Nursing (NUR)

This course builds on the registered nurse's desire for a baccalaureate in nursing by explaining the mission and philosophy of Salve Regina University and the Department of Nursing, the development of the discipline of nursing, and the expectations of the nurse of the future. Topics include nursing history, nursing theories and models of practice, the various settings of practice and the roles of the professional nurse, the social policy statement of the profession, the scope and standards of nursing practice, and the responsibility of the nurse to advocate for both the patients and the profession. Students will be given assignments that develop skills in the use of library information systems and information technology, professional writing in APA format, and public speaking/ presentation skills for professional nurses. (Open to Degree Completion students only).

This course establishes the foundational knowledge for understanding and practicing nursing informatics in health care settings. It will explore the impact on patient care within the contemporary health care environment and examine a variety of interactive strategies and technologies used to enhance health care delivery to consumers. Core and supporting models and theories for nursing informatics and the sciences that support nursing informatics are studies. Consideration is given to the use of information technology to support decisions that promote safety and quality in patient-centered care, and concerns about protecting information and system integrity are addressed.

This course focuses on the knowledge, procedures and skills required to perform and document a holistic health assessment, diagnosis and plan of patients from across the lifespan and in various settings. Techniques for assessment of the physical, spiritual, psychological and socio-cultural aspects of a patient are presented with special considerations of unique populations and age groups. Assessment skills may be performed in both the nursing lab and in community settings. The use of the nursing process to assess, determine nursing diagnoses, plan, develop interventions and evaluative procedures for health and wellness promotion, illness prevention, and risk anticipation, and the utilization of referral to colleagues will be included. The systematic approach to documentation will be included in the process.

This course focuses on the role of the professional nurse as an informed consumer of research and other evidence to facilitate care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Emphasis is placed on the introduction to the values, characteristics, and process of quantitative and qualitative research. The student examines the research process and develops the beginning skills of analysis and critique of nursing research. Emphasis is placed on the development of clinical reasoning by analyzing published studies related to the delivery of nursing care. The professional responsibility to apply findings to direct patient care and develop best practices in nursing care is presented.

This course presents the knowledge and skills necessary to provide holistic nursing care of families challenged by the loss of abilities of family members due to aging and the need for end-of-life care, with special attention to issues of quality of life of the patient and family members. Emphasis will be placed on assessment of function, physical, cognitive, psychological, and social changes common in old age, and the complex symptomatology, pain management, and risk factors associated with decline in health status. Attitudes and values that affect care to the aged and the dying process will be explored. Content related to end of life issues for the elderly, including communication, evidence-based practice, cultural expectations, spiritual and religious values, and planning advanced directives will be explored.

This course presents students with the opportunity to provide appropriate, safe, holistic nursing care to families with aged members and patients who are approaching the end-of-life, while also minimizing the potential for the occurrence of additional health challenges for patients and their family. Collaboration with the patient will provide the basis for appropriate patient-centered, ethical, cost-effective nursing care to aged individuals, dying patients and their families in a variety of settings. Appropriate therapeutic responses will be based on the patient's perception of health and understanding of risk factors, critical analysis of clinical findings, clinical research, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning skills, methods of patient advocacy and teaching, issues of patient safety, processes for documentation and communication, and the nursing roles within a multi-professional team.

This course introduces the student to public health nursing. Epidemiological principles will be utilized in discussing global health issues, environmental health, infectious disease, and health disparities within populations. Concepts of vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters, and the challenges of prevention and health care advocacy for the preparedness of all will be explored within the context of social justice. Community disaster preparation and management will be explored. Local, regional and national preparedness will be evaluated with an emphasis on the effect on the local community. This course may include fieldwork on a public health issue.

This course introduces the student to public health nursing. Epidemiological principles will be utilized in discussing global health issues, environmental health, infectious disease, and health disparities within populations. Concepts of vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters, and the challenges of prevention; and health care advocacy for the preparedness of all will be explored within the context of social justice. Community disaster preparation and management will be investigated. Local, regional and national preparedness will be evaluated with an emphasis on the effect of the local community. Collaboration with the patient and or community partners will provide the basis for appropriate patient-centered, ethical, cost-effective nursing care to vulnerable populations in a variety of settings. Appropriate therapeutic responses will be based on the patient's perception of health and understanding of risk factors, critical analysis of clinical findings, clinical research, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning skills, methods of patient advocacy and teaching, issues of patient safety, processes for documentation and communication, and the nursing roles within a multi-professional team.

This course presents concepts of organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, risk management and patient safety that promote high quality patient care within institutional and community arenas. Principles of leadership and management are discussed with emphasis on the mission and vision of an organization, models of care delivery, and communication across the continuum of care. After analyzing trends and issues in the current health care system, students will determine ways they can provide the leadership required to affect a positive change within the evolving environment of health care. This course may include fieldwork.

This course is intended to provide a capstone to your studies at Salve Regina, integrating what you have learned in the core curriculum and in your major. The course will reinforce skills that are crucial for professional achievement and life-long learning, including any or all of the following: research, information literacy, creative activity, and experiential learning. Students will write a detailed analysis of a nursing care issue which will include a literature review, proposed solutions to the concern or issue and implications for practice.

System-focused content addresses the normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease that serve as the foundation for advanced clinical assessment, decision-making, and management. Physiologic changes are compared and contrasted over the life span; and developmental physiology, normal etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations that are commonly found are addressed.

Seminar focusing on leadership concepts and professional values as they apply to the advanced practice nurse in a variety of settings at all levels of prevention. This course provides an integration of science-based theory and concepts with an emphasis on role transition and synthesis. Professional issues, collaboration, scope of practice, and advocacy are emphasized.

Global influences are changing advanced nursing health care practice. The course will explore health care policies, regulations, political and legal influences and ethical aspects to provide quality care. Genetics and genomics are expanding and influencing the management of care. Exploring the impact of these influences of care in relation to the role of the advanced practice nurse today and in the future.

Advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning focuses on assessment of health status of individuals and families throughout the lifespan addressing cultural and developmental variations. Diagnostic reasoning is emphasized as the decision- making process which differentiates normal from abnormal health states.

This course focuses on application and innovation related to the collection, development, organization, analysis, and dissemination of information and technology in an interdisciplinary health care environment. Students are introduced to the role of the healthcare informaticist, healthcare information systems and the information system life cycle, the electronic health record (EHR), telemedicine, clinical decision-making tools, and other technology useful for enhancing healthcare delivery and patient safety.

This course focuses on the study of scientific research as applied to advanced practice nursing. Emphasis is placed on the role of the advanced practice nurse in research formulation and utilization.

Advanced Care within Maternal and Family Unit will delve into the complex assessment and management of the pregnant female, fetus and family unit. Family dynamics and theoretical assessments will be explored. The diverse care of the maternal-fetal unit will be examined to provide holistic management of care incorporating pharmacologic management of health care issues.

The study of pharmacologic principles and nursing prescriptive authority for the management of common and complex problems is the focus of this class.

Advanced Care within Pediatrics delves into the complex development, stages and assessments in the management of the pediatric patient. Family dynamics and theoretical assessments will be explored while focusing on the impact to the child. The stages of growth and development impacting advanced practice will be explored. Prescribing and dosing of pharmacological substances will be discussed to understand the impact for the holistic management of care on the pediatric patient. In this course students identify advanced skills to assess, diagnose and manage pediatric health conditions, prevention of chronic diseases, and provide health promotion for the pediatric patient and family unit.

This clinical course facilitates implementation of the role of the advanced practice nurse. In consultation with faculty, students select an area of clinical practice and implement advanced clinical decision-making in the provision of evidence-based nursing care with an emphasis on health and wellness. 130 Clinical Hours.

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of pharmacological treatments used for psychiatric and mental health conditions. This course includes an examination of the various classes of psychotropic medications, psycho-genomics and prescriptive authority across the lifespan.

This course focuses on the assessment, diagnostic, and evaluation of mental health in the integration of psychotherapies. Topics will cover assessment tools, diagnostic criteria, diagnostic testing, and evaluation process to develop a comprehensive plan of care within mental health.

This course concentrates on the role of the advanced practice nurse in the coordination and management of common health conditions for persons across the life span. Focus is on the assessment, diagnosis, clinical management, and education of persons within primary care settings.

This course focuses on the role of the advanced practice nurse in the coordination and management of complex health conditions and restoration of health for persons across the lifespan. The emphasis is on the assessment, diagnosis, management, and education of persons within primary care settings.

This course explores management and organizational leadership for advanced practice nurses within the health care system. Students will examine health care policy, organizational assessment, effective communication. conflict resolution, diversity in the workplace. and quality improvement initiatives impacting health care and different populations.

This clinical course facilitates implementation of the role of the advanced practice nurse. In consultation with faculty, students select an area of clinical practice and implement advanced clinical decision-making in the provision of evidence-based nursing care with an emphasis on common health conditions in primary care settings. 250 Clinical Hours.

This course focuses on mental health diagnostics, therapeutic modalities, and patient management. Topics related to diagnosis interpretation, therapeutic modalities, psychotherapy and psychopharmacology treatments, and management of mental health conditions across the lifespan are presented.

This course continues the focus on the clinical development of the advanced practice nurse. The emphasis is on the implementation of interdisciplinary care for complex health conditions in primary care settings. 250 Clinical Hours.

This course focuses on the advanced practice nursing interventions of mental healthcare across the lifespan. Topics related to informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical rights will be integrated with plans of care. Comprehensive evaluation of family and individual dynamics will be explored to enhance mental health outcomes.

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I concentrates on the advanced practice nursing role to manage mentaJ health care across the lifespan. The student applies interviewing techniques to gather a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis. The student will integrate mental health promotion, psychoeducation, illness prevention, and management strategies. Students will spend approximately 10 hours per week for direct supervised patient care hours.

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II concentrates on the advanced practice nursing role in the coordination and management of complex mental health care across the lifespan. The student will emphasize the assessment, diagnosis, management and education of mental health disorders. The student will integrate mental health promotion, psychoeducation, illness prevention, and management strategies. Students will spend approximately 20 hours per week for direct supervised patient care hours.

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Ill concentrates on the advanced practice nursing role in the coordination and management of complex mental health care across the lifespan. The student will emphasize the implementation of assessment, diagnosis, management, interprofessional care and education of mental health disorders. Students will spend approximately 20 hours per week for direct supervised patient care hours.