Nursing for RNs

A grade of C or higher is required to pass this course. College Writing for Transfer Students prepares students from varied writing backgrounds for the upper-level academic writing required at Keuka College. In this course, students develop the skills necessary to write effective and coherent papers that likewise meet the standards of strong academic writing. Attention to grammatical competence and effective writing strategies.

A writing-intensive capstone course for the General Education curriculum that provides students with guidance in their application of interdisciplinary knowledge to problem solving. Students are challenged to practice critical and creative thinking skills, and they are expected to demonstrate competence in oral, written, and other creative modes of expression. This course is open to all majors. This course undertakes in depth exploration of the internal and external factors that influence health in the United States. By taking a cross- disciplinary and health-focused approach, students are guided to critically examine social, genetic, technological, cultural, economic, and political factors that impact the health of a community. Employing concepts from the liberal arts, sciences, and technologies as well as evidence-based data, students will analyze cross-disciplinary factors relevant to health and community, and will develop proposals for effective community solutions and intervention strategies. Students will also be guided to apply course learning to individual health and reflect on ways to optimize their own personal culture of health.

This course explores the history of nursing, nursing theories, and the current practice of professional nursing worldwide. Leaders and innovators in the field of nursing are studied within their historical context, and emphasis is placed on their impact on current nursing practice. Selected nursing theories are examined and appraised. Current trends and issues in the profession are identified and analyzed. Professional ethics and responsibilities are examined, and means to attain lifelong professional nursing citizenship are formulated. The meaning of nursing as a caring profession is examined, and a personal mission, vision and philosophy of nursing is developed.

This course is an introduction to the principles of nursing research and evidence-based practice. Building on a liberal arts foundation, students learn principles of scientific inquiry and subsequent application to clinical practice. All phases of research methodology are explained and interpreted, and scholarly research as a foundation for safe and effective clinical practice is examined. Current models of evidence-based practice are compared, and use in the clinical setting assessed. Critical appraisal skills are developed as students critique quantitative and qualitative nursing research. Use of digital technology as a research tool is explored. Implications of the research process and principles of evidence-based practice for professional nursing practice are explored.

This course explores the pathophysiology of select acute and chronic disease processes across the lifespan using a systems approach. With a focus on the major body systems, students will analyze clinical manifestations of disease and their relationship to pathophysiological processes. Concepts of pharmacotherapy, including precision medicine are discussed. Use of technological tools to maximize patient safety and identify potential quality issues related to pharmacotherapy is introduced. Non-pharmacological, complementary, and/or alternative therapies are explored as both treatment modalities and enhancers of wellness. Holistic patient education is emphasized.

This course provides experience in the theory and practice of holistic health assessment of patients across the lifespan. With an emphasis on normal findings, the student practices skills of patient interview, physical assessment and documentation. The goal of completing a systematic health assessment is accomplished through both didactic course content and hands-on experiential learning. Students conduct a comprehensive health history and perform a head to toe physical assessment. Supervised practice sessions allow the student to further develop assessment skills. Technological advances in patient assessment are explored. Patient safety strategies, inter-professional collaboration and effective communication skills are explored and applied, and holistic assessment of the patient's social and environmental milieu is emphasized.

This course investigates the theory and practice of population health. Students identify the myriad of health beliefs, values, and practices of families and communities, and recognize the importance of culturally specific care. Basic epidemiological concepts and methods are examined, with emphasis on the health status and health needs of a population, levels of prevention, and health promotion strategies. General methods introduced include epidemiological measures, sources of data, descriptive components, strategies for screening, and surveillance in the community. The science of public health nursing and its contributions to health at the local, state, national, and global levels are analyzed. Current global health initiatives are examined. Emphasis is placed on the community-as-client to critically evaluate a population-within a geographic community, along with application to nursing practice.

Building on a liberal arts foundation, this course focuses on the role of the nurse as both leader and manager in a rapidly changing global health care environment. Relevant theories, scholarly evidence, industry best practice standards, and practice exemplars that support the creation of a positive work environment for safe and high-quality patient care are explored and applied, and basic business and entrepreneurial skills are integrated. Using relevant data, analysis of the health care landscape within a global context is emphasized. Topics include: theories and models of leadership, industry business trends and skills, organizational and change theories, political, legal and ethical ramifications of leading patient care, budgeting, marketing, planning, problem solving and decision making. Strategies to maximize effective group work from a leadership perspective are identified.

This course centers around experiential learning, and enables students to build on generalist education as they integrate new knowledge and skills. Throughout the course, students will build on growth in nursing program outcomes, while also attaining professional nursing proficiencies. Real world application of principles of leadership, inter-professional collaboration to enhance quality of patient care and safety (QSEN), and a systems approach are emphasized. Students begin this course at the onset of the nursing program through development of their nursing Field Period experience, and spend 140 hours fulfilling the objectives of their Field Period contract. Through subsequent participation in a senior level seminar, students provide evidence of attainment of baccalaureate level nursing competencies through application their Field Period learning. Incorporation of evidence based practice, relevant health care policy, and information technology is expected as the student presents documentation of growth in the nursing graduate outcomes, and through creation of a professional mission, vision, values and goal statement along with a personal plan for lifelong learning and professional citizenship.