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Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program Course Descriptions

The online RN to BSN program from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota gives registered nurses the skills to advance their professional role. The program’s CCNE-accredited curriculum of online nursing courses was designed to expand your current clinical knowledge while providing a strong background in the science of nursing.

This is a 36-credit degree-completion program for registered nurses. Its required courses cover all of the baccalaureate essentials identified by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

This progressive curriculum focuses on critical thinking and evidence-based nursing practices. It combines a scientific knowledge with an ethical, patient-centered approach that prepares you for work in diverse settings. The program is unique in also teaching integrative therapies such as therapeutic massage and acupressure. It culminates in a capstone practicum project. Unlike most RN to BSN programs, which feature a practicum in only one or two practice areas, Saint Mary’s gives students the option to complete their capstone in a healthcare setting of their choice.

The RN to BSN courses in this program include:

Click the course names below for more details.

Core Courses

NUR 302 Communication Skills for Nurses (3 credits)

Course Description

This course provides strategies for developing the academic and professional writing skills relevant to health and human services. Topics include effective written communication in the workplace and appropriate communication styles based on audience and purpose. Academic writing is addressed including using APA formatting, library research tools, and methods for locating and selecting scholarly sources.

Student Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Identify a research topic and develop a thesis statement.
  2. Locate and evaluate relevant academic and scholarly sources on a research topic using library databases and technology resources.
  3. Prepare annotated bibliography and various written reports.
  4. Apply APA format to documentation.
  5. Organize and manage ideas and sources for research topics.
  6. Examine academic integrity and the ethical use of sources in written and oral communication.

NUR 325 Cross Cultural Competence for Service Providers (3 credits)

Course Description

This course examines the impact of cultural diversity on the helping relationship, encourages the acknowledgement of biases and beliefs about diversity, and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate an appreciation of the contributions of diverse populations. Special attention is given to diverse populations including the poor, the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, the elderly, and persons with HIV/AIDS.

Student Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Identify and acknowledge biases and beliefs about diversity.
  2. Understand the impact of cultural diversity on the helping relationship.
  3. Practice with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients' age, class, color, culture, disability, economic status, ethnicity, family structure, gender, life style orientation, marital status, national origin, race, and religion.
  4. Recognize contributions from a diverse population, interacting as individuals or groups, to guide evolving organizational and societal systems.

NUR 410 Healthcare Information Management (3 credits)

Course Description

This course surveys the role of medical informatics and the application of information technology in healthcare. An overview of the evolution of informatics, the implementation and design theory of various healthcare information systems, and legal and ethical concerns related to health data management are included.

Student Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Discuss the role and evolution of medical informatics in healthcare organizations.
  2. Describe the types and uses of medical data and information involved in healthcare information technology.
  3. Compare current and emerging medical information systems, healthcare and clinical information systems, and decision support systems.
  4. Identify and discuss the legal and ethical aspects of privacy and confidentiality, risk and liability, professional capability and responsibility, and legislative mandates and processes.
  5. Describe information management tools that are commonly used in performance improvement projects.
  6. Discuss how information systems can help improve quality in healthcare.

NUR 310 Pharmacology and Applied Mathematics (3 credits)

Course Description

This course focuses on general concepts in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics related to drug actions and interactions, metabolism and distribution, and adverse effects. Special consideration will be for the nursing role in developing the clinical application of drug therapy. Concepts in applied mathematics are applied to solution preparation, dosing, and various drug delivery systems are emphasized.

Student Learning Objectives

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

Describe the molecular basis that occurs in drug-receptor interactions along with the subsequent effect of body systems and cells.

  1. Apply general concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in drug therapy.
  2. Examine drug metabolic pathways and describe factors that will affect drug metabolism.
  3. Develop competency in performing clinical drug and dosing calculations.
  4. Discuss drug distribution with regard to efficacy and toxicity of drugs.
  5. Apply the terms ED50, LD50, TD50, Therapeutic Window, and Therapeutic Index.
  6. Describe major classification of drugs used in acute care treatment of disease.

NUR 320 Nursing Ethics (3 credits)

Course Overview

This course is designed to develop a caring response to the ethical issues nurses face in nursing practice. A foundation is provided in basic ethical theories, principles, and decision-making frameworks including the Code of Ethics for Nursing. Legal, regulatory, and policy implications are also explored as an important factor in guiding ethical decision-making for the professional nurse. Reflection specific to one’s own personal values and beliefs (morality) serve as an underpinning to understanding fundamental ethical principles and approaches in the complex health care environment.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Analyze personal and professional belief and value systems impacting one’s own nursing practice.
  2. Examine the value of the professional Code of Ethics for Nurses and its application as an ethical framework.
  3. Identify and examine legal and regulatory policies impacting nursing ethics.
  4. Recognize and analyze current ethical dilemmas associated with nursing.
  5. Apply ethical decision-making models for the nursing scope of practice.
  6. Evaluate the role of self and personal accountability in ethical behavior.

NUR 330 Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits)

Course Overview

This course provides an overview of health care delivery systems and their interaction and influence on health care practices. An examination of health reimbursement systems, external regulatory bodies, and public policy are explored.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Describe the processes/organizations associated with regulation of healthcare practice in the U.S.
  2. Identify and discuss current legal statutes defining healthcare practice and professional rights and responsibilities of nurses.
  3. Describe and compare how healthcare delivery systems are organized and financed.
  4. Discuss social and economic factors shaping health care policy and ways to effect policy change.
  5. Analyze the challenges associated with maintaining organizational compliance within a care setting.
  6. Evaluate health reimbursement systems and their impact on health care practices and cost containment.

NUR 340 Nursing Research (3 credits)

Course Overview

This course focuses on fundamental research skills needed to inform and guide quality nursing practices. Emphasis is on locating, critiquing, and interpreting research studies and reports to address a clinical practice problem.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Explain the connection between current nursing theory and research and professional nursing practice.
  2. Describe the steps involved in the research process.
  3. Identify clinical practice situations that may be resolved through the research process.
  4. Critique nursing research studies for validity and applicability to nursing practice.
  5. Perform a basic literature review to address a clinical research question.
  6. Apply the ethical/legal considerations involved in research.

NUR 405 Intro to Healthcare Finance (3 credits)

Course Description

This course introduces nurses to concepts in financial management. Students are exposed to different types of budgets, financial forecasting, determination of assets, valuation of nursing services, and preparation of nursing unit budgets across different types of nursing units.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Apply budgeting skills and technological tools to support financial and operational unit management.
  2. Discuss staffing resources including recruitment and retention of staff and their impact on the financial status of a patient care area.
  3. Analyze cost, revenue, and expense data related to financial operations for the healthcare unit/division and organization.
  4. Evaluate methods such as forecasting used for the development of operating budgets for nursing services.
  5. Discuss key issues impacting decision making in health care resource management.
  6. Examine the relationships between health care financing, costs, and quality of care.

NUR 415 Nursing Leadership and Management (3 credits)

Course Description

This course examines managerial and leadership concepts applied to the role of the professional nurse.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Differentiate between the roles of leaders and managers.
  2. Apply theories of effective leadership and management within selected health care systems.
  3. Demonstrate how the concepts of conflict management are applied using appropriate communication techniques.
  4. Describe the impact of unionization in healthcare and discuss the impact of collective bargaining including legal implications.
  5. Discuss professional accountability for effective leadership within nursing practice and for advancement of the profession.

NUR 425 Integrative Health Care (3 credits)

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce integrative therapies as components of routine nursing care. Nurses will explore how transformational care therapies like massage, guided imagery, meditation, acupressure, and others can be used to promote wellness and pain control in all patients.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Describe several integrative therapies and state how they can be applied to the nursing care plan.
  2. Describe a relevant patient assessment for patients who could benefit with integrative therapies.
  3. Describe integrative therapies that can be applied to the patient in pain.
  4. Apply integrative therapies to patients who are anxious and fearful.
  5. Create a plan for teaching patients how they can use integrative therapies as an adjunct to their traditional care.
  6. Develop competency in teaching and coaching patients who would benefit from integrative therapies.

NUR 435 Community Assessment (3 credits)

Course Description

This course examines the major causes of morbidity and mortality facing state and community populations. Intervention with communities through prevention and health education/counseling are explored.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Identify and examine the etiologies of the major medical/socioeconomic health problems associated with adult health in the U.S.
  2. Apply a systematic evidence-based approach to plan, deliver, and evaluate quality care.
  3. Discover, through community assessment, the characteristics of a local community.
  4. Plan for patient education with diverse populations to promote health, prevent disease, and reduce risk.
  5. Analyze the effectiveness of patient education teaching plan designed for a specific family or population group.

NUR 490 Capstone (3 credits)

Course Description

This summative course integrates the skills and knowledge developed in previous coursework and applies them to a practicum project. Students select an area of interest and location that will accommodate at least 40 hours of practicum. After completing an approved proposal and demonstrating compliance with the stipulations for off-site practicum experiences, a preceptor and/or advisor will be assigned. Students are required to journal their experience and submit a paper describing the program outcome objectives in relation to their experiences in completing their project.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Describe the role, learning objectives, and responsibilities of the learner prior to participating in the practicum experience.
  2. Comply with all university, institutional, and program policies, privacy mandate, including attendance, and record keeping.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to analyze effectively and think critically throughout the practicum experience.
  4. Accept responsibility for relationships with patients and all other members of the health care team that demonstrates awareness of multicultural and social differences.
  5. Display initiative, self-discipline, and intellectual curiosity.
  6. Accept instruction and constructive criticism and incorporate it into future practice.
  7. Demonstrate ethical behavior in all relationships.
  8. Display a willingness to perform any assigned duties within the scope of the practicum agreement.
  9. Describe the elements that combine to define safe and competent care in their practicum institution.

Define your role in the future of nursing today. Call 877-308-9954 to speak with an enrollment counselor or request free information and learn how the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) completion program at Saint Mary’s can help you meet your career goals.