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 health care 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.

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 health care situations will be discussed. The content focuses on the identification and analysis of legal and ethical concepts and principles underlying nursing practice and health care.

Nursing knowledge development, worldview and competencies of the advanced practice nurse are examined. The focus of this course is professional practice development, communication, leadership, team building and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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. Processes for leading and managing practice changes through the use of evidence-based research to promote effective or positive patient outcomes are explored. For RN to BSN students only.

The main focus of this course is interprofessional collaboration and communication for health care providers. Interprofessional collaboration and its significance in safe patient centered care is featured. Students will review competencies from numerous organizations within healthcare.

This course will examine the role of nursing in providing care to vulnerable populations within the community. Theories of community health and nursing practices 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.

This course introduces global health care 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.

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.

This course focuses on synthesis of theories and concepts related to leadership and management such as, critical thinking, clinical judgment or reasoning, change theory, conflict resolution, delegation and changes that impact the health care delivery system. The role of the nurse as leader and manager is 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 health care delivery systems.

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 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.