Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Introduces students to basic nursing principles, including concepts that form the theoretical basis for their roles as Registered Professional Nurses. The students develop nursing skills to meet the bio-psychosocial needs of a selected population, e.g. adults and the elderly. The steps of the nursing process are introduced as the framework for nursing care and practice. The didactic or classroom portion of this course includes the theoretical principles of: therapeutic communication, vital signs, infection control practices, body mechanics and safety, hygiene, comfort measures, skin integrity and wound care, nutrition, elimination, oxygenation, fluid and electrolytes, pain assessment, medication administration, care of the dying, introduction to the health care system and health care team, and legal and ethical issues that affect professional nursing practice.

In the Nursing Skills Laboratory component of this course, students practice basic psychomotor skills related to theoretical topics introduced in the classroom. They then move on to applying these skills utilizing the nursing process with patients in the traditional inpatient medical-surgical unit and/or long-term care setting. Prerequisite: BIHN 122.

This introductory course focuses on central concepts and trends that impact the practice of Nursing in the 21st Century. Concepts include, but are not limited to, historical perspectives of nursing, the healthcare environment, inter-professional education, legal and ethical boundaries, critical thinking, cultural and spiritual influences, psychosocial nursing interventions, and the fundamentals of evidence-based practice.
Co-requisite: NURN 110

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with basic understanding of the changes from normal physiological functioning of the various systems of the human body in disease states. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of usual health patterns of major body systems to changes that occur during the illness experience. Major pathophysiologic concepts are explored using a body systems approach. Theories relating etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations are used to study common disease processes. Concepts from anatomy and physiology provide the foundation for exploring human dysfunction. Prerequisite: BIHN 120, BIHN 122.

This course focuses on the development of comprehensive health assessment skills for the adult client, including measures of physical and functional status, documentation of the assessment findings, and health promotion strategies for each body system. Considerations of cultural differences are discussed with respect to health assessment as well as health promotion strategies.

The course consists of a lecture and lab component. Labs are conducted in-person with no more than 12 students per lab, and supervised by a lab instructor. Lab involves hands-on practice of physical assessment skills with a dedicated lab partner. A final graded lab practicum consists of the demonstration of a head to toe physical examination on the lab partner. Please note that no clothing will be removed and no sensitive areas will be examined.

BIHN 122 or BIHN 223, or BION 223, or BION118, or BIHN118, or GSBN 118 (pre-requisite)

This course discusses basic principles of human genetics, stressing human chromosome groups, clinical genetics, biochemical genetics, pharmacogenetics, somatic cell genetics, immunogenetics, and population genetics. Laboratory experiments will include techniques used in both clinical and research genetics. Prerequisite: BIHN 120, BIHN 122.

This course provides an introduction to nursing pharmacology that integrates the concepts of physiology, pathophysiology, chemistry, and nursing fundamentals to build a foundation for administering drug therapy to patients. Using a simple to complex approach, key content areas are presented to help conceptualize the important components related to nursing pharmacology. The basic concepts of pharmacology, such as drug testing and approval, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, therapeutic and toxic effects, dosage calculations, and challenges related to drug therapy, provide the foundation from which drug therapy associated with specific body systems can be addressed. Discussion of the major drug groups focuses on therapeutic actions and indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications and cautions, adverse effects, clinically important drug-drug interactions and nursing considerations which emphasize the nursing process and focus on patient care and teaching. Prototypes of the major drug groups are emphasized. Lifespan considerations, evidence for best practice, patient safety, and critical thinking are integrated throughout the course. Prerequisite: NURN 110.

Provides the basis for application of critical thinking skills in utilizing the nursing process in organizing nursing care. The course focuses on nursing management of adult clients with chronic health problems. Emphasis is on the chronic stages of disease as well as health promotion and prevention, nutrition, diagnostics, and treatments. The course addresses nursing care issues in physiological, pathophysiological, and psychosocial contexts. Prerequisite: NURN 110.

This course is designed to study populations at risk and the factors that affect their health status, such as the elderly, those with socio-economic challenges, or with complex needs or chronic conditions. The course will emphasize variables that may be modified to increase quality of care and life. An epidemiological model is used to understand health status as it is affected by environment, lifestyle, heredity, socio-economic status, and community access to healthcare. Students will assess populations and patients for specific factors which contribute to health disparities. Prerequisite: BIHN 355.

This one credit course is a requirement of the Touro University Montana. The student explores the concepts and principles of community service and Nursing as they apply to individuals, families, and the community as a whole. Students will examine and recommend services and teaching available to their client(s).

This course is designed to advance the theoretical and clinical knowledge of the student in the care of the adult medical-surgical patient. This course will address nursing care issues from a physiologic, pathophysiologic, and psychosocial context. Students will develop up-to-date knowledge to apply through critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Promotion of safe and quality outcomes of care for different populations across the health-illness continuum will be examined.

NURN 200 and NURN 130 (pre-requisites), NURN 330 (co-requisites)

Builds upon and expands basic psychosocial knowledge and skills acquired in PSY 101, NUR 110 and NUR 200. Progression to more complex mental health patterns as they relate to nursing practice provides students with the opportunity to expand their understanding of human-environmental interactions and evolving mental health patterns within diverse cultures. Behavioral patterns as they appear in normative growth and developmental perspectives as well as alterations in these patterns with the resulting nursing implications are addressed. An intertwining of the nursing process and Orem's Self Care Deficit Theory forms the framework for the assessment of self care deficits and interventions necessary to meet the self care needs of psychiatric patients, their families and significant others. Prerequisites: NUR 200

This course focuses on community assessment, environmental factors affecting health and illness, concepts and principles of epidemiology, and problems of the urban and rural environments. In collaboration with home care agencies, community outreach agencies, selected ambulatory clinics, and with faculty supervision, students will provide nursing care in the client’s community setting. Prerequisite: NURN 411, NURN 410.

This course focuses on the research process and the role of the nurse in decision making and use of research-based evidence to improve clinical care. Methods of data collection and analysis, and the interpretation and use of findings will be examined and evaluated. The validity of quantitative methods and the conformability of qualitative methods used to answer nursing research questions are discussed. Students critically evaluate current nursing research and assess applicability to clinical practice. Critical thinking skills will be used to analyze and evaluate published research. Prerequisite: MAT 261, NURN 300 (co-req).

This course is designed to advance the theoretical and clinical knowledge of the student in the care of the adult medical-surgical patient. This course will address nursing care issues from a physiologic, pathophysiologic, and psychosocial context. Students will develop up-to-date knowledge to apply through critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Promotion of safe and quality outcomes of care for different populations across the health-illness continuum will be examined.

Prerequisites: NURN 300, Co-requisite: NURN 310

This course builds upon the foundation of NUR 110 and NUR 130. The student will utilize nursing process and refine critical thinking and develop the clinical skills and cultural competence needed to care for childbearing families and pediatric patients. Health assessment skills are adapted to address pregnant women and pediatric populations. The course explores acute and chronic health conditions as well as complex life-threatening deviations in health. Clinical experiences are provided in a structured multicultural medical center with a parent-child focus. Additional learning opportunities will occur through computerized simulations as well the skills lab. NURN 200 and NURN 130 (pre-requisites, NURN 300 or NURN 301 (co-requisite)

This course is designed to develop knowledge and skills in teaching-learning principles in patient education throughout the lifespan. The course content and activities emphasize application of practical strategies to plan, implement, and evaluate educational experiences through the delivery of innovative teaching, evaluation, and patient/family engagement. Learning theories, characteristics of the learner, and techniques and strategies of healthcare practice are presented as critical factors that shape the influence and determine the focus of health education for patients and clients in a variety of settings. Prerequisite: NURN 200, NURN 130.

This course focuses on exploration of organizational strategies, leadership theories, and societal trends with implication on decision making in healthcare. Students will utilize organizational behavior, educational administration, and business theories to analyze content related to leadership and management. Integrated within the course are systems framework, critical thinking, synthesis of values, legal considerations, and ethical issues. This course requires a senior capstone project, assigned in the final semester prior to graduation, in which the nursing process is used to promote, restore, and maintain the health states of individuals, families, and groups. Students develop their leadership ability under the direct guidance of a selected agency preceptor. Students cultivate the development of their professional role and use leadership skills to become active members of the health care team. This course must be taken as part of the student's final semester of Nursing courses. Prerequisites: NURN 440 NURN 450.