Nursing (NURS)

NURS 100. Nurse Assistant Training

Credits: 2
Typically Offered: FASPSU
Nursing Assistant Training provides classroom instruction and clinical practice to those preparing for employment as a certified nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility, acute care, or home health care. Included in the three-week, 88 hour program is classroom instruction, supervised practical training and clinical practice. This course can be taken for credit as NURS 100 or non-credit by contacting the Continuing Education, Training and Innovation Department at (701) 224-5600. Special fees attached based on how the course is delivered.

NURS 120. Foundations of Nursing

Credits: 2
Typically Offered: FALL
Develop an understanding of the multidimensional base of nursing knowledge, including basic human needs, nursing process, nursing judgment, informatics, ethical and professional, health promotion and disease prevention concepts. Gain an understanding of the role of the practical nurse within the interdisciplinary team, the vital importance of communication while providing safe and quality client care, and how nurses use evidence based information in their practice.

NURS 121. Practical Nursing I

Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dakota Nursing Program - Practical Nursing.
Typically Offered: FALL
Explore three core concepts of health assessment, nutrition and mental health as they relate to client care. Learn how the nurse incorporates this knowledge in caring for the diverse client from the moment they begin care for an individual to any point along the health-illness continuum.

NURS 122. Clinical Practice I

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dakota Nursing Program - Practical Nursing.
Typically Offered: FALL
Apply the social, biological, behavioral and nursing science principles to simulated and actual client care in the nursing lab and during clinical in health care facilities. Students will see, practice and perform demonstrations of basic nursing skills and procedures in a supervised setting. Includes the study of math and medical terminology and use of the nursing process and critical thinking skills to organize and provide safe and effective client care.

NURS 124. Clinical Practice II

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NURS 120, NURS 121, and NURS 122.
Corequisites: NURS 145 and NURS 127.
Typically Offered: SPRING
Gain additional nursing skills in the laboratory and apply those advanced skills in the clinical setting. Utilize the tools of informatics, nursing process, clinical reasoning, therapeutic communication, evidence based practice, and management concepts to provide safe and culturally sensitive client care for individuals across the lifespan in a variety of medical facilities.

NURS 126. Clinical Practice III

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NURS 124, NURS 127 and NURS 145.
Corequisite: NURS 129.
Typically Offered: SUMMER
Refine nursing knowledge, skills and ethical comportment in the role of a practical nursing student to provide safe and effective care for clients across the lifespan with stable or predictable health problems and assisting with those whose conditions are critical or unpredictable. Critical thinking, effective and therapeutic communication, nursing process, management of nursing care, and delegation of unlicensed assistant persons are incorporated into the clinical experience.

NURS 127. Practical Nursing II: Introduction to Medical/Surgical Nursing

Credits: 2
Prerequisites: NURS 120, NURS 121 and NURS 122.
Corequisites: NURS 124 and NURS 145.
Typically Offered: SPRING
Examine safe and effective client care of the bio-psychosocial individual along the health illness continuum. Students will be involved in the teaching and learning activities that enhance critical thinking skills, examine aspects of self-determination, health promotion, disease prevention and evidence based practice. Students will increase their understanding of nursing process and prioritization in the care of culturally unique clients across the lifespan in an ethical and legal manner.

NURS 129. Practical Nursing III

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NURS 124, NURS 127 and NURS 145.
Corequisite: NURS 129.
Typically Offered: SUMMER
This course will continue to examine evidence based nursing interventions, nursing process, nutrition and drug therapy for health promotion and disease prevention in the culturally diverse client across the lifespan along the health illness continuum. Students will have access to additional knowledge in the areas of quality improvement, informatics, accountability, ethical, legal and professional issues of the practical nurse.

NURS 145. Introduction to Maternal/Child Nursing

Credits: 2
Prerequisites: NURS 120, NURS 121 and NURS 122.
Corequisite: NURS 124 and NURS 127.
Typically Offered: SPRING
Focus on the nursing care of the woman, newborn, child and families. Examine health maintenance and study the diseases and disorders affecting women, newborns, and children. Gain an understanding of pediatric growth and development and common illnesses. Use knowledge of family centered care, teaching and learning principles, and therapeutic communication while working within the interdisciplinary team to assist clients to use self-determination in decisions affecting their health.

NURS 224. Professional Role Development

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dakota Nursing Program - Associate Degree Nurse.
Corequisites: NURS 225, NURS 226, and NURS 227.
Typically Offered: FALL
This course is designed to investigate the role of the RN. Students will learn about historical trends, increase their knowledge of the background and current application of safety goals and competencies, and use previous skills in management to now refine leadership skills. Students will start the process of analyzing individual performance and system effectiveness.

NURS 225. Alterations in Health I

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dakota Nursing Program - Associate Degree Nurse.
Corequisites: NURS 224, NURS 226, and NURS 227.
Typically Offered: FALL
This course explores the pathophysiology and nursing interventions used in caring for individuals experiencing acute and chronic alterations in health that build on concepts, knowledge and skills introduced in practical nursing courses and the supporting sciences. Utilize evidence based practice, nursing judgement, therapeutic communication, and the nursing process as a framework for providing and managing nursing care to diverse individuals along the health illness continuum.

NURS 226. Maternal Child Nursing

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dakota Nursing Program - Associate Degree Nurse.
Corequisites: NURS 224, NURS 225, and NURS 227.
Typically Offered: FALL
This course integrates prior learning while expanding knowledge of the neonate, developing child, women's health, and childbearing family. Health maintenance and study of diseases and disorders affecting diverse neonates, children, women, and families along the health illness continuum and during the end stages of life are examined. Emphasis is placed on therapeutic communication, the role of the registered nurse, ethical/ legal issues and health promotion and maintenance during life stages of growth and development for the neonates, children, and women.

NURS 227. Clinical Application I

Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dakota Nursing Program - Associate Degree Nurse.
Corequisites: NURS 224, NURS 225, and NURS 226.
Typically Offered: FALL
Participate collaboratively with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to provide safe and culturally sensitive client centered care in the lab, clinical area and simulation lab. Practice parenteral medication therapies and demonstrate professional and leadership competencies while incorporating evidence based practices and sound nursing judgment.

NURS 228. Alterations in Health II

Credits: 4
Prerequisites: NURS 224, NURS 225, NURS 226, and NURS 227.
Corequisites: NURS 229, NURS 237 and NURS 259.
Typically Offered: SPRING
This course continues the study of acute and chronic alterations in health across a variety of healthcare environments. Discusses the principles of clinical judgment, leadership and delegation while prioritizing and providing safe, effective and culturally sensitive client care for individuals experiencing complex alterations in health. Analyzes ethical health care, quality improvement processes and effective work practices within the healthcare system.

NURS 229. Health Promotion and Psychosocial Nursing

Credits: 2
Prerequisites: NURS 224, NURS 225, NURS 226, and NURS 227.
Corequisites: NURS 228, NURS 237 and NURS 259.
Typically Offered: SPRING
This course examines safe and effective client care in the areas of health promotion for individuals and groups in communities and in care of the client experiencing psychosocial issues. Expand skills in promoting a clients self-determination, advocating for clients, and working within the interdisciplinary healthcare team while making evidence based decisions to improve the safety and quality of client care.

NURS 237. Clinical Application II

Credits: 5
Prerequisites: NURS 224, NURS 225, NURS 226, and NURS 227.
Corequisites: NURS 228, NURS 229 and NURS 259.
Typically Offered: SPRING
Prioritize safe, effective, and culturally competent client care in acute and community settings during this clinical and simulation lab course. Clients with complex alterations in health and psychosocial issues are managed with a spirit of inquiry and collaboration to make evidence based clinical judgements. Quality improvement practices related to national safety goals are examined. Students will be challenged with a precept activity during the latter part of this course.

NURS 259. Role Transitions

Credits: 1
Prerequisites: NURS 224, NURS 225, NURS 226 and NURS 227.
Corequisites: NURS 228, NURS 229, and NURS 237.
Typically Offered: SPRING
Examine the process of identifying and obtaining a position as a registered nurse. Explore nursing organizations, the legislative process, and lifelong learning. Investigate what it takes to prepare for and be successful in passing the NCLEX RN examination. Be part of developing an evidence based research question, use technology to prepare a portfolio, and reflect on what it means to be accountable and responsible in the role of the RN.