NURS 101 Introduction to Nursing
1 cr.  (1 lec/wk)
Socializes student to the roles/functions/expectations of the nurse.  This course provides an introduction to nursing history and current views of nursing as a discipline (including various types of nursing occupations and educational requirements).  Scholastic expectations required to complete a program of study in nursing are introduced as well as professional expectations of the practicing nurse.  The following core concepts related to nursing practice are presented:  the caring nature of the nursing profession, the importance of critical thinking/clinical judgement, legal/ethical/cultural issues in nursing, the need to understand human motivation and behavior, and use of the nursing process.

NURS 102 Pharmacology I
2 cr.  (2 lec/wk)  Prerequisites:  BIOL 213 and BIOL 214.
Introduces the basic concepts of pharmacology drug legislation and drug standards as well as emphasis on the effects of drugs in the human body.  Emphasizes the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare and administer drugs safely.  The role of the practical nurse in administering medications is emphasized.

NURS 108 Introduction to Normal and Clinical Nutrition
3 cr.  (3 lec/wk)
An introductory nutrition course for nursing students.  Focuses on the total diet with an emphasis on critical thinking.  The relationships between nutrition, health and disease are discussed along with nutrition integrated into the life cycle and at different stages of development.  There is a strong focus on multiculturalism and environmental concerns related to nutrition.

NURS 120 Medical/Surgical Nursing I
8 cr.  (5 lec/9 clinical/wk)  Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of 1st and 2nd semester coursework.
Includes theory and practical application involving management and rehabilitation of patients with medical-surgical problems involving integumentary, gastrointestinal, muscle-skeletal, respiratory, genitourinary and endocrine systems.  Special consideration and nursing management for the geriatric patient is also included.  The nursing process is the basis for planning nursing interventions.

NURS 201 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
4 cr.  (3 lec/3 clinical/wk)  Prerequisites:  PSYC 101.
Enhances student’s abilities to use theories of human behavior and purposeful use of self to care for clients/patients who are suffering from psychiatric conditions or have a mental health component to their physical condition.  This course develops their abilities to meet the nursing needs of these clients by developing the skills of analysis, critical thinking, and therapeutic communication.  In addition to the general hospital and long-term facility locations, the students will be practicing those clinical skills in community inpatient and outpatient Mental Health treatment facilities.

NURS 206 Nursing Fundamentals
8 cr.  (4 lec/6 clinical/2 lab/wk)
Provides a foundation of basic knowledge and experience that will enable the beginning nursing student to learn complex nursing care principles, and develop initial competencies required to give nursing care to clients/patients in both acute and long term health care facilities.

NURS 210 Medical/Surgical Nursing II
8 cr.  (5 lec/6 clinical/wk)  Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of 1st, 2nd and 3rd semester coursework.
The nursing process as the basis for planning nursing care in diseases of the following systems:  ear, nose, and throat; neurological; cardiovascular; shock; cancer; reproductive; STD's and AIDS are emphasized.  Special considerations for care of the gerontologic patient as well as physical and psychosocial aspects, cultural diversity, patient teaching and discharge planning are included with each disease process.

NURS 213 Nursing's Role and Human Relations
2 cr.  (2 lec/wk)  Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd semester coursework.
Studies the changing role of nurses in delivering health services.  Professional and organizational communication, ethical/legal considerations, self-awareness and individual responsibility are emphasized.  Developing management skills appropriate for the entry level practical nurse and preparation for taking the State Licensing Examination are also included.

NURS 214 Basic IV Therapy
2 cr.  (1 lec/2 lab/wk)  Prerequisite:  NURS 210.
Addresses administration of parenteral drugs and fluids by the intravenous route.  Covers the nursing role and responsibility of intravenous therapy, the techniques of therapy, equipment selection, fluid and electrolyte balance, parenteral nutrition therapy, transfusion therapy, and special applications.

NURS 215 Practical Nursing Preceptorship Program
2 cr.  (6 clinical/wk)  Prerequisites:  Completion of 1st, 2nd and 3rd and 10 weeks of 4th semester Nursing courses.
Provides the fourth semester student the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and skills in the clinical setting.  The student will be under the direct guidance of an LPN as his/her preceptor and supervision of the registered nurse with close monitoring by the clinical instructor.  The nursing process will be the basis for all nursing intervention.

NURS 230 Fundamentals of Nursing
7 cr.  (4 lec/6 lab/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 232 and 234
Introduces learners to the clinical skills essential for the nursing role.  Also includes complex concepts and behaviors of nursing roles within the context of the nursing process, holistic care, and health care.  Emphasizes the theoretical and practical concepts of nursing skills required to meet the needs of clients in a variety of settings.

NURS 232 Pharmacology
3 cr.  (3 lec/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 230 and 234
Develops a structured systematic approach to the study of drug therapy through caring, communication, professionalism, critical thinking, and clinical judgement.  Medications are studied according to drug classes and therapeutic families.  Students will learn to apply the nursing process to drug therapy with an emphasis on accessing relevant information to ensure client safety.

NURS 234 Gerontology
2 cr.  (1 lec/3 clinical/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 230 and 232
Provides the student with introductory skills and knowledge needed in delivering nursing care to aging clients.  Topics explored include current trends (including legal and ethical issues) in gerontological nursing, developmental stages and transitions associated with aging, expected age-related physiological changes and assessment findings, recognition and management of acute and chronic illnesses that commonly occur in the older adult population, promotion of health for the older adult client, and end-of-life issues and care.

NURS 240 Core Concepts of Adult Nursing
7 cr.  (4 lec/9 clinical/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 242 and 244
Applies concepts preparing the student to care for clients experiencing common, well-defined health alterations in settings where stable clients are anticipated.  Students are introduced to standardized nursing procedures and customary nursing and collaborative therapeutic modalities.  The following body systems will be addressed:  neurological, cardiac, respiratory, renal/urological, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, reproductive, integumentary, sensory, and hematological.  The topics of peri-operative care, pain, infection/immunity, and cancer will be addressed.  Additionally, recognition and emergent treatment of rapidly changing conditions will be introduced.

NURS 242 Core Concepts of Maternal/Child Nursing
3 cr.  (2 lec/3 clinical/wk)  Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of first, second, and third semester coursework.  Corequisites:  NURS 240 and 244.
Emphasizing caring, communication, professionalism, and critical thinking, the course provides information about fetal development and prenatal and postnatal care of the mother and newborn.  Role of the nurse in meeting the needs of the family is emphasized.  Clinical application of caring for the mother and newborn will allow the student to demonstrate acquired knowledge.  The course also includes growth and development patterns as well as care of the well and sick child.

NURS 244 Core Concepts of Mental Health Nursing
2 cr.  (2 lec/wk)  Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of first, second, and third semester coursework.  Corequisites:  NURS 240 and 242.
Examines the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, and environmental factors associated with mental health/illness effecting individuals and families.  Focus will be placed on basic concepts of psychiatric nursing, therapeutic modalities, as well as psychiatric disorders including psychopharmalogical management.

NURS 246 Leadership Issues
2 cr.  (1 lec/3 clinical/wk)  Prerequisite:  Satisfactory completion of first, second, and third semester coursework.
Expands the Practical Nursing student information regarding the current status of vocational nursing through a capstone course.  This course assists the nursing student to bridge the role between student and employee.  Leadership/management skills, health care delivery systems, continuing educational needs, licensure requirements, legal issues, and standards of practice are investigated.  Personal and professional identity and entry into the job market are explored.  There is a forty-five hour clinical/precepted component to provide the student opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in the long-term care setting.

NURS 248 Transition to Registered Nursing
3 cr.  (2 lec/2 lab/wk)  Prerequisite:  LPN license and out of college 3 years or more.
Integrates the components of lifelong learning, adapting to change, critical thinking, nursing process, legal and ethical issues, math for meds, IV therapy, APA format, and skill review to “socialize” the student from the LPN/LVN to the Associate Degree RN.

NURS 250 Pathophysiology
3 cr.  (3 lec/wk)  Prerequisite:  Acceptance into ASN program.  Corequisites:  NURS 252 and 254.
Explores the basic principles and processes of pathophysiology including cellular communication, genes and genetic disease, forms of cellular injury, fluid and electrolyte/acid base balance, immunity, stress coping and illness, and tumor biology.  Pathophysiology of the most common alterations according to body system will also be discussed as well as the latest developments in research related to each area.

NURS 252 Complex Care Needs of the Maternal/Child Client
3 cr.  (2 lec/3 clinical/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 250 and 254.
Expands the knowledge base of the student to provide care to maternal/child clients experiencing acutely changing conditions in settings where outcome is less predictable.  Topics include care of the client during childbirth, high-risk pregnancies, obstetrical emergencies, neonatal emergencies, and infants and children requiring complex collaborative care.

NURS 254 Complex Care Needs-Mental Health Client
2 cr.  (1 lec/3 clinical/wk)  Prerequisite:  Acceptance into ASN Program.  Corequisite:  NURS 250.
Evaluates the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, and environmental factors associated with mental health/illness.  Focus will be placed on psychotherapeutic management in the continuum of care, milieu management, and special populations with emphasis on individuals, families, and communities.

NURS 260 Complex Care Needs of the Adult Client
4 cr.  (2 lec/6 clinical/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 262 and 264.
Expands previously learned concepts to prepare the student to provide nursing care to adult clients experiencing acutely changing conditions in settings where outcome is less predictable.  Emphasis is placed on the nurse’s response to emergent/life-threatening/rapidly changing conditions.  Topics covered include collaborative therapeutic modalities related to acute/complex neurological, cardiac, respiratory, hematological, endocrinologic events, and shock, sepsis/SIRS, complex burns, etc.

NURS 262 Advanced Clinical Skills
1 cr.  (2 lab/wk)  Corequisites:  NURS 260 and 264.
Applies concepts from previous nursing courses to carry out complex nursing interventions.  Topics covered include central venous therapy, parenteral nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring, advanced airway/ventilatory support, intracranial pressure monitoring, IV medication administration, high risk IV infusions, blood/blood product administration, conscious sedation, advanced wound care, etc.

NURS 264 Managing Client Care
4 cr.  (2 lec/6 clinical/wk)  Prerequisite:  Semester five.  Corequisite:  NURS 260 and 262.
Synthesizes nursing care of individual clients and groups of clients as well as basic principles related to supervision of nursing practice and management of resources in order to prepare students for the many roles available in health care today.  Topics include:  role differentiation among care providers, organization and prioritization, delegation, supervision and appropriate practice/practice settings, management of the needs of individuals and groups of clients, and management of health care resources.  Additionally, the course helps the student integrate didactic content from all other nursing courses and will help the student in her or his transition from the student role to the role of the Registered Nurse.  Students examine legal/ethical issues in nursing as well as values, clarification, conflict resolution, consensus building, and defective communication techniques in the employment setting.  Licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) preparations and process are included as a component of the course.  The preceptor-based clinical component allows the student to function in the role of a registered nursing while working one-to-one with a designated RN preceptor.

Ñ - This symbol denotes classes that are offered in an online format in addition to the classroom setting.
* - These courses may only be available on the MSU Billings Senior Campus