Nursing Courses: Fall 2024


Health Science

HSC 112: Health Promotion Across the Lifespan

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Contextual Integration. This course focuses on the promotion of health and wellness across the lifespan from the perspective of both the individual and the family. Contextual factors will be examined through the lenses of self, family, provider, governmental and societal responsibility to explore the relationship between individual, community and global health. Students will assess their own health-promoting behaviors and identify their own health risks. Current evidence will be explored and critically examined to identify influences on health and well-being. Offered in hybrid or distance education format. (UG)

HSC 210: Issues and Concerns At End of Life

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course will focus on the end of life from the patient perspective giving insight to the healthcare professionals as they assist with decision making. Concepts will focus on facilitating end of life discussions including transition to hospice and/or palliative care. Consideration will be given to legal and ethical issues at end of life. Tools will be provided for healthcare providers to assist with end of life documents including the MOLST form and advanced directives. Offerd in distance education format. (UG)

HSC 211: Population Health: Caring for the LGBTQ Community

3 Credit Hour(s)

Persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, queer, asexual, two spirited (LGBTQAI2AI2) are a class of patients who are often marginalized in their health care. This online course taught in 10 modules will provide students with an overview of the healthcare, psychological, social and political health issues that the LGBTQAI2AI2 population faces. In this course, the student will gain a foundational understanding of the LGBTQAI2AI2 population and will explore health promotion, cultural competence, potential for substance abuse, health issues, and how to identify health care resources and promote laws and regulations regarding LGBTQ healthcare and social and political equity of care. Offered in distance eduation format. (UG)

HSC 212: Introduction to Genetics and Genomics

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course will give an introduction to the basic scientific principles of molecular genetics and how genetic factors impact common and complex health problems across the lifespan. The benefits, risks, and ethics of genetic testing will be included along with the considerations for the future of disease prevention and management. The role of the nurse/health professional in promoting health education to address patient concerns related to genetic disorders will also be discussed. Offered in distance eduation format. (UG)

HSC 213: Pandemic: Lessons Learned From Covid-19

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic. The students will gain knowledge in COVID-19 related topics including disease progression, epidemiology, testing, treatment, transmission prevention, and health policy. The students will also evaluate the effectiveness of the current responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and explore effective measures to prepare for future pandemics. The course is designed for students from multiple areas of study and various backgrounds. (UG)

HSC 221: Issues in Women's Health

3 Credit Hour(s)

This elective course is designed to provide students with an overview of topics impacting women's health in contemporary society. The course focuses on controversial issues related to women's health and investigates the roles that women play as health care consumers and as health care providers. The course is designed for students from multiple areas of study. These students will explore specific health care problems impacting upon women and will analyze contextual factors that affect the delivery of health care to women. Prerequisite: CMP 101. Offered in distance education format. (UG)

HSC 232: Learning Through Service

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Civic Responsibility. Fulfills Service Learning requirement. Learning experience through participation as a volunteer for approximately four hours per week in a community-based agency within the area. Students will also be expected to keep a journal account of their experiences and attend class every week for about an hour to process with others what is being learned. The focus of the course is to help students gain an appreciation that being of service to others is a way of learning and a way of growing as a person. (UG)

HSC 233: Herbs, Drugs, Supplements and the Body

3 Credit Hour(s)

Grounded in a holistic framework, this course focuses on general concepts of herbs, drugs, supplements and nutrition in relation to the well being of self and the client. This course develops a basic comprehension of nutrition emphasizing the role of phyto-nutrients as well as toxic ingredients in our food. The impact of culture, spirituality, and biological factors, as well as psychosocial, economic, and ethical considerations, is discussed in relation to improving and maintaining health in self and client. Relevant and current evidence-based research is included. The notion of food, herbs, and supplements as pharmacy is explored throughout. The newest information on drug/herb interactions, Joint Commission requirements for herbal products, new FDA labeling guidelines, and how to select a quality herbal or supplemental product are addressed. This course fosters understanding and strategies for promoting specific herbs and supplements for individuals attempting to maintain health and coping with pathology. Health promotion (learning to make healthy choices in our toxic environment, healthy sleep habits) and maintenance are stressed. Concepts related to family therapy, consumerism, and advocacy are addressed. Students learn such strategies for improving self and client health as risk assessment, stress management, nutritional counseling, and health teaching. Offered in distance education format. (UG)

HSC 329: Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills Core Competency; Critical Thinking & Creative Problem Solving; What one learns in PA school will not always apply to medical practice. Learning is never mastered. Thus, to be a good clinician, one must constantly educate oneself by evaluating the latest medical research to keep one's knowledge current. Evidence-based practice provides methodologies to evaluate scientific evidence for the delivery of the highest quality health care. This course is one of two courses in the Physician Assistant Department for the evaluation of medical research that provides: 1. a foundation in probability and statistics, and 2. an introduction to medical research designs and associated inferential statistical analyses In combination with PAS 529, this course is designed to increase students' competency in the evaluation of medical research. In this course, the emphasis is on basic study design, appropriate descriptive and inferential procedures, and interpretation of results. We will focus on real examples from the medical literature to cover the basics of clinical research design, sampling methodology, statistical methods for evaluating clinical research data, as well as introduce some of the many limitations of basic and clinical research. Topics include: Descriptive statistics, statistical inference probability theory and application, sampling theory, hypothesis testing, estimation, confidence intervals, measures of risk/association, association vs. causation, and pitfalls of p-values. Specific statistical analyses include: t-test, ANOVA, linear correlation, linear regression, relative risk, and the odds ratio with emphasis on clinical trial designs. Pre-requisite: At least second year matriculated Physician Assistant Studies major. (UG)


Nursing

NUR 222: Healing, Holism and Spirituality in Health Care

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Affective Awareness. Cross-listed as PHI 222. This three (3) credit course is a truly inter-disciplinary, inter-divisional course team-taught by a faculty member of the nursing department and a faculty member of the humanities. The course is designed to explore the meaning and mutual inter-connectedness of healing, holism, spirituality and care. Students will investigate the role of spirituality in their own personal lives, the power of healing and care both in medicine and everyday experience. Complementary therapeutic modalities such as prayer, therapeutic touch, meditation, friendship, etc. will be explored. There will be special focus on matters relating to the living-dying continuum exploring end-of-life matters), the inter-relatedness of the universe, and the implications of certain cultural differences, especially those in eastern cultures. Assignments for the course, including journal assignments and a hospice experience, are designed to stimulate personal as well as professional growth. Assigned readings, faculty presentations, and class discussions are intended to encourage student self-reflection, as well as a shared learning experience. Lecture/seminar, 3 hours. (UG)

NUR 251: Special Topics: Oncology Nursing I

3 Credit Hour(s)

This is the first of two courses designed to give the international registered nurse student a core knowledge base in oncology nursing. This course serves as an introduction to the student to nursing theory, nursing research, and evidence-based nursing to patient and family centered oncology nursing practice. The purpose of this course is to acquaint registered nurse students with the fundamentals of cellular basics of cancer, biology of cancer, health promotion, epidemiology, prevention and detection, treatment modalities, oncologic emergencies, psychosocial issues, supportive care, palliative care, survivorship, and research. (UG)

NUR 251L: Special Topics: Oncology Nursing I Lab

6 Credit Hour(s)

This practicum is designed to introduce Registered Nurse students to the role of the professional nurse in the oncology care setting. Emphasis is on further development of professional nursing skills and the use of the nursing process, particularly assessment, decision making, and evaluation. Clinical experiences in a variety of inpatient and ambulatory care settings enable students to develop essential skills for providing accessible, continuous, collaborative, affordable, and patient centered oncology care. Students gain experience in independent and interdisciplinary decision making with nurse preceptors and other health team members. Students have the opportunity to participate in off-unit/clinic experiences such as with the Ostomy & Skin Care team, Diagnostic Radiology, Infusion and Chemotherapy Amherst Satellite, and surgery. Clinical rotations will include opportunities in both inpatient and outpatient settings within Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The rotation includes a quality improvement Capstone project. The lab will include 18 hours of clinical practice per week (3/1 ratio). (UG)

NUR 252: Special Topics: Oncology Nursing II

3 Credit Hour(s)

This is the second of two courses designed to give the international registered nurse student an advanced knowledge base in oncology nursing. This course serves as an introduction to the student to advancing nursing theory, nursing research, and evidence-based nursing to patient and family centered oncology nursing practice. The purpose of this course is to acquaint registered nurse students with advanced concepts of cancer symptom management. Prerequisite: NUR 251/L. (UG)

NUR 252L: Special Topics: Oncology Nursing II Lab

6 Credit Hour(s)

Continuation of NUR 251 Lab. The rotation includes a research Capstone project. The lab will include 18 hours of clinical practice per week (3/1 ratio). (UG)

NUR 305: Health Assessment

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a health assessment on an adult and child. The impact of genetics and genomics are explored in relation to disease prevention, health promotion, and health screening. Critical thinking and clinical reasoning are utilized to inform assessment and evidence-based nursing diagnoses. Emphasis is placed on normal findings of the physical assessment. Offered in hybrid or distance education format. Lecture, 3 hours. Prerequisites: BIO 207 and BIO 208. (UG)

NUR 315: Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course provides an introduction to the nature of professional nursing with a dual emphasis on self as learner and self as nurse. The course is designed to introduce the student to the application of nursing theory to contemporary nursing practice. Nursing theory will be explored as the foundation for the development of professional nursing. This course also broadens the Registered Nurse's perspective of professionalism, the role of research, and value-based behavior at the baccalaureate level. Majors only. Offered in distant education format. (UG)

NUR 316: Holistic Perspectives

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Communication Skills. This course focuses on the relationship between values and attitudes of the nurse, individuals, and families in the health care system based on a holistic approach. Various macro and micro-cultures are explored in terms of specific cultural influences affecting the adaptation response of individuals, families, and communities. The rendering of health care to meet health needs as well as culture specific values, communication, religion, customs, and health beliefs and practices is emphasized. Future implications for the health care delivery system based on concepts of caring and humanistic nursing are explored. Offered in distance eduation format. (UG)

NUR 317: Professional Nursing Practice I

6 Credit Hour(s)

This course is designed to enhance critical thinking and clinical reasoning abilities by introducing the student to the application of nursing research and evidence based practice to contemporary nursing practice. The purpose of this course is to acquaint nursing students with the fundamentals of research methods and to understand the importance of research in practice. Evidence based practice will be explored as a basis for further development of professional practice. Application of research and the formation of evidence based practice will be explored in classroom and external learning experiences. Lecture 60 instructional hours (4 credits); External Learning Experiences, 60 hours (2 credits). Offered in distance education format. Prerequisite: NUR 315. Corequisite NUR 317L. (UG)

NUR 317L: Professional Nursing Practice I Lab

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course satisfies the external learning experiences requirement for NUR 317. 60 hours per semester. (UG)

NUR 324: Leadership Development in Clinical Nursing

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course prepares students with the knowledge and skills in leadership, communication, interprofessional teamwork and quality improvement systems that are necessary to provide quality health care. Group dynamics and group processes are examined. The course emphasizes ethical and critical thinking/clinical reasoning skills used to initiate and maintain effective working relationships, and develop conflict resolution strategies in professional nursing practice. Leadership theory and management functions in contemporary nursing practice will be explored. Various models of nursing practice will be examined and related to the leadership function of nurses. (UG)

NUR 417: Professional Nursing Practice II

6 Credit Hour(s)

This course prepares students with the knowledge and skills in leadership, communication, interprofessional teamwork and quality improvement systems that are necessary to provide quality health care. Group dynamics and group processes are examined. The course emphasizes ethical and critical thinking/clinical reasoning skills used to initiate and maintain effective working relationships, and develop conflict resolution strategies in professional practice. Leadership theory and management functions in contemporary nursing practice will be explored. This course enhances nurses' ability to manage themselves and others effectively within the context of change occurring within the healthcare system. Offered in hybrid or distance education format. Lecture 60 instructional hours (4 credits); External learning experiences, 60 hours (2 credits). Prerequisites: RN Licensure, majors only, NUR 315. Corequisite: NUR 417L. (UG)

NUR 417L: Professional Nursing Practice II Lab

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course satisfies the external learning experiences requirement for NUR 417. 60 hours per semester. (UG)

NUR 432: Professional Issues

3 Credit Hour(s)

Together with NUR 453, fulfills Research and Presentation requirement for Nursing majors. This course continues the process of professional nursing socialization. It is designed so that students may lead seminars to discuss issues affecting the nursing profession. The course includes a student led debate and written articulation of each student's philosophy of nursing. The major goals of this course are to increase student involvement in policy/politics and to enhance student awareness of the importance of lifelong learning. Lecture, 3 hours. Majors only. Offered in hybrid or distance education format. Prerequisites: NUR 317 and 417. Corequisite: NUR 453. RN licensure, Majors only. (UG)

NUR 453: Professional Nursing Practice III

6 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Information Literacy. Writing Intensive. Together with NUR 432, meets Research and Presentation requirement. In this course, the student applies the nursing process to population-focused nursing of the community. Population-focused nursing care in this course incorporates working with the community as partner, assessing determinants of health, examining available resources within the community, and identifying needs to improve health outcomes of the community. In addition, students collaborate with healthcare professionals and utilize informatics to promote conditions and healthy behaviors to improve population health. Offered in a web- enhanced format. Lecture 60 instructional hours (4 credits). External Learning Experiences, 60 hours (2 credits). Offered in distance education format. Prerequisite: NUR 317, RN licensure, majors only. Co-requisite: NUR 453L. (UG)

NUR 453L: Professional Nursing Practice III Lab

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course satisfies the external learning experiences requirement for NUR 453. 60 hours per semester. (UG)