Adult & Graduate
Course Descriptions
Below are a few classes required for the Nursing (RN-BSN) bachelor’s degree. For a full list of course requirements with descriptions, download our complete catalog.
Download the Complete 2010-11 AGS Academic Catalog
NUR 310 Exploring Professional Nursing Opportunities/4
Designed as a transition course for licensed nurses returning to school to pursue a
baccalaureate degree in nursing, this course explores the increasing complexity of and
changes in professional nursing. The need for constant evaluation and planning for
formal and informal education is emphasized. The course explores current nursing
practice roles and options, delivery of care from a Christian perspective, identifies
individual career goals, and guides nurses to electronic and other resources to assist in
life-long learning practices and career development. (This course is a prerequisite for all
other courses.)
NUR 320 Health Assessment/3
Includes theory and practice in the collection of subjective and objective health-related
data of individuals across life-spans. Therapeutic communication and psychomotor skills
are further developed. Using the nursing process, students learn to assess physical,
psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions as a basis for nursing practice. The theory
and supervised practice guide the student in recognizing normal and abnormal
physiological states and understanding their significance to client health and nursing
interventions.
NUR 330 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention/2
Introduces the student to the theories and concepts pertinent to population based health care
in diverse practice areas. Classroom learning will provide the basis for nursing practice when
providing nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities across the life-
span. Changes in health care access and delivery are discussed. The scope of the professional
role through participation in political processes is explored.
NUR 340 Statistical Applications in Nursing Practice/3
A course in statistical concepts and methods. It includes descriptive and inferential
statistics, probability, binomial, normal, t and chi square distributions, tests of
hypotheses, confidence levels, and correlation. Problems come largely from nursing
science.
NUR 350 Health Care Organizations and Environments/3
Focuses on organizational theories applied to the health care setting. Primary emphasis is
on understanding the organization as a system interacting with other organizations in
today’s health care environment. Effective collaboration is emphasized. Organizational
culture and systems analysis provide a basis for understanding the values and patterns in
health care organizations.
NUR 400 Ethics And Values in Nursing/3
Addresses the basic elements of Christian faith within the context of modern thought,
technology, and professional nursing practice. Ethical theories, principles, and models of
decision making are presented as complex issues facing nurses today. Cultural sensitivity
is emphasized. Attention is given to personal and professional values and responsibilities
in today’s health care settings.
NUR 410 Research in Nursing/3
Nursing research is examined as an inherent component in the development of nursing
theory and practice. Critical thinking, critical reasoning, and critiquing processes are
introduced and related to research-based practice. Research findings and applications to
clinical practice are explored and related to outcomes. Written and oral communication
skills are emphasized. Prerequisite: NUR 340.
NUR 420 Nursing in the Community/3
Research based theories, concepts, and the nursing process are emphasized using critical
thinking skills to provide holistic nursing care. A community-based/population-focused
nursing process is applied to community health concerns. The concepts of epidemiology,
illness prevention, health promotion, health protection, and crisis theory are explored in
depth and applied to community settings. Responsibility and accountability for nursing
care, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, resource conservation, respect for human worth
and dignity, and awareness of national and global concerns are foundational to effective
clinical judgments and health-related outcomes.
NUR 421 Nursing in the Community Practicum/2
In community-based settings and homes, students use community health principles and
standards of ethical professional nursing practice to assist families, groups, and
communities to restore, maintain, and promote health to attain optimum well-being.
Individualized practicum experiences are provided to facilitate attainment of student
goals. Emphasis is consistent with content of NUR 420. CR/NC.
NUR 430 Professional Nursing Issues and Trends/3
Explores the history, current status, and future directions of nursing education and
practice. The impact of scientific and technical advances in nursing science is featured.
The dimensions of the relationships and responsibilities of the professional nurse, shaped
by historical, moral, spiritual, legal, ethical, and contemporary issues in nursing practice,
are explored.
NUR 440 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice/3
Focuses on pathological concepts relevant to client well-being across the life-span.
Impact on group, community, national, and global populations of pathological responses
to diseases, stress, and environmental change are explored. Principles of immunology,
critical thinking, research findings, and scientific knowledge are applied to analyze
clinical nursing implications and client outcomes.
NUR 450 Advanced Concepts of Nursing Leadership and Management/3
Focuses on developing leadership and management components of nursing practice.
Research-based theories and concepts and essentials of leadership and followership are
explored. Management of personnel, health care delivery systems, and family, group, and
community resources, effective stewardship, and distributive justice are explored. With
constantly changing health care delivery in mind, this course features scientific and
technical advances in nursing science that impact nursing practice.
NUR 451 Advanced Concepts of Nursing Leadership and Management
Practicum/2
In nursing practice settings, students use leadership and management principles and
standards of ethical professional nursing practice to manage and lead in order to advance
health care. Individualized practicum experiences are provided to facilitate attainment of
student goals. Emphasis is consistent with content of NUR 450. CR/NC.
NUR 455 Topics in Nursing/1-3
Selected topics of interest in the nursing profession. Possible examples include the
following: Career Development for Nurses, Case Management for Nurses, Conflict
Resolution in the Health Care Environment, Disaster Preparedness for Professional
Nursing Practice, End of Life Nursing Care, Evidence Based Nursing Practice, Financing
Nursing Services, Gerontological Nursing Practice, History of the American Nursing
Profession, Management of Patients with Complex Health Conditions, Palliative Care
Services, Pharmacology, or Professional Nursing Practice in the 21st Century.
NUR 456 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology/3
Clinical pharmacology concerns the effects of therapeutic agents in the prevention,
treatment and control of diseases in humans. This course is designed to address the
science of medications and their usage in patient populations. General mechanisms of
clinical indications for use, common adverse events, general nursing implications, and
significant drug interactions are discussed. Major drug classifications are addressed using
a body system approach.
NUR 460 Professional Nursing Capstone Experience/2
A synthesis course expounding application of critical thinking skills, communication
skills, change theory, and professional role development in clinical areas. Through the
process of portfolio development, learners review and analyze their own learning as they
synthesize learning outcomes of the nursing program.
