UMHB Online Catalog

Department of Nursing

Scott & White College of Nursing offers both a generic four-year BSN degree for those seeking initial licensure as a Registered Nurse as well as a track for the Associate degree prepared nurse who wishes to obtain the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Approximately 25% of the nursing classes are composed of adult learners who have degrees in other fields who are making a career change. Thus, classes are diverse in terms of age, background, and life experiences which makes for a wonderful opportunity for shared learning. The nursing program is approved by the Texas State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education {CCNE}, the accreditation body for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing {AACN). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination. Graduates are also eligible to pursue a graduate degree if they decide to pursue an advanced practice role.

Course Listing

Course Listing

NURS 2310

Foundations of Nursing (3-0)

Designed to introduce students to the major constructs of the nursing curriculum: adaptation of person (four dimensions which include biophysical, psychological, social and spiritual) and professional nursing (critical thinking, nursing process, communication, and professional role activities). Simulations and group activities will be utilized to provide students with an opportunity to learn how to use communication, critical thinking, nursing process, and clinical decision making. Also included is an introduction to the legal and ethical aspects of nursing. There is an introduction to professionalism with a focus on professional values, including altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice. Emphasis is placed on foundational content for nursing in medication administration. Students will be expected to demonstrate skill in computing dosage and solution problems. Eligibility to enroll is determined by the Nursing Admissions Committee.

Prerequisites: Completion of 30 semester hours of courses applicable to the nursing degree. Lab fee.

NURS 3312

Health Assessment (2.5 - 1.5)

Designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to gather information through health history and assessments about an individual’s bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs. Included are those theories, concepts, and processes related to interviewing to obtain a health history, and for performing a physical examination on adults. Relevant content from developmental theories (particularly aging), health beliefs, cultural concepts, and nutritional beliefs and practices are included which influence health assessments. Learning experiences are included that provide for the acquisition of health assessment skills.

Prerequisites: Eligibility to enroll is determined by the Nursing Admissions Committee. Completion of 45 semester hours of courses applicable to the nursing degree including A&P I and II , and completion of NURS 2310 (or concurrent enrollment). Non-nursing majors must have junior standing (including A&P I and II) with approval of instructor. Lab fee.

NURS 3313

Professional Role Development I

Designed to provide students with additional concepts related to adaptation, including health promotion and maintenance, sociocultural influences on the individual, and on family functioning, family theories, and professional values. Included in the course is an emphasis on health services available to women, infants, and children through federal and state financed health and welfare programs. Also included are concepts related to assertive communication and professional values used in ethical decision making. An emphasis is placed on health teaching, discharge, and referral process. The nursing role in administering and monitoring commonly used groups of pharmacologic agents is also included.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, and 3611. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 3612 and 3614 is usual for the traditional student.

NURS 3610

Nursing of Adults I (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to acquaint students with concepts and processes of nursing in providing care to adults with adaptive bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs related to hygiene, comfort, safety, activity- exercise (mobility), oxygenation, nutrition-metabolic, ingestion-digestion, alterations in reproduction, auditory and visual dysfunctions, and alterations in elimination. Included in this course are related pharmacologic and nutritional nursing interventions as well as application of nursing health assessment concepts and skills. Concepts emphasized are restoration, maintenance, and rehabilitation of adults with selected health needs presented in this course. Students are provided with learning opportunities to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional values and standards that are appropriate to meeting adult client needs.

Prerequisites: All non-nursing courses listed under Admission to the Program and NURS 2310. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 3312 and 3611 is usual. Lab fee.

NURS 3611

Nursing of Adults II (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to acquaint students with concepts and processes of nursing in providing care to adults with adaptive bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs related to fluids and electrolytes, pharmacologic and surgical interventions, alterations in regulation, cellular proliferation, grief, dying, and death. Included in this course are related pharmacologic and nutritional nursing interventions. Concepts emphasized are restoration, maintenance, and rehabilitation of adults with selected health needs presented in this course. Students are provided with learning opportunities to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional values and standards that are appropriate to meeting adult client needs.

Prerequisites: All non-nursing courses listed under Admission to the Program and NURS 2310. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 3312 and 3610 is usual. Lab fee.

NURS 3612

Maternal and Neonatal Nursing (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to provide students with concepts and processes in nursing that are related to the client/family adaptive needs during the childbearing years. Emphasized are the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of parents/fetus-neonate in both normal and high risk conditions. Included are concepts related to antepartal, intrapartal, and postpartal periods. Pharmacologic and nutritional concepts related to these clients are included. Students are provided with learning experiences to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional values and standards that are appropriate to meeting maternal and neonatal client needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, and 3611. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 3313 and 3614. Lab fee.

NURS 3614

Nursing of Children (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to provide students with concepts and processes in nursing that are related to the client/family adaptive needs during the childrearing years. Emphasized are the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of family and child in each developmental stage. Pharmacologic and nutritional needs unique to children are included. Also included are medical and surgical alterations common to children. Students are provided with learning experiences to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional values and standards appropriate to meeting child client needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, and 3611. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 3313 and 3612. Lab fee.

NURS 4190-4690

Independent Learning and/or Directed Reading

Supervised study of nursing problems in specialized areas based on individual needs.

Prerequisites: Junior (second semester) and permission of the Dean.

NURS 4191-4491

Seminar in Special Topics

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and faculty advisor.

NURS 4312

Nursing Research

Designed to acquaint students with the research process in nursing. Emphasized are basic research concepts such as problem identification, methodologies, designs, data presentation and analysis, interpretations, and conclusions. Also considered are the ethical and legal implications of conducting research. Emphasis is given to the critique of research studies to determine their validity and adequacy.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3313, 3610, 3611, 3612, and 3614 (or their equivalents); plus a statistics course. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 4610 and 4614 is usually expected for the traditional student.

NURS 4313

Professional Role Development II (3-2.5)

Designed to provide students with learning opportunities related to the individual practitioner, regulatory processes, juris-prudence, political processes, ethics and professional values. Emphasis is given to the Texas Nursing Practice Act. Issues/trends related to professionalism and practice may vary depending on current concerns. A required lab is associated with this course for review/preparation for taking the HESI EXIT exam and the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3313, 3610, 3611, 3612, 3614, 4312, 4610, and 4614. Concurrent enrollment in 4616 and 4618 is usually expected for the traditional student. Lab fee.

NURS 4610

Mental Health Nursing (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to provide students with concepts and processes in nursing that are related to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of clients/families with adaptive stressors affecting their mental health. Emphasized are alterations in adaptation due to stress; anxiety; crisis; and adjustment, developmental, psychotic, organic, and substance abuse disorders. Also emphasized are preventive health measures and other care standards based on research findings which are designed to maintain the mental health of clients/families. Pharmacologic, nutritional, ethical, and legal aspects involved in the care of mental health clients are also included. Students are provided with learning experiences to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional standards and values that are appropriate to meeting needs of clients/families with mental health needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, 3611, 3612, 3614, and 3313 (or their equivalents). Concurrent enrollment in NURS 4312 and 4614 is expected of the traditional student. Lab fee.

NURS 4614

Nursing of the Critically Ill (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to provide students with concepts and processes in nursing that are related to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of clients/families facing a critical illness episode. The nursing care of clients with acute physiological crises related to oxygenation, circulation, neurological alterations, and renal failure is emphasized. Standards of care based on research findings are considered. Included in this course are legal and ethical considerations, family assessment, and support during these crises. Both nutritional and pharmacological considerations are included which may be age or condition related. Students are provided with learning experiences to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional standards and values that are appropriate to meeting needs of clients/families health needs facing a critical illness.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, 3611, 3612, 3614, and 3313 (or their equivalents). Concurrent enrollment in 4312 and 4610 is expected for the traditional student. Lab fee.

NURS 4616

Nursing in the Community (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to provide students with learning opportunities related to providing nursing care to groups of clients or populations in a community setting. Populations considered in this course may include maternal-infant, pre-school and school-age children, working adults, the elderly, the indigent, the homeless, and home care clients. Concepts/processes emphasized are family, community, aggregates, epidemiology, communicable diseases, rehabilitation, and health promotion. Emphasis is placed on nursing roles in dealing with chronic health conditions and aging. Also considered are research findings pertinent to the care of these groups of clients. Students are provided with learning experiences to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional standards and values that are appropriate to meeting health needs of clients/families/communities.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, 3611, 3612, 3614, 3313, 4312, 4610, and 4614. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 4313 and 4618 is usually expected for the traditional student. Lab fee.

NURS 4618

Leadership/Management (3-9)

A clinical nursing course designed to provide students with learning opportunities related to further developing leadership/management skills in the delivery of nursing care in a variety of health delivery systems. Opportunities are given for students to plan and implement nursing care for groups of clients integrating nursing clinical models, while managing nursing personnel and resources. Emphasized are theories and concepts of change, the use of research findings, management, evaluation, critical thinking, decision-making, leadership, strategic planning, economics, and organizational structure. Also emphasized is the ability to apply concepts related to client care needs, interpersonal relationships, communication theory, and clinical decision making. Students are provided with learning experiences to develop nursing roles and skills based on professional standards and values that are appropriate to meeting groups of clients’ health needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 2310, 3312, 3610, 3611, 3612, 3614, 3313, 4312, 4610, and 4614. Concurrent enrollment in NURS 4313 and 4616 is usually for the traditional student. Lab fee.

This is an abbreviated version of the catalog. Click here to view a complete PDF.