Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Admission Policy

The Nursing Department Admissions, Promotion and Retention Committee reviews all applications and selects candidates who are best qualified to meet the standards of the nursing profession.

To be eligible for admission into the Nursing Program, students must:

  1. File an application for admission to the Department of Nursing by December 1 of their sophomore year. Forms are available in the Department of Nursing Office.
  2. Complete Coe College General Education requirements.
  3. Attend NUR 100 Nursing Issues Seminar each semester that the student is in attendance at Coe College prior to entering the Nursing major.
  4. Satisfactorily complete (C or higher) or be in the process of completing the following required supporting courses:

    BIO-145 Cellular and Molecular Biology
    BIO-192 Microbiology
    BIO-210 Human Anatomy Lab
    BIO-215 Human Anatomy
    BIO-220 Human Physiology Lab
    BIO-225 Human Physiology
    CHM-145 Introduction to Organic & Biological Chemistry
    PSY-115 Introductory Psychology
    PSY-215 Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences OR STA 100/110 Statistical Reasoning/Inferential Statistics
    SOC-107 Introductory Sociology

  5. Additionally complete eight (8) non-nursing elective courses as determined by student and their advisor (refer to item #2 above).
  6. Students must complete all required supporting courses listed above and all required nursing courses, with no one specific course repeated more than once and with no more than two different courses repeated.
  7. Those students who complete the majority of the 16 course credits defined above at Coe College will be given priority for admission.
  8. Achieve a cumulative Coe College grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or above. a. Students with a GPA lower than 2.7 may be considered for admission on a space available basis.
  9. Possess valid licensure as a Certified Nursing Assistant (Direct Care Worker).

*The Nursing Department Admissions, Promotion, and Retention committee reviews all applications and selects candidates who are best qualified to meet the standards of the nursing profession. In reviewing applications, the committee considers criteria such as GPA, academic performance in the supporting courses, as well as the number of supporting courses taken at Coe College.

Sample Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Course List

First Year

Fall Term Spring Term
FYS Course*
 CHM-145 - Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (lab included)
BIO-145 - Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIO-140 - Lab (optional)
 SOC-105 - Introductory Sociology
May be taken first or second year
PSY-115 - Introductory Psychology
Must be taken prior to PSY-215
 BIO-192 - Microbiology (lab included)
NUR-100 - Nursing Issues
 NUR-100 - Nursing Issues
^CHM-035 - Selected Concepts in Chemistry OR an elective of choice Elective

^CHM-035 Selected Concepts in Chemistry should be taken prior to CHM-145 if a student has no previous chemistry course.

Sophomore Year

Fall Term Spring Term
BIO-215 - Human Anatomy and
BIO-210 - Human Anatomy Lab
 BIO-225 - Human Physiology and
BIO-220 - Human Physiology Lab
PSY-215 Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences OR
STA-100 - Statistical Reasoning I AND
STA-110 - Statistical Reasoning II
 Elective
NUR-100 - Nursing Issues
 NUR-100 - Nursing Issues
Elective Elective
Elective Elective

CNA Certification is required before beginning clinical coursework. Certification must be obtained through local community college or other local training site.

Junior Year

Fall Term Spring Term
NUR-315 - Pathophysiology and Assessment and
NUR-310 - Patho Clinical Application (2 cc total)
 NUR-355 - Introductory Concepts in Nursing and
NUR-350 - Intro Clinical Application (2 cc total)
NUR-300 - Art and Science of Nursing (1 cc)
 NUR-425 - Nursing Research* (1 cc)
Nursing Elective (1 cc) Nursing Elective (1 cc)

Senior Year

Fall Term Spring Term
NUR-415 - Advanced Concepts in Nursing and
NUR-410 - Adv. Clinical Application (2 cc total)
 NUR-455 - Leadership & Contemporary Issues in Nursing* and
NUR-450 - Leadership Clinical Application* (2 cc total)
NUR-405 - Managing Risks and Risk Assessment in Health and Disease* (1 cc)
 NUR-395 - Maternal Newborn Nursing (1 cc)
NUR-345 - Mental Health Nursing (1 cc)
 Nursing Elective (1 cc)

* Writing Emphasis Course
32 Course Credits for graduation

Program Information

Courses of Instruction

NURSING

Bierschenk, Johnson, McEvoy, Moore, Nicholson, Ohrt, Shostrom (Chair), Taylor, Tobin.

The program is designed to provide students with the highest quality professional education built upon a foundation of learning in the liberal arts.

NUR-215 Developing Relationships: Opportunities for Growth
Investigates theories for successful relationships. The emphasis is on self learning and application of principles involved in healthy and dysfunctional relationships. The students critically review popular literature versus scientific research related to relationship theory. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR-237 Human Sexuality
Examines human sexuality from the psychosocial, biophysiological, and cultural perspective. Topics include but are not limited to: cultural and historical influences on our current understanding and attitudes toward the human sexual experience; the development of gender roles as they impact upon political, work, and social relationships; cultural aspects of sexuality including intimacy, courtship, marriage, and procreation; and sexuality during developmental changes and alterations in health such as infertility, pregnancy, abortion, cancer, AIDS, and others. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR-247 Women's Health and Health Care Issues
Focuses on the forces that sustain gender biases in the health and medical professions, which impact the health of women as demonstrated in health care policy,research, and treatment. The impact of poverty and aging on health care options and treatment is also analyzed. Emphasis is placed on men and women and the processes and content for educating women about their health, illness, and choices. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR-255 Topics in Health Care
Offers selected topics on specific health care and/ or nursing issues, problems, interventions, and theories. Content varies as determined by the instructor. May be repeated for credit, provided the topics are substantially different. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. (Offered on an occasional basis)

NUR-268 Cultural Diversity and Health
A study of the health practices of diverse cultures within the United States. Culture guides problem solving with regard to life choices, including health. This course examines how culture affects decisions about health and health care. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR-297 Parent Child Relationships
A study of the historical, cultural, ethnic, and religious perspectives on parenting in America, the effects of stress and change on parenting ability, and the challenges and rewards of parenting as children and parents move across the lifespan, experience changes in family composition (blended, single-parent, gay and lesbian), health (sandwich generation and aging), and lifestyle. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR-300 Art and Science of Nursing
Introduces the nursing student to the art and science of nursing. The concepts of personhood, environment, nursing, and health are developed. An introduction to theoretical concepts and conceptual frameworks that undergird nursing research and nursing practice are explored. The evidence-based practice is examined, with emphasis placed upon the establishment of communication, self-concept, family, values, and beliefs to assure interdisciplinary communication as the background for nursing care to patients, clients, and their families. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree program.

NUR-315/310 Pathophysiology and Assessment/Clinical Application
Focuses on health assessment and altered human responses encountered by persons across the lifespan. Students learn to perform assessment skills, compile health histories, and conduct physical exams on persons of all ages. Students examine altered physiological functioning, etiological factors, and behavioral manifestations in relationship to comprehensive health assessments. This course provides the basis for integration and application of assessment data and pathophysiological concepts in developing nursing diagnoses. The clinical component of this course provides an opportunity to reinforce health assessment skills with persons across the lifespan as well as practicing basic nursing care. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree program and Certified Nursing Assistant License; previous or concurrent registration in Art and Science of Nursing (NUR-300). (2.0 course credits).

NUR-345 Mental Health Nursing
Introduces the nursing student to the care of persons with at-risk behavioral responses to life processes. The student analyzes theoretical and empirical knowledge from liberal arts and sciences as it applies to diagnosing and treating at-risk behavioral responses to life processes. The students study such topics as alterations in cognition and thought processes, coping responses, self-perception and violence toward self and others. A major component is the use of therapeutic communication skills to provide support that reduce risk, promote positive coping, and reinforce accurate perceptions in patients with alterations in mental health. Prerequisite: Art and Science of Nursing (NUR-300).

NUR-355/350 Introductory Concepts in Nursing/Clinical Application
Focuses on nursing diagnoses and treatment of basic human responses. Emphasis is placed upon achievement of maximum health potential while using primary, secondary, and tertiary nursing interventions. The student studies the concepts of ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, urinary/gastrointestinal elimination, sleep/rest, activity/ exercises, energy balance, sexuality, post trauma responses, comfort, and growth and development. The clinical application reinforces the assessment, diagnoses, and care management of persons across the lifespan in a variety of hospital and ambulatory health care settings. Prerequisite: Pathophysiology and Assessment/Clinical Application (NUR-315/310). (2.0 course credits).

NUR-365 Pathophysiology and the Nursing Process
Course focuses on pathophysiology, health assessment, nursing diagnoses, and the nursing process. Students learn assessment, comprehensive health history, and physical examination skills for persons of all ages. Students examine altered physiological functioning, etiological factors, and behavioral manifestations to altered human responses in relationship to comprehensive health assessments. Through integration of pathophysiology and assessment data students develop nursing diagnoses and apply the nursing process. Guided observation and practice of assessment skills are used to reinforce student learning. Prerequisite: limited to R.N. Advanced Placement students.

NUR-375 Ethical Issues in Health Care
Explores applied issues in health care ethics. Current debates regarding health care issues are studied while applying a variety of ethical principles and values. Whenever possible, actual case studies are used. Ethical decision-making theories are discussed and applied. The goal of the course is for the student to gain an appreciation of the complexity of ethical issues in the current healthcare environment and the complications of the decisions which follow. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR-387 Alternative Therapies for Health and Healing
Examines available alternative and complimentary therapies. Risks and benefits of these modalities are assessed to determine if there are solid, scientific rationales for them. Therapies include dietary supplements, mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation), body based methods (e.g., massage), and energy therapies (e.g., Reiki). Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

NUR 395 Maternal Newborn Nursing
Focuses on assessment, nursing diagnoses and management during normal and high risk pregnancy, labor, deliver, and the postpartum-neonatal period of life. This course includes concepts and issues in reproductive health of men and women using a developmental framework to study nursing care during the process of normal and altered health status of childbearing. Prerequisite: NUR-355/350 Introductory Concepts in Nursing/Clinical Application.

NUR-405 Managing Risk and Risk Assessment in Health and Disease
Focuses on the study of individual, family, and community risk analysis. The student develops an understanding of the ongoing process of risk assessment based upon changes of conditions, locations, needs, and abilities of an individual or group. Concepts of epidemiology such as natural history of disease, levels of prevention, and causality are explored. General methods studied include epidemiological measures, study designs, and sources of data. Application of these concepts and methods are directed toward major causes of morbidity and mortality for the four stages of the life cycle: pregnancy and infancy; childhood and adolescence; young and middle-aged adults; and the elderly. The course addresses current issues related to disease control and surveillance activities, screening programs, clinical decision-making, and health planning and evaluation. Prerequisites: Art and Science of Nursing (NUR-300) for four-year student or acceptance into the Bachelor of Science Nursing degree program for R.N. student.

NUR-415/410 Advanced Concepts in Nursing/Clinical Application
Focuses on nursing diagnoses and treatment of complex human responses. Emphasis is placed upon achievement of the maximum health potential as a result of primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions. The student studies the complex concepts of hydration, integumentary, and pulmonary elimination, cardiovascular and pulmonary responses, neurobehavioral stress, infection, physical injury, environmental hazards, defensive processes, and thermoregulation. The clinical application reinforces the comprehensive assessment, diagnoses, and holistic care management of persons across the life span in a variety of health care settings. Prerequisites: Introductory Concepts in Nursing/Clinical Application (NUR-355/350). (2.0 course credits).

NUR-425 Nursing Research
Study of the research process, the language of research, hypothesis formulation and testing, data collection, and analysis as they relate to the profession of nursing. Discussion of the nurse as a consumer of research with critical evaluation of selected research endeavors. Nursing research project required. The intent of this learning experience is to expose the student to the basic steps of the research process and their relationship to nursing. Prerequisites: Acceptance into BSN Program or RN-Advanced Placement Program.

NUR-455/450 Leadership and Contemporary Issues in Nursing/Clinical Application
Introduces nursing students to leadership, management, and current issues within the nursing profession. Course content includes management theory, delivery of care issues, legal and political awareness. An emphasis throughout the course is the use of effective communication to facilitate problem-solving and situational thinking along with collaboration in order to promote positive outcomes. The clinical component of this course provides an opportunity to collaborate with patients, families, and health care team members within a specified setting of interest, and to develop leadership roles at that clinical site. Prerequisites: BSN Students: Advanced Concepts in Nursing/Clinical Application (NUR-415/410) RN Advanced Placement students: Pathophysiology and the Nursing Process (NUR-365) and Managing Risks and Risk Assessment for Health and Disease (NUR-405).

NUR 8_5 Independent Study
Guided study of individually chosen topic in nursing with a faculty member of the Nursing Department. Prerequisites: Acceptance into Nursing major and consent of instructor.

NUR-895 Nursing Internship
A clinical practicum on an inpatient health care unit under the supervision of a faculty member of the Nursing Department and a professionally prepared R.N. preceptor. A minimum of 140 hours on-site experience is required. Prerequisite: Introductory Concepts in Nursing/Clinical Applications (NUR-355/350).