Nursing (Pre-licensure B.S.N. in the College of Arts and Sciences)
Faculty
Dr. Denise Pope Associate Dean of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer
Ms. Danielle Artis, Assistant Dean of Nursing, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Ms. Jane Brophy, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Dr. Carrie O’Reilly, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Ms. Karen Walters, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Staff
Ms. Erica Edge, Lab Coordinator
Ms. Perita Carpenter, Allied Health Specialist
Ms. Theresa Hudnall, Clinical Coordinator
Ms. Priscillla Pinkney, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Sarah Trippensee, Academic Advisor
Description
Trinity’s Pre-Licensure BSN Program combines the academic structure and clinical preparation necessary for a career in nursing. Students focus initially on liberal arts courses that provide a framework for their chosen major in nursing. The rigorous academic coursework in the nursing program then lays the foundation for a progressive mastery of the knowledge, skills, values, ethics, and abilities required of a professional nurse. Toward the end of the program, students will have ample opportunities to experience firsthand the rewards of nursing in numerous closely supervised clinical settings. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse. Graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to practice as licensed registered nurses.
Major Requirements
I. CAS GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS (17 credits)
-
Critical Reading (3 credits)
CRS 101 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IThis course strengthens critical reading and academic writing skills through engagement with liberal arts texts with a focus on “Discovering your strength” as a Trinity woman. The ability to comprehend and write about arguments in academic texts is essential for success in all liberal arts courses and in lifelong learning. Students will develop the ability to identify a text’s main argument and the evidence used to support that argument. Students will also reflect comprehension by accurately and clearly paraphrasing and summarizing texts’ arguments. Students will also use annotation and argumentation strategies to respond to liberal arts texts with their own ideas.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
?
-
Written Communication (3 credits or waived by assessment placement)
ENGL 107 College CompositionEnglish 107 develops students’ effective writing of evidence-based, thesis- centered academic essays. The course emphasizes development of the research and documentation skills necessary for successful academic writing. Students will primarily write argumentative essays, building to a substantive research paper. Students in the School of Professional Studies may not take this course pass/fail. Formerly ENG 107 College Composition.
3 credits
Prerequisites for College of Arts and Sciences: Passing CRS 101 with a grade of "C" or better.
Prerequisites for School of Professional Studies: ENGL 105 with a grade of C or better OR score of 9 or higher on Writing portion of Accuplacer test.
General Education: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area I Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life
-
Oral Communication (3 credits)
COM 110 Communication for Academic SuccessThis course is designed to help students develop the skills that are necessary for effective interpersonal and small group communication. Students will learn to participate in varied communication contexts that involve both formal and more interactive formats. The course provides them with the opportunity to communicate more effectively with an audience in small group and public contexts.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Foundational Skills
-
Critical Reasoning (5 credits required)
NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing PracticeThis course introduces basic concepts, values, and fundamental skills required for nursing care across the life span. An emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, communication skills and the nursing process as the underlying foundation for professional nursing practice in health care settings. Must be taken simultaneously with NURS 117L.
4 credits
Prerequisites: All Core Courses and Pre-Nursing Courses
Corequisites(s): NURS 117L/Laboratory
General Education Requirement: Foundational (Critical Reasoning)
-
Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits)
MATH 108 Finite MathematicsThis is a quantitative literacy and reasoning course designed for education majors and those students intending to study nursing and other allied health fields. Topics include: problem solving, set theory, logic, algebra, and measurement; including unit conversions and dimensional analysis. Additional topics include functions, graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, as well as probability and statistics. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 108 and MAT 108 Elementary Mathematical Modeling.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills or higher
KNOWLEDGE AND INQUIRY (34 credits)
-
Social Sciences (complete 9 credits in 3 different disciplines)
-
Economics or Political Science
ECON 100 Principles of EconomicsIntroduces the basic principles of economics to students with no prior economic training and provides foundational skills for Economics 101 and Economics 102.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
Prerequisites: successful completion of MATH 102, MATH 108, or MATH 109 is highly recommended,
ECON 101 Introduction to MicroeconomicsIntroduces principles of microeconomics and their applications. Topics include supply and demand, operation of markets, consumer and enterprise behavior, competition and monopoly, and microeconomic policy. Formerly ECO 122 Principles of Economics I.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECON 100 and MATH 102, MATH 108, or MATH 109 or permission of instructor
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature,
ECON 102 Introduction to MacroeconomicsIntroduces principles of macroeconomics and their applications. Topics include national income, unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. The role of policy in affecting macroeconomic outcomes is examined in detail. Formerly ECO 121 Principles of Economics II.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECON 100 and MATH 102, MATH 108, or MATH 109 or permission of the instructor
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature,
POLS 201 Civil Rights and LibertiesProvides an introduction to legal opinions that focus on the 1st and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The cases and the societal issues surrounding them are presented in their historical context. Some specific topics examined in the course are Supreme Court decisions that affect the civil rights movement, free speech, and privacy issues involving Internet communications. Formerly PSC 216 Civil Rights and Liberties.
3 credits
FLC Area V
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry,
POLS 211 Women and the LawExamines Supreme Court rulings, as well as federal and state statutes and court decisions affecting women. Topics include women and employment, sexual harassment, and legal issues involving pregnancy and privacy rights. Formerly PSC 328 Women and the Law.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V,
POLS 231 Introduction to Comparative PoliticsOffers an introduction to the major concepts and analytical frameworks of the sub-field. While it is designed as the appropriate first course in comparative politics, its theoretical focus makes it appropriate for more advanced students as well. Formerly PSC 200 Introduction to Comparative Politics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V or
POLS 241 Introduction to International RelationsOffers an introduction to the theories, actors, arenas, and techniques of international politics. The course examines case studies on issues of current international importance. Formerly PSC 312 Introduction to International Relations.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
-
Psychology
PSYC 101 Introductory PsychologyIntroduces the student to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. All major sub-areas of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, physiological, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception) are explored, as well as the major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic). Formerly PSY 121 Introductory Psychology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core: Area II
-
Sociology
SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
-
Sciences and Mathematics (complete 7-8 credits, of which one course must be in laboratory science)
-
Biology
BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); BIOL 101 or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area.
-
Chemistry
CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108
-
Math
MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.
-
History, Arts, and Literature (9 credits) Complete one course in each discipline. Two courses must be taken at the 300-400 level to meet the General Education requirement as well as the Nursing major requirement. The 3rd course must also meet General Education requirements.
-
History:
HIS 128 Creation of the Atlantic WorldExamines the emergence of the Atlantic World as the point of contact linking the peoples of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The course details the migrations, voluntary and involuntary, of Africans and Europeans to the Western Hemisphere and their contact with native nations. Topics include pre-colonial West Africa, pre-Columbian cultures, dynamics of culture contact, the Conquistadors and the African slave trade.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II, History Cluster,
HIS 130 Introduction to American CivilizationsExplores the major themes that have shaped the American experience from the Colonial period to 1890. Topics include the Age of Exploration and Discovery, the American Revolution, the causes of the Civil War, and industrialization and urbanization.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
FLC Area II, History Cluster,
HIS 133 Travelers' TalesConsiders travelers' accounts of their journeys as a unique window into the cultural interactions of the past. The course focuses on travelers from a variety of cultures and historical periods, and explores what their stories can tell us not only about the people they encountered but also, and perhaps more importantly, about the travelers themselves. The course explores the relationship between reality and fiction in travelers' tales, the assumptions travelers brought to these interactions, and the ways in which their experiences modified (or did not modify) their perception of the "others" whom they encountered.
3 credits
FLC Area II, History Cluster
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area,
HIS 135 Upheavals of War: War and Social ChangeExplores the ways in which societies ensnared in the throes of war are permanently transformed by the experience. Among the issues considered are the impacts of war on social dynamics, class roles, economic order, gender identity, religious faith, and intellectual consciousness. In semesters focused on the modern era, wars to be considered include the World Wars, the Arab-Israeli Wars, the Vietnam War, and wars of colonial liberation.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II, History Cluster or designated 300-400 level course
-
Fine Arts:
FNAR 101 Survey: History of Art IExamines the development of painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistoric times to the end of the Middle Ages. It is recommended that the two survey courses (101 and 102) be taken before advanced courses and, if possible, in chronological order. Formerly ART 101 Survey: History of Art I.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society,
FNAR 102 Survey: History of Art IISurveys the development of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the present. Formerly ART 102 Survey: History of Art II.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society,
FNAR 145 Introduction to Music LiteratureExamines the styles and diversity of Western music from the Middle Ages into the 21st century. This course introduces the materials of music including melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and orchestration. Students explore the vast cultural resources of Washington, DC's concert halls, art galleries, churches, and cathedrals offering musical performances. Formerly MUS 151 Introduction to Music Literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II,
FNAR 205 Modern ArtExamines the period from the beginning of the 19th century up until WWII and the tremendous changes that occurred in art during that time. Painting, sculpture, and architecture will be discussed both in relation to the aesthetics of the time as well as the role of society in the process of creation.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II,
FNAR 241 Experiencing Musical ArtExamines the way that music exists within cultures. The course explores musical elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture as they are experienced in rituals, religious and healing ceremonies, dancing, and performance in the United States and around the world. No prior experience in music is required for this course. Formerly MUS 201 Experiencing Musical Art.
3 credits
General Education: Applications Area
FLC Area II,
FNAR 243 Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and RagtimeTraces the origin and development of styles and major forces that shaped American music from the late 19th century to the present. Topics include work songs and field "hollas," revival and camp meeting hymns, bebop and "cool" jazz, along with new rhythms, harmonies, and "blue" notes. This course requires attendance at live performances, written listening assignments and extensive oral presentations. Formerly MUS 226 Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Ragtime.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II,
FNAR 247 Women in Music HistoryExplores the history of women in music from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. The course includes reading in primary sources and study of recent research on women as performers, composers, publishers, producers, educators, and patronesses. Students explore both recorded and live performances of music by women. Formerly MUS 252 Women in Music History.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II,
FNAR 313 United States ArtExamines art in the United States from colonial times to the present, considering architecture, painting, and sculpture, as well as the qualities characteristic of the American tradition. Formerly ART 301 United States Art.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II,
FNAR 315 Twentieth Century ArtSurveys the movements in painting, sculpture, and architecture in the period from 1900-1945. Formerly ART 481 Twentieth Century Art.
3 credits or designated 300-400 level course
-
Literature:
ENGL 150 Writing about LiteratureThis course introduces students to the study of literature. Students will engage in critical reading, analysis and discussion, founding argument on close textual reading, and the development and writing of thesis-centered essays about literature. Literary criticism and theory, research methods, and documentation techniques will also be covered.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry,
ENGL 220 African American LiteratureThis course introduces students to the study of African American literature, including the vernacular tradition, the New Negro Renaissance of the early twentieth century, periods of realism and modernism in the late 1940s and early 1960s, the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, and newer voices at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century. Students will practice literary analysis and study the literary techniques and genres belonging to this literature, as well as the ways in which the texts attempt to reinvent, disrupt, or challenge traditional European/North American literary traditions and criticisms. Many of the texts will engage the meaning of race, the forced migration of Africans to the Americas, racism and black resistance to it, institutionalized enslavement and strategies for survival, economic oppression, the celebration of blackness, and the literary achievements of black authors. Biographical, historical, and political contexts will be examined as ways to enrich the reading of the texts.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry,
ENGL 267 Multicultural United States LiteratureExamines largely contemporary writings by writers representing the diverse cultures in the US with a consideration of the ways in which difference or "the other" may be constructed. Formerly ENG 200 Multicultural US Literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society,
SPAN 213 Latina VoicesFosters awareness and understanding among women of the Americas, their different cultures and traditions as told through their own stories. Students will also reach a better understanding of the ethnic and racial diversity that characterizes the whole American continent including the United States, thus becoming more able to participate in a multicultural environment, both in the labor force and in their personal lives. Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to do written assignments in Spanish. Formerly SPA 210 Latina Voices.
3 credits
FLC II
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry,
ENGL 370 Ethics and Social Change in Global LiteratureThis course combines the reading of literary texts, film, and critical essays to examine how African Diaspora writers imagine social and political agency in a global context. By tracing major events, movements and theories that have affected peoples of African descent around the world, this course seeks to examine the way authors present the ethical causes and implications of the exercise of choice, the uses of power, and the movement toward freedom. Major terms and concepts to be studied include: colonialism, modernization, globalization, imperialism, capitalism, post-colonialism, and theories of the body. We will study the effects of these major concepts on African Diaspora cultures. What are their effects on identity formation, education, religion, political structures, the natural environment, concepts of family or community, and health and health services? How do African-descended people respond to issues that gravely affect the course of their lives, for better or worse? How do writers represent these responses?
3 Credits
Prerequisites: ENGL 107
Gen. Ed Area: Knowledge & Inquiry,
ENGL 381 Literary Representations of NursingCourse Description: Focuses on narratives, poetry, and film by and about nurses in order to understand theories and representations of the body, illness, disability, trauma, suffering, health, and healing and in order to values teh multicultural conceptions of the body, disease, wellness, and medical practice.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None or designated 300-400 level course
-
Foreign Language (6-8 credits)
VALUES AND BELIEFS (6 credits)
-
Religious Studies and Theology (3 credits)
RST 101 Religion and Human ExperienceAn introduction to the study of religion as an academic discipline. Students examine contemporary expressions and understandings of religion, especially religious traditions other than their own, and the role that religion plays in our time not only in constructive but also in destructive ways. The course examines the expression of religious experience in history as well as psychological and sociological perspectives on religious experience. In addition to methods for studying religion, attention is given to the roles of myth, creed and symbol in religious discourse.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Values and Beliefs,
RST 265 Western Religion and the FamilyGives an overview of the understanding of Christian churches on marriage and family. The course also considers traditional and contemporary understandings of human sexuality and examines contributions of feminist analysis of church positions on family and the roles of men and women in families.
3 credits
FLC Area III
General Education Requirements: Values and Beliefs,
RST 290,
RST 310,
THE 121,
THE 223 Christ, Church, and Social JusticeFocuses on the principles developed in over 100 years of Catholic social thought (such as the dignity of the human person, solidarity, etc.) in order to apply them to local, national and international issues of social justice as articulated in the Christian churches.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None or
PHIL 235 Philosophy of ReligionExamines some of the principal questions in the philosophy of religion, including arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the relation of faith and reason, and the attributes of God. Formerly PHI 330 Philosophy of Religion.
3 credits (Can also be taken at the 300-400 level in substitution for one of the two required upper-level General Education course requirement with dean’s permission)
-
Philosophy (3 credits)
PHIL 251 BioethicsExamines the legal and moral issues in areas dealing with the biology of human health and development, for example, experimentation on human subjects, organ transplants, euthanasia, abortion, fetal tissue use, contraception, and other aspects of human reproduction, as well as questions regarding rights to health care. Formerly PHI 211 Applied Ethics: Bioethics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs
APPLICATIONS: TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION (6 credits)
-
Civic Knowledge (3 credits)
NURS 220 Health Promotion, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health CareThis course explores political factors that influence patient outcomes and health promotion strategies to enhance health and health care systems. Students are engaged in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems, determining accessibility, accountability and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed, and the effect this has on patient care.
3 credits
Prerequisite: All Core Courses and Pre-Nursing Courses
-
Leadership (3 credits)
NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health CareThis course is designed to assist the student to synthesize the intersection of nursing care with leading people and managing organizations and systems. The course incorporates the application of management principles and leadership, change, and administration theories in nursing practice and health care delivery. Content discussions include delegation, working with large groups, communication and collaboration, cultural diversity, legal and ethical dilemmas, budget management, staff development, resource management, quality improvement and risk management, evidence based practice, and the healthcare consumer.
3 credits
Prerequisite(s): All 300-level NURS courses
Corequisite(s): N/A
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)
GENERAL EDUCATION CAPSTONE SEMINAR
General Education Capstone Seminar (taken in first semester of senior year in the Nursing program): NURS 330 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based PracticeResearch and Evidence-Based Practice focuses on relevant scientific and phenomenological information to assist the student to understanding the role of theory and research in nursing practice and health care. The course will provide an overview and analysis of theoretical approaches and research methodologies. Students will learn how to critically review and utilize research supporting common aspects of nursing practice. Formerly NURS 330 - Nursing Theory & Research
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 110
Note: Students in the RN to BSN program must also have completed NURS 300 and MATH 110 (totals 3 credits)
II. ADDITIONAL COURSES FOR STUDENTS INTENDING TO DECLARE A NURSING MAJOR
-
BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); BIOL 101 or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area. (4 credits) (this also fulfills General Education Knowledge and Inquiry)
-
BIOL 122 Human Anatomy and Physiology IIA systematic aproach to the study of the human body. The second part of this year-long course emphasizes the endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. Prerequisite BIOL 121. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits (4 credits)
-
BIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health ProfessionsAn introduction to the study of microorganisms with emphasis on disease-causing bacteria. Topics include the nature of microorganisms, their relationships with humans, infectious diseases, and immunity. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab per week. Does not fulfill microbiology requirement for Biology major. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits (4 credits)
-
CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108 (4 credits) (this also fulfills General Education Knowledge and Inquiry)
-
HPNU 200 Nutrition, Diet Therapy, and Health PromotionThis course provides the foundation for an understanding of the relationships of nutrition and diet therapy to optimum health. It includes physiological, psychosocial and cultural influences on nutritional status. Students will explore their own nutritional status and values as they relate to health and wellness.
3 credits (3 credits)
-
HPNU 210 PathophysiologyThis course is designed to assist the student in applying knowledge from anatomy and physiology and developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences associated with pathophysiology. Emphasis is placed on cellular, organ, and tissue concepts as they relate to and influence health and illness.
3 credits
Pre/Corequisites: BIOL 121, BIOL 122, BIOL 130, CHEM 113 (3 credits)
III. NURSING-SPECIFIC DIDACTIC AND CLINICAL COURSES
-
NURS 215 PharmacologyThis course is designed to assist the student in developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences related to drug therapy. Emphasis is placed on drug classification, mechanism of action, dru g interactions, adverse reactions, and therapeutic response. The role and responsibilities of the nurse in relationship to drug therapy is highlighted. The student is expected to apply knowledge from previous courses in the health sciences.
3 credits
Prerequisites: HPNU 210, Must be a nursing student
-
NURS 220 Health Promotion, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health CareThis course explores political factors that influence patient outcomes and health promotion strategies to enhance health and health care systems. Students are engaged in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems, determining accessibility, accountability and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed, and the effect this has on patient care.
3 credits
Prerequisite: All Core Courses and Pre-Nursing Courses
-
NURS 330 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based PracticeResearch and Evidence-Based Practice focuses on relevant scientific and phenomenological information to assist the student to understanding the role of theory and research in nursing practice and health care. The course will provide an overview and analysis of theoretical approaches and research methodologies. Students will learn how to critically review and utilize research supporting common aspects of nursing practice. Formerly NURS 330 - Nursing Theory & Research
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 110
Note: Students in the RN to BSN program must also have completed NURS 300 and MATH 110
-
NURS 350 Medical-Surgical Nursing IThis theory course focuses on attaining the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for providing safe, competent, and humanistic nursing care for adult clients. Using a physiological systems approach, course content will focus on selected topics on diabetes and fluid and electrolyte balance and the pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, and integumentary systems. Students will use information technology systems to research evidence-based nursing practice. They will apply critical thinking skills as they examine sociocultural diversity and holistic, caring practices in medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. Formerly NURS 350 Midlife through Geriatric Nursing.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 117, NURS 117L, NURS 262, and NURS 220
-
NURS 360 Psychiatric and Mental Health NursingThis theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for nursing care of and for clients with psychiatric and mental health disorders. Using an integrative approach, course content is based on the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural aspects of behavior disorders.
3 credits
Prerequisite(s): NURS 117, NURS 117L, NURS 220, NURS 262
Co-requisites: NURS 360C
-
NURS 361 Medical-Surgical Nursing IIThis theory course focuses on attaining the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for providing safe, competent, and humanistic nursing care for adult clients. Using a physiological systems approach, course content will focus on selected gastro-intestinal system topics and the musculoskeletal, immune, reproductive, endocrine, and neurological systems. Students will use information technology systems to research evidence-based nursing practice. They will apply critical thinking skills as they examine sociocultural diversity and holistic, caring practices in medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. Formerly NURS 361 - Adolescent and Young Adult Nursing.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 362, NURS 362L, and NURS 417L
Co-requisite: NURS 361C
-
NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health CareThis course is designed to assist the student to synthesize the intersection of nursing care with leading people and managing organizations and systems. The course incorporates the application of management principles and leadership, change, and administration theories in nursing practice and health care delivery. Content discussions include delegation, working with large groups, communication and collaboration, cultural diversity, legal and ethical dilemmas, budget management, staff development, resource management, quality improvement and risk management, evidence based practice, and the healthcare consumer.
3 credits
Prerequisite(s): All 300-level NURS courses
Corequisite(s): N/A
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)
-
NURS 420 Community and Public Health NursingThis theory course is designed to prepare students for community/public health practice in a changing health care system. Concepts of primary health ca re to the assessment, planning, and delivery of care to diverse families will be emphasized. Factors influencing the primary health care of communities and the impact of globalization, politics, socioeconomics, and environmental factors on the health vulnerability and resiliency of communities are examined.
3 credits
Pre-requisites: NURS 350; NURS 350C
-
NURS 461 Pediatric NursingThis theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, and meanings necessary for comprehensive nursing care of the pediatric client. A family-centered approach is used with emphasi s on child developmental stages and health promotion strategies for the child and family unit. Contemporary socio-cultural issues influencing the family unit are explored.
3 credits
Pre-requisites: NURS 350; NURS 350C
Co-requisite: NURS 461C
-
NURS 460 Maternity and Newborn NursingThis theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for providing comprehensive nursing care for women, newborns, and their families duri ng pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. A family-centered approach is used with emphasis on family developmental stages, family assessment and health promotion strategies for the family unit. Contemporary socio-cultural issues influencing the childbearing family unit are explored.
5 credits
Pre-requisites: NURS 350; NURS 350C
Co-requisites: NURS 460C
-
NURS 480 Nursing Care of Older AdultsThis course presents the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for providing safe, competent, and humanistic care to geriatric clients. Course content covers age-related changes and health disorders of the older adult. Students will analyze demographic trends related to older adults and how they impact health promotion, prevention of illness and disability, political policy, and the health care delivery system. Students will apply critical thinking skills and knowledge of evidence-based practice to nursing situations in the provision of holistic care to diverse older adults in acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation, long-term care, and end-of-life care situations.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 361, and NURS 361C
-
NURS 491 Senior Clinical SeminarThis course provides opportunities for a comprehensive classroom seminar whereby students consider their associated clinical experience within the context of provider, patient advocate, educator, and counselor within a holistic, caring framework. The student also has the opportunity to perform as a designer/coordinator/manager of care. Students will integrate previously learned knowledge, skills, and values needed to transition to the role of the novice professional.
1 credit
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 361, NURS 361C, Senior Status
Co-requisite: NURS 491C and
NURS 491C Senior Clinical PracticumThis course provides opportunities to the senior student for a comprehensive clinical experience as a provider, patient advocate, educator, and counselor within a holistic, caring framework. The student also has the opportunity to perform as a designer/coordinator/manager of care. Students will integrate previously learned knowledge, skills, and values needed to transition to the role of the novice professional. Based upon availability of clinical sites, students will perform in a specialty area with either a preceptor or clinical professor. Formerly NURS 491C entitled Senior Clinical Preceptorship - 3 credits.
2 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 361, NURS 361C
Co-requisite: NURS 491
IV. ADDITIONAL NURSING SKILLS-RELATED COURSES
- NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing PracticeThis course introduces basic concepts, values, and fundamental skills required for nursing care across the life span. An emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, communication skills and the nursing process as the underlying foundation for professional nursing practice in health care settings. Must be taken simultaneously with NURS 117L.
4 credits
Prerequisites: All Core Courses and Pre-Nursing Courses
Corequisites(s): NURS 117L/Laboratory
General Education Requirement: Foundational (Critical Reasoning) (this also fulfills General Education Foundational Skills Critical Reasoning)
-
NURS 222 Health AssessmentThe focus of this course is the development and acquisition of professional nursing skills used in health assessment required for nursing practice across the life span. Requires two class hours and three hours of lab per week.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Admission to the Nursing Program.
V. DC BOARD OF NURSING-REQUIRED UPPER-LEVEL GENERAL EDUCATION ELECTIVES
(6 credits) (See General Education requirements above for ways in which this requirement can be filled.)
Program Policies
I. Acceptance into the Pre-Licensure BSN Nursing Program
A. Acceptance Criteria:
Formal acceptance into the Nursing program requires the following at minimum:
- Successful completion of ALL required courses with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Overall GPA of at least 2.5
- Satisfactory score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
Pre-licensure BSN students should direct any questions about the process for formal acceptance into the Nursing program to their undergraduate advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences.
B. Application Process:
- Students should apply early in the semester PRIOR to the semester of their projected acceptance date.
- Nursing program deadlines:
- Fall Semester: February 1
- Spring Semester: October 1
- Students should take the TEAS within 90 days of applying to the nursing program. Students may take the TEAS up to three times.
- Students will be notified by the Nursing Program Director of the results of their application when all criteria for considering the application have been received and evaluated.
Questions regarding the application process, acceptance criteria, or TEAS should be directed to the Nursing Program Office (202.885.9670) or to the student’s undergraduate advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences.
II. Health Requirements*
- Current physical examination
- Current immunizations
- Tetanus/diptheria (TD booster within 10 years)
- MMR – (two vaccines or a positive titer)
- Varicella – (Chicken pox) – (two vaccines or a positive titer)
- Hepatitis (series of 3 vaccines given with a 6 month period. All 3 vaccines must be completed before students can participate in the clinical portion of the program.)
- PPD (Tuberculosis skin test given within the last 6 months with followup chest X-ray if the skin test result is positive. A new skin TB test must be completed annually once a student is accepted into the nursing program.)
- Influenza (Annual)
- Current major medical health insurance
*NOTE: No student will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences until all health requirements have been satisfied.
III. Other Requirements
- Criminal Background Check (the criminal background check is at the student’s expense)
- Drug Test (the drug screening test is at the student’s expense)
- BLS/CPR certification for the Health Care Provider (2-year card)
- Clinical agencies may have additional health or safety requirements which students are required to meet prior to receiving access to the clinical placement site
NOTE: No student will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences until all requirements have been satisfied.
IV. Transfer Policy
Students transferring to Trinity in or after Fall 2002 from another appropriately accredited institution of higher learning for a bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 45 of their final 60 credits through course work at Trinity, excluding credits for experiential learning.
V. Grades in Major Courses
Students are required to earn a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.
VI. Pass/No Pass
The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted in courses to be applied for the major.
VII. Transportation
Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Trinity’s free shuttle service connects the Main campus with the Brookland metro station.
Accreditation
Trinity’s B.S.N. program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (C.C.N.E.) and has conditional approval from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing (D.C.B.O.N.).
Last On-Site Evaluation: Spring 2012.
Course Descriptions
NOTE: Students must be formally accepted into the Pre-Licensure Nursing Program before taking any course designated as a NURS course.
BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); BIOL 101 or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area.
BIOL 122 Human Anatomy and Physiology IIA systematic aproach to the study of the human body. The second part of this year-long course emphasizes the endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. Prerequisite BIOL 121. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
BIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health ProfessionsAn introduction to the study of microorganisms with emphasis on disease-causing bacteria. Topics include the nature of microorganisms, their relationships with humans, infectious diseases, and immunity. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab per week. Does not fulfill microbiology requirement for Biology major. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108
CRS 101 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IThis course strengthens critical reading and academic writing skills through engagement with liberal arts texts with a focus on “Discovering your strength” as a Trinity woman. The ability to comprehend and write about arguments in academic texts is essential for success in all liberal arts courses and in lifelong learning. Students will develop the ability to identify a text’s main argument and the evidence used to support that argument. Students will also reflect comprehension by accurately and clearly paraphrasing and summarizing texts’ arguments. Students will also use annotation and argumentation strategies to respond to liberal arts texts with their own ideas.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
? or CRS 102 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IIThis course further develops the critical reading and academic writing skills addressed in CRS 101 through engagement with texts in a particular academic discipline. Students will choose a CRS 102 course that addresses an interesting, meaningful or important disciplinary question, and build reading and writing skills through close readings and written responses to the assigned texts. CRS 102 courses are offered on a variety of academic topics, and students choose the one that is most compelling to them.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
•
HPNU 200 Nutrition, Diet Therapy, and Health PromotionThis course provides the foundation for an understanding of the relationships of nutrition and diet therapy to optimum health. It includes physiological, psychosocial and cultural influences on nutritional status. Students will explore their own nutritional status and values as they relate to health and wellness.
3 credits
HPNU 210 PathophysiologyThis course is designed to assist the student in applying knowledge from anatomy and physiology and developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences associated with pathophysiology. Emphasis is placed on cellular, organ, and tissue concepts as they relate to and influence health and illness.
3 credits
Pre/Corequisites: BIOL 121, BIOL 122, BIOL 130, CHEM 113
MATH 108 Finite MathematicsThis is a quantitative literacy and reasoning course designed for education majors and those students intending to study nursing and other allied health fields. Topics include: problem solving, set theory, logic, algebra, and measurement; including unit conversions and dimensional analysis. Additional topics include functions, graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, as well as probability and statistics. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 108 and MAT 108 Elementary Mathematical Modeling.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills
MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.
PHIL 251 BioethicsExamines the legal and moral issues in areas dealing with the biology of human health and development, for example, experimentation on human subjects, organ transplants, euthanasia, abortion, fetal tissue use, contraception, and other aspects of human reproduction, as well as questions regarding rights to health care. Formerly PHI 211 Applied Ethics: Bioethics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs
PSYC 101 Introductory PsychologyIntroduces the student to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. All major sub-areas of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, physiological, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception) are explored, as well as the major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic). Formerly PSY 121 Introductory Psychology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core: Area II
SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing PracticeThis course introduces basic concepts, values, and fundamental skills required for nursing care across the life span. An emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, communication skills and the nursing process as the underlying foundation for professional nursing practice in health care settings. Must be taken simultaneously with NURS 117L.
4 credits
Prerequisites: All Core Courses and Pre-Nursing Courses
Corequisites(s): NURS 117L/Laboratory
General Education Requirement: Foundational (Critical Reasoning)
NURS 215 PharmacologyThis course is designed to assist the student in developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences related to drug therapy. Emphasis is placed on drug classification, mechanism of action, dru g interactions, adverse reactions, and therapeutic response. The role and responsibilities of the nurse in relationship to drug therapy is highlighted. The student is expected to apply knowledge from previous courses in the health sciences.
3 credits
Prerequisites: HPNU 210, Must be a nursing student
NURS 220 Health Promotion, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health CareThis course explores political factors that influence patient outcomes and health promotion strategies to enhance health and health care systems. Students are engaged in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems, determining accessibility, accountability and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed, and the effect this has on patient care.
3 credits
Prerequisite: All Core Courses and Pre-Nursing Courses
NURS 222 Health AssessmentThe focus of this course is the development and acquisition of professional nursing skills used in health assessment required for nursing practice across the life span. Requires two class hours and three hours of lab per week.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Admission to the Nursing Program.
NURS 330 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based PracticeResearch and Evidence-Based Practice focuses on relevant scientific and phenomenological information to assist the student to understanding the role of theory and research in nursing practice and health care. The course will provide an overview and analysis of theoretical approaches and research methodologies. Students will learn how to critically review and utilize research supporting common aspects of nursing practice. Formerly NURS 330 - Nursing Theory & Research
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 110
Note: Students in the RN to BSN program must also have completed NURS 300 and MATH 110
NURS 350 Medical-Surgical Nursing IThis theory course focuses on attaining the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for providing safe, competent, and humanistic nursing care for adult clients. Using a physiological systems approach, course content will focus on selected topics on diabetes and fluid and electrolyte balance and the pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, and integumentary systems. Students will use information technology systems to research evidence-based nursing practice. They will apply critical thinking skills as they examine sociocultural diversity and holistic, caring practices in medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. Formerly NURS 350 Midlife through Geriatric Nursing.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 117, NURS 117L, NURS 262, and NURS 220
NURS 360 Psychiatric and Mental Health NursingThis theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for nursing care of and for clients with psychiatric and mental health disorders. Using an integrative approach, course content is based on the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural aspects of behavior disorders.
3 credits
Prerequisite(s): NURS 117, NURS 117L, NURS 220, NURS 262
Co-requisites: NURS 360C
NURS 361 Medical-Surgical Nursing IIThis theory course focuses on attaining the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for providing safe, competent, and humanistic nursing care for adult clients. Using a physiological systems approach, course content will focus on selected gastro-intestinal system topics and the musculoskeletal, immune, reproductive, endocrine, and neurological systems. Students will use information technology systems to research evidence-based nursing practice. They will apply critical thinking skills as they examine sociocultural diversity and holistic, caring practices in medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. Formerly NURS 361 - Adolescent and Young Adult Nursing.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 362, NURS 362L, and NURS 417L
Co-requisite: NURS 361C
NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health CareThis course is designed to assist the student to synthesize the intersection of nursing care with leading people and managing organizations and systems. The course incorporates the application of management principles and leadership, change, and administration theories in nursing practice and health care delivery. Content discussions include delegation, working with large groups, communication and collaboration, cultural diversity, legal and ethical dilemmas, budget management, staff development, resource management, quality improvement and risk management, evidence based practice, and the healthcare consumer.
3 credits
Prerequisite(s): All 300-level NURS courses
Corequisite(s): N/A
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)
NURS 420 Community and Public Health NursingThis theory course is designed to prepare students for community/public health practice in a changing health care system. Concepts of primary health ca re to the assessment, planning, and delivery of care to diverse families will be emphasized. Factors influencing the primary health care of communities and the impact of globalization, politics, socioeconomics, and environmental factors on the health vulnerability and resiliency of communities are examined.
3 credits
Pre-requisites: NURS 350; NURS 350C
NURS 460 Maternity and Newborn NursingThis theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for providing comprehensive nursing care for women, newborns, and their families duri ng pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. A family-centered approach is used with emphasis on family developmental stages, family assessment and health promotion strategies for the family unit. Contemporary socio-cultural issues influencing the childbearing family unit are explored.
5 credits
Pre-requisites: NURS 350; NURS 350C
Co-requisites: NURS 460C
NURS 461 Pediatric NursingThis theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, and meanings necessary for comprehensive nursing care of the pediatric client. A family-centered approach is used with emphasi s on child developmental stages and health promotion strategies for the child and family unit. Contemporary socio-cultural issues influencing the family unit are explored.
3 credits
Pre-requisites: NURS 350; NURS 350C
Co-requisite: NURS 461C
NURS 480 Nursing Care of Older AdultsThis course presents the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for providing safe, competent, and humanistic care to geriatric clients. Course content covers age-related changes and health disorders of the older adult. Students will analyze demographic trends related to older adults and how they impact health promotion, prevention of illness and disability, political policy, and the health care delivery system. Students will apply critical thinking skills and knowledge of evidence-based practice to nursing situations in the provision of holistic care to diverse older adults in acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation, long-term care, and end-of-life care situations.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 361, and NURS 361C
NURS 491 Senior Clinical SeminarThis course provides opportunities for a comprehensive classroom seminar whereby students consider their associated clinical experience within the context of provider, patient advocate, educator, and counselor within a holistic, caring framework. The student also has the opportunity to perform as a designer/coordinator/manager of care. Students will integrate previously learned knowledge, skills, and values needed to transition to the role of the novice professional.
1 credit
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 361, NURS 361C, Senior Status
Co-requisite: NURS 491C
NURS 491C Senior Clinical PracticumThis course provides opportunities to the senior student for a comprehensive clinical experience as a provider, patient advocate, educator, and counselor within a holistic, caring framework. The student also has the opportunity to perform as a designer/coordinator/manager of care. Students will integrate previously learned knowledge, skills, and values needed to transition to the role of the novice professional. Based upon availability of clinical sites, students will perform in a specialty area with either a preceptor or clinical professor. Formerly NURS 491C entitled Senior Clinical Preceptorship - 3 credits.
2 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 350, NURS 350C, NURS 361, NURS 361C
Co-requisite: NURS 491