Nursing

This course serves to assist the registered nurse in the transition to baccalaureate nursing practice. Growth as a BSN prepared nurse surfaces through the examination of topics surrounding professional nursing practice, Nursing Standards of Practice, ethical comportment, advocacy, evidence-based practice with statistical literacy, and nursing competencies. Prerequisites: Admission to the RN to BSN Program. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students form the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. This is the first NURS course taken in the SMSU RN to BSN Program. It may be taken alone or in conjunction with other NURS courses. This course must be successfully completed prior to taking further NURS courses in future semesters.

This course builds on previously acquired nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes to holistically assess and plan care for culturally diverse individuals, families, and groups. Students examine the use of Transcultural Nursing frameworks to guide the nursing process. Pre-requisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

Students will explore factors that impact the individual, family, community, and health care systems in a rural setting. Chronic illness, end of life care, ethical issues, interdisciplinary collaboration, person centered care, as well as social determinants of health are explored. Pre-requisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. This course must be successfully completed prior to taking NURS 434.

This course will explore patterns of illness and wellness in the individual. Concepts related to pathophysiology will be explored. Health promotion and disease prevention are highlighted. The impact of genomics, lifestyle, and social determinants of health are addressed. Content in this course builds upon previous knowledge of natural sciences. Pre-requisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

This course introduces students to scientific inquiry in the discipline of nursing. Students study a basic foundation of the nursing research process. The overview includes the steps in the research process, research designs, research methodology, data collection, analysis, ethical conduct related to human research, lifelong learning, and evidence-based practice in nursing. The emphasis is placed on developing students as effective consumers of research. Pre-requisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. This course must be successfully completed prior to taking NURS 435, NURS 436, or NURS 437.

Students examine concepts, ethics, and theoretical frameworks of public health and population-based nursing care in this course. Students apply public health principles to health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention needs of persons, families, communities, and populations. Students study self-care and lifelong learning in the role of the professional nurse. Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN program. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

Students will work with the course faculty to determine public/community health experiential nursing learning experiences. Students will collaborate with community partners and health agencies to assess populations, develop health promotion projects, provide health education, and assist vulnerable populations within communities to maintain optimal health. Pre-requisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program is required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. This course must be successfully completed prior to taking NURS 450.

This course prepares students for the NURS 450 Capstone by developing the inter- and intra-professional collaboration skills essential for person-centered community and population health nursing. Students engage with community and public health partners to identify potential practicum sites, establish preceptor relationships, and complete clinical readiness requirements. Emphasis is placed on effective communication, leadership, professionalism, and ethical collaboration to advance equitable, person-centered care. Through reflection and applied learning, students strengthen the competencies needed to function as collaborative, accountable members of interprofessional teams and to uphold quality and safety standards in community and public health nursing practice.

Students in this course analyze the historical and current factors that impact healthcare systems and population health. Students examine healthcare policies and information technology (informatics) as they influence the nature and function of nursing practice related to safe, person-centered care, and self-care. Students examine the connection between interprofessional collaboration, healthcare policy, and informatics. Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN program. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

This course provides an advanced analysis of rural health care disparities, disparities of health for the rural population, along with strategies to care for the rural population. Areas of emphasis will include: unique demographics of the rural population, nursing theories applied to vulnerable populations, recruitment and retention issues for rural healthcare, and challenges facing rural hospitals. Admission to the Nursing Program required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

This course assists the registered nurse in enhancing and improving critical thinking, clinical judgment, and clinical reasoning skills. Emphasis is the application of clinical reasoning skills to a quality improvement project. The nurse uses interprofessional collaboration to promote change and improve health outcomes. Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program and NURS 390 Evidence-Based Practice. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

This course focuses on an introduction to theoretical concepts, psychobiological disorders, evidence-based treatment modalities, and culturally relevant trends affecting mental health nursing practice and care provided to individuals, families, communities, and populations across the lifespan. The course is designed to provide learners with knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to holistically function in the practice environment as they provide, manage, and coordinate care. Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program. Completion of NURS 390. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

Students in this course focus on nursing leadership and management concepts in the contemporary healthcare environment. Students will engage in the exploration and discovery of challenges facing the emerging nurse leader. Students develop leadership skills related to providing safe, quality care for communities and healthcare organizations. Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN Program. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites.

This final capstone course provides RN to BSN students with a public/community health practicum experience that reflects the integration of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills gained throughout the program. Students will synthesize their learning with an emphasis on population health nursing and apply nursing leadership skills, healthcare policy knowledge, and quality improvement principles. Throughout the course, students will design a clinically focused, population-based project aimed at improving client outcomes. They will also evaluate the social determinants of health relevant to their chosen population, incorporate evidence-based resources, and address public health competencies. Students will analyze how the identified issue and proposed interventions influence the health of an affected population. This course meets the requirements to apply for Public Health Nurse (PHN) registration through the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Students in this course examine knowledge, skills, and attitudes in contemporary nursing through advanced analysis of nursing theories, philosophies, and standards of practice. The course includes the scientific problem-solving approach and applied analysis of advanced nursing practice. The course incorporates an in-depth study of ethical codes with connections to contemporary nursing practice. Students orient to the MSN program, University learning platform, Library database search skills, and resources available to students during the MSN program. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program or documented instructor and director permission required.

This course, Holistic Nursing Approaches to Self-Care and Health Promotion in a Contemporary Society, is grounded in holistic nursing strategies for self-care, promoting self-care in others, and health promotion. Emphasis is on the context of current issues in todays society. The course includes advanced study of strategies and motivating factors for self-care and health promotion considering individual and community/population needs. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or corequisite or documented instructor and director permission is required.

This Z course focuses on enhancing foundational contemporary holistic nursing knowledge and skills. Emphasis is on the advanced evaluation of holistic theory, knowledge of modalities, various cultural health practices, leadership, and cross-cultural communication. Advanced level study in the course includes ethical practice, bias, healthcare disparities, research and evidence-based practice as a holistic nurse and member of the interprofessional team. Admission to SMSU required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: RN with BSN, or RN with Baccalaureate, or RN with Master or Doctorate degree, or RN in SMSU RN to BSN program having completed NURS 430 Evidence-Based Practice.

This Z course serves to assist the registered nurse in enhancing foundational contemporary holistic nursing knowledge and skills. Emphasis is on the evaluation of holistic theory, nature therapy modalities, planetary health, practice, ethics, and diversity/inclusion with the role of the holistic nurse as a member of the interprofessional team. Admission to SMSU required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: RN with BSN, or RN with Baccalaureate, or RN with Master or Doctorate degree, or RN in SMSU RN to BSN program after completion of NURS 430: Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing.

This course enhances knowledge and skills through an advanced health assessment and pathophysiology at the cellular, organic, and systemic levels. Holistic perspectives, including biochemical, environmental, genetic, psychosocial, and spiritual realms and the impact on human disease, are included. An examination of evidence-based health assessment and pathophysiology comprises the incorporation of interprofessional collaboration. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or documented instructor and director permission is required.

Students in this course examine principles of clinical pharmacology for use in the treatment of disease and health promotion in the role of advanced nursing. The course includes an examination of the major classifications of medications related to pharmacodynamics, such as the mechanism of action, therapeutic effects, adverse reactions, indications, and contraindications. Students study pharmacological differences, such as age, gender, and genetics. The course includes the use of informatics as related to pharmacology and safety, evidence-based practice, patient education, and patient safety related to medications. Students explore medication monitoring for therapeutic and potential adverse outcomes. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or documented instructor and director permission is required.

This course focuses on advanced concepts of culturally congruent nursing practice in contemporary society. Students examine the promotion of healthy futures for humans and the planetary interactions locally and worldwide based on applied analysis of data and ethical conduct. Research, interprofessional collaboration, and health policy development are vital aspects of the advanced study of societal and global health nursing. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or corequisite or documented instructor and director permission is required.

In this course, students develop their knowledge, skills, and attitudes about scientific inquiry within the discipline of nursing. The course includes the research process, designs, methodology, data collection, analysis, ethical issues related to human research, evidence-based practice, and lifelong learning in nursing. Applied analysis in the nursing and healthcare context is an integrated aspect of the course. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or documented instructor and director permission is required.

In this course, Advanced Leadership and Continuous Quality Improvement Through Interprofessional Collaboration, students explore advanced leadership knowledge, skills, and attitudes of systems and organizations, including safety and continuous quality improvement. The development of interprofessional collaboration, effective communication, conflict management, and fostering a diverse, inclusive work environment is included. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students from the course who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or documented instructor and director permission required.

This course focuses on knowledge, skills, and attitudes of worldview and education philosophies. A key emphasis in the course is teaching-learning theories applied to nursing education. Students examine evidence-based teaching/learning methods, variables that impact learning, scaffolding, and lifelong learning. Students explore the roles and settings of nurse educators from academia, clinical teaching, organizational orientation/education departments, and continuing education. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 600 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or documented instructor and director permission is required.

In this course, students focus on developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to instructional technology in the role of the nurse educator. The emphasis includes instructional technology theories, learning technology research, technology tools, open education resources (OER), and creative commons. Students collaborate with professionals of other disciplines related to an instructional technology project. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program or documented instructor and director permission required and NURS 650 (pre-requisite or co-requisite) or approved equivalent course. (2 credits theory, 1 credit clinical practicum)

In this course, students develop fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes about addressing the needs of a growingly diverse student body. Content includes a variety of teaching/learning methods, inclusive communication approaches, and delivery of culturally responsive feedback in the nurse educator role. Students examine the creation of an inclusive and welcoming educational environment. The practicum experience includes developing or revising a lesson plan to be culturally responsive, inclusive of all, using various teaching/learning methods, inclusive communications, and evaluation. The practicum includes an applied analysis component with a data-driven project to promote culturally responsive teaching. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program with NURS 650 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or documented instructor and director permission is required. (2 credits theory, 1 credit clinical practicum)

Students in this course, Curriculum Development, Assessment/Quality Improvement, and Evaluation for Nurse Educators, focus on curriculum development, educational assessment/evaluation, and continuous quality improvement in the role of a nurse educator. Advanced level practicum includes curriculum development, curriculum alignment, applied analysis of educational assessment/evaluation data, and writing educational assessment narratives with supporting data. Additionally, students complete the nursing contact hour application for a continuing education activity/session, including evaluation. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program or documented instructor and director permission required. Prerequisite/corequisite: NURS 650. (2 credits theory, 1 credit clinical practicum)

The nurse educator capstone project concentrates on synthesizing knowledge, skills, attitudes/professionalism as a culturally responsive nurse educator. The clinical practicum capstone project connects theory, research evidence, technology and informatics, ethical practices, interprofessional collaboration, and lifelong learning. Curriculum development, assessment/evaluation, writing narratives, and creating table/chart data are components of the capstone project. Admission to SMSU Graduate Studies required. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to remove students who do not meet the course requirements and prerequisites. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSN Program or documented instructor and director permission required and NURS 650 or approved equivalent course. Co-requisites or pre-requisites are NURS 654, 658, 660. (1 credit theory, 2 credits clinical practicum)