RN-BSN Program888.992.3869

This course is designed to reinforce basic pharmacology principles and how they relate to health and illness. Students will be challenged to investigate, process, and apply information including: therapeutic category, generic/trade names and clinical uses, basic mechanisms of actions, side effects, contraindications, and interactions, parameters for safe administration, and evaluation of drug effectiveness and adverse/toxic effects.

This course introduces the RN-BSN students to the theoretical bases of nursing practice and nursing theory, research, practice connection. The seven student outcomes/nursing concepts in MidAmerica's Division of Nursing are explored: Spiritual Development, Self-Understanding, Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Social Responsibility, Scientific Literacy, and Aesthetic Literacy. The student develops a portfolio demonstrating his/her current level of proficiency in each of these outcomes. This portfolio is developed further in the following semesters and becomes a requirement for graduation.

This course is designed to help the student understand disruptions in health (i.e. pathophysiological disease processes). This understanding will assist students in applying scientific rationale in the provision of quality healthcare. There will be exploration of the clinical presentation of selected diseases, i.e. signs, symptoms, and diagnostic findings. Additionally, basic prevention and/or treatment measures will be presented.

This course is designed to foster appreciation of the components and life-long benefits of personal holistic wellness. Specific topics include: gaining an expansive overview of health (i.e., "to make whole"), from historical, present day, and future-oriented perspectives; assessment of strengths and weaknesses related to personal wellbeing; progressive strategies to support holistic wellness, including knowledge of health promotion theories; practical applications and tools for personal spiritual formation; and analysis of current research regarding wellness-related issues. Personal holistic wellness is viewed as the foundation from which to promote health in the people and populations served through professional nursing practice. A component of the course is built upon the theme, "Spirituality in Nursing: Standing on Holy Ground." Through this premise students are challenged to appreciate nursing as a personal ministry, to view patient interactions as privileged encounters, and finally to value the process of partnering with others on the sacred journey of holistic wellness and 'making whole'.

A course in elementary probability theory designed with a core which is common to the interests of students in nursing. Includes: measures of central tendency, standard deviation, sampling theory, and correlation theory.

The course reflects MidAmerica Nazarene University's commitment, as a Christian liberal arts university, to nurturing an appreciation for the rich resources of the Scriptures. Cultural, societal, and biblical themes are explored through the study of the literature and history of the Bible. Students study the development of five major themes throughout the Bible and examine biblical concepts as they relate to current professional issues and the integration of faith, learning, and living.

The course focuses on students' development as leaders, designers/managers/coordinators of care, and as members of the nursing profession. Emphasis is on enabling students to shape a preferred future in health care situations. Current issues in health care and in the nursing profession are discussed. Student will complete a maximum of 12 hours outside of class time with a chosen mentor in a management role.

This course investigates the health promotional aspects of nursing care across the lifespan. Students will develop knowledge and skills in helping clients and families make responsible decisions that will promote optimal physical, psychosocial, and spiritual wellness. The health care system related to community-based care will be introduced. Students will complete an assessment and develop a program plan to meet the actual or potential health problems for the community they select. Through the science of epidemiology, students will examine world health problems. Health care systems in developed and underdeveloped countries will be examined.

The course is designed to provide a foundation for the analysis of the current state of health care organizations, financing, and delivery of services. Emphasis is on examining national and global health care needs and social justice in relationship to health care systems and policy. The utilization of informatics to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge to support clients, nurses, and other health care providers also is addressed.

The course explores the theories, models, and principles that serve as guides for ethically sound decision making and behavior of the professional nurse. The role that values, beliefs systems, and moral awareness play in bioethical decision making will be discussed.

This course provides an opportunity for students to develop clinical competence in health assessment of an individual client. Students will develop skills in history taking and holistic assessment, which includes: physical assessment, role assessment, developmental assessment, psycho-social assessment, spiritual assessment, and risk assessment for genetics, environment, nutrition, exercise, stress, economics and abuse.

This course is designed to develop students' knowledge of the research process; to increase their appreciation of the significance of nursing research and evidence based practice; in developing sound nursing practice; to help them develop skills to become astute consumers of nursing research; and to apply their knowledge of the research process in nursing practice. Students will be introduced to computer applications that facilitate the research process such as in literature reviews and data analysis.

The course offers advanced study in a specialized area of nursing. Students will be notified of choices available.

The application of caring and creativity in nursing, the “finest art” (Nightingale, as cited in Donahue, 1985, p. 469). By graduation the student will evidence aesthetic literacy by:

1. demonstrating a personalized expression of the art of nursing;
2. utilizing an aesthetic approach in selected projects, presentations, and nursing care;
3. recognizing the aesthetic component of human responses/interactions; and,
4. demonstrating a sensitivity and respect for the diversity of human experience encouraging individual patient expression of values, preferences, and needs.

The application of current research, theory, professional standards, and ethical codes to the ongoing generation and evaluation of creative ideas for the purpose of managing patient, family, and/or community health issues, concerns, and problems. By graduation the student will evidence critical thinking by:

1. identifying credible, authoritative sources and properly citing relevant, essential information encountered in the exploration of complex issues;
2. integrating best current evidence with key clinical concepts and individual patient preferences and values to promote clinical reasoning and the delivery of safe, individualized care;
3. monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of care;
4. identifying necessary changes that will enhance the quality and safety of care;
5. functioning as a team member to generate criteria, data, and solutions;
6. critically appraising the effects of personal and professional actions with respect to their impact on the nurse’s integrity and ethical imperatives;
7. demonstrating adaptability and flexibility in one’s approach to managing competing and ever changing priorities in complex healthcare environments; and,
8. demonstrating a commitment to life-long learning and scholarship to heighten the quality of nursing practice.

The ability to express ideas clearly and effectively and accurately interpret communication from others. By graduation the student will evidence effective communication by:

1. functioning effectively with students, faculty, patients, family members, nursing and inter-professional teams; and fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care;
2. using information and technology to communicate and manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making;
3. valuing continuous improvement of one’s own communication and conflict resolution skills;
4. managing conflict and negotiating equitable solutions with others; and,
5. demonstrating openness and cultural competence to facilitate nurse-patient communication and inter-professional collaboration.

The acquisition of nursing’s unique body of knowledge and an understanding of the processes by which that knowledge was achieved and can be developed. By graduation the student will evidence scientific literacy by:

1. integrating knowledge from physical and social sciences with evidence-based nursing knowledge and patient preferences to provide safe, individualized, quality nursing care;
2. continuously expanding personal nursing knowledge and effectiveness by integrating nursing research and theory into clinical practice;
3. identifying the importance of nursing’s unique, evidence-based body of knowledge and the ethical processes by which that knowledge is developed;
4. demonstrating evidence of being a knowledgeable consumer of scholarly nursing research; and,
5. gathering and sharing credible data and information that will assist in solving problems, expanding nursing knowledge, and improving patient outcomes.

The self-application of physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health promotion practices, as the basis of knowledge that will enhance the provision of holistic care to others. By graduation the student will evidence self-understanding by:

1. recognizing personal attitudes regarding others’ ethnic, cultural, spiritual, and social backgrounds and committing to value the infinite worth of all;
2. demonstrating a commitment to life-long learning and continual self-assessment to achieve one’s highest potential;
3. demonstrating caring and respectful attitudes and behaviors while interacting ethically and compassionately with others; and,
4. recognizing areas of growth potential and seeking resources for self-development and improvement.

The personal involvement of self in nursing’s role and responsibilities to people and society. By graduation the student will evidence social responsibility by:

1. demonstrating personal responsibility for exhibiting qualities of professionhood:
   1. Advocacy
   2. Autonomy
   3. Service orientation
   4. Self-regulation
   5. Ethical and legal behavior
   6. Knowledge acquisition
   7. Participation in nursing activities/organizations
   8. Leadership and management skills
2. providing safe, effective, and holistic nursing care to developmentally and socio-culturally diverse patients, families, and communities locally and globally;
3. accepting the professional and personal responsibility in seeking lifelong, continuous learning of information technology skills that support clinical decision-making, error prevention, and care coordination; and,
4. respecting patients’ rights to personal healthcare records while protecting confidentiality.

The cultivation of a Christian approach to one’s life and professional nursing practice that permeates the student’s attainment of departmental outcomes. By graduation the student will evidence spiritual development by:

1. acknowledging and/or demonstrating an appreciation of the role of the Christian world view in promoting holistic health of self and others;
2. supporting patients with differing moral-ethical and cultural values through mutual respect and shared decision-making; and,
3. recognizing and providing for the spiritual needs of patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members in a thoughtful and caring manner.