Courses specific to nursing are included below. This includes the MLSP course, "Spanish
for Health Care Professionals" which includes students in health sciences and nursing.
Please see the online University Catalog for all non-nursing specific course descriptions.
Grade Requirements
A grade of "C+" or better must be attained in all nursing courses, and a grade of
"C" or better must be attained in all non-nursing courses, including electives and
laboratory courses, in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. A GPA of 2.3 is
required by the end of the second semester of the freshman year in order to progress
to the sophomore clinical courses and is the minimum acceptable GPA for the remainder
of the program.
Revisions to courses and curricula are ongoing.
BSN Year 1
Freshman Nursing Courses for 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
This course explores nutrition and the nursing role in primary prevention for individuals
and communities throughout the life span. Food needs for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate,
vitamins, and minerals are considered in relation to the maintenance of wellness.
Nutrition assessments and interventions for healthy and disease states will be considered
and activities related to the nursing role will be addressed.
- 3 credits
This course prepares students for utilization of theories of human development from
conception through death. Emphasis is placed on an individual’s psychological, cognitive,
psychosocial, and spiritual development within the context of the family, community,
and culture. Health promotion and illness prevention practices are discussed relative
to each age group throughout the life span.
- 3 credits
This course provides students with an introduction to professional nursing in today’s
contemporary health care environments. Emphasis is on health and wellness of diverse
communities and populations through active and responsible community engagement as
professional nurses. The development of the student’s identity as a professional nurse
is a focus of this course as well as the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, including
the principles of therapeutic communication, and within the context of a safe patient
care environment. Included is an orientation to the legal and ethics basis of nursing
practice, contemporary nursing issues and trends, nursing education for professional
practice, and nursing leadership.
- 3 credits
BSN Year 2
Sophomore Nursing Courses for 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
This course will focus on the concepts, skills, and attitudes fundamental to professional
nursing practice within a framework of clinical decision-making. The course will emphasize
critical thinking, the establishment of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship,
and the development of the student's beginning comprehension of the patient's physiologic
and psychological responses to health and illness. Students will have lab experiences
in the Duquesne University Nursing Learning Laboratory and clinical agencies where
fundamental nursing skills can be practiced. Students will also receive an introduction
to the main issues, views, laws, and policies within clinical ethics in order to build
a foundation for ethically sound nursing practice and the use of moral reasoning to
resolve ethical dilemmas that arise in practice.
- 6 credits (4 theory/2 clinical lab)
This course focuses on the assessment of health status through the use of the Synergy
Model and the development of interviewing and physical examination skills. It will
begin with a discussion of optimal self-care behaviors and then focus on the principles
of health promotion, disease prevention and health teaching. The use of therapeutic
communication skills when performing health assessment and the assessment of cultural
and socio-economic aspects of health will be emphasized. Students learn to critically
evaluate assessment findings and differentiate between normal and alterations indicative
of actual or potential health problems. Students have lab experiences in the nursing
learning and simulation laboratory where health assessment skills can be practiced
in addition to the Community-Based Health & Wellness Center for Older Adults.
- 4 credits (3 theory/1 clinical lab)
The course will focus on preparing students for their internship and professional
career. Students will practice skills such as writing a resume and cover letter, interviewing,
and developing goals and a career plan. Students will also prepare to enter their
nurse internship by discussing the role and expectations. At the completion of this
course, students will complete their internship portfolio (resume, cover letter, and
professional goal statement) and begin the application process.
- 0 credits
This course will focus on nursing care of adults with common acute and chronic disease
processes. Emphasis will be placed on general medical and surgical conditions found
in the adult population. Students will apply knowledge from fundamentals in the management
of the common disease processes. The nursing care in these conditions will assist
the students in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation process.
- 6 credits (4 theory/2 clinical)
This course will cover basic principles of pharmacology and drug therapy necessary
for general nursing practice. Concepts of drug effectiveness, pharmacokinetics, mechanism
of action, and drug interactions will be examined. In most cases, the emphasis will
be on the pharmacological action of drugs on specific organ systems. Throughout the
course, medications will be discussed in relation to their clinical use in the treatment
of specific disease conditions.
- 2 credits
This course will discuss the implications of the Human Genome Project and how to apply
genetic knowledge to patient knowledge and health promotion/screening in the following
ways: identifying those in need of genetic testing, offering genetic information,
recording genetic information, referring patients and families for further genetic
information and evaluation, advocacy for privacy, confidentiality, and non-discrimination
with regard to genetic information, and participate in management of patients with
genetic conditions. The ethical consideration as they relate to genetics will also
be explored.
- 3 credits
BSN Year 3
Junior Nursing Courses for 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
This course focuses on teaching students to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients
and presents everyday situations that medical professionals may encounter in hospitals,
emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and pharmacies. Emphasis will be placed
on medical vocabulary, pronunciation, listening and conversation. Students will examine
cultural differences and nuances which impact health care. This course does not count
toward the language requirement. It is limited to students in health sciences and
nursing
- 3 credits
This course introduces models of transcultural health care. Issues to the health care
professional’s role in the delivery of culturally competent based health care are
explored. Emphasis is placed on the assessment and analysis of culturally congruent
care as related to clinical practice issues in the United States and globally and
more specifically in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. Interplay between models of
transcultural care and other models of clinical application of culturally appropriate
interventions are examined.
- 3 credits
This course is a continuation of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice I covering additional
basic principles of pharmacology and drug therapy necessary for general nursing practice.
Concepts of drug effectiveness, pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, and drug interactions
will be examined. In most cases, the emphasis will be on the pharmacological action
of drugs on specific organ systems. Throughout the course, medications will be discussed
in relation to their clinical use in the treatment of specific disease conditions.
- 3 credits
This course explores the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of body systems throughout
the lifespan. Emphasis is on understanding pathophysiology as an alteration in normal
physiological functioning of individuals and the presentation of selected pathophysiology
and subsequent symptomatology in diverse individuals across the lifespan. The scientific
approach will provide understanding of the mechanisms of disease as they are related
to clinical decision-making for health promotion, risk reduction, and disease management.
- 3 credits
This course will focus on nursing care of adults with comorbid and complex medical
and surgical conditions. Emphasis will be placed on the most common acute and chronic
medical and surgical conditions prevalent in the adult population. Complex cases will
facilitate clinical reasoning in the care of the adult with consideration to the older
adult population. The nursing care in these conditions will highlight the physiological,
psychological, pharmacological, emotional and social implications of the adult population.
- 6 credits (4 theory/2 clinical)
This course will focus on the professional nurse’s role in applying the principles
of leadership and management in clinical environments. The role of the nurse leader
and his/her influence on quality and safe nursing practice will be explored. Barriers
to practice, regulatory, legislative, holistic, and political processes in reference
to professional practice will also be examined. The course will also emphasize nursing
leadership roles and inter-professional collaboration to increase efficiency of healthcare
services.
- 3 credits
This clinical internship opportunity is designed for junior or senior nursing students
to work under the supervision of a professional registered nurse within the healthcare
setting of a partnering institution. The nursing student will carry out patient care
assignments, work in controlled care situations, and perform established nursing procedures
for individuals or groups of patients. The student will participate in unit-specific
leadership and quality and safety activities. The student will function in the role
of an unlicensed assistive person/ nursing intern as per the job description under
the supervision of professional RN mentor(s).
- 12 credits
BSN Year 4
Senior Nursing Courses for 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The course focus is on the development of competencies for safe and effective nursing
care of children and their families. Emphasis is on the nurse’s role in health assessment,
health promotion, and promotion of adaptive processes for the child within the context
of the family. Key concepts for social, cultural, economic, political, and ethical
factors that affect health promotion, disease prevention, alterations in health and
risk reduction for children, and the family are examined. Growth and development theory
is also emphasized.
- 3 credits (2 theory/1 clinical)
The course focus is on the development of competencies for safe and effective nursing
care of women and maternal/newborn dyads. Emphasis is on the nurse’s role in health
assessment, health promotion, and promotion of adaptive processes for the woman and
the infant within the context of the family. Key concepts for social, cultural, economic,
political, and ethical factors that affect health promotion, disease prevention, alterations
in health and risk reduction for women and the childbearing family are examined.
- 3 credits (2 theory/1 clinical)
This course will focus on an introduction to theory and concepts of behavioral health
nursing. Emphasis is on the use of self in relationships with mental health consumers.
The importance of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship will provide the framework
for exploring the factors, which contribute to stress, maladaptive behavior, and mental
illness. Care will be delivered based on psychiatric standards of nursing practice.
The student will then explore the role of the behavioral health nurse working collaboratively
with the community as part of an interdisciplinary team. An introduction to conceptual
frameworks that focus on behavioral healthcare is included in both the classroom and
clinical portions of the course. Selected in patient mental health settings will be
utilized for clinical practice.
- 3 credits (2 theory/1 clinical)
This course will focus on an introduction to theory and concepts of population health.
Emphasis is on the professional nurse's role in working with various populations as
the client. Care will be delivered based on standards of population health. The student
will then explore the role of the nurse working collaboratively within the community
and as part of an interdisciplinary team. An introduction to conceptual frameworks
that focus on population health will be included in both the classroom and clinical
portions of the course. Selected agencies that service the various populations will
be utilized for clinical practice.
- 3 credits (2 theory/1 clinical)
This course will focus on the assessment and management of adults with unstable and
complex system alterations. The course will emphasize the assessment of functioning,
adaptation, and recovery for patients with high acuity illnesses and clinical problems.
Selected sub-acute and high acuity acute care settings will be utilized for clinical
practice.
- 6 credits (4 theory/2 clinical)
This course introduces undergraduate nursing students to ethical dimension of nursing
practice. It presents the processes of moral reasoning and ethical theories, values,
virtues, principles and other influences on the student's capacity to recognize, identify
and respond to potential and actual ethical issues. The course examines contemporary
professional and clinical ethics issues that influence nursing practice, and to a
lesser degree, it introduces students to ethical issues at the organizational level
in health care. The relationships between ethical and legal principles are also examined.
Various models of ethical decision-making are explored as students apply these frameworks
to resolve ethical dilemmas. Students will also examine the role of professional codes
of ethics and the legal standards that influence the ethical practice of nurses. This
course is designated Writing Intensive. The course will thus involve a substantial
writing component in which students will write and revise argumentative essays in
the style of the discipline of healthcare ethics/bioethics. In their papers, students
will construct well-reasoned arguments for controversial ethical issues that arise
in health-care and nursing practice, and anticipate and respond to objections and
opposing arguments.
- 3 credits
This course will introduce the student to nursing research and its application toward
advancing science and improving nursing practice. The course focuses on the use of
nursing theory for both qualitative and quantitative research as well as evidence
based practice to improve safe patient care. Recognizing the role of health information
technology in safe care of patients will be emphasized. Students will examine the
knowledge that guides nursing interventions, evidence based practice, outcomes research
and critique published research reports. The importance of research ethics and its
application in nursing practice will also be addressed.
- 3 credits
This course is designed for students to use clinical judgment to synthesize content
from previous nursing and sciences courses. Students will have a shared responsibility
with the faculty in their approach to learning. The course will provide experiences
for students and advance their understanding of content to develop problem solving
skills as it relates to assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating complex
patient problems. Additionally, the course will prepare students for standardized
testing by providing test-taking strategies and methods to reduce test anxiety.
- 3 credits
This course serves as a preparation course to facilitate student transition into the
Role of a Professional Registered Nurse. The course will emphasize clinical judgment,
decision making and priority setting in the clinical environment as well as concepts
related to professional behavior. Emphasis will be placed on preparation for successful
completion of the NCLEX-RNCAT examination. A review of nursing knowledge from selected
content/concept areas will be included with clinical judgment and decision/prioritizing
skills stressed. Additionally, the course will focus on concepts related to professional
development such as professional behaviors, selfcare in stressful environments and
life-long learning.
