Mental Health Nursing
RNSG 2221 - Management of Client Care
RNSG 2231 - Advanced Concepts of Adult Health
RNSG 2260 - Clinical-Care of Children and Families
RNSG 2261 - Clinical- Concepts of Clinical Decision Making II
RNSG 2262 - Clinical-Advanced Concepts of Adult Health
RNSG 2263 - Clinical-Management of Client Care
Total (72 Semester Hours)
Advanced Placement Option (ADN)
General Education Requirements and Related Required Course (30 Semester Hours)

Major Course Requirements (44-45 Semester Hours)
RNSG 1105 - Nursing Skills I
RNSG 1110 - Introduction to Community-Based Nursing
RNSG 1248 - Concepts of Clinical Decision Making II
RNSG 2161 - Clinical-Mental Health Nursing
RNSG 2163 - Clinical- Community-Based Nursing
RNSG 2201 - Care of Children and Families
RNSG 2213 - Mental Health Nursing
RNSG 2221 - Management of Client Care
RNSG 2231 - Advanced Concepts of Adult Health
RNSG 2260 - Clinical-Care of Children and Families
RNSG 2261 - Clinical- Concepts of Clinical Decision Making II
RNSG 2262 - Clinical-Advanced Concepts of Adult Health
RNSG 2263 - Clinical-Management of Client Care
RNSG 2307 - Transition to Nursing Practice
Select One of the Following:
HPRS 2200 - Pharmacology for Health Professionals
RNSG 1301 - Pharmacology
Articulated Credit Will be Granted for the Following Courses Upon Successful Completion of RNSG 2307:
Transition to Nursing:
RNSG 1105 - Nursing Skills I
RNSG 1209 - Introduction to Nursing
RNSG 1247 - Concepts of Clinical Decision-Making I
RNSG 1251 - Care of the Childbearing Family
RNSG 1260 - Clinical-Care of the Childbearing Family
RNSG 1263 - Clinical-Concepts of Clinical Decision- Making I
RNSG 1331 - Principles of Clinical Decision Making
RNSG 1362 - Clinical- Principles of Clinical Decision Making