Anatomy and physiology

You need 12 quarter credits or 8 semester credits of human anatomy and physiology with lab. This must cover all body systems. You should: 

• Complete the full sequence
• Finish at least one course by the end of the fall term the year before you start the program
• Complete all courses before starting the program
• Take each course no more than twice in the last 7 years

If you've taken a course more than twice in 7 years, we'll use your second attempt's grade.

Microbiology with lab

You need 4 quarter credits of basic microbiology with lab.

Human development

You need 3 quarter credits in a human development course that covers the social and psychological development of humans across the entire lifespan, from birth to death. Courses that only cover part of the lifespan won’t count, but you can take two separate courses as long as both cover the full lifespan (e.g., Psychology 235 and Psychology 236), typically found in a psychology department.

Nutrition

You need 3 quarter credits in nutrition. The course should cover: 

• Biological functions
• Dietary sources of essential nutrients
• How diet affects health

Written English/English Composition (WR 121 & 122 or equivalent)

You need 6 quarter credits in English composition. Courses should: 

• Develop and support ideas in written English
• Prepare you for scientific or technical writing

Note: 

• Remedial English courses don't count
• Writing-intensive college courses can meet this requirement (i.e. WR 121, 122, or 123)
• A non-nursing bachelor's degree from an English-speaking country satisfies this, but you may need extra elective credits to graduate

Social science electives

You need 6 quarter credits in social science electives. Choose from: 

• Anthropology
• Criminal justice
• Cultural geography/studies
• Economics
• Environmental studies
• Gender or ethnic studies
• Gerontology
• History
• International studies
• Political science
• Psychology
• Social justice
• Sociology

Intermediate algebra/math 95 or higher

By the end of the fall term before starting your program, you must either: 

• Successfully complete an intermediate algebra/math 95 or higher course, or
• Pass a math placement test to place out of Math 95. You must upload an unofficial score report to Nursing CAS and send an official score report to OHSU Admissions.

If you're taking a statistics course, it must be from a math department and list intermediate algebra or higher as a prerequisite.

NRS 219: Foundations of Nursing, Health Promotion

9 credits. This course introduces the learner to the framework of the OCNE curriculum. The emphasis on health promotion across the lifespan includes learning about self-health and client health practices. To support self and client health practices, students learn to access research evidence about healthy lifestyle patterns and risk factors for disease/ illness, apply growth and development theory, interview clients in a culturally sensitive manner, work as members of a multidisciplinary team giving and receiving feedback about performance, and use reflective thinking about their practice as nursing students. Populations studied in the course include children, adults, older adults and the family experiencing a normal pregnancy. Includes classroom and clinical learning experiences. The clinical portion of the course includes practice with therapeutic communication skills and selected core nursing skills identified in the OCNE Core Nursing Skills document

NRS 211 Foundations of Nursing in Chronic Illness I

6 credits. This course introduces assessment and common interventions (including technical procedures) for patients with chronic illnesses common across the life span in multiple ethnic groups. The patient’s and family’s “lived experience” of the condition is explored. Clinical practice guidelines and research evidence are used to guide clinical judgments in the care of individuals with chronic conditions. Multidisciplinary team roles and responsibilities are explored in the context of delivering safe, high quality health care to individuals with chronic conditions (includes practical and legal aspects of delegation). Cultural, ethical, legal and health care delivery issues are explored through case scenarios and clinical practice. Case exemplars include children with asthma, adolescents with mood disorders, adults with type 2 diabetes and older adults with dementia. The course includes classroom and clinical learning experiences. 

NRS 212 Foundations of Nursing in Acute Care I

6 credits. This course introduces the learner to assessment and common interventions (including relevant technical procedures) for patients across the lifespan who require acute care, including normal childbirth. Disease/illness trajectories and their translation into clinical practice guidelines and/or standard procedures are considered in relation to their impact on providing culturally sensitive, patient-centered care. Includes classroom and clinical learning experiences. 

NRS 230 Clinical Pharmacology I

3 credits. This course introduces the theoretical background that enables students to provide safe and effective care related to drugs and natural products to persons throughout the lifespan. It includes the foundational concepts of principles of pharmacology, nonopioid analgesics and antibiotics, as well as additional classes of drugs. Students will learn to make selected clinical decisions in the context of nursing regarding using current, reliable sources of information, understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, developmental physiologic considerations, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of drug therapy, teaching persons from diverse populations regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products, intervening to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects, and communicating appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy. Drugs are studied by therapeutic or pharmacological class using an organized framework 

NRS 231 Clinical Pharmacology II

3 credits. This sequel to Clinical Pharmacology I continues to provide the theoretical background that enables students to provide safe and effective nursing care related to drugs and natural products to persons throughout the lifespan. Students will learn to make selected clinical decisions in the context of nursing regarding using current, reliable sources of information, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of drug therapy, teaching persons from diverse populations regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products, intervening to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects, and communicating appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy. The course addresses additional classes of drugs and related natural products not contained in Clinical Pharmacology I. 

NRS 232 Pathophysiological Processes I

3 credits. This course introduces pathophysiological processes that contribute to many different disease states across the lifespan and human responses to those processes. It includes the foundational concepts of cellular adaptation, injury and death; inflammation and tissue healing; fluid and electrolyte imbalances; and physiologic response to stressors and pain, as well as additional pathophysiological processes. Students will learn to make selective clinical decisions in the context of nursing regarding using current, reliable sources of pathophysiology information, selecting and interpreting focused nursing assessments based on knowledge of pathophysiological processes, teaching persons from diverse populations regarding pathophysiological processes and communicating with other health professionals regarding pathophysiological processes. 

NRS 233 Pathophysiological Processes II

3 credits. This sequel to Pathophysiological Processes I continues to explore pathophysiological processes that contribute to disease states across the lifespan and human responses to those processes. Students will learn to make selected clinical decisions in the context of nursing regarding using current, reliable sources of pathophysiology information, selecting and interpreting focused nursing assessments based on knowledge of pathophysiological processes, teaching persons from diverse populations regarding pathophysiological processes and communicating with other health professionals regarding pathophysiological processes. The course addresses additional pathophysiological processes not contained in Pathophysiological Processes I. 

NRS 321 Nursing in Chronic Illness II & End of Life

9 credits. This course builds on Foundations of Nursing in Chronic Illness I. Chronic Illness II expands the student’s knowledge related to family care giving, symptom management and end of life concepts. These concepts are a major focus and basis for nursing interventions with patients and families. Ethical issues related to advocacy, self-determination and autonomy are explored. Complex skills associated with the assessment and management of concurrent illnesses and conditions are developed within the context of client and family preferences and needs. Skills related to enhancing communication and collaboration as a member of an interdisciplinary team are further explored. Exemplars include patients with chronic mental illness and addictions as well as other chronic conditions and disabilities affecting functional status and family relationships. The course includes classroom and clinical learning experiences. 

NRS 322 Nursing in Acute Care II & End of Life

9 credits. This course builds on Nursing in Acute Care I, focusing on more complex and unstable patient care conditions, some of which may result in death. These patient care conditions require strong noticing and rapid decision-making skills. Evidence base is used to support appropriate focused assessments, and effective, efficient nursing interventions. Life span and developmental factors, cultural variables and legal aspects of care frame the ethical decision making employed in patient choices for treatment or palliative care for disorders with an acute trajectory. Case scenarios incorporate prioritizing care needs, delegation and supervision and family and patient teaching for either discharge planning or end-of-life care. Exemplars include acute conditions affecting multiple body systems. Includes classroom and clinical learning experiences.  

NRS 410 Population-Based Care

9 credits. This course is intended to prepare nurses in the practice of community and population health. Students are given an opportunity to apply population health principles to address health disparities. Community and population health are examined as a synthesis of knowledge from nursing, public health, the social sciences and epidemiology. Students analyze prevalent population health issues, explore population interventions and participate with the community as client to promote quality, culturally proficient, and preventive healthcare. Frameworks of community and public health are examined, and community assessments are conducted using a systems approach that promotes health literacy and embraces cultural diversity. 

NRS 411 Epidemiology

3 credits. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of death, disease and disability in human populations. In this course, students will learn the basic principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation; examine studies of the distribution and dynamic behavior of health determinants; understand etiologic factors, modes of transmission and pathogenesis; and explore concepts in social epidemiology. Applying epidemiologic case studies, students will engage systems and complex thinking to evaluate programs and policies in population health and nursing. 

NRS 412: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Delivery Systems

10 credits. This course requires the learner to consider his or her role as a leader in nursing and in health care. Focus is on the knowledge and skills required to improve health care delivery and client outcomes from a systems perspective. Historical, legal, ethical, regulatory, socio-cultural, economic and political factors influencing the health care system and professional nursing practice provide context to the learning. Students will understand how nursing leadership influences client care and practice within the broader health care delivery system. This course includes classroom and clinical learning experiences. 

NRS 413 Introduction to Research for Nurses

2 credits. This course builds on foundational learning activities in evidence-based practice and research. In the course students will deepen their understanding of evidence-based practice, the research process, and the nursing contribution as they learn to refine research questions and access, critique, and translate evidence into practice. 

NRS 425 Integrative Practicum II

9 credits. A continuation of NRS 224 or 424, this course provides the student with the opportunity for developing deeper understanding of and competence in the nursing care of the selected population. Faculty/Clinical Teaching Associate/Student Triad Model provides a context that allows the student to experience the nursing role in a selected setting, balancing demands of professional nursing and lifelong learner, supporting the transition to the nursing role in the delivery of health care. Emphasis is on the health care needs of the selected population, and the associated systems and policy issues. Includes seminar, self-directed study and clinical learning experiences.