AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR

SEMESTER CURRICULUM

NURS 1101: Foundations of Nursing Practice (5-12-9)

Introduction to and historical basis for associate degree nursing practice. The course provides introduction to the roles of provider of care, manager of care, member of the discipline of nursing and an overview of the human experience of health, illness and death. Students examine fundamental concepts of culture, spirituality, grief and grieving, with application of concepts of stress, adaptation and coping to their role as learner of health promotion and wellness behaviors.  Students begin their experience with the health care delivery system in a nursing home setting and are introduced to the impact of managed care.  Critical thinking skills are applied to the examination of potential and actual health care needs of the patient experiencing chronic physiological problems. Emphasis is on the assessment of functional health patterns of the patient across the life span and beginning level functioning in the role as provider of care.  Communication and psychomotor skills basic to beginning therapeutic interventions  are learned in a simulated laboratory and applied in a variety of in-patient, outpatient, and community settings.

Prerequisite: *English Composition I (ENGL 1101); *College Algebra (MATH 1111); *Human Development (PSYC 2103); Introduction to Communication (COMS 1010).  Corequisites: *Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2111); *English Composition II (ENGL 1102).  *Grade of “C” or better required.

NURS 1102: Nursing Care Across the Life Span I (5-15-10)

Critical thinking skills are applied to developing a knowledge base and increasingly complex skills in the role as provider of care with the patient across the life span.  Emphasis is on the special needs of patients experiencing common physiological problems resulting in alterations in functional health patterns and the needs of childbearing families. Students are expected to utilize skills to assist those living with common acute and chronic health problems and to assist childbearing families in a variety of settings.  Communication skills are expanded to emphasize family interactions and teaching-learning activities.

Prerequisites: *Foundations of Nursing Practice (NURS. 1101); *Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2111); *English Composition II (ENGL 1102). Corequisite: *Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2112); Introduction to American Government (POLS 1101) or U.S. History (HIST 2111 or 2112). *Grade of “C” or better required.

NURS 2201: Nursing Care Across the Life Span II (5-15-10)

Critical thinking skills are applied to providing care for patients across the life span experiencing complex physiological and mental/emotional alterations in health. The focus of therapeutic interventions is expanded to include manager of care. Communication and relationship skills are expanded to include group dynamics and process, team-leading and member behaviors. Emphasis is on competency in the role as provider of care and acquisition of skills of collaboration, consultation, delegation, accountability, patient advocacy and respect in the role as the manager of care. Students are expected to utilize increasingly complex skills and technology with the patient in a variety of health care and community settings.

Prerequisites: *Nursing Care Across the Life Span I (NURS 1102); *Anatomy/Physiology II (BIOL 2112). Corequisite: *Microbiology (BIOL 3111).  * Grade of "C" or better required.

NURS 2202: Nursing Care Across the Life Span III (3-15-8)

Critical thinking skills are applied to providing care for patients across the life span experiencing complex alterations in health status. Emphasis is placed on developing competency in the roles of provider of care and manager of care during the first half of the semester. The last half is focused on the role as member within the discipline of nursing. Students have increasing responsibility for the care of complex patient needs within a variety of health care and community settings.

Prerequisite: *Nursing Care Across the Life Span II (NURS 2201); Microbiology (BIOL 3111). Corequisite: Nursing Issues and Trends (NURS 2203).  * Grade of "C" or better required.

NURS 2203 Nursing Issues and Trends (1-0-1)

Seminar to critically analyze sociopolitical, cultural, ethical-legal, and professional issues affecting nursing practice and health care.

Prerequisites: *Nursing Care Across the Life Span II (NURS 2201).  Corequisite: *Nursing Care Across the Life Span III (NURS 2202).  * Grade of "C" or better required.