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Chair: Dr. Sylvia R.
Lufkin Faculty: Student Services: K.
Hughes, Polston The Francis Marion
University Department of Nursing prepares graduates to function competently as
professional practitioners in a variety of healthcare settings. The Department of
Nursing offers an upper division generic baccalaureate degree in nursing and
the RN to BSN program.* These programs prepare graduates to function
competently as beginning practitioners in a variety of healthcare settings. The
department places high value on knowledge, skills and caring in nursing
practice. Clinical experiences are designed to afford students opportunities to
apply knowledge gained in the classroom as well as in the skills laboratory.
Lifelong learning as a basis for personal and professional growth is
emphasized. Graduates of the program
are prepared to enter a number of career paths in nursing as well as to enter
graduate study. *Note: UPPER DIVISION BSN
DEGREE PROGRAM The Department of
Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This type of program is
often called the 2 + 2 program because applicants must complete 60 semester
hours of lower division, prerequisite coursework prior to enrollment in the
nursing curriculum. Admission to the upper division nursing program is
competitive and cannot be guaranteed. The number of students
accepted is determined by availability of clinical placements and faculty for
clinical supervision. Prerequisite courses
taken at approved schools will be accepted for transfer if the student meets
the minimum course content requirements and a grade of C or better is earned in
all courses taken. Prerequisite coursework is listed under the Pre- Nursing
section of this catalog. Students must apply to and be accepted by the nursing
program. Admission
Requirements for the Upper Division BSN Degree Program Applications to the
Department of Nursing for admission to the BSN program may be made during the
sophomore year. To be eligible to apply
for admission a student must: 1. Complete 60 hours of
prerequisite courses. (See Pre- Nursing Curriculum.) 2. Have a cumulative
grade point average of 3.0, with a minimum of a C in all courses taken. 3. Have positive
recommendations from three references. 4. Have an SAT of 1000
or higher, at least 500 math and at least 500 verbal. 5. Be interviewed by a faculty
member of the Department of Nursing faculty or Student Services staff. For Fall admission,
application deadline is Feb. 1. Applications may be obtained by contacting the
Department of Nursing. On-line applications are accessible at www.admissions.fmarion.edu. After admission to
nursing, students complete an additional 61 semester hours of upper division
course work. Upper Division
Coursework Year 3 = Junior
Year 4 = Senior
1Clinical Component: All
students enrolled in clinical courses are required to submit proof of CPR
certification which covers the life span, infant to adult. All students are also
required to receive the hepatitis vaccine prior to enrollment in clinical
courses. Upper Division BSN degree program NURS 301 Health Assessment (4:3-3) Skills to conduct
a comprehensive health assessment of individuals are learned and practiced. The
major focus is on assessment of the healthy adult client, with inclusion of
common variations. Assessment of children and the elderly is also addressed.
Communication skills, physical assessment skills, and use of the functional
health pattern assessment tool are emphasized. Students analyze assessment data
for common risk factors and identify strategies for health promotion. Beginning
professional nursing behaviors are learned and practiced. Strategies for
performing health assessment of the family are discussed. NURS 302 Principles of
Pathophysiology (3) (Same as NURN 303) This course examines the physiologic
mechanisms underlying selected alterations in health that occur throughout the
life cycle. Relationships between physiologic responses and environmental
influences are explored as these factors interact adversely on body system
functioning. Coping and adaptation, as normal human responses to potential or
actual health problems, are emphasized as well as selected diseases, evaluation,
and treatment processes. NURS 303 Professional
Nursing and Nursing Practice (3) (Same as NURN 303) This course is designed
to cover the past, present, and future of professional nursing. An emphasis is
placed on discussion of professional values and philosophies, core competencies
and knowledge needed for professional practice, the socialization and role
development of the professional nurse, and the legal and ethical aspects of
nursing practice. Contemporary nursing and healthcare issues are addressed. NURS 304 Adult Health
I and Fundamentals (6:3-9) (Corequisite: NURS 303) This is the first of two
sequential courses to introduce students to the role of critical thinking and
the nursing process as a mechanism to synthesize knowledge and master basic
nursing skills needed to promote, maintain and restore health in hospitalized
clients. This course will integrate nursing process, principles of
communication, decision-making, and basic nursing skills necessary for applying
health assessment data and pathophysiology content to the experience of health
and illness of clients, diverse ethnic, cultural and geographic backgrounds. NURS 305 Nursing
Pharmacology (3) (Prerequisites: 301, 302, 303, 304) This course presents a conceptual
approach to basic pharmacology with emphasis on the study of broad groups of
drugs and the nursing implications related to each group. Students have the
opportunity to apply knowledge of pharmacology to the care of individuals in a
variety of clinical situations. NURS 306 Nursing
Research in Practice (3) (Prerequisite: 303 or by permission of department) (Same as
NURN 306) The course examines the steps of the research process, and provides
the student with the basic skills and knowledge to evaluate research. Emphasis
is on the review and critique of published nursing research with consideration
of the utilization of research findings in clinical practice. Ethical
considerations in nursing research are addressed. NURS 307 Psychiatric
and Mental Health Nursing (5:3-6) (Prerequisites: 301, 302, 303, 304; corequisite:
305) This course utilizes the nursing process to address the nursing care needs
of individuals who have psychiatric and mental health disorders. Predisposing
biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors contributing to the
development and continuation of these disorders are examined. Precipitating
stressors, coping resources and coping mechanisms are evaluated in relation to
an individual’s pattern of response. Nursing interventions for these disorders
based on the crisis, acute, maintenance, and health promotion stages of
treatment are analyzed. The impact of psychiatric illness on the family and
other social systems is also explored. Foundational elements of the course
include the therapeutic use of self, effective communication skills, critical
thinking, and evidence-based practice. NURS 308 Adult Health
II (6:3-9)
(Prerequisites: 301, 302, 303, 304; corequisite 305) This course builds on
basic sciences and content introduced in NURS 304: Adult Health I and
Fundamentals. Students will have expanded opportunities to use critical
thinking processes to guide care planning decisions for hospitalized clients.
Students will also have the opportunity to plan, implement and evaluate medical
and surgical interventions to prepare clients for discharge following hospital
care. This course will be framed to integrate content from pharmacology,
pathophysiology and health assessment applicable to the care of clients from
diverse ethnic, cultural and geographic backgrounds. NURS 401 Nursing Care
of Children and their Families (5:3-6) (Prerequisites: 301, 302, 303, 304, 305)
This course is designed to focus on children as unique individuals with
different capacities and vulnerabilities according to developmental level and
health status. Children have the potential for a variety of responses in health
and illness situations. Children’s abilities to respond to changes in health
status are examined within the context of their environment with an emphasis on
the family. Nursing interventions that promote, maintain, or restore health and
optimal functioning are explored in relation to children and their families.
Clinical experiences focus on nursing care of children and families in health
care settings. NURS 402 Population
Focused Nursing (5:3-6) (Prerequisites: 301, 302, 303, 304, 305) (Same as NURN
402) This course is designed to develop students’ knowledge and skills in
applying health promotion and disease prevention frameworks, nursing and public
health concepts, epidemiology, and environmental health issues in working with
populations in the community. Emphasis is placed on community assessment
strategies, community partnerships, the design, implementation, and evaluation
of interventions for health promotion and/or disease prevention, and health
policy implications. Content and practicum experiences are based on Healthy
People 2010, ANA Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing, and ACHNE
Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Community Health Nursing. Clinical
experiences will include the application of theory in the development of a
community population health project with a specific population in a community
setting, as well as a variety of experiences in clinics and home health agencies. NURS 403 Women’s
Health Nursing (5:3-6) (Prerequisite: Completion of all 300 level courses). The
course covers the health care needs of the woman from menarche to menopause,
with specific focus on pregnancy and childbearing. Nursing’s role in promoting
health and fostering positive parenting is presented. Clinical experiences
focus on care of the childbearing woman and newborn in a variety of settings NURS 404 Health Care
Systems and Policy (3) (Prerequisite: Completion of all 300 level courses) (Same as
NURN 404) This course focuses on health policy and issues that affect consumers
of health care and nursing practice. The organization of the American health
care system and the policy making process are explored and the legal,
political, economic, social and environmental influences are analyzed. NURS 405 Leadership
and Management in Nursing (3) (Prerequisite: Completion of all 300 level courses)
(Same as NURN 405) This course provides the student with the opportunity to
explore the leadership behaviors and organizational structures that enhance the
delivery of client care. Management techniques and nursing care decisions are
examined by incorporating knowledge of various health care organizations and
financing of health care delivery systems. Emphasis is on organizational roles,
legal responsibilities and implications for professional nursing practice. NURS 406 Nursing
Knowledge: Synthesis Practicum (7:2-15) (Prerequisites: Completion of all 300
level courses and 401, 402, 403) (Same as NURN 406) This course is an intensive
clinical practicum in which the student is provided opportunities to experience
the roles of the nurse as a provider of care for multiple clients in an acute
care setting, as well as a leader/manager/coordinator of care in a variety of
health care settings. Critical thinking skills are applied, with an emphasis on
continuity of care, effective communication with diverse clients and
disciplines: coordination of care in a variety of settings, and collaboration
with interdisciplinary team members to provide a comprehensive plan of care for
optimal client outcomes. Emphasis is also placed on leadership skills and
management techniques, during a focused clinical experience with a professional
nurse. The leadership role and professional accountability of the baccalaureate
prepared nurse are explored, both in relation to current nursing practice, as
well as to ongoing changes in health care delivery. Learning activities are
designed to facilitate transition into the roles and responsibilities of the
professional nurse. NURS 445 Guided
Nursing Elective (3), (2), or (1) (Same as NURN 445) This course provides students
with an opportunity to exercise initiative, independence, and creativity in
pursuing an area of interest in nursing. The learning goals, proposed schedule,
site and the method of evaluation, as well as the preceptor, are chosen by the
student with the approval of the instructor. Students may not use an NCLEX
Review as a Guided Nursing Elective. RN-BSN Program is for
registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing seeking a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.* The Francis Marion University
Department of Nursing offers undergraduate study leading to the Bachelor of
Science in Nursing for students who are licensed as a registered nurse in South
Carolina. The RN-BSN program assists registered nurses to gain new knowledge
regarding roles and responsibilities of the professional nurse in a rapidly
changing health care environment, and to build on their previous education.
Graduates are prepared to apply for advanced degree programs. Learning focuses
on enhancement of critical thinking, scientific basses for decision making, and
development of leadership qualities and skills. Faculty members strive to
maximize each student’s potential for professional development. The program may
be completed on a part-time basis, but all upper division work must be
completed within five years. Admission
Requirements for RN-BSN Degree Program The primary factor
considered for admission to the Department of Nursing is the applicant’s
previous overall academic success. The Department of Nursing seeks to assure
diversity among its applicants and student body
. Prior nursing experience and a
commitment to health care is also valued. To be considered for admission,
applicants should have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). A
completed application file includes 1) official application and fee, 2)
official transcripts from all post high school education, 3) three professional
references (preferably instructors and employers), 4) an essay 5) a resume, and
6) a copy of the current RN license. For registered nurses
applying to the RN-BSN track, the application deadline is Feb. 1 for Fall
admission. A faculty committee reviews completed application files within six
to eight weeks after the deadline and sends letters of admission to selected
students. Please note that only completed files are reviewed by the
committee. Applications are
available by calling the Department of Nursing at 843-661-1690, or on-line at
www.admissions.fmarion.edu.
*This option is available
based on enrollment of sufficient numbers of students to fill a class. RN-BSN Plan of Study
1Credit by examination is available; advanced placement
examinations may be taken one time. 2Clinical component Note: Visual display of course credit hour allocations
are standardized by lecture/didactic hours, seminar hours, clinical/lab hours
in the following format: 4:2-6. Contact hours per credit hour will be a ratio
as follows: lecture/didactic 1:1, seminar 2:1, lab/clinical 3:1. Thirty semester hours will be awarded as transfer credit for
previous nursing coursework. Three semester hours may be earned through
advanced placement credit for NURS 302: Principles of Pathophysiology. RN-BSN Track NURN 302 Principles of Pathophysiology (3) (Same as NURS 302)
This course examines the physiologic mechanisms underlying selected alterations
in health that occur throughout the life cycle. Relationships between
physiologic responses and environmental influences are explored as these
factors interact adversely on body system functioning. Coping and adaptation,
as normal human responses to potential or actual health problems, are
emphasized as well as selected diseases, evaluation, and treatment processes. NURN 303 Professional Nursing and Nursing Practice (3) (Same as NURS 303)
This course is designed to cover the past, present, and future of professional
nursing. An emphasis is placed on discussion of professional values and
philosophies, core competencies and knowledge needed for professional practice,
the socialization and role development of the professional nurse, and the legal
and ethical aspects of nursing practice. Contemporary nursing and healthcare
issues are addressed. NURN 306 Nursing Research in Practice (3) (Prerequisites: 303,
or by permission of department) (Same as NURS 306) This course examines the
steps of the research process, and provides the student with the basic skills
and knowledge to evaluate research. Emphasis is on the review and critique of
published nursing research with consideration of the utilization of research
findings in clinical practice. Ethical considerations in nursing research are
addressed. NURN 351 Health Assessment and Promotion in Nursing Practice (4:3-3) (Corequisite:
302) This course provides the student the opportunity to develop and validate
therapeutic nursing interventions necessary for health assessment, promotion
and health protection for clients across the lifespan. Concepts considered
essential for the practice of professional nursing are studied and core
competencies needed to provide this care are validated. Major emphasis is
placed on communication, teaching-learning, critical thinking, nutrition and
diagnostic skills in relation to clinical decision-making and the delivery of
nursing care. NURN 402 Population Focused Nursing (5:3-6) (Prerequisites:
302, 303, and 351) (Same as NURN 402) This course is designed to develop
student’s knowledge and skills in applying health promotion and disease prevention
frameworks, nursing and public health concepts, epidemiology, and environmental
health issues in working with populations in the community. Emphasis is placed
on community assessment strategies, community partnerships, the design,
implementation, and evaluation of interventions for health promotion and/ or
disease prevention, and health policy implications. Content and practicum
experiences are based on Healthy People 2010, ANA Scope and Standards of Public
Health Nursing, and ACHNE Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Community
Health Nursing. Clinical experiences will include the application of theory in
the development of a community population health project with a specific
population in a community setting, as well as a variety of experiences in
clinics and home health agencies. NURN 404 Health Care Systems and Policy (3) (Prerequisite: 303)
(Same as NURS 404) This course focuses on health policy and issues that affect
consumers of health care and nursing practice. The organization of the American
health care system and the policy making process are explored and the legal,
political, economic, social and environmental influences are analyzed. NURN 405 Leadership and Management in Nursing (3) (Completion of 302,
303, 351) (Same as NURS 405) This course provides the student with the
opportunity to explore the leadership behaviors and organizational structures
that enhance the delivery of client care. Management techniques and nursing
care decisions are examined by incorporating knowledge of various health care
organizations and financing of health care delivery systems. Emphasis is on
organization roles, legal responsibilities and implications for professional
nursing practice. NURN 406 Nursing Knowledge: Synthesis Practicum (7:2-15) (Prerequisites:
302, 303, 402) (Same as NURS 406) This course is an intensive clinical
practicum in which the student is provided opportunities to experience the
roles of the nurse as a provider of care for multiple clients in an acute care
setting, as well as a leader/manager/ coordinator of care in a variety of
health care settings. Critical thinking skills are applied, with an emphasis on
continuity of care, effective communication with diverse clients and
disciplines: coordination of care in a variety of settings, and collaboration
with interdisciplinary team members to provide a comprehensive plan of care for
optimal client outcomes. Emphasis is also placed on leadership skills and
management techniques, during a focused clinical experience with a professional
nurse. The leadership role and professional accountability of the
baccalaureate-prepared nurse are explored, both in relation to current nursing
practice, as well as to ongoing changes in health are delivery. Learning
activities are designed to facilitate transition into the roles and
responsibilities of the professional nurse. NURN 445 Guided Nursing Elective (3),(2), or (1) (Prerequisite:
enrollment in R.N.-B.S.N. degree program) (Same as NURS 445)This course
provides students with an opportunity to exercise initiative, independence, and
creativity in pursuing an area of interest in nursing. The learning goals,
proposed schedule, site and the method of evaluation, as well as the preceptor,
are chosen by the student with approval of the instructor. |