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BSN: Course Descriptions
NSG 270. Practicum : Nursing Fundamentals. 3 credits.
Offered fall, spring and summer. This first course in the nursing curriculum focuses on the foundation of nursing practice. Through didactic learning, students are introduced to basic nursing theory and knowledge that will be applied throughout the student’s nursing education. In the laboratory, students learn the cognitive and affective processes and the psychomotor skills necessary for basic clinical practice. The clinical component of the course is a culmination of didactic and hands-on learning where students apply and practice what they have learned through the course.
NSG 310. Helping Persons in Pain. 2 credits.
Offered spring. This course, open to students from all majors, is an examination of pain, its impact on people, causes, treatments and the role of health professionals. Emphasis is placed on understanding how people experience pain and its effect on quality of life.
NSG 311. End of Life Care. 1 credit.
Offered spring. Classroom-based exploration of the care of people at the end of life from a multi-disciplinary, holistic perspective. Learning activities include guest speakers, critique of assigned readings, essay and case studies. Students from any related health care major, first year students through seniors are welcome.
NSG 312. Understanding Cancer. 1 credit.
Offered fall. This elective course, open to students from all majors, is a non-technical and practical examination for cancer and its causes, prevention, treatments, and impact on people. Emphasis is placed on understanding how people experience and survive cancer. This course is tailored to include cancer-related topics that are of interest to students.
NSG 313. Issues and Applications of Family Caregiving.
1-2 credits. Offered fall, spring and summer. Students from any major engage in service learning with clients and staff of Caregivers’ Community Network, a program of information, companion care, and support for family caregivers. Hours are flexible and activities are tailored to student interests.
NSG 315. Risk Management in the Health Care System. 2 credits
This course explores current factors having impact on the risk management of the American Healthcare System. It explores the many dimensions of risk management and leadership roles, and the dissemination and utilization of risk research in hospitals.
NSG 330. The Professional Nurse. 2 credits.
This course provides an overview of the concepts, definitions and character of professional nursing practice within the context of ethical and legal realities of the current healthcare delivery system and of professional nursing practice. The course explores the historical development of nursing as a profession. It promotes self analysis and socialization as a professional nurse, and an understanding of the role and processes for professional nursing practice. It also begins to prepare the student for success in the nursing program and NCLEX testing. The beginning phases of career management are examined.
NSG 331. Adult Health I. 6 credits.
This course focuses on the integration of pathophysiologic and pharmacologic concepts and principles of nursing process, health promotion, risk reduction, clinical decision making and collaborative management of care for adults across the life span experiencing moderate to severe health alterations. Prerequisite: NSG 271.
NSG 332. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 3 credits.
This course examines the pathophysiology and psychosocial manifestations and the psychopharmacological and psychiatric health nursing treatment of selected mental illness. Analysis of the role and practice of psychiatric mental health nursing both as a nursing specialty and as an integral facet of general nursing are emphasized.
NSG 333. Health Assessment. 3 credits.
The health assessment course is designed to develop knowledge and skills necessary to gather, organize and present relevant health data. Emphasis is placed on systematic strategies, frameworks and skills used to conduct both comprehensive and need-specific health assessments for individuals in the context of their family and community.
NSG 340 . The Nurse Researcher . 3 credits.
This course explores the research process and utilization of research and theory in evidence-based professional practice . It also explores the dissemination and utilization of research in nursing practice . Students learn to critique the nursing and healthcare literature in order to answer a research question that would impact nursing practice .
NSG 341. Nursing Care of Children and Their Families. 3 credits.
This course applies the nursing process to the care of well, acutely and chronically ill, and special needs children and their families within the context of their environment. Emphasis is on anatomical, physiological and developmental differences among neonates, infants, children and adolescents that influence care. Theory, research, evidenced based practice and critical thinking are foundations.
NSG 370. NSG Practicum: Gerontology. 1 credit.
Through interactions with older adults, students develop health and developmental assessment skills, and the nursing intervention skills of teaching and therapeutic communication. Emphasis is on holistic developmental assessment of individuals in a family and community context.
NSG 380. Advanced Skills Lab. 2 credits.
In this laboratory course, students learn additional psychomotor, cognitive and affective skills that are foundational to nursing practice. Focuses of the course include acute care skills, strategies to manage stress, alternative health techniques and therapeutic group processes.
NSG 381. NSG Practicum: Acute Adult Health I. 3 credits.
Students apply concepts, principles, theories and skills in the nursing care of adults experiencing moderate to severe challenges to health. In hospital settings, students are exposed to a wide variety of clinical skills gaining beginning practice in planning and facilitating nursing care for clients and their families.
NSG 382. NSG Practicum: Nursing Care of Children and Their Families. 2 credits.
Students apply concepts, principles, theories and skills in the nursing care of children experiencing moderate to severe challenges to health. In hospital settings, students are exposed to a wide variety of clinical skills gaining beginning practice in planning and facilitating nursing care for children and their families.
NSG 383. NSG Practicum: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 1 credit.
This practicum exchanges the pathophysiology and psychosocial manifestations, and the psychopharmacological and psychiatric mental health nursing treatment of selected mental illnesses. Analysis of the role and practice of psychiatric mental health nursing both as a nursing specialty and as an integral facet of general nursing are emphasized.
NSG 430. The Nurse Leader. 2 credits.
The course covers the healthcare environment, leadership and management theory, group dynamics and the group process, Organizational Theory, and “Change Theory” related to health systems change. Concepts related to care coordination, interdisciplinary collaboration and case management are investigated. The role of nursing as patient advocate is explored through links to healthcare policy development. Career management work continues in this course through a resume, portfolio and interviewing skills workshop.
NSG 431. Adult Health II. 6 credits.
This course is a continuation of Adult Health I and focuses on the integration of pathophysiologic and pharmacologic concepts and principles of nursing process, health promotion, risk reduction, clinical decision making and collaborative management of care for adults across the life span experiencing moderate to severe and complex health alterations.
NSG 432. Women’s Health. 3 credits.
This course focuses on synthesis of concepts and principles utilized in health promotion, risk reduction, clinical decision-making and management of women’s health care. Focuses include women’s health issues, perinatal care of mothers and infants and gynecological health.
NSG 433. Community Health: Health Assessment of Vulnerable Populations in the Community. 2 credits.
In Part I of this course, students develop the knowledge, skills and ability to conduct and interpret systematic assessments of vulnerable aggregates in community settings. The impact of increasing societal changes and cultural diversity of vulnerability across the life span will be emphasized. Theoretical concepts of health promotion and disease prevention of vulnerable populations will be presented emphasizing Health People 2010 objectives. Part II of the course will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to gather, organize and present relevant data on target populations and entire community assessments. The influence of political, socio-economic and ecological issues on the health of populations is examined.
NSG 440. Transition to Practice. 3 credits.
This course explores current factors having impact on the transition to the professional practice of nursing. It encompasses the political dimensions of nursing’s role in the development and influencing of health policy. Its focus on career planning and preparation for NCLEX Testing and professional practice includes module based case studies, critical thinking simulation practice and NCLEX practice testing. Consideration of future directions, trends and opportunities in health care delivery and professional nursing practice are also examined.
NSG 470. NSG Practicum: Community as Client. 2 credits.
This practicum provides a framework for identifying, analyzing and planning for healthcare needs of vulnerable populations based on the objectives of Health People 2010. The concepts of community as client and population- focused practice are presented with an emphasis on understanding the relationship between individual, family and community needs. Students will use the nursing process to perform community-focused assessment and service learning interventions while applying concepts of health promotion, disease prevention and health education to the care of vulnerable groups.
NSG 480. NSG Practicum: Capstone. 6 credits.
An in-depth focused practicum experience for JMU senior nursing students. The purpose of the capstone experience is to help students gain confidence in time management, critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, documentation and psychomotor skills under the direct supervision of clinical preceptors.
NSG 481. NSG Practicum: Acute Adult Health II. 1 credit.
In this course, students synthesize and apply concepts, principles, theories and skills in the nursing care of adults experiencing moderate to multi system challenges in health. On acute and critical care nursing units, students will work in small groups to plan and facilitate care for multiple clients.
NSG 482. NSG Practicum: Home Health Case Management. 1 credit.
In this setting, students are provided an opportunity to learn and apply case management concepts. Students provide nursing care in the home for persons and families experiencing chronic illness. Using a case management theoretical framework, students coordinate and deliver services through visits with agency nurse case managers with direct care giving responsibilities. Issues of chronic illness, coping and extended care are explored.
NSG 483. NSG Practicum: Women’s Health. 1 credit.
Working in teams, students coordinate and provide nursing care for women and their families experiencing childbirth or gynecological treatment. Students observe and experience a variety of nursing roles, engage in peer performance appraisal, and promote staff and peer professional development. The application of research findings to practice is emphasized.
