Nursing RN to BSN Online

This course provides an overview of nursing informatics and electronic modalities that assist in patient and client management. The automation of data management through information systems, expert systems, and telecommunications will be examined in the context of healthcare informatics. The use of technology to help make decisions and to improve the health status of the individual, family, and community will be emphasized. Legal and ethical implications of informatics and technology in healthcare are addressed.

1. Define the nurse’s role in the use of informatics and technology in the management of healthcare information.
2. Identify applications of information systems used in the healthcare setting.
3. Demonstrate effective communication skills in using information technology in the professional healthcare environment.
4. Explain the effect of regulatory, legal and ethical issues in the use of data and health information systems.
5. Describe the strategic planning process used in determining the informatics and technological needs of a healthcare organization.
6. Identify process for use of technology in making healthcare decisions
7. Describe considerations regarding healthcare technology implementation and maintenance.
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of a selected technology resource related to the provision of care to a specific population and facility.

The legal and ethical aspects of the nurse’s role in leading and managing safe and effective patient-centered care are examined in this course The ethical responsibilities of the nurse as well as decision-making models related to healthcare situations will be discussed. The content focuses on the identification and analysis of legal and ethical concepts and principles underlying nursing practice and healthcare. Topics include an exploration of current ethical and legal issues that impact professional nursing and healthcare practice.

1. Examine the major ethical theories and ethical principles influencing ethical decision-making.
2. Explore contemporary moral, legal, and ethical concepts that affect the practice of nurses and other healthcare providers.
3. Evaluate legal principles that must be considered when making healthcare decisions.
4. Describe the application of the Code for Nurses and other professional guidelines to clinical practice.
5. Describe an effective ethical decision-making framework that incorporates moral concepts, professional ethics, and law and respects diverse values and beliefs.
6. Discuss the role of the nurse in enabling individuals and families to make quality-of-life and end-of-life decisions and achieve a peaceful death.
7. Identify the ethical obligations of the nursing profession to vulnerable populations.
8. Define ethical issues related to access to care, allocation of resources, and global inequity in healthcare.

This course focuses on the development of nursing knowledge and the improvement of nursing practice through current relevant evidence. Research methods are examined and current issues are analyzed in relation to the implementation of evidence-based practice in selected settings. Content includes identification of clinical questions, analysis of evidence for potential solutions/innovations, planning and implementing practice changes, evaluating outcomes and identifying gaps in nursing knowledge.  Process for leading and managing practice changes through the use of evidence based research to promote effective or positive patient outcomes are explored.

1. Summarize the history of nursing and evidence based practice
2. Identify the basic elements of the research process and levels of research evidence
3. Differentiate between qualitative, quantitative and outcomes research (1, 2, 3)
4. Identify data collection methods and procedures for qualitative, quantitative and evidence based practice
5. Analyze evidence for validity and reliability in application to practice
6. Describe the nurse’s role in implementing and disseminating research and EBP
7. Demonstrate quality improvement skills as they relate to patient centered outcomes in practice

This course explores essential collaboration and communication skills for healthcare providers. Interprofessional collaboration and its significance in safe patient centered care is a focus of this course. Students will review the Interprofessional competencies and discuss the role of the nurse in improving Interprofessional collaboration in the healthcare setting. Professional written and oral communication as key to leading and managing safe patient care will also be addressed.

Objectives:

1. Describe the culture, value, roles, responsibilities and expertise of other health professions.
2. Understand how professional roles and responsibilities complement each other in the provision of safe patient centered care.
3. Explain the roles and responsibilities of other care providers and how the team works together to provide care.
4. Discuss the role of the nurse in various Interprofessional healthcare teams.
5. Describe the management of ethical dilemmas specific to Interprofessional patient/population centered care situations.
6. Demonstrate the various types of writing demanded in nursing education and in professional nursing practice.
7. Demonstrate the ability to effectively utilize technology for Interprofessional research with a variety of resources.
8. Demonstrate competence with communication tools and techniques including information systems and communication technologies to facilitate discussions and interactions that enhance team functioning.

This course will examine the role of nursing in providing care to vulnerable populations within the community.  Theories of community health and nursing practice will be discussed as well as concepts of health promotion and preventative care for vulnerable individuals, families, groups and communities. Content focuses on risk reduction, health maintenance, and promotion of high level wellness to individuals, families, and groups of all ages throughout the health continuum.

1. Describe concepts of public and community health nursing process within the context of systems theory.
2. Demonstrate competence in principles of community and population based health assessment.
3. Collaborate in the application of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention interventions to vulnerable individuals, families groups and communities.
4. Analyze levels of prevention in relation to the prioritization of the health needs of Vulnerable Populations.
5. Identify concepts of vulnerability and resilience from the standpoint of cultural factors that affect health status and healthcare with diverse populations.
6. Analyze issues associated with age, ethnicity, cultural identity, and lower socioeconomic status that contribute to disparities healthcare delivery to vulnerable populations.
7. Describe underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms that contribute to perceived health status, functional status, and quality of life in vulnerable populations.
8. Discuss nursing interventions and interdisciplinary strategies to reduce disparities in healthcare delivery and promote healthy lifestyles for vulnerable populations.

This course introduces global healthcare systems and models and their influence on health disparities in the delivery of healthcare. Content provides a foundation to examine factors influencing the health of communities and populations locally, nationally and globally. Basic public health principles and sciences are used to identify factors that influence promote and maintain health of populations. The use of epidemiological data and knowledge of environmental health, social determinants of health, genetics/genomics, and the influence of culture on health behaviors will be discussed.

1. Examine global health systems, service delivery, factors influencing care and policy decisions, health disparities, and evidence-based care at local, state, national, and global levels.
2. Evaluate global health disparities from a social justice framework, including the impact of political, economic, and socio-cultural forces.
3. Describe the impact of cultural, societal, legal, and political factors, and ethical considerations influencing healthcare policies, service delivery, economics and health disparities at local, state, national, and global levels.
4. Identify and analyze the cultural and social determinants of disease in developing countries
5. Examine roles of local, state, national, and global regulatory and accreditation agencies in providing quality healthcare.
6. Apply evidence-based research findings to address health disparities.
7. Demonstrate competence in using technological systems and appropriate software to access local, state, national, and global information about healthcare.
8. Analyze organizational and political processes and grassroots legislative efforts to influence healthcare policy and advocate for diverse populations around the world.

Evidenced based practice and clinical reasoning are explored. Problem identification, problem solving, ethical standards and principles of research are the focus of a research proposal. Dissemination of research and translational research are analyzed for interdisciplinary practice.

Synthesis of theories and concepts related to critical thinking, clinical judgment or reasoning change theory, conflict Resolution, delegation, and changes that impact the healthcare delivery system is discussed. Theories and concepts related to leadership and management are presented. The aspects of the role of the nurse as leader and manager are explored in depth, with a special emphasis on the role of the nurse as change agent. The course will provide practical information for the practicing nurse to strengthen problem solving, decision- making, and critical thinking abilities, which are all vital in today’s rapidly changing healthcare delivery systems.

1. Differentiate between the core concepts of leadership and management.
2. Apply skills essential for managing resources in a healthcare setting.
3. Apply skills essential for identifying, planning, implementing, and evaluating change.
4. Examine the effect that leadership and management has on the assurance of quality and safety in healthcare.
5. Integrate theory and research knowledge in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of nursing leadership/management actions.
6. Analyze patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice.
7. Integrate knowledge of the social/ political forces, economic resources, and regulatory processes that impact healthcare delivery.

This course provides the student the opportunity to synthesize previous knowledge and skills in a supervised practicum experience with the guidance and approval of the faculty. The final project will integrate the academic and practical knowledge the students have acquired in their program. The clinical project provides students with the opportunity to explore a problem or issue of particular personal or professional interest that is related to one of the following nursing competencies: patient-centered care, teamwork/collaboration, Evidence based practice, quality improvement, safety or informatics (QSEN: http://www.qsen.org).  This final project will require the demonstration of the ability to think critically and creatively, to solve practical problems related to nursing practice or the facilitation of patient-centered care, to make reasoned and ethical decisions, and to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

1. Analyze selected healthcare issues impacting the healthcare delivery system and professional nursing practice.
2. Identify and analyze a need for nursing intervention or education within a healthcare setting in order to recommend appropriate action.
3. Synthesize peer reviewed literature in order to use the information in a clinical agency to enhance nursing practice and patient centered outcomes.
4. Evaluate and implement the appropriate communication format for the target audience in order to effect change.
5. Collaborate with the inter/intra interdisciplinary team to optimize patient outcomes
6. Demonstrate professional values based on moral, ethical, and legal aspects of nursing practice.
7. Demonstrate awareness of environment and context of practice in the design and implementation of the practicum project.