NURSING

Full-Time Faculty

Kelly Clark (2017), M.S.N., Instructor of Nursing
B.S.N., Youngstown State University;
M.S.N., Walden University
Academic Interests: psychiatric and mental health nursing, addictions, medical-surgical nursing

Terri L. Coffee (2016), D.N.P., ACNS-BC, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., M.S.N., Youngstown State University;
D.N.P., Chatham University
Academic Interests: gerontology nursing, perioperative nursing, addiction

Emily McClung (2008), Ph.D, RN, Assistant Professor
B.S.N., West Virginia Wesleyan College;
M.S.N., Duke University;
Ph.D., Saint Louis University
Academic Interests: parish nursing, health ministry, end of life care, spiritual care

Sally Ann Missimi (2015), Ph.D, RN, Lecturer
B.S.N., Kent State University;
M.Ed., Ph.D., Kent State University
Academic Interests: community health nursing, health system organizational culture with emphasis on humanistic and narrative health care practice, inter-professional education, and health care career pathway development

Jill Rankin (2016), DNP, RN, Assistant Professor
B.S.N., M.S.N., Youngstown State University;
D.N.P., Carlow University
Academic Interests:  pediatric nursing, community health nursing, political advocacy and leadership

Connie Stopper (2010), Ph.D., RN, CNS, Director of Nursing, Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., M.Ed., Kent State University;
M.S.N., The Ohio State University;
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Academic Interests: psychiatric/mental health nursing, nursing education/administration, leadership and professional development, science of caring

Jennie Wood (2017), Ph.D., RN, CNE, Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Youngstown State University;
M.S.N., Ph.D., Kent State University
Academic Interests: critical care nursing, cardiac nursing, women at high risk for breast cancer

Retired Faculty

Davina J. Gosnell (2006), Professor of Nursing 
Diploma in Nursing - Massillon City Hospital School of Nursing;
B.S.N., University of Pittsburgh;
M.S.N., Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Academic Interests: health policy, international nursing, pressure ulcer risk assessment and prevention, program evaluation 

For further information about the BSN nursing program, including admission and progression policies, please refer to the nursing department website:  http://www.hiram.edu/nursing

BSN Program

The nursing curriculum includes both a major in nursing and a minor in biomedical humanities that results in a distinct, academically rigorous program of study, with the goal of educating a new generation of professional nurses whose education is embedded in both the liberal arts and the discipline of nursing. Such an educational foundation prepares one to become a clinically competent, ethically grounded, socially and culturally responsible professional nurse who is prepared to think critically and participate as a leader in the delivery of health and nursing care.   In addition to didactic instruction in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and nursing, the program of study includes laboratory and simulation experiences, and study-abroad opportunities.  It also includes clinical practicum and role-development experiences in a variety of health care settings, including acute care facilities, community and specialty hospitals, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory and community health agencies throughout Northeast Ohio. Upon completion of the nursing curriculum, students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree and will be qualified to apply for licensure as a registered nurse.

Nursing Pathway

Sample BSN Curriculum Plan

FIRST YEAR

Fall 12 week (13 cr)
o FRCL 1xxxx (4) Freshman Colloquium
o CHEM 10600 (4) Physiological Chemistry I (SM core)
o *BIOL 13100 (4) Human A & P I
o NURS 10100 (1) Intro to Professional Nursing
 
Fall 3 week (4 cr)
o PSYC 10100 (4) General Psychology
                                  -or-
o SOAN 15500 (4) Intro to Sociology (CA core)

Spring 12 week (12 cr)
o FSEM 1xxxx (4) Freshman Seminar
o CHEM 10800 (4) Physiological Chemistry II
o BIOL 13300 (4) Human A & P II
 
Spring 3 week (4 cr)
o SOAN 15500 (4) Intro to Sociology (CA core)
                                  -or-
o PSYC 10100 (4) General Psychology

SECOND YEAR

Fall 12 week (12 or 13 cr)
o NURS 20100 (2) Professional Nursing II
o NURS 21000 (3) Introduction to Nursing Practice
o PSYC 25000 (3) Development Across Life Span or SOAN 28000 Sociology of Human Development
o BIOL 23800 (4) Medical Microbiology
 

Fall 3 week (3 or 4 cr)
o *INTD 30200 (3) Narrative Bioethics (ES core) or CHEM 25000 (3) Human Nutrition

 

Spring 12 week (14 cr)
o NURS 20300 (3) Pharmacology for Nursing Practice
o **NURS 22000 (5) Professional Clinical Practice
o *BIOL 26500 (4) Human Genetics
o MATH 11000 (2) Computations for Nursing

Spring 3 week (3 cr)
o CHEM 25000 (3) Human Nutrition or *INTD 30200 (3) Narrative Bioethics (ES core)

THIRD YEAR

Fall 12 week (14 cr)
o MATH 10800 (4) Statistics (MM core)
o **NURS 34000 (4) Parent & Newborn Nursing 
o **NURS 33000 (4) Pediatric Nursing
o NURS 20500 (2) Nursing Informatics

Fall 3 week (4 cr)
o NURS 30100 (2) Professional Nursing III
o NURS 30200 (2) Nursing Research

Spring 12 week (14 cr)
o **NURS 31000 (5) Acute & Chronic Illness Adult Nsg
o **NURS 32000 (4) Gerontological Nursing
o NURS 30300 (1) Applied Nursing Research Practicum
o A course to satisfy CM, IM, or 2nd BIMD (4)

Spring 3 week (4 cr)
o NURS 30300 (2) Applied Nursing Research Practicum
o NURS 32200 (2) Adult Wellness

FOURTH YEAR

Fall 12 week (13 cr)
o **NURS 42000 (4) Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
o **NURS 43000 (4) Critical Care Nursing
o A course (4) to satisfy CM, IM, or 2nd BIMD
o BIMD 18100 (1) Global Health and Nursing Issues

Fall 3 week (3 cr)
o A course to satisfy EW core (3): study abroad, domestic experience, or independent study or CM or IM core (3-4)

Spring 12 (12-13 cr)
o **NURS 41000 (4) Community Health Nursing (UD core)
o NURS 40100 (2) Professional Nursing IV
o NURS 44000 (2) Principles of Leadership & Management in Nursing
o **NURS 44100 (1) Role Transition in Nursing
o A course to satisfy CM, IM or *2nd BIMD (3-4)

Spring 3 week (3 cr)
o **NURS 44110 (3) Role Transition in Nursing
 

Total Program Credits: 133
 
*Courses for the biomedical humanities minor - a biomed minor is optional, but some of the courses are not
 
**Courses with a clinical component

Hiram Core Requirements:
CM - Creative Methods
IM - Interpretive Methods
MM - Modeling Methods
EW - Experiencing the World
UD - Understanding Diversity at Home
ES - Meaning, Ethics and Social Responsibility
SM - Experimental Methods
CA - Social and Cultural Analysis Methods
 

Updated June, 2017

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

NURS 10100: INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING I 1 hour(s)

The course focuses on nursing as a discipline and a profession and is available to any student who is interested in nursing and healthcare. An overview of the historical development of nursing is presented. Introductions to the healthcare delivery system and the role of the professional registered nurse are provided. Issues, trends, and influences are examined.

NURS 18000: WORKSHOP: 1 hour(s)

Workshops may be taken Pass/No Credit only. Students may take no more than nine workshops for credit toward graduation. Workshops can be used as elective credit only.

NURS 20100: PROFESSIONAL NURSING II 2 hour(s)

The focus of this course is on components essential in the process of practicing professional nursing, including critical thinking; problem-solving and decision-making skills; ethics; social policy; and scope and standards of practice, with particular emphasis on writing skills and scholarly methods of knowledge dissemination. Students must also register for NURS 21000. Prerequisite: Nursing (101 or 10100) and sophomore level in Nursing.

NURS 20300: PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING PRACTICE 3 hour(s)

This course is designed to provide the student with basic principles and concepts of pharmacology, including pharmacology, pharmacogenetics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in the human body. Content will be presented according to the major drug classifications and their impact. Drug actions and reactions, recommended dosages, and the basic principles of medications administration and related nursing care are addressed. Prerequisite: Nursing (210 or 21000) or instructor permission.

NURS 20500: NURSING INFORMATICS 2 hour(s)

This web-based course will introduce the student to practical computer applications in nursing and health care. A basic overview of information systems and the use by nurses of the technology and informatics in clinical, educational, and research situations is presented. Prerequisite: Nursing (210 or 21000) or instructor permission required.

NURS 21000: INTRO TO FUNDAMENTALS OF PROF NURSING PRACTICE-W/LAB 3 hour(s)

This course introduces the student to fundamental knowledge and skills required to provide professional nursing care. The components of nursing practice are a major focus of the course, as are therapeutic communication and interpersonal relationship skills. Basic tenets of patient care and comfort will be addressed and simulated. Laboratory experience is an important component of the course. American Heart Association CPR Certified for all ages. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of all first-year requirements and admission to the sophomore Nursing Sequence. A test fee of approximately $400.00 is charged.

NURS 22000: PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL NURSING WITH CLINICAL AND LAB 5 hour(s)

This course will introduce the student to the clinical practice of nursing in a patient care setting. A major focus is the application of the nursing process, as well as the use of therapeutic communication and interpersonal relationship skills. Students will be introduced to beginning concepts of interventions for the medical and surgical patients, including the administration of medication. Prerequisite: Nursing 21000

NURS 23000: BASIC LIFE SUPPORT 1 hour(s)

The Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers Course is designed to teach the skills of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using the American Heart Association guidelines for victims of all ages. Skills addressed include ventilation with a barrier device; a bag-mask device with oxygen; use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED); and relief of foreign-body airway obstruction. Prerequisite: none. Offered irregulary.

NURS 25010: ZAMBIA: A DEVELOPING COUNTRY 1 hour(s)

This course is designed to prepare students for the subsequent 3-week experiential examination of comparative health and conservation issues from social, cultural, ethical, political, policy, educational, and environmental perspectives in the developing country of Zambia (INTD 25000). There will be comparison and contrast with these issues affecting health and conservation in the U.S. as a developed country. Prerequisite: instructor approval.

NURS 28000: SEMINAR 4 hour(s)

This is a course that is designed to provide an overview of a nursing or healthcare topic. Prerequisites: Nursing major with sophomore standing or sophomore non-nursing major with instructor permission. Offered irregularly.

NURS 28100: INDEPENDENT STUDY 1 - 4 hour(s)

NURS 29800: FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 - 4 hour(s)

NURS 30100: PROFESSIONAL NURSING III 2 hour(s)

This course will deal with critical concepts and issues impacting nursing and health care delivery, with particular focus on the role of the professional nurse as change agent. Writing skills and scholarly methods of knowledge dissemination will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Nursing (201 or 20100) and junior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 30200: INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 2 hour(s)

This introductory research course provides the basis for understanding the development and application of research in nursing. The steps involved in planning and conducting nursing research will be presented, as well as techniques for the critique of nursing research studies. Influencing factors in the process and progress of nursing research will be discussed. The evidence-based practice model will be used as the framework for relating clinical practice and research. Prerequisite: Mathematics (108 or 10800) and junior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 30300: APPLIED EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH PRACTICUM 1 hour(s)

In this second of two introductory research courses, the focus is on active involvement in nursing research, setting. Experience with critiquing various research articles including systematic review of various levels of qualitative and quantitative studies will be provided. including a practicum experience with current evidence-based nursing research projects being conducted in clinical settings. Experience in utilizing research principles to critique various evidence-based clinical nursing research studies will be provided, as well as opportunity for direct involvement in various stages of clinical research studies. A required continuation of this course is Nursing 30310. Prerequisites: Nursing (302 or 30200) and junior standing in Nursing sequence.

NURS 30310: APPLIED EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH PRACTICUM II 2 hour(s)

In this second of two introductory research courses, the focus is on active involvement in nursing research, setting. Experience with critiquing various research articles including systematic review of various levels of qualitative and quantitative studies will be provided, including a practicum experience with current evidence-based nursing research projects being conducted in clinical settings. Experience in utilizing research principles to critique various evidence-based clinical nursing research studies will be provided, as well as opportunity for direct involvement in various stages of clinical research studies. Prerequisites: Nursing 302 or 30200 and Mathematics 108 or 10800, and junior standing in Nursing sequence.

NURS 30500: HEALTH SERVICE IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS 1 hour(s)

Many health professionals may choose to serve people in a disadvantaged area as a part of their career. The ability to plan for these types of situations will aid the nurse to be effective in providing service in an unfamiliar environment lacking in the usual resources available for health care delivery. This course will use the experience of a health service trip to an underserved area as a model for instruction. Students who successfully complete this course will be prepared for a follow up course where they will put their plans into action. Prerequisite: Nursing major, at least sophomore status

NURS 31001: ACUTE AND CHRONIC ADULT NURSING-W/CLINICAL AND LAB 5 hour(s)

This clinical course provides a student with the basic knowledge and skills required for the provision of nursing care and comfort for acute and chronically ill adults. The pathophysiology and resulting medical and surgical needs and care of the patient and family are examined. Corequisite: Nursing 320 or 32000 must be taken concurrently. Prerequisite: Nursing 220 or 22000 and junior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 32000: GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING-W/CLINICAL 4 hour(s)

This clinical course will introduce the student to the foundations of gerontological nursing care. Developmental aspects of aging, physiological and psycho-social issues, health promotion, health restoration, quality of life, and end-of-life issues are addressed, as well as the complexity of conditions and care of the gerontological patient. Corequisite: Nursing (310 or 31000) must be taken concurrently. Prerequisite: Nursing (220 or 22000) and junior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 32200: ADULT WELLNESS 2 hour(s)

The focus of this course is on the role of the professional nurse in the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention of illness and disease, and self-care education and empowerment. The skills of health teaching and education will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Nursing (220 or 22000).

NURS 33000: PEDIATRIC NURSING-W/CLINICAL 4 hour(s)

This clinical course focuses on health care of children, with emphasis of family-centered health promotion, and preventive and restorative care from newborn through adolescence. Prerequisites: Nursing (220 or 22000) and junior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 34000: PARENT AND NEWBORN NURSING-W/CLINICAL 4 hour(s)

This clinical course is designed to provide the student the knowledge and skills required for nursing care of the childbearing family and reproductive health with emphasis on health promotion. Prerequisite: Nursing (220 or 22000) and junior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 38000: SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

This is a course that is designed to provide in-depth study of a relevant topic regarding nursing and/or health care. Prerequisites: Nursing major with junior standing or junior non-nursing major with instructor permission. Offered irregulary

NURS 38100: SPECIAL TOPICS: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN NURSING 1 - 4 hour(s)

This course provides an opportunity for a junior student in Nursing to pursue inquiry on a topic of interest under the direction of a Nursing faculty member. Prerequisites: Nursing major with junior standing and instructor permission.

NURS 40100: PROFESSIONAL NURSING IV 2 hour(s)

This course focuses on role transition and preparation for the initial professional employment position as a registered nurse. The course includes self assessment as well as analysis of the professional environment, including influencing factors on the individual nurse and on nursing as a profession. Ethical, societal, cultural, economical, legal, political, and global issues as they influence transition and role development are examined. Prerequisite: Nursing (301 or 30100) and senior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 41000: COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING-W/CLINICAL:UD 4 hour(s)

The focus of this clinical course is on the basic principles and practices of community health nursing, with particular emphasis on the promotion of health, the prevention of illness, and the empowerment of individuals, families, and communities to promote care of self and others. Students must also register for a NURS 41000 Clinical. Prerequisites: Nursing (310 or 31000) and (320 or 32000) and (330 or 33000) and (340 or 34000) and senior standing in Nursing Sequence. This course fulfills the Understanding Diversity in the USA requirement.

NURS 42000: PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH NURSING-W/CLINICAL 4 hour(s)

This clinical course introduces the student to the theories and pathology of psychiatric illmess, concepts of mental health, and therapeutic interventions. Principles of prevention and theorapeutic strategies for treatment and care are examined. Prerequisites: Nursing (310 or 31000) and (320 or 32000) and (330 or 33000) and (340 or 34000) and senior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 43000: CRITICAL CARE NURSING-W/CLINICAL AND LAB 4 hour(s)

This clinical course is designed to introduce the student to nursing care of the high-acuity patient. Course content will focus on physiological complexities, technological interventions, applications of the nursing process, and the role of the nurse in the critical-care setting. Prerequisite: NURS (310 or 31000) and senior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 44000: PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN NURSING 2 hour(s)

This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic knowledge and skills required for effective leadership and management in clinical nursing practice. Prerequisite: Nursing (310 or 31000) and senior standing in Nursing sequence.

NURS 44100: ROLE TRANSITION IN NURSING:I 1 hour(s)

This capstone practicum is designed to help the student synthesize the didactic and clinical knowledge, skills, and behaviors of professional nursing practice. An applied clinical experience with an RN mentor in a selected area of nursing will provide the setting for this capstone experience in role development. A continuation of this course is offered as NURS 44110. Prerequisite: Nursing (410 or 41000) and (420 or 42000) and (430 or 43000) and (440 or 44000) and senior standing in Nursing Sequence.

NURS 44110: ROLE TRANSITION IN NURSING II:ES 3 hour(s)

This capstone practicum is designed to help the student synthesize the didactic and clinical knowledge, skills, and behaviors of professional nursing practice. An applied clinical experience with an RN mentor in a selected area of nursing will provide the setting for this capstone experience in role development. Must register for NURS 44100 in the term prior. This course fulfills the Meaning, Ethics, and Social Responsibility requirement.

NURS 48000: SENIOR SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

This is a course that is designed to provide advanced inquiry of a relevant topic regarding nursing and/or health care. Prerequisites: Nursing major with senior standing or senior non-nursing major with instructor permission. Offered irregularly

NURS 48100: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN NURSING 1 - 4 hour(s)

This course provides opportunity for a senior student in nursing to pursue independent research on a topic of mutual interest under the direction of a Nursing faculty member. Prerequisites: Nursing major with senior standing and instructor permission.

NURS 49800: INTERNSHIP 4 hour(s)