400

This online course introduces basic principles and processes of cellular biology; genes and genetic diseases; forms of cell injuries; fluids and electrolytes, and acids and bases; immunity; and tumor biology. Knowledge of these processes is applied to the pathophysiology of common diseases. The presentation of each disease/disorder entity includes relevant risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and a brief review of treatment. The concept of culturally competent nursing care is correlated with the pathophysiology of disease processes to address the health needs of patients from diverse backgrounds. Clinical reasoning is augmented by applying models for nursing judgment to clinical case studies.

This blended/hybrid course concentrates on care of individuals, families and populations in the community.  The impact of social determinants of health, policy and economics on the health of rural and urban communities is examined. Public health principles related to environmental influences are introduced.  Concepts of health promotion, illness prevention, health literacy and ethics are highlighted. Emphasis is placed upon nursing responsibilities and the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) core competencies related to patient-centered care, communication with interprofessional teams, and the use of informatics in health care. Clinical experiences are available in a variety of urban and rural settings with a focus on application of culturally competent nursing care and its importance in health promotion, restoration, and disease prevention.

This blended/hybrid course focuses on the nurse as a consumer of research. Emphasis is placed upon studying the steps of the research process as a basis for understanding investigation of nursing problems and the application of evidence-based findings to practice. The concept of cultural competence to promote healthcare environments that are congruent with the health beliefs of the client is discussed. This is a writing intensive course and prepares students with an introduction to basic methodological and statistical concepts to gain an understanding of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) core competencies of evidence-based practice and quality improvement.

This introductory blended/hybrid course to the theory and practice of nursing leadership and management focuses on the understanding of core competencies employed by highly successful nurse leaders/managers including:  thinking critically, communicating effectively, handling conflict, building teams, controlling resources, improving quality, managing stress, and leading change. The course focuses on The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) core competencies and evidence-based professional nursing leadership, in community and inpatient settings, for advancing health and culturally competent care. The concept of cultural competence in health care organizations and the potential to decrease or eliminate health disparities is discussed. The course culminates with a capstone presentation of the student’s quality improvement proposal.