New students can begin this program 3 times a year and courses run for 10 weeks. This will allow studen ts to complete the coursework faster.
The RN to BSN curriculum consists of three tiers. The first tier is intended to be completed as part of the student's educational program before entering this program. Registered nurses are expected to transfer in all these credits and do not need to take them again in this program. The second tier consists of general education courses, which may also be transferred in from other institutions or taken as part of this online program. The third tier consists of upper-division nursing courses intended to be taken as part of the program.
*Students who have taken upper division nursing courses in an RN to BSN completion program at another college should contact Joyce Lazzaro, Academic Advisor, prior to applying to the program, to review whether these are transferrable and to discuss the plan of study. Joyce can be reached at joyce.lazzaro@drexel.edu or by phone at 215-762-1732.
First Tier Courses
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English
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9 Credits
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Humanities
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3 Credits
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Sociology
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3 Credits
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Psychology
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3 Credits
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Growth and Development
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3 Credits
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Anatomy
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6 Credits
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Physiology
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6 Credits
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Microbiology with Lab
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6 Credits
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Elective
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6 Credits
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Nursing (by transfer validation)
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45 Credits
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Second Tier Courses
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Introduction to Computers
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4 Credits
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Statistics
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4 Credits
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Economics or Health Economics
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4 Credits
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Ethics
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4 Credits
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Social Science elective
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4 Credits
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Science elective
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6 Credits
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Advanced Physiology, Pathophysiology, or Pharmacology
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5 Credits
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Open Elective
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12 Credits
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Upper-Division Course Descriptions
NURS 340 — Transformational Leadership/Management in Nursing
This course will focus on the professional nurse’s role in applying the principles of leadership, management and ethics in health care organizations across the continuum of care. The course will provide opportunities in problem solving, critical thinking, and constructive communication through the use of teaching / learning strategies that emphasize the leadership and management roles of the nurse. The course will also emphasize the role of the professional nurse in efficient patient care management in complex health care setting. The emerging role of the nurse entrepreneur and alternative roles for future professional practitioners will also be explored.
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NURS 325 — Critical Issues Shaping Professional Nursing
During the last decade the health care system has undergone dramatic shifts, driven by changing economic, demographic, and technological forces. This course explores the impact of these forces on health care delivery, and the concerns relating to ethical, legal, and social issues that influence nursing practice. The readiness and flexibility of the profession to adapt to a changing society will be explored as well as the new opportunities these qualities have for career development. Concepts necessary for succeeding in the nursing profession will be studied.
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NURS 346 — Health Assessment and Promotion for Diverse and Vulnerable Populations
This course is designed to assist professional nurses in developing interviewing skills, physical assessment techniques, and preventative health interventions when working with diverse and vulnerable populations. The importance of therapeutic communication skills in performing a health assessment is emphasized. The patterns of healthy individuals will be examined and used as a reference point for health assessment, health maintenance, and health education. Cultural and socioeconomic aspects of health behavior and health assessment will be integrated throughout the course along with utilizing objectives outlined in Healthy People 2010. The skills to perform a systematic review of health status and physical assessment will be evaluated through clinical validation.
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NURS 404 — Nursing Informatics
This course is designed to examine computer technology and tools of the Internet and World Wide Web with a focus on the use of cyber technology and selected computer applications. The automation of data management through information systems, expert systems and telecommunications and the impact of these technologies on nursing administration, education, practice and research are addressed in the context of health care informatics. Actual problem-solving and mini-design projects on how computerization and automation can improve the efficiency of nursing care delivery will be emphasized.
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NURS 337 — Genetics in Nursing & Healthcare
This course will explore genetic concepts and principles as they pertain to human variation in health and disease. Theoretical research and literature on selected disorders including immunity and cancer will be reviewed and discussed with emphasis on clinical application. Multidisciplinary approaches to intervention will be discussed from a nursing perspective. Political, social and ethical issues raised by recent advances such as genetic engineering, gene therapy, reproductive technology and the Human Genome Project will be analyzed. Clinical application of moral, ethical and legal issues will be integrated throughout the course.
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NURS 330 — Research Basis of Nursing
This course will introduce the student to the theoretical and research bases on which practice is built. Students will examine the knowledge that guides nursing interventions and critique published research reports. The importance of reviewing the nursing literature in order to maintain currency in practice will be addressed. Ethical issues as they relate to research, theory and practice will be discussed.
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NURS 370 — Issues in Aging and Longevity
This course focuses on current issues in promoting longevity with healthy aging, at both regional and a national level coming from a multidimensional view. Current theories on aging from a biologic, psycho logic, and sociologic perspective are introduced and discussed. The impact of the cultural beliefs and traditions on the older adult is explored. Relationship challenges, such as, intimacy and sexuality are discussed. Special emphasis is also placed on the multidisciplinary aspects of older adults who are vulnerable and marginalized. The multidisciplinary needs of populations, such as, older adults who are socially isolated, HIV+, incarcerated, homeless, institutionalized, mentally impaired, and or neglected and abused are explored. In this course students will visit and interact with older adults in one non-traditional setting, such as, prison, and open senior AA meeting. The field experience will be shared with other students in a panel presentation format.
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NURS 375 — Nurses Building a Healthy Community: Theory & Practice
This course focuses on the professional role of the community/public health nurse working collaboratively with aggregates, community partners and health officials within the community as part of an interdisciplinary team in order to promote a healthier community. An introduction to conceptual frameworks that guide community-based, population-focused practice and research is included in both the classroom and the clinical portions of the course. The student uses skills in community assessment; program planning and nursing interventions to help identified populations within the community attain and maintain their optimum level of health. Selected measures for evaluating the outcomes of community health nursing programs are discussed as well as those that may be broader in scope.
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NURS 460 — Global Health & Policy Issues
This course is an intensive overview of global health issues. Emphasis will be placed on understanding of health policy development related to global health issues, health care systems and its effects on selected populations. Other dimensions include the role of the World Health Organization, women’s rights across the globe, emerging infections, violence, export of pharmaceuticals and tobacco to other countries and the state of health care in other nations. Student interest and faculty expertise will determine the specific project foci for each quarter.
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NURS 462 — Science, Technology, & Health: A Nursing Perspective
This course is overview of the latest discoveries and trends in science and technology that have implications for the broader health of mankind. The course is further designed so nurses can be exposed to current scientific findings in biology, environmental science, chemistry, engineering, informatics, and other disciplines and ascertain how these finings might have application to nursing practice and nursing science. Students will explore the ethical implications of advances in science and technology and examine critique the relevance of these findings to diverse populations. Finally, students will discuss what a nursing scientist is and how nurses can study the phenomena of nursing and advance discovery and improve health through the development of nursing science. This course will also be designated as a writing intensive course.
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NURS 464 — Senior Concentration in Nursing
In Nursing 464 the student, with faculty supervision, selects a clinical area of practice for in-depth 60 hour of clinical experience. Students will be immersed in the current literature of the clinical literature of the clinical discipline to demostrate and safe nuring practice.
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NURS 465 — Senior Thesis in Nursing
In Nursing 465, the student, with faculty supervision, plans a project that will be implemented this quarter. This project will integrate the academic and practical knowledge the student has acquired in their nursing curriculum. Examples of projects include the following: developing/implementing a teaching tool or a teaching plan, evaluating data specific to management patterns that promote effective nursing care, synthesizing the literature related to a particular topic, or gaining new knowledge in a clinical area. Students will develop objectives relevant to the project, critique the literature and present a plan for implementation.
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