Course Descriptions
General Education
Communications Course
COMM 1001 Contemporary Communications (5 cr.)
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of effective communication in contemporary society. The primary focus is on communication using electronic means, such as cell phones, email, instant messaging, and Internet technologies. Topics include communication methods and technologies and their impact on the individual and society. Upon completion, students will be able to use appropriate contemporary communication strategies for the setting and audience and apply writing and critical-thinking skills to their personal, academic, and work lives. (Note: must be taken in first quarter.)
Social Science Course
SOCI 4080 Social Responsibility (5 cr.)
This course is designed as an interdisciplinary synthesis of learning for Walden University undergraduates through the lens of civic engagement and social responsibility. Topics include problem-solving in contemporary society. Upon completion, students will have developed awareness and skills to sustain and advance the communities in which they live. (Prerequisite: All required general education courses completed. Must be taken at Walden prior to program completion as part of upper-division curriculum.)
NURS 3000 Issues and Trends in Nursing (5 cr.)
This course provides an overview of the evolution of nursing as a profession and its relationship to the changes in organization, structure, and function of the U.S. health care delivery system. Major issues and trends in nursing and health care are examined with consideration given to the influence of socioeconomic, ethical, legal, and political variables as well as professional values on contemporary nursing practice.
NURS 3005 The Context of Health Care Delivery (5 cr.)
This course provides a systems-level analysis of the implications of health care policy on issues of access, equity, affordability, and social justice in health care delivery. Legislative, regulatory, and financial processes relevant to the organization and provision of health care services are examined with attention to their impact on quality and safety in the practice environment and disparities in the health care system.
NURS 3010 Information Management in Nursing and Health Care (5 cr.)
The focus of this course is on the application and use of information technology to support clinical and managerial decision-making in nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on information technology that supports the delivery of services, including the collection, storage, retrieval, and communication of data, information systems safeguards, ethical and legal issues, and information management to promote patient safety and quality of care. Information literacy, basic hardware and software concepts are addressed. Fundamental software applications including spreadsheets and health care databases are considered.
NURS 3015 Pathopharmacology (5 cr.)
This course focuses on the pathophysiology related to major health problems across the lifespan and the pharmacologic management of those problems. Topics include cellular aspects of disease, pathophysiological signs and symptoms, and dynamics of body defenses. Foundational pharmacologic principles and topics are explored, including key drug actions and interactions, effects of various categories of drugs, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Implications for nursing practice are considered.
NURS 3020 Health Assessment (5 cr.)
This course focuses on the knowledge and skills required to collect data related to assessment of individual health status. Physical examination skills of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation are used to assess major body systems across the lifespan. Interviewing skills and history taking are included as well as the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of clinical assessment. Attention is given to the integration of data to guide the nursing process, requisite communication skills, and ethical guidelines. Interactive simulations provide an opportunity for students to apply knowledge.
NURS 4000 Research and Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice (5 cr.)
This course focuses on the basic elements of the research process in discovery of new knowledge and models for applying evidence to inform clinical decisions and improve nursing practice and patient outcomes. Consideration is given to the ethical conduct of research and scholarly work as well as the nurse’s role in the collection, documentation, analysis, interpretation, dissemination, and utilization of research data.
NURS 4005 Topics in Clinical Nursing (5 cr.)
This course highlights major acute and chronic health problems and leading causes of death across the lifespan including etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and implications for treatment and disease management. Consideration is given to the relationship of genetics and genomics to health and illness; infection control issues such as drug-resistant organisms; accidents/injuries; common geriatric syndromes; palliative and end-of-life care; as well as complementary and alternative therapies. Development of a framework for nursing interventions is emphasized.
NURS 4010 Family, Community, and Population-Based Care (7 cr.)
The focus of this course is on application of theories and concepts from nursing and public health sciences in assessing health status and preventing and controlling disease in families, aggregates, and communities as clients. The use of epidemiological and community assessment techniques to examine populations at risk, health promotion, and levels of disease prevention with special emphasis on ethnically diverse and vulnerable populations are incorporated. Major local, state, and national health issues are considered including mental health and substance abuse and related co-morbidities; re-emergence of infectious and communicable diseases; environmental and occupational health hazards; bioterrorism; emergency preparedness, and disaster response. Students participate in a practicum experience in a community/population-based health care setting. This course has a 45-hour community health component.
NURS 4015 Public and Global Health (5 cr.)
The course is designed to provide an overview of global health issues that transcend national borders, class, race, ethnicity, and culture. The role of the nurse in preserving and promoting health among diverse populations is discussed. Students will consider global health and their role in health promotion, protection, and maintenance, and illness prevention of targeted populations. Principles of epidemiology and the influencing sociopolitical factors that impact health and well-being of humankind are explored. The nurse’s role as a leader in transforming the future of the world’s health is reflected upon in creating a vision for the future.
NURS 4020 Leadership Competencies in Nursing and Health Care (7 cr.)
This course will focus on building the knowledge and key competencies essential to successful leadership and influence in an evolving health care delivery system. The course emphasizes increasing self-awareness in the context of organizational challenges and individual motivation; distinguishing leadership from management; team building; strengthening interpersonal, communication, and interdisciplinary effectiveness; shaping a preferred future for nursing; translating strategic vision into action; as well as developing skills in implementing and managing organizational change. Specific learning opportunities include case studies; a battery of self assessments and 360-degree feedback instruments; exposure to top-level leaders in nursing and health care; and an experiential component with a mentor in a selected setting. This course has a 45-hour leadership component.
