Nursing Course Descriptions

*Classes marked as eCombination with an * are courses in which some traditional face-to-face "Seat time" has been replaced by online learning activities.  A blended (hybrid) course is designed to integrate face-to-face and online activities so that they reinforce, complement, and elaborate one another.  Platt College currently uses a 60/40 split, meaning that 60% of the course is taught face-to-face, and 40% of the course is taught online.

**Classes marked as eCourse with two ** are courses offered 100% online.

NSG 151* (eCombination) (3.0 credits) Introduction to Nursing Informatics: Nursing informatics is a nursing specialty that draws from computer science, information science, cognitive and decision sciences, and nursing science.  Students will gain knowledge and skills to enhance patient-care delivery, promote consumer health, utilize nursing research, and provide education through information technology.  This course focuses on content that provides the learner with the basic tools in the areas of computer literacy, information literacy, and health literacy.  Prerequisite: Admission to BSN program.

NSG 231 (3.0 Credits) Nursing Process and Contemporary Nursing Practice: This course establishes the basic foundation for nursing as an art and a science. The course assists students to understand what it means to be a professional nurse; to appreciate the history of nursing; to understand and prize nursing’s values, standards, and ethics; to learn the significance of the nursing process; to recognize and deal effectively with social and economic factors that influence how the profession is practiced; and to appreciate the need to be lifelong learners and contributing members of the nursing profession. 

NSG 232 (4.0 Credits) Basic Principles of Patient Centered Care: This fundamental nursing skills course introduces the student to the relationship between evidence-based nursing practice (science) and caring (art) while performing patient-centered care tasks including meeting the basic needs of oxygenation, nutrition, elimination, activity and rest, protection, and psychosocial integrity.  Prerequisite: NSG 231. Corequisites: NSG 232L/232P.

NSG 232L (2.0 Credits) Laboratory, Basic Principles of Patient Centered Care: This fundamental nursing skills laboratory allows the student to apply the NSG 232 concepts and principles learned in a controlled classroom environment.  Prerequisite: NSG 231. Corequisites: NSG 232/232P.

NSG 232P (1.0 Credit) Practicum, Basic Principles of Patient Centered Care: This fundamental nursing skills practicum allows the student to apply the NSG 232 & NSG 232L concepts, principles and skills learned in the classroom and laboratory to a real patient care situation in a long term care or skilled nursing unit. Prerequisite: NSG 231. Corequisites: NSG 232/232L.

NSG 233** (eCourse) (1.0 Credit) Nursing Care of the Aging Adult: An introduction to concepts of aging with a focus on health promotion, maintenance of functional capacity, normal physiologic changes, and improvement of quality of life through interdisciplinary collaboration. Prerequisite: NSG 231.

NSG 249** (eCourse) (2.0 Credit) Legal and Ethical Issues Impacting Nursing Practice: This course is designed to prepare the student for legal and ethical issues facing today’s practicing nurse.  The student will study the basics of the legal system, current legal responsibilities, licensure standards, patient consents, HIPAA, and other legally pertinent concerns. The elements of ethical decision making will be addressed as well as advanced directives, end-of-life care, and organ donation  Prerequisite: NSG 231.

NSG 250 (3.0 Credits) Advanced Principles of Patient Centered Care: The student’s capability to perform more complex patient centered nursing care skills is the focus of this course.  Evidence-based practice and critical thinking skill development is focused on medication administration, intravenous therapy, laboratory and diagnostic testing, and patient treatments.  The course is designed to integrate knowledge and skills from NSG 232. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 282/282L/282P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224, MAT 107. Corequisites: NSG 250L/250P; NSG 290; BIOL 300, MAT 107 (*if repeating course)

NSG 250L (2.0 Credits) Laboratory, Advanced Principles of Patient Centered Care: This advanced nursing skills laboratory allows the student to apply the NSG 250 concepts and principles learned in a controlled classroom environment.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 282/282L/282P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224, MAT 107. Corequisites: NSG 250/250P; NSG 290; BIOL 300, MAT 107 (*if repeating course)

NSG 250P (1.0 Credit) Practicum, Advanced Principles of Patient Centered Care: This advanced nursing skills practicum allows the student to apply the NSG 232, NSG 232L, NSG 250 and NSG 250L concepts, principles, and skills learned in the classroom and laboratory to a real patient care situation in a long term care or skilled nursing care unit. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 282/282L/282P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224, MAT 107. Corequisites: NSG 250/250L; NSG 290; BIOL 300, MAT 107 (*if repeating course)

NSG 282 (3.0 Credits) Health Assessment and Health Promotion: The student will learn how to conduct a head-to-toe assessment of the patient’s health status related to the physiologic, self-concept, role function and interdependence modes.  Health promotion will center on meeting the Healthy People 2020 objectives.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; BIOL 223; BIOL 224. Corequisites: NSG 282L/282P; BIOL 206.

NSG 282L (2.0 Credits) Laboratory, Health Assessment and Health Promotion: This laboratory allows the student to apply the NSG 282 concepts and principles learned in a controlled classroom environment.  The student clinically will be able to conduct both complete and focused health assessments by demonstrating an understanding of normal, normal deviation and abnormal physical findings across the lifespan. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; BIOL 223; BIOL 224. Corequisites: NSG 282/282P; BIOL 206.

NSG 282P (1.0 Credit) Practicum, Health Assessment and Health Promotion: This practicum allows the student to apply NSG 282 and NSG 282L concepts, principles and skills learned in the classroom and laboratory to a real patient care situation in a community, acute or long-term care setting.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; BIOL 223; BIOL 224. Corequisites: NSG 282/282L; BIOL 206.

NSG 290 (6.0 Credits) Pharmacology: Addresses general concepts in pharmacology and an overview of major drug groups.  For each major drug group, the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapeutics, adverse drug reactions, and nursing management will be outlined. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 282/282L/282P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223, BIOL 224.  Corequisites: NSG 250/250L/250P; BIOL 300.

NSG 312 (3.5 Credits) Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family: This course is designed to prepare the student for providing patient centered care during the childbearing and menopausal years.  The student will study both normal and complicated pregnancies; well and high-risk newborns; family influences; family planning; childbearing alternatives and women’s healthcare needs. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 345; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 151. Corequisites: NSG 312L/312P.

NSG 312L (1.0 Credit) Laboratory, Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family: This laboratory allows the student to apply NSG 312 concepts and principles learned in a controlled classroom environment.  Topics include cervical dilation, fetal monitoring, assessing for toxicity, fetal heart tones, pap smears, and emergency childbirth skills. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 345; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223, BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 151. Corequisites: NSG 312/312P.

NSG 312P (2.0 Credits) Practicum, Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family: This practicum allows the student to apply NSG 312 and NSG 312L concepts, principles and skills learned in the classroom and laboratory to a real patient care situation in a hospital, clinic or private physician’s office. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 345; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P;  BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 151.  Corequisites: NSG 312/312L.

NSG 345 (2.0 Credits) Nursing Care of Families and Cultures: This course is designed to prepare the student for the unique health influences the family and culture have upon the individual.  Topics will include family dynamics, cultural beliefs and values, and impact upon the individual’s health practices.  Prerequisites: NSG 231. 

NSG 348** (eCourse) (2.0 Credits) Critical Thinking and the Nursing Process: Students are challenged to apply critical thinking skills in various healthcare situations.  The course is designed to encourage the student to use cognitive skills purposefully to deliver safe and effective patient centered care. Prerequisites: NSG 231; PHIL 112.

NSG 380 (4.0 Credits) Community and Population-Based Nursing: In this course the student will learn to use knowledge from social science, public health science, and nursing science to promote and protect the health of diverse populations.  In this course, students will learn how to apply the nursing process to address the health risks and needs of populations, groups, families, and individuals in selected communities, with an emphasis on caring for vulnerable and underserved clients in a just and ethical manner.  Students will also learn how to use previously gained nursing knowledge and newly acquired social, public health, and nursing information to collaborate with populations and communities in order to help them thrive. NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 101; PSY 151; SOC 101. Corequisites: NSG 380P.

NSG 380P (3.0 Credits) Practicum, Community and Population-Based Nursing: This practicum allows the student to apply NSG 380 concepts, principles, and skills learned in the classroom to a real patient care situation in a clinic, home health, school, or residential facility.  Students will conduct a community survey of health needs. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 101; PSY 151; SOC 101. Corequisites: NSG 380.

NSG 385 (4.0 Credits) Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults I: This course presents the roles of the nurse in relation to assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, intervention, and evaluation of adult and older adult’s response to alterations in health.  Includes the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, appropriate medical management, diagnostics, and related therapeutic nursing interventions within the context of the patient/client, their families, and environments.  Topic areas include fluid and electrolytes, acid-base balance/imbalances, and alterations in the functions of the immune, respiratory, cardiovascular, hematologic, urinary, and nervous systems.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; COM 210. Corequisite: NSG 385P.

NSG 385P (3.0 Credits) Practicum, Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults I: This practicum enables the student to apply concepts, principles, and skills learned in NSG 385 in the patient/client healthcare environment.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; COM 210. Corequisite: NSG 385.

NSG 386 (4.0 Credits) Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II: This course presents the roles of the nurse in relation to assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, intervention, and evaluation of adult and older adult’s response to alterations in health.  Includes the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, appropriate medical management, diagnostics, and related therapeutic nursing interventions within the context of the patient/client, their families, and environments.  Topic areas include the integumentary, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, sensory, endocrine, and reproductive systems.  Prerequisite: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; COM 210. Corequisite: NSG 386P.

NSG 386P (3.0 Credits) Practicum, Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II: This practicum enables the student to apply concepts, principles, and skills learned in NSG 386 to the patient/client healthcare environment. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; COM 210. Corequisite: NSG 386.

NSG 387 (3.5 Credits) Nursing Care of the Pediatric Patient/Client: This course presents the roles of the nurse in relation to assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, intervention, and evaluation of the pediatric patient/client and family response to alterations in health. Includes the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, appropriate medical management, diagnostics, and related therapeutic nursing interventions within the context of the patient/client, their families, and environments. Topic areas include both normal growth development and health promotion along with alterations along the health continuum.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 151, CHEM 121. Corequisites: NSG 387P.

NSG 387P (2.0 Credits) Practicum, Nursing Care of the Pediatric Patient/Client: This practicum enables the student to apply concepts, principles, and skills learned in NSG 387 to the patient/client healthcare environment.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300, PSY 151, CHEM 121. Corequisites: NSG 387.

NSG 388 (3.5 Credits) Nursing Care of Persons with Mental Health Impairments: This course presents the roles of the nurse in relation to assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, intervention, and evaluation of patient/client responses across the lifespan to alterations in mental health.  Includes the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, appropriate medical management, diagnostics, and related therapeutic nursing interventions within the context of the patient/client, their families, and environments.  The student will study therapeutic approaches as well as psychosocial adaptation alterations. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223, BIOL 224, BIOL 300; PSY 101; PSY 151. Corequisites: NSG 388P; SOC 101.

NSG 388P (2.0 Credits) Practicum, Nursing Care of Persons with Mental Health Impairments: This practicum enables the student to apply concepts, principles, and skills learned in NSG 388 to a patient/client care in an inpatient or residential healthcare facility, or outpatient healthcare environments. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PSY 101; PSY 151. Corequisites: NSG 388; SOC 101.

NSG 410 (4.0 Credits) High Acuity Principles of Patient Centered Care: Preparatory course for NSG 420.  This course prepares the student to perform skills unique to the critical and emergent healthcare environments.  Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) concepts will be emphasized and skills will be demonstrated within a simulation environment. Critical care medications, advanced medication calculation, ECG interpretation, an introduction to hemodynamic monitoring, and the roles of the high acuity nurse will be emphasized.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300.

NSG 420 (4.0 Credits) High Acuity Nursing Care: This course prepares the student to administer evidence-based nursing care to patients across the lifespan in critical, operative, or emergent healthcare environments.  Rapid critical thinking skill development is essential for performing this type of nursing care. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 312/312L/312P; NSG 348; NSG 380/380P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; NSG 388/388P; NSG 410; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300. Corequisites: NSG 420P; NSG 451/451P.

NSG 420P (2.0 Credits) Practicum, High Acuity Nursing Care: This practicum allows the student to apply NSG 410 and NSG 420 concepts, principles and skills learned to a real patient care situation in a critical care, emergent care, operative care, or diagnostic care unit. Prerequisite: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 312/312L/312P; NSG 348; NSG 380/380P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; NSG 388/388P; NSG 410; BIOL 223, BIOL 224, BIOL 300. Corequisites: NSG 420; NSG 451/451P.

NSG 451 (3.0 Credits) Nurses as Leaders: This course is designed to prepare the student for management and leadership roles assigned to the BSN.  The student will study developing leadership skills, performing evaluations, preparing job descriptions, mentoring, coaching, counseling, budget concepts, staffing issues and leadership characteristics.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 290; NSG 312/312L/312P; NSG 348; NSG 380/380P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; NSG 388/388P; NSG 410; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; PHIL 112.  Corequisites: NSG 420/420P; NSG 451P.

NSG 451P (2.0 Credits) Practicum, Nurses as Leaders: This practicum allows the student to apply NSG 451 concepts, principles and skills learned while functioning in a leadership position in a healthcare environment. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 312/312L/312P; NSG 348; NSG 382/382P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; NSG 388/388P; NSG 410; BIOL 206, BIOL 223, BIOL 224, BIOL 300; PHIL 112.  Corequisites: NSG 420/420P; NSG 451.

NSG 452* (3.0 Credits) Capstone: Transition to Professional Nursing: This course is designed to prepare the student for role changes.  It promotes the student’s transition from student to licensed professional nurse. Focus is on licensure preparation, completion of a self-assessment of student progress in the attainment of the nursing program outcomes in the roles of provider of care, leader/manager, and member of the profession, and completion of a professional resume. The student will be given a capstone project that entails research, presentation, writing, and critical reflection of the evolution of their clinical practice.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 233; NSG 249; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 312/312L/312P; NSG 345; NSG 348; NSG 380/380P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; NSG 388/388P; NSG 410; NSG 420/420P; NSG 451/451P; BIOL 112; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; CHEM 121.  Corequisites: NSG 452P.

NSG 452P (6.0 Credits) Practicum, Capstone: Transition to Professional Nursing: This practicum requires a signed agreement between the student and a qualified nursing preceptor.  The student will work the same schedule as the nursing preceptor.  The preceptor will supervise and evaluate the student’s readiness for work transition in collaboration with the nursing faculty. Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 233; NSG 249; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 312/312L/312P; NSG 345; NSG 348; NSG 380/380P; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P; NSG 388/388P; NSG 410; NSG 420/420P; NSG 451/451P; BIOL 112; BIOL 206; BIOL 223; BIOL 224; BIOL 300; CHEM 121.  Corequisites: NSG 452

NSG 460 (4.5 Credits) Research Methods for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Focuses on the role of the professional nurse as an informed consumer of evidence-based research.  Explores quantitative and qualitative approaches to the study of health and illness, as well as the relationship of theory to practice.  Topics include literature reviews, research designs, methods of data collection, and analytical procedures.  Explores the ethics for research with human subjects.  The student will prepare a research proposal.  Prerequisites: NSG 231; NSG 232/232L/232P; NSG 250/250L/250P; NSG 282/282L/282P; NSG 290; NSG 385/385P; NSG 386/386P; NSG 387/387P;COM 125; MAT 107; STAT 250 Corequisites: NSG 380/380P