Nursing (NU)

NU 2301. Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2025 This course explores the principles of pathology underlying disease, manifestations of disease, and risk factors including social determinants for disease with special focus on the nursing process for the management of disease and the rationale for nursing interventions. Prerequisites: BL 1411 BL 1412 CH XXXX Corequisite: BL 2420.

NU 2302. Pharmacology for Nursing Practice. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2026 An introduction to the science of pharmacology in nursing. Emphasis is placed upon the therapeutic actions, side, adverse, and toxic effects of drugs upon the human body and the nursing implications. Topics include the scope and standards of practice of the nurse in the safe administration of medication and the legal and ethical considerations of medication administration. The opportunities to raise moral and ethical, and social justice issues that affect the patient-centered care related to pharmacology are integrated throughout the course. Prerequisite: NU 2301 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice.

NU 2303. Holistic Health Assessment. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2026 This course focuses on core concepts of holistic health assessment of adults and the special considerations for older adults. Students begin to develop the role of nurse as provider of patient-centered care incorporating Marianist values. Students begin assessing and formulating nursing diagnoses using subjective and objective data collection via holistic health history interview techniques, and physical examination skills at a beginner level. Students will begin to develop and understanding of the importance data collection related to social determinants of health and culture. Opportunities for interactive and experiential learning are provided in the skills and simulation lab. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 2301 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice Corequisite: NU 2601 Fundamentals of Care and NU 2302 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice.

NU 2601. Fundamentals of Care. 6 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2026 An introduction to the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values. Focus is on the historical perspectives, legal and ethical principles, and supporting concepts for patient-centered care and the development of a trusting nurse-patient relationship using Theory of Human Caring behaviors, and Fundamentals of Care Model. Fundamental nursing concepts, skills, and the nursing process will be addressed at the beginner level. Opportunities for interactive and experiential learning are provided in the skills and simulation lab. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 2301 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice Corequisite: NU 2303 Health Assessment and NU 2302 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice.

NU 3201. Healthcare Systems, Policy, and Economics. 2 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2026 This course examines various healthcare delivery systems involved in providing services within the US and globally. Topics also include access and barriers to healthcare, including healthcare economics and the financing of care. The professional nurses’ role as change agent in policy and advocating for equitable, safe and quality care is highlighted. Prerequisite: NU 2303 Holistic Health Assessment; NU 2601 Fundamentals of Care.

NU 3202. Healthcare Informatics and Technology. 2 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2026 This course examines introductory concepts, frameworks, and methods of healthcare informatics and healthcare technologies. Students examine health information systems, computerized health-related databases, and outcomes data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) to promote safe quality care. This course introduces integrated patient care technologies such as patient monitoring and medication administration systems, artificial intelligence, and consumer health. Ethical standards related to data security, regulatory requirements, confidentiality, and clients’ right to privacy, diversity and equity are examined. Prerequisite NU201 Healthcare Systems, Policy, and Economics.

NU 3301. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2026 This course addresses holistic patient-centered nursing care directed toward sustaining, developing, or enhancing health and wellness across the life span with an introduction to teaching and learning theories. Students will discuss family systems theory and social determinant of health related to health promotion and disease prevention. An underlying theme in this course is wellness promotion of the student. Specific interventions for lifestyle changes will be discussed and include coping and stress management, health education, nutrition management and weight control, social support, exercise and physical fitness, and coping strategies. Concepts and skills include, but not limited to, health, wellness, values clarification, Motivational Interviewing communication skills and facilitative interaction focused on wellness. Prerequisite: NU 2301 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice; NU 2303 Health Assessment; NU 2302 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice.

NU 3302. Older Adult Health. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2027 Building on the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course focuses on patient-centered care clinical concepts and skills for care of the older adult. Students begin to develop an understanding of the social determinants of health and their effect on the health and wellness of older adults and consider nursing implications for healthcare policy. Students begin to utilize the nursing process to plan for safe, evidence-based, strategies and demonstrate caring and compassionate behaviors to assist older adults and their families to enhance, protect or preserve optimum health or an end-of-life experience. The course imparts nursing knowledge, develops clinical judgment skills, fosters situational awareness, communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process in the care of older adults. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 3401 Psychosocial and Mental Health.

NU 3401. Psychosocial and Mental Health. 4 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2026 Building on the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course focuses on patient-centered care clinical concepts and skills in the care of those experiencing stressful events and those with mental illness. Students develop an understanding of the social determinants of health and their impact of the emotional health and social well-being and consider nursing implications for healthcare policy. Students begin to utilize the nursing process to plan for safe, evidence-based, strategies and demonstrate caring and compassionate behaviors to assist patients with mental illness and their families to enhance, protect or preserve optimum emotional, social, and mental health. The course imparts nursing knowledge, develops clinical judgement skills, fosters situational awareness, communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process in the care of patients with mental health disorders. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. Credit Hours 4 (2 didactic; 2 clinical/simulation) Prerequisite: NU 2601 Fundamentals of Care; NU 2302 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice; NU 2303 Holistic Health Assessment An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/.

NU 3601. Adult Health. 6 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2027 Beginning to integrate the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course focuses on the patient-centered care clinical concepts and skills of adult health with common medical-surgical health care needs. Students consider the social determinants of health and their effect on the health and wellness of adults along with nursing implications for healthcare policy. Students begin to utilize the nursing process to plan for safe, evidence-based, strategies and demonstrate caring and compassionate behaviors to assist adults with common medical-surgical healthcare needs and their families to enhance, protect or preserve optimum health or end-of-life experience. The course imparts nursing knowledge, develops clinical judgment and reasoning skills, fosters situational awareness, effective communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 3401 Mental Health; NU 3301 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan.

NU 4301. Research Methods and Utilization. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2027 This course expands on the role of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values. Students examine the value of nursing research for evidence-based practice and its contribution to quality improvement initiatives and safety to improve outcomes. Concepts and skills included, but not limited to, are the systematic review of the literature, scientific methodologies, critical analysis of evidence, ethical and cultural issues, quality improvement processes, design thinking and Lean Six Sigma. Prerequisite: NU 3202 Informatics and Healthcare Technology Application.

NU 4302. Leader and Manager of Care. 3 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2028 This course further expands on the role of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, an innovative member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate founded in Marianist values. Concepts included, but not limited to, are leadership, management, quality improvement, healthcare policy, healthcare systems, and healthcare financing at an advanced level. An examination of the trends and issues impacting nursing and health care today and in the future are reviewed along with the behaviors and attitudes that facilitate adaptation to a changing health care environment. This course is taken concurrently with NU 408 Clinical Immersion for a final capstone project. Prerequisite: NU 4301 Research Methods and Utilization.

NU 4401. Childbearing Families. 4 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2027 Integrating the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate, this course focuses on family-centered clinical concepts and skills of childbearing families from preconception to birth. Special emphasis is placed on the childbearing persons’ holistic health assessment, health promotion and prevention, and maintenance of physical and emotional health and wellbeing; and deviations from optimal health or end-of-life experience of childbearing families. Students discuss the impact of social determinants of health effect on the health and wellness of the childbearing person and the families along with nursing implications for healthcare policy for this population. The course imparts nursing knowledge, caring and compassion, develops clinical judgment skills, fosters situational awareness, communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process in the care of childrearing families. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 3601 Adult Health.

NU 4402. Childrearing Families. 4 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2027 Integrating the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course focuses on family-centered clinical concepts and skills of childrearing families from infancy to late adolescence. Special emphasis is placed on family and developmental theories; holistic health assessment, deviations from health; promotion and maintenance of physical and emotional health and wellbeing; social determinants of health impact on the health and wellness of childrearing families and the nursing implications for healthcare policy; and the end-of-life experience in childrearing families. The course imparts nursing knowledge, caring and compassion, develops clinical judgment skills, fosters situational awareness, communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process in the care of childrearing families. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 3601 Adult Health; NU 4401 Childbearing Families.

NU 4403. Community and Global Health. 4 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Fall 2027 Integrating the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course focuses on community and global health concepts and skills with a special emphasis on healthcare policy, social justice, health literacy, and epidemiology, climate change, and disaster preparedness. Students escalate the impact of social determinants of health effects on both community and global levels and recommend healthcare policy changes. Social justice, health disparities and inequities are threaded throughout the course. Students utilize the nursing process to plan safe, evidence-based strategies and demonstrate caring and compassionate behaviors at the community and global levels. This course imparts knowledge, develops clinical judgment skills, fosters situational awareness, communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process in the provision of nursing care at the community and population levels. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 3301 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan.

NU 4404. Clinical Immersion. 4 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2028 Practicing the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course is a clinical immersion in which students competently demonstrate all the roles of the nurse at a competent level. Students synthesize new knowledge, apply previous knowledge, and gain experience in managing the workflow. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in a variety of clinical settings using a preceptor model of supervision. This course is taken concurrently with NU 405 Professional Role Development III: Leadership and Management for a final Capstone Project. Prerequisite: NU 4601 Advanced Adult Health Corequisite NU 4302 Leader and Manager of Care.

NU 4601. Advanced Adult Health. 6 Semester Hours.

Anticipated first class: Spring 2028 Integrating the fundamentals of care for the roles of the professional nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of the profession and healthcare team, and patient safety advocate with Marianist values, this course focuses on advanced patient-centered clinical concepts and skills focusing on adult health with complex and critical medical-surgical health care needs. Students utilize the nursing process to plan for safe, evidence-based, nursing interventions and demonstrate caring behaviors to assist adults with complex and critical medical-surgical healthcare needs and their families to enhance, protect or preserve optimum health or end-of-life experience. The course imparts nursing knowledge, advances clinical judgement skills to clinical reasoning, and promotes an advanced level of situational awareness, communication, and assessment skills central to the nursing process in the care of adults with common medical-surgical health care needs. Application of clinical concepts and skills are practiced in simulation and various clinical settings. An additional fee is associated with this course. See the fee schedule for details at https://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/financial-aid/tuition/. Prerequisite: NU 3601 Adult Health; NU 4402 Childrearing Families; NU 4401 Childbearing Families.