Nursing

Department Chair: Kathleen Twohy

Faculty: Carie Braun, Matthew Byrne, Ellen Ellickson, Gary Gillitzer, Sigrid Hedman-Dennis, Ron Hemmesch, Carrie Hoover, Kathleen Lehn, Denise Meijer, Mary Neisen, Janet Neuwirth, Kathleen Ohman, Rachelle Parsons, LuAnn Reif, Laura Rodgers, Julie Strelow, Kathleen Twohy

The department of nursing offers a four-year program which leads to a bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

The goal of the nursing program is to prepare liberally educated women and men who can function as professional nurses in a variety of roles and health care settings and to prepare students for graduate study in nursing. Graduates, upon application and payment of fees, become eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students who have been convicted of a felony or gross misdemeanor may be ineligible to be licensed by the Board of Nursing and early in their course of study should seek clarification of their status.

Students must meet the functional abilities for safe nursing practice including: fine and gross motor coordination, physical endurance and strength, mobility, intact senses, reading and arithmetic competence, emotional stability, critical and analytical thinking and interpersonal/communication skills. For representative examples of each, see the nursing department webpage.

The international honor society of nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, has a chapter at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University. Students from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are eligible for membership. Faculty nominate nursing students for membership in the Kappa Phi chapter based on superior academic achievement. An active student nursing club encourages student involvement in professional and social activities.

Assessment

Continuous improvement of student learning requires conscientious, regular participation by students in assessment activities. Periodically nursing majors’ academic achievement will be assessed using nationally standardized and teacher-made exams, scoring rubrics and performance demonstrations. It is expected that students exercise their best effort in completing these activities. Some, but not all, assessment activities are also included as part of course grades. Individual data will be given directly to the student; students should seek consultation from their instructor and/or advisor if they have concerns about individual performance. Only group data will be used for department reports.

Major (55 credits)

Required Courses
Prerequisites: BIOL 121, 212, 214; PSYC 111, 360; Statistics; NRSG 110, 112, 207, 340.
Nursing Courses: NRSG 106/206/306 (3 credits, at least 2 credits at 200/300 level), 112, 212, 218, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 367, 379.
Supporting Courses: COLG 140, COLG 305, NUTR 335.

Application to the major:
Pre-nursing students seeking admission to the major should contact the nursing department as early as possible. Application materials are available on the department webpage and are due in early December of the sophomore year.

Criteria for application to the major:

1. Completion of all prerequisite courses with at least a grade of C in each course prior to final acceptance into the nursing major.
2. A minimum of 40 semester credits.
3. Prerequisite-course grade point average of at least 2.75.
4. Completion of Application for Admission to the Major.
5. An essay on professional goals.
6. Current physical examination including up to date immunizations and tuberculin testing.
7. Three references, at least one of which must be written by a college faculty member.

Applicants are considered primarily on the basis of academic achievement as evidenced by prerequisite-course GPA through fall term of the year they apply. Students with a minimum 2.75 prerequisite course grade point average are eligible to apply but are not guaranteed admission. Entry into the nursing major is competitive and class size is limited.

Retention in the major:

1. Retention in the major is contingent upon compliance with academic policies stated in the Academic Catalog, Every Woman's Guide/J-Book and Department of Nursing Student Handbook; all are available on-line.
2. The nursing department retains in the major only those students who demonstrate personal and behavioral characteristics needed to assume the role of the professional nurse.

Special Requirements:

• All students admitted to the major are required to have personal liability insurance and provide their own transportation for clinical experiences. In most cases this means that the student must have individual access to a vehicle. 
• The Nursing Department requires current American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider CPR certification. A photocopy of both sides of the signed certification card must be submitted with the application to the major. Recertification must occur prior to the fall of the academic year in which it expires. A photocopy of both sides of the signed recertification card must be submitted to the nursing office before the student begins fall classes.
• Students are required to be in good health as demonstrated by a physical examination, current immunizations and an annual tuberculin test. The department reserves the right to require subsequent evidence of good health should circumstances warrant it. 
• Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a criminal background study conducted by the state. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed health care facility. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in this program.

Minor (None)

Courses (NRSG)

106 Cultural Selective Topics. (1)
Provides students with the opportunity to study or explore a variety of nursing topics at the lower- and upper-division levels. A minimum of three selectives is required; only one may be taken at the 100-level. Courses are designed to allow students to choose selectives based on their personal interest. All courses contain a cultural component. A-F grading only.

110 Introduction to Professional Nursing. (2)
Students are introduced to the profession of nursing. Professional values, standards, socialization, critical thinking, culture, research, health care delivery systems and roles of nurses are explored at a beginning level. A-F grading only.

112 Medical Terminology. (0)
This introductory independent study course is designed to provide a foundation for using medical terminology. Students will become familiar with the structure of the medical language in order to learn medical terms and abbreviations.

206 Cultural Selective Topics. (1)
Provides students with the opportunity to study or explore a variety of nursing topics at the lower- and upper-division levels. A minimum of three selectives is required; only one may be taken at the 100-level. Courses are designed to allow students to choose selectives based on their personal interest. All courses contain a cultural component. Prerequisite: admission to the nursing major. Specific section topics may have additional prerequisites. A-F grading only.

207 Pathophysiology. (4)
This course builds upon the knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and focuses on functional alterations in human health using a conceptual approach. The approach emphasizes select disease processes through the use of clinical models with the ultimate goal of critical thinking and application of pathophysiologic concepts. Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between the mechanism of disease and clinical manifestations along with the exploration of human diversity as it relates to pathophysiology. Fall.

212 Professional Nursing Values and Standards. (4)
This course focuses on the legal issues and professional values related to nursing practice. Laws and standards that guide professional nursing practice in the current health care delivery system are emphasized. Topics covered include professional values, nursing standards, nurse practice act, research process, and ethical and legal aspects of nursing care. Students are introduced to the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the influence of culture on health. Learners will explore ways to incorporate research findings into professional nursing practice thereby becoming consumers of nursing research. Prerequisites: Admission to the major. A-F grading only. Spring.

218 Professional Nursing Core Competancies. (8)
This course focuses on the introduction, development, and application of essential core competencies of professional nursing: critical thinking, communication, assessment, and technical skills in the context of liberal education. Critical thinking, which underlies independent and interdependent decision-making, is framed within the nursing standards of care and emphasizes quality nursing assessments and best-practice interventions to achieve optimal health outcomes with regard to gender, age, and racial/ethnic variations. This course also stresses the application of therapeutic and professional/interpersonal communication skills and evidence-based beginning technical skills in laboratory and clinical/community settings. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, 214, NRSG 110, 112, 207, 340. A-F grading only. Spring.

271 Individual Learning Project. (1-4)
Supervised reading or research at the lower-division level. Permission of department chair required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

306 Cultural Selective Topics. (1)
Provides students with the opportunity to study or explore a variety of nursing topics at the lower- and upper-division levels. A minimum of three selectives is required; only one may be taken at the 100-level. Courses are designed to allow students to choose selectives based on their personal interest. All courses contain a cultural component. Prerequisite: admission to the nursing major. Specific section topics may have additional prerequisites. A-F grading only.

310 Special Topics in Military Nursing. (3)
This course provides Army ROTC nurse cadets with clinical experience in a hospital setting. Students are introduced to the duties, roles, responsibilities and expectations of an Army Nurse Corps officer. Students will develop leadership and collaboration skills in a hospital environment. This course is a full time three week learning experience during summer term done under the direction of the department chair and in conjunction with an on-site nursing supervisor (BS degree or higher). Available only to ROTC nursing students who have satisfactorily completed their junior year. Summer only.

321 Health Promotion in the Care of Older Adults and Their Families. (4)
This course provides a conceptual overview of the care of older adults and their families and caregivers. Within a contemporary framework, this course will focus on essential theoretic and practical information about basic and complex concepts of older-adult care based on gerontologic nursing principles and practices. Students will be provided with information necessary to make sound clinical judgments when providing high quality nursing care to older adults, their families, and caregivers in a variety of clinical/community settings including the home. Prerequisites: 110, 112, 212, 218, NUTR 335. A-F grading only. Fall.

322 Nursing Care of the Ill Adult. (8)
This course focuses on the provision of high quality nursing care in health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, and illness and disease management of the ill adult. The opportunity for application of standards of care and practice, evidenced-based nursing interventions and clinical judgment will be provided in a variety of clinical, laboratory and community settings. Prerequisites: 321, 323, 325. A-F grading only.

323 Advanced Professional Nursing Core Competencies. (4)
This course promotes the identification, application, and evaluation of evidence-based nursing interventions in health promotion, illness, and disease management with the adult perioperative population. Prerequisites: 110, 112, 212, 218, 340, NUTR 335. A-F grading only. Fall.

324 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. (4)
This course develops the role of the nurse in the promotion of mental health, and prevention, treatment and management of mental illness and substance dependence for populations of all ages. The origins of mental illness and substance abuse/dependence are examined from a biological and socio-cultural perspective with emphasis on the role of gender, race and class. Attention will be given to global and social justice issues in the past and present treatment of individuals with mental illness. Prerequisites: 321, 323, 325. Co-requisites: 326, 327. A-F grading only.

325 Health Promotion with Parents, Children and Families. (5)
This course offers learners opportunities to integrate knowledge from the natural and social sciences with nursing values, standards and knowledge for the improvement of the health of the childbearing and/or childrearing family. Adjustment of parents to family expansion and health and/or illness challenges is included. Care situations involve parents, children, and adolescents in various health and illness states and in community-based and population-focused settings. Prerequisites: 110, 112, 212, 218, NUTR 335. A-F grading only. Fall.

326 Promoting Health in a Global Society. (3)
This course focuses on the study of nursing and the public health sciences for the provision of population-focused care. Inherent in this study are the core public health functions of assessment, policy development and assurance of plan implementation. Special focus is placed on providing care to at-risk families and vulnerable populations. Prerequisites: 321, 323, 325. Co-requisites: 324, 327. A-F grading only.

327 Community and Mental Health Clinical. (3)
Based on the concepts in NRSG 324 and NRSG 326, this course focuses on delivery of nursing care to vulnerable individuals, families and populations in mental health and community settings. The emphasis is on health promotion, health maintenance and restoration, and health protection for clients and families from various age groups and cultures. Students will have 120 hours of clinical divided equally between mental health and public health. Prerequisites: 321, 323, 325. Co-requisites: 324, 326. A-F grading only.

340 Pharmacotherapeutics. (4)
This course provides a basic theoretical framework for pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and their application to nursing. The content focuses on nursing implications relevant to pharmacology, including application across diverse populations, elements of clinical decision making, safe nursing practice, and establishing and monitoring client outcomes. Prerequisites: 110, 112. Co-requisite: NRSG 207. A-F grading only. Fall.

367 Nursing Management and Leadership. (3)
Within the context of a liberal learning environment, Catholic and Benedictine traditions and values, the learner will develop knowledge and skill to effectively integrate designer, manager and coordinator of care roles in community based and population-focused nursing practice. Gender and cultural diversity will be significant factors in the analysis of leadership and management issues. Learners will be expected to articulate their leadership role as a college graduate and entry level professional nurse. Co-requisite: NRSG 379. A-F grading only. Spring.

371 Individual Learning Project. (2-6)
Supervised reading or research at the upper-division level. Permission of department chair and completion and/or concurrent registration of 12 credits within the department required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

379 Synthesis of Professional Nursing Practice. (6)
This course provides students with the opportunity to synthesize and apply nursing knowledge through an intense site-based clinical experience. Emphasis is on implementation of the full baccalaureate professional nurse role as provider and coordinator of care and member of a profession. Pre/Co-requisites: COLG 305/NRSG 367. A-F grading only. Spring.

397 Internship. (1-4)
Supervised career exploration which promotes the integration of theory with practice. An opportunity to apply skills under direct supervision in an approved setting. Prerequisites: approval of the department chair and a faculty moderator; completion of pre-internship seminar.

398 Honors Senior Essay, Research or Creative Project. (4)
Required for graduation with "Distinction in Nursing." Prerequisite: HONR 396 and approval of the department chair and director of the Honors Thesis program. For further information see HONR 398.

Courses of the College (COLG)

140 Healthy Lifestyles: Introduction for Health Professionals. (1-4)

305 Concepts Basic to Health Care Policy, Economics and Management. (3)
Within the context of a liberal learning environment and Catholic and Benedictine values, learners will develop the basic knowledge and skills to function effectively as a member of an inter-professional health care team. Concepts and context (e.g. social values, politics, economics) that are foundational to effective management, cost-containment and policy development/reform will be applied to the analysis of contemporary health care issues. Learners will be actively involved in influencing policies that shape health and/or health care. Prerequisites: Senior standing in the nursing major or permission of instructor. Fall.