COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

Chair: Dr. Sylvia R. Lufkin
Faculty: Adams, Brogdon, Bushee, Estes, Gittings, Grubbs, Hucks, L. Kennedy, Lufkin, Thompson, Westphal
Student Services: Mack

MISSION STATEMENT

The Francis Marion University Department of Nursing prepares graduates to function competently as caring professional nurses in a variety of healthcare settings.  The program endeavors to inculcate in students the value of lifelong learning.  The program prepares students to apply for graduate study.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

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.

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (BSN)

The Department of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This type of program is often called the 2 + 2 program because, prior to enrollment in the nursing curriculum, applicants must complete 63 semester hours of lower division coursework which includes general education and prerequisites. The student must meet the minimum course content requirements and earn a grade of C or better in each prerequisite course. The student must then apply and be accepted by the nursing program in order to enroll. 

Prerequisite courses taken at approved schools may 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 “Curriculum Lower Division.” All prerequisite work must be completed before entering the BSN program. 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 63 hours of prerequisite courses and general education.
2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better with a minimum of a C in all courses taken.
3. Have positive recommendations from three references.
4. Meet the SAT or converted ACT requirements for admission to FMU.

For Fall admission, application deadline is January 7. Spring applications must be received by October 7. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Department of Nursing. Admission to the Upper Division nursing program is competitive and cannot be guaranteed. The number of students accepted is determined by the availability of clinical placements and faculty for clinical supervision.

After admission to nursing, students complete an additional 61 semester hours of Upper Division course work.

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NURSING CURRICULUM LOWER DIVISION

*Students who do not have the math skills to take Chemistry in the fall of their freshman year should consider attending summer school to improve their math skills before enrolling in Chemistry 101.

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NURSING CURRICULUM UPPER DIVISION

¹ Clinical Component: All students enrolled in clinical courses are required to submit proof of Basic Life Support: Health Care Provider certification which covers the life span, infant to adult. All students are also required to receive the hepatitis vaccine or sign a declination prior to enrollment in clinical courses.

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NURSING COURSES (NURS)

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 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.

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.

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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.

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RN-BSN PLAN OF STUDY

¹ Credit by examination is available; advanced placement examinations may be taken one time.

² Clinical 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 2:2, 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 NURS302: Principles of Pathophysiology.

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RN-BSN DEGREE PROGRAM

RN-BSN Program is for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This option is available based on enrollment of sufficient numbers of students to fill a class.

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 bases 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 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) with a minimum of a C in all courses taken. 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) a resume, and 5) a copy of the current RN license.

For registered nurses applying to the RN-BSN track, the application deadline is the second Monday in January. Spring applications must be received by the second Monday in October. 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.

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NURSING COURSES (NURN)

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 NURS 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.

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The following is the list of prerequisites for students who do not have a bachelor's degree:

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