Bachelor of Science in Nursing

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. Students complete a professional self assessment using the indicators for the professional nursing role outlined in the Nurse Practice Act in the jurisdiction in which they are licensed. Self-assessments of competency and comfort with technology, oral, and written communication in nursing are also completed. Action plans are formulated to facilitate development in these areas. The practitioner, scientist, and leader roles of the professional nurse provide a framework for exploring reflective practice, evidence-based practice, nursing ethics, and patient safety. The histories of nursing, medicine, allied health, public health, and global health provide a lens and context for exploring the scope of the professional nursing role.

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. This course explores the science of nursing assessment, evaluation, and decision-making. A self-assessment of the student’s understanding of the science supporting nursing care is completed, and an action plan is formulated to further develop competencies in this area. Students develop case studies from their own practice to assess patients across the lifespan and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Online faculty-facilitated discussions provide the student with the opportunity to review and evaluate a variety of cases and patient presentations. (Prerequisite: NURS300)

Pre Reqs: Professional Transitions in Nursing(NURS300)

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. This 2-course series explores common physiological patterns of co-morbidities and multiple functional problems and associated pharmacological interventions. Students continue work on the action plans formulated in NURS 310 to deepen their knowledge of the sciences supporting nursing practice. Traditional and simulated case studies strengthen clinical reasoning for patients experiencing multiple functional problems across the lifespan, including end of life and palliative care. (Prerequisite: NURS310)

Pre Reqs: Assessment, Evaluation and Clinical Decision-Making (NURS310)

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. Students complete evaluations of proficiency with the sciences supporting nursing practice. Genetics, genomics, multi-generational family histories, and health screenings are explored within the context of the professional nursing role. Case studies are used to develop clinical reasoning and identify associated coordination of care problems. (Prerequisites: NURS320)

Pre Reqs: Integrated Pathophysiology and Clinical Pharmacology I(NURS320)

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. This course reviews evidence-based practice, the history of this movement, and the challenges to implementation in the practice setting. Students will further develop their skills with efficiently finding, reading, and comprehending published research and determine applicability to clinical practice. Students continue to explore means to assess, monitor, and develop cultures of safety in their own organizations and will become familiar with several national safety initiatives.(Prerequisites: MATH302, NURS330)

Pre Reqs: Statistics(MATH302),Integrated Pathophysiology and Clinical Pharmacology II(NURS330)

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. This course includes an assignment to shadow a nurse leader for 20 hours. It is recommended that students select a nurse leader for this assignment prior to the course start. This course builds on assessments related to professionalism, culture of safety, nursing ethics and effective use of healthcare technology completed in previous courses with an emphasis on leading change in complex organizational healthcare systems. Students integrate and apply this knowledge to improve quality and build cultures of safety in their workplaces. (Prerequisite: NURS340)

Pre Reqs: Science of Evidence-Based Practice(NURS340)

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. This course builds on assessments related to professionalism, culture of safety, nursing ethics and effective use of healthcare technology completed in previous courses with an emphasis on leading change in complex organizational healthcare systems. Students integrate and apply this knowledge to improve quality and build cultures of safety in their workplaces. (3 credit hours) (Prerequisite: NURS350)

Pre Reqs: Transformational Leadership and Cultures of Safety(NURS350)

This course will address the veteran culture and the healthcare issues facing today's military veterans. Content will be drawn from the most current evidence-based literature and research related to the health care needs of this population. Special emphasis will be placed on veterans from the conflicts of the last two decades, including traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress syndrome. This course is open to students outside of the nursing major.

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program The course will begin with the history and theory of community health nursing and the influences of political and financial decisions. The course will provide an opportunity to investigate social, environmental, and economic issues and available community resources. Clinical experiences will allow for assessment and planning for health education and health problems, epidemiology and cultural issues. This course includes a clinical project, which will be completed in NURS420 Students must arrange for a BSN-prepared project mentor prior to the start of this course. Formal mentor agreements will be signed during the first week of the course. (Prerequisites: NURS400)

Pre Reqs: Emerging Scholarship and Trends in Healthcare(NURS400)

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program In this course the student will study the community as a client. The student will gain knowledge of the vulnerable and under-served populations as well as how communities are affected by culture diversity and natural and man-made disasters. Clinical experiences will allow for assessment and planning of an individual, family, and community’s health. This course includes the completion of a clinical project that began in NURS410. Students must arrange for a BSN-prepared project mentor prior to the start of this course. Formal mentor agreements will be signed during the first week of the course. (Prerequisite: NURS410)

Pre Reqs: Community Health I(NURS410)

This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze and solve the wide variety of problems encountered in business, science, medicine, education, the social sciences, and other disciplines. Successful completion of this course will provide students with a working knowledge of the principles of both descriptive and inferential statistics, probability, averages and variations, normal probability distributions, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, statistical hypothesis tests, and correlation and regression analyses. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their application in real life -- not on mathematical proofs. This course will use Microsoft Excel for some of the work. Students should have a basic familiarity with Excel and have access to this software application. Prerequisite: MATH110 - College Algebra.

Pre Reqs: College Algebra(MATH110)

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

This course is only open to students who are enrolled in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. This course is organized around individual student projects and serves as a capstone and culminating experience where students integrate knowledge and apply professional skills to improve the quality of health in the workplace. Students prepare formal written and oral presentations of the project. A final evaluation of progress toward meeting goals is completed. (3 credit hours) (Prerequisite: Senior status and completion of all core and major course requirements prior to enrollment.)

Pre Reqs: Community Health II(NURS420)