Anatomy and physiology with lab

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.

Nutrition

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

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

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).

Microbiology with lab

You need 3-4 quarter credits of basic microbiology with lab. A 3-credit class is acceptable if that is the only one available.

Introduction to genetics

You need 3 credits in genetics. Any human biology course that lists a human genetics component in the class description is acceptable. This requirement cannot be met with a microbiology or anatomy and physiology course.

Statistics

You need 3 credits in statistics. Courses should cover descriptive and inferential components. You can take the class in any department.

NRS 210: 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 life span includes learning about self-health as well as 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. 

Prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology. 

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 331 Nursing in Chronic Illness and End-of-Life Care

9 credits. This course begins with assessment and common interventions (including technical procedures) for patients with chronic illnesses common across the life span in multiple diverse populations. Concepts of chronic illness are a major focus including the patient’s and family’s lived experience of the condition, care giving, symptom management, and end-of-life issues as the basis for nursing interventions with patients and families. Cultural, legal, ethical, and health care delivery issues related to advocacy, self-determination, autonomy and social determinants of health are explored through case scenarios and clinical practice. Skills associated with the assessment and management of concurrent illnesses and conditions as a member of an interprofessional team are developed within the context of clinical practice guidelines, research evidence, and patient and family preferences and needs. Exemplars include patients with chronic physical and mental illness and disabilities affecting functional status and family relationships. Includes classroom and clinical learning experiences. 

NRS 332 Nursing in Acute Care across the Lifespan

12 credits. This course focuses on care of patients across the lifespan who require acute care, including normal childbirth and introduction to more complex and/or unstable patient care situations requiring strong noticing and rapid decision making skills. Disease/illness trajectories and their translation into clinical practice, use of guidelines. and standard procedures are considered in relation to their impact on providing culturally sensitive, patient- and family centered care. The use of best evidence supporting appropriate focused assessment, prioritizing care needs, effective and efficient nursing interventions, and evaluation of outcomes is explored. Life span and developmental factors, cultural variables, and legal aspects of care from the ethical decision making employed in patient choices for treatment or palliative care within the acute care setting. Includes classroom and clinical learning. 

NRS 410 Population Health Practice

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 412A: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Delivery Systems

3 credits. This course requires the learner to consider their other 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 412B Nursing Leadership in Health Care Delivery Systems

3 credits. This course requires the learner to consider their 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 435 Integrated Practicum

12 credits. 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 system and policy issues. Includes seminar, simulation, self-directed study and clinical learning experiences.