Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

Women's College

Overview
Major
Four-Year plan
Course Descriptions

Katharine Cook, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.E., Dean, School of Nursing
Jane Balkam, Ph.D., A.P.R.N., C.P.N., I.B.C.L.C.
Janice Brennan, M.S., R.N., B.C., C.N.E.
Erica Brinkley, D.N.P., R.N.
Bethany Correlli, M.S.N., R.N.
Linda Diaconis, Ph.D., R.N.
Barbara Friend, M.S., R.N.
Roxanne Moran, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.E.
Mary O'Connor, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.C.H.E.
Mary Packard, Ph.D., R.N. Chair, Undergraduate Studies

The School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) to students admitted through the Women's College. Dedicated to the mission of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the School of Nursing educates students in a caring science curriculum to become leaders in the profession of nursing, and thereby to transform healthcare and the world. The B.S.N. program challenges students to strive for intellectual and professional excellence, to build inclusive communities, to engage in service to others and to promote social responsibility. The philosophy of the School of Nursing grounds the caring curriculum, as well as all activities of the School:

Nursing and the teaching of nursing is a journey through deep caring connections with patients, students, colleagues, and the discipline of nursing. Nursing is imagined and known through caring authentic presence with others and multiple ways of knowing. Nursing is a presence to life lived with those entrusted to our care, a beacon, attentive to the extraordinary in the mundane and boldly entering questions of meaning. All stories of individuals and of the discipline are valued as necessary to the growth and advancement of the profession. Healing practice is possible in partnership relationships; nursing creates safe welcoming places, encouraging growth, seeking to understand and knowing each other's hearts.

Nurses are called to care through advocacy, action, 'power-with' and trusting relationships with persons and groups in diverse settings. Nursing embraces diversity and commitment to social justice. With perseverance and fortitude, caring and compassion are preserved as the ethical foundation of nursing practice and scholarship.

A nursing way of being requires reflective practice, a listening, that allows for meaning-making in all dimensions of academic and practice endeavors. Nursing practice is characterized by thoughtfulness and necessarily lived out with intention. This way of being a School of Nursing in all aspects allows for possibilities for our mission to be realized—educating nurses to transform the world.

Graduates of the B.S.N. program live out the philosophy through the following program outcomes: Presence, Praxis, Advocacy, Scholarship, Self-Care and Leadership.

Students are admitted to Notre Dame as pre-nursing students and complete all liberal arts and basic science courses prior to acceptance into the nursing major in the junior year. The B.S.N. program demands rigorous academic studies with reflective clinical application. Clinical experiences occur in a wide variety of hospital and community settings serving diverse populations throughout the region. B.S.N. graduates are prepared as general clinical practitioners and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) in order to secure licensure as a Registered Nurse.

Progression/Acceptance to the Nursing Major

Pre-nursing students are eligible to apply for acceptance to the nursing major at the end of their first semester sophomore year when the following criteria are met: cumulative GPA ≥ 2.8 and science, math, writing cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0. Interview required. The complete policy for progression and acceptance to the nursing major is contained in the Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook.

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Program of Study

Required Courses for the Major in Nursing (Credits)

BIO-205 Nutrition (online) (3)
BIO-253 General Microbiology (4)
BIO-260 Genetics and Genomics for Clinical Practice (3)
BIO-281 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4)
BIO-282 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
CHM-108 Survey of General, Organic & Biochemistry (4)
MAT-103 Applied Algebra (unless waived) (3)
MAT-215 Basic Statistics (3)
NUR-301 Holistic Health Assessment (4)
NUR-303 Nursing Informatics (online) (2)
NUR-304 Healthy Aging (3)
NUR-305 Foundations of a Caring Profession (5)
NUR-310 Pathopharmacology (4)
NUR-311 Professional Nursing Care of the Adult I (4)
NUR-312 Nursing Care of Children and Families (4)
NUR-406 Contemporary Trends and Theory (3)
NUR-408 Maternal and Infant Nursing (4)
NUR-407 Nursing Research (3)
NUR-408 Maternal and Infant Nursing (4)
NUR-409 Professional Nursing Care of the Adult II (4)
NUR-410 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (4)
NUR-414 Concepts of Community Health (4)
NUR-432 Nursing Leadership in the New Millennium (3)
NUR-451 Senior Seminar (3)
NUR-461 Clinical Practicum (5)
PSY-101 Introductory Psychology (4)
PSY-233 Human Growth & Development (3)
PHL-339  Medical Ethics (3)
SOC-101 Introductory Sociology (3)

Note: Students also complete the general education requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Pre-nursing students are encouraged to take fine arts and Spanish courses for their elective requirements.

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Nursing Four-Year Plan

Program of study for the nursing major. Students must select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor. The program of study requires a total of 121 to 127 credits.

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Course Descriptions

NUR-301 HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Introduces the student to knowledge and skills essential for holistic health assessment. The psychological, physical, environmental, social, spiritual and genetic components of a health assessment will be applied. The student will practice assessment and interviewing skills in a skills laboratory. The student will analyze both subjective and objective data and document findings in the appropriate format. This course has two components: theory (3 credits) and practice (1 credits). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the nursing major. [4 credits]

NUR-303 NURSING INFORMATICS
Introduces students, through online instruction, to computer applications used in nursing and health care. Students acquire technical skills needed for the application of patient care technologies and competency in information literacy, information management, and information management systems for the purpose of safe, competent and quality patient care. Prerequisite: Facility in Windows operating system and competency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Internet Explorer; acceptance into the nursing major. [2 credits] 

NUR-304 HEALTHY AGING
Explores the multiple dimensions of aging in America and in global societies. The course focuses on the foundations of healthy, successful aging based on national indicators, as well as the personal definitions and meanings of the older adult. Students will learn to support optimal promotion of health and wellness while exploring the care of who might also be experiencing illness, recovery, or the end-of-life. The complex relationships among person-health-nursing-environment will be examined in depth. Prerequisite: acceptance into the nursing major. [3 credits]

NUR-305 FOUNDATIONS OF A CARING PROFESSION
Builds upon previous classes in social and physical sciences, humanities, as well as lived experiences that students bring to the discipline of nursing. In this course, students are introduced to the caring profession of nursing through exploration of philosophical underpinnings, contributions from nurse theorists, and concepts of health and healing. Students develop ways of thinking and knowing, ways of being in relationships with self and others, and appreciation of providing technological care, compassion, and comfort to persons, families and communities. Through thoughtful integration of theory and reflective lived practice, students deepen understanding of the meaning of caring necessary for compassionate presence and technological skill in the art and science of professional nursing. Students are invited to a call to care and to a life-long commitment to nursing scholarship. This course has two components: theory (3 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the nursing major. [5 credits]

NUR-310 PATHOPHARMACOLOGY
Combines pathophysiology, the study of altered health status, with pharmacology, the study of medications prescribed to prevent, cure or treat pathophysiological conditions. Major health problems will be highlighted with an emphasis on caring for persons across the lifespan and their individual needs. A systems approach will be used to address specific medications, classifications, side effects and interactions with other therapies. Prerequisites: Foundations of a Caring Profession, Holistic Health Assessment, Healthy Aging, Nursing Informatics. [4 credits]

NUR-311 PROFESSIONAL NURSING CARE OF THE ADULT I
Focuses on the integration of caring for adults experiencing commonly occurring health concerns using competencies that are directed toward health promotion, disease prevention and maintenance/restoration of health. Applying specialized knowledge, communication skills and therapeutic interventions, nursing students will develop relationships with patients/families which will foster partnerships directed toward holistic care. Beginning relationships with the intra/interdisciplinary team will be developed. This course has 2 components: theory (2 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisites: Foundations of a Caring Profession, Holistic Health Assessment, Healthy Aging, Nursing Informatics. [4 credits]

NUR-312 NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Focuses on caring with children and adolescents, and their families, who are experiencing physiological and psychosocial alterations in health as well as promoting health and wellness. Students engage in theory based, evidence based reflective nursing practice with children and adolescents in a variety of places to include inpatient pediatric units, outpatient clinics and home. The course builds upon courses in social and physical sciences, human growth and development, humanities, and professional nursing care and offers opportunities to reflect on ethical issues concerning children and adolescents. This course has two components: theory (2 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisites: Holistic Health Assessment, Foundations of a Caring Profession, Nursing Informatics, Healthy Aging,, Human Growth and Development. [4 credits]

NUR-406 CONTEMPORARY NURSING TRENDS AND THEORY
Focuses on the use of nursing theory and contemporary challenges of providing and ensuring quality nursing and health care. Nursing process is reviewed with emphasis on evidence-based practice and health care today including current professional, legal and ethical standards. Prerequisites: All 300-level nursing courses, Nursing Research. [3 credits]

NUR-407 NURSING RESEARCH
Introduces students to knowledge and skills that are essential for a consumer of nursing research. Examines use of the research process as a method to enhance scientific inquiry and to develop a knowledge base for nursing practice. Critical appraisal of both qualitative and quantitative methods in published nursing research is emphasized. Includes interpretation of basic descriptive and inferential statistics in published studies and evaluation of studies for nursing practice. Prerequisites: Basic Statistics, Holistic health Assessment, Foundations of a Caring Profession, Healthy Aging. [3 credits]

NUR-408 MATERNAL AND INFANT NURSING
Focuses on holistic caring of childbearing families during pregnancy, labor and delivery, post-partum as well as care of the newborn. Students learn and apply evidence-based nursing theoretical concepts in the nursing care of women, newborns and families in a variety of environments. The course builds upon courses in social and physical sciences, humanities and professional nursing care and provides opportunities for clinical ethical reflection. This course has two components: theory (2 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisites: All 300-level nursing courses, Human Growth and Development. [4 credits]

NUR-409 PROFESSIONAL NURSING CARE OF THE ADULT II
Builds on concepts from NUR-311 in caring for adults experiencing complex health concerns using competencies related to health, illness, dying and death. Nursing students will apply advanced levels of knowledge, communication and interventions as they support patients/families experiencing more severe alterations in health. Relationships with intra/interdisciplinary team members will be integrated into individual nursing practice. This course has two components: theory (2 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisites: All 300-level nursing courses, Nursing Research. [4 credits]

NUR-410 PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Provides opportunities for students to understand and care with persons who are experiencing struggles in human living and major psychiatric and mental health problems. Through directed readings, narrative writing, classroom conversations and engagement with patients in clinical settings students focus on coming to understand what it is like to live through selected health states such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychoactive substance use disorders and more. Emphasis on the lived experiences of persons with psychiatric illness allows for a focus on reflective ways of 'being-with' patients that integrates knowledge of psychobiology, pharmacology, and thoughtful, competent, caring nursing practice. This course has two components: theory (2 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisites: All 300-level nursing courses, Nursing Research. [4 credits]

NUR-431 CONCEPTS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Analyzes selected public health and nursing models for community health nursing practice in culturally diverse environments. Students explore specific issues and societal concerns that affect global and public health, including health care needs of vulnerable communities and populations at risk. Students are guided to develop intercultural competence through a series of activities and projects throughout the course. Students assess community health needs and implement strategies, as appropriate, to support health system integrity. A reflection on nursing care of communities as social justice is explored. Community health nurses' contributions to the health of populations and their role in governmental-legislative activities are examined. This course has two components: theory (2 credits) and practice (2 credits). Prerequisites: All 300-level nursing courses, Nursing Research. [4 credits]

NUR-432 NURSING LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Integrates previously learned nursing knowledge and skills with contemporary leadership and management theories, enabling students to more clearly define their roles as baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Students analyze the transition process to professional nursing practice, opportunities for continued professional development and leadership/management challenges created by increasingly complex health care environments. Prerequisite: All 300-level nursing courses, Maternal and Infant Nursing, Professional Nursing Care of the Adult II, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Contemporary Trends and Theory. [3 credits]

NUR-451 SENIOR SEMINAR
Provides opportunities for students to bring forward experiences from their senior clinical practica for critical inquiry—leading toward problem-solving and holistic, creative compassionate approaches to caring with patients. With a focus on scholarly and clinical excellence, students are guided to deepen understanding of persons, families and groups entrusted to their care. During this seminar, students engage in deepening understanding of their patients and clinical work through the lens of nursing theory, research, ethics and critical exploration of the lived experiences of their patients. Seminar topics include contemporary clinical practice concerns in a context of theory-based, reflective, evidence-based practice. Additionally, the course offers opportunities for students to reflect on self and engage in meaning-making during this time of transition from nursing student to professional nurse. Prerequisites: Professional Nursing Care of the Adult II, Nursing Care of Children and Families, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Contemporary Trends and Theory in Nursing. Must be taken concurrently with Clinical Practicum. [3 credits]

NUR-461 CLINICAL PRACTICUM
Engages students in comprehensive clinical practice with patients in a variety of practice settings. Opportunities are provided for students to assume responsibility, in the context of theory-based, evidence-based reflective practice, for the holistic care of assigned patients in a select health care setting. With the guidance of a preceptor who is on staff in the facility, the student collaborates with all members of the health care team in the planning and care of her patients and transitions from nursing student to entry-level professional nurse. Practice settings include, but are not limited to, care of persons in emergency departments, medical-surgical units, homeless shelters, outpatient clinics, critical care units, and labor and delivery units. The focus of the practicum is on intentionally bringing together knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology, social justice, ways of being in relationship with self and others, and excellence in technological caring—toward compassionate, transformative care with persons, families and communities. 225 hours. (1:3) Prerequisites: Professional Nursing Care of the Adult II, Nursing Care of Children and Families, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Contemporary Trends and Theory in Nursing. Must be taken concurrently with Senior Seminar. [5 credits]

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