Department of Nursing

Course Descriptions

Prerequisite Course Descriptions

BIOL 190 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS (4)
Inquiry-based course intended to strengthen reasoning skills and provide a firm foundation in basic principles of biology: process of scientific investigation, cells, macromolecules, metabolism, DNA, genetics, evolution and ecology. Intended for College of Health Professions majors who will take additional Biology courses. Not for Biology major/minor credit. Not open to those who successfully completed BIOL 115 or BIOL 201. GenEd II.A.

BIOL 213 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (4)
Cell biology, histology, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. Average of three laboratory hours per week. To receive Biology major credit, BIOL 214 must also be completed. Prerequisite: BIOL 110, BIOL 112, BIOL 190 or BIOL 201 with a grade of C or better.

BIOL 214 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (4)

Cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine and reproductive systems. Average of three laboratory hours per week. To receive Biology major credit, BIOL 213 must also be completed. Students who successfully completed BIOL 325 may not take this course without departmental approval. Prerequisites: BIOL 110, BIOL 112, BIOL 190 or BIOL 201; and BIOL 213 with a grade of C or better.

BIOL 315 [515] MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY (4)
Pathogenesis of bacterial, viral, rickettsial and fungal diseases with emphasis on medically important bacteria and microbiological techniques. Recommended for students pursuing a career in medical sciences. Prerequisites: BIOL 110, BIOL 112, BIOL 190 or BIOL 201; CHEM 111 or CHEM 106 (may be taken concurrently). Either this course or BIOL 318, but not both, may count toward Biology major or M.S. degree in Biology.

CHEM 105 CHEMISTRY FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS I (4)
An introduction to the concepts of general chemistry, including states of matter, atomic structure and periodic table, molecular structure, chemical reactions, intermolecular forces, solutions, buffers and pH, and radioactivity. Laboratory includes data handling and chemical and instrumental techniques. This course may not be used as a prerequisite for the Chemistry major program. Three lecture hours and one three hour laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 115 or MATH 119 (either may be taken concurrently). GenEd II.A.

CHEM 106 CHEMISTRY FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS II (4)
An introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry using a functional group approach; physical and chemical properties and typical reactions of organic compounds; composition and properties of lipids,
carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids, and the role of enzymes, vitamins and hormones. The laboratory introduces students to simple techniques of synthesis and analysis, including chromatographic and chemical methods. Three lecture hours and one three-hour laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 105 or CHEM 115. GenEd II.A.

ENGL 102 WRITING FOR A LIBERAL EDUCATION (3)

Learning the critical methods of liberal education by writing college-level prose about significant books in four areas: the natural sciences, the humanities, the social sciences, and the fine arts. GenEd I.A.

HLTH 331 NUTRITION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (3)

An in depth study of the chemical nature and utilization of nutrients; the composition, digestion, absorption of foods, and the normal nutritional requirements of the human body. Focus on nutrition and health, and nutrition and disease. Prerequisites: CHEM 105, BIOL 190 (lab only) or special permit only.

MATH 115 BASIC MATHEMATICS FOR THE SCIENCES (3)

Intended primarily for students in biology, natural sciences, environmental studies, medical technology and nursing. Functions and equations: linear, quadratic, exponential, trigonometric. Applications of concepts and skills to the life and physical sciences are stressed. Not open to those
who successfully completed MATH 119. Prerequisites: two years of algebra or DVMT 110 or MATH 109, and one year plane geometry. GenEd I.C.

PSYC 101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (3)

Psychological theories, principles and methods, with focus on measurement and experimentation,
biopsychology, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, personality and adjustment, abnormality and psychotherapy, development and individual differences. GenEd II.C.2.

PSYC 203 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (3)

Study of research and theories related to the overall development of the human throughout the life
span with an emphasis on physical, cognitive, social and emotional dimensions. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or PSYC 102. GenEd II.C.2.

SOCI 101 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (3)

Sociological concepts, theories, methods; a study of society and culture; the influence of the social environment on individual behavior. GenEd II.C.2.

Nursing Major Course Descriptions

NURS 330 PROFESSIONAL NURSING: BRIDGE (3)

Conceptual framework of Department of Nursing, including health, health promotion and maintenance for clients throughout the life span. Prerequisite: admission to Nursing major, RN in the state of Maryland.

NURS 331 PROFESSIONAL NURSING I: INTRODUCTION (2)
Introduces students to the professional role of nursing. Encompasses conceptual framework of the Department of Nursing. Prerequisite: admission to the Nursing major.

NURS 341 ALTERATIONS IN HEALTH (3)

Pathophysiologic processes of human illness across the life span. Adaptive and maladaptive
responses to stress are examined. Prerequisites: admission to the Nursing major; NURS 331 (can be taken concurrently).

NURS 343 PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS (2)

Pharmacologic agents commonly used in treatment of disease states and the nursing responsibilities involved. Prerequisites: admission to the Nursing major; NURS 331 and NURS 341 (can be taken concurrently).

NURS 345 TECHNOLOGY AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS (2)

Technological, psychomotor and psychosocial skills used by the nurse in the provider of care role. Prerequisites: admission to the Nursing major; NURS 331, NURS 341, NURS 343, NURS 347 (can be taken concurrently).

NURS 347 HEALTH ASSESSMENT ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (3)
Acquisition of skills for physical and psychosocial health assessment across the life span. Prerequisites: admission to the Nursing major; NURS 331, NURS 341, NURS 343 and NURS 345 (can be taken concurrently).

NURS 351 NURSING PRACTICE I: HEALTH PROMOTION ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (4)

Major concepts of health, health promotion and maintenance for clients throughout the life span. Initial experience in the provider role of the professional nurse. Prerequisites: admission to the nursing major; NURS 331, NURS 341, NURS 343, NURS 345, and NURS 347 (can be taken concurrently).

NURS 353 NURSING PRACTICE II: ADULT HEALTH (5)

Nursing care of adults experiencing alterations in health. Application of critical thinking skills and therapeutic nursing interventions in a variety of community-based environments. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in junior year, first term.

NURS 355 NURSING PRACTICE III: CHILDBEARING FAMILIES (5)
Nursing care of childbearing families. Application of critical thinking skills and therapeutic nursing interventions in a variety of community based environments. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in junior year, first term.

NURS 404 HEALTH CARE: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH (3)
Health care in America, exploring societal factors, resources, social policy, health care delivery, legal and ethical issues. Prerequisite: junior/senior status.

NURS 416 MULTICULTURAL HEALTH CARE (3)

Transcultural health care principles, focusing on cultural influences on biological, psychological,
sociological, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of individuals. Historical perspective to contemporary cultural health care. GenEd II.C.3.

MATH 231 BASIC STATISTICS (3)

Frequency distributions and graphical methods, percentiles, measures of central tendency and variability, probability emphasizing binomial and normal distributions, sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, one and two sample hypothesis tests, simple linear regression. MINITAB or an equivalent computer package is introduced as a computational tool. Practical applications of statistics. Prerequisite: MATH 111 or MATH 115 or equivalent. GenEd I.C.

MATH 237 ELEMENTARY BIOSTATISTICS (4)

Elementary statistical concepts and their application to the biological and health sciences.
Descriptive statistics, estimation techniques, hypothesis testing, analysis of enumerative data, and one-way analysis of variance and simple linear regression and correlation analysis. A statistical package such as MINITAB is introduced as a computational tool. Not open to those who successfully completed MATH 231 or MATH 330 or to mathematics majors. Prerequisite: two years high school algebra or DVMT 110 or MATH 109. GenEd I.C.

PSYC 212 BEHAVIORAL STATISTICS (4)

Distributions and graphs, notation, levels of measurement, percentiles, measures of central tendency
and variability, principles of probability, the normal curve, standard scores, sampling theory, hypothesis testing, significance of differences, correlation and prediction, computation on computer terminals, Chi square, non-parametrics, one-way analysis of variance. Prerequisite: MATH 109 or higher with a grade of “C” or better except MATH 204. GenEd I.C.

NURS 431 PROFESSIONAL NURSING II: RESEARCH (2)

Nursing research through preparation of a proposal; qualitative and quantitative approaches and ethical issues. Prerequisites: completion of all courses in the junior level; MATH 231 or MATH 237 or PSYC 212.

NURS 433 PROFESSIONAL NURSING III: ISSUES (3)

Transition from student to registered nurse; contemporary issues and challenges of professional nursing. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in the senior year, first term. Advanced Writing Course. GenEd I.D.

NURS 451 NURSING PRACTICE IV: PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH (5)

Nursing care of adults experiencing alterations in psychological and/or social behaviors. Application of critical thinking skills and therapeutic nursing interventions in a variety of community based environments. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in the junior level.

NURS 453 NURSING PRACTICE V: CHILD HEALTH (5)

Nursing care of children experiencing alterations in health. Application of critical thinking skills and therapeutic nursing interventions in a variety of community-based environments. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in the junior level.

NURS 455 NURSING PRACTICE VI: COMMUNITY HEALTH (5)

Role of the professional nurse as provider and coordinator of care for complex families, aggregates and communities. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in the senior year, first term.

NURS 457 NURSING PRACTICE VII: CLINICAL PRACTICUM (2)
Provider role of the nurse in a selected clinical environment. Application of critical thinking and therapeutic nursing interventions. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: completion of all courses in the senior year, first term.

NURS 459 NURSING PRACTICE VIII: LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT (4)

Leadership roles and management functions of the nurse as coordinator of care for clients across the life span in a variety of health care environments. Prerequisite: completion of all courses senior year,
first term; NURS 433, NURS 455, NURS 457 (can be taken concurrently).

Department of Nursing
Burdick Hall, Room 134 (map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2067
Fax: 410-704-4325
E-mail: bnecker@towson.edu