NURSING DEPARTMENT

Dr. Carmen L. Madera, Director

 

BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

Prof. Alma Albizu, coordinator

Faculty: Albizu de Cintrón, Alma, Albizu Rivera, Felícita,Alomar de Guilbe, Ana E., Alvarado de Carreras, Felisa, Berenguer Torres, Aurea, Bolier de Rodríguez, Lydia, Colón Cedeño, Wanda, Escabí Pérez, Hilda, González de Ortiz, Wanda,González Rivera, Leila, Güisao de Ortiz, Myrta, Irizarry Casiano, Lilliam,  Maldonado Ojeda, Lourdes, Maldonado de López, Ruth, Maldonado de Quiñones, Rosalía, Montalvo de Casanova, Dora, Negrón Reyes, Anna, Ortiz Camacho, Eudes, Pacheco García, Maria L., Quirindongo de Vázquez, Iris Y.,Ramírez Cruz, Edna, Ramos Rodríguez, Ana M., Rivera de Nieves, Sonia , Rivera Ortiz, Migna,Rodríguez de Rodríguez, Nilda, Toro Guzmán, María del C., Torres Giorgi, Elizabeth, Torres de Santos, Daisy, Vega Ramírez, Ana M.

 

GOALS OF THE NURSING DEPARTMENT

The Nursing Department of the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, guided by the beliefs stated in philosophy and objectives of the Institution, pursues the preparation of:

1. Professional nurses at the baccalaureate and graduate levels whose actions are guided by principles of Christian morality and ethics.

2. Generalists in nursing practice at the Baccalaureate Level, able to assume leadership in the health field, thus contributing to the enrichment of the nursing profession and the improvement of mankind.

3. Professional nurses with a basic certification level as Nurse Midwives.

4. Clinical specialists at the Master's level with a second functional role in teaching or administration who will provide services to the community through direct nursing care, research, education or administration in nursing.


OBJECTIVES OF THE BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

Upon completion of the program the graduate will be able to:

 

1. Apply principles of Christian philosophy in nursing interventions.

2. Apply scientific knowledge from nursing, natural sciences, and general education courses as a source for making decisions in nursing.

3. Use the nursing process to identify health potential of individuals, groups, families and communities and to meet their health needs.

4. Provide comprehensive nursing care to persons without discrimination of race, sex, religion or culture in a variety of settings.

5. Use community resources to achieve the goals of nursing.

6. Assume individual responsibility for decisions made and actions taken related to nursing intervention.

7. Assume leadership as a member of the health team and community.

8. Apply principles of scientific investigation in testing nursing intervention as hypothesis for the improvement of nursing practice.    

9. Employ appropriate actions to enhance personal and professional growth in order to cope with changes within the health care system.

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Comply with general University requirements for admission.

2. Minimum high school a grade index of 2.50 and more than 400 in the CEEB.

3. Interviews with a faculty member of the Nursing Department.

NURSING DEPARTMENT POLICIES

1. A grade general index of 2.00 or more is required in the major field.

2. Nursing courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C. Any Nursing course with a grade less than C must be repeated before other nursing courses are taken.
Students who fail the same course twice may not continue in the Nursing Program.

3. The curriculum must be followed as designed. Each student must complete first year courses in order to be eligible to take second year courses, and so on. The science courses are considered requisites for the nursing courses.

4. Nursing students must obtain a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate in order to be a candidate for graduation.

5. Students must meet the graduation requirements stated in the University General Catalog. Students whose enrollment period extends to more than ten years must have their nursing courses reevaluated. Courses taken more than ten years previously are not eligible for accreditation and therefore must be repeated.

6. Nursing students must have a medical plan.

7. Evidence of an update health certificate and vaccination against Hepatitis B.

8. Admitted and readmitted students should submit the letter of good conduct.

 

REQUISITES FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Required General Education Courses

68

Courses Required for the Major and Allied Courses:

Nr. 130

3

Nr. 204 - 208 

6

Nr. 2 15 - 217

Nr. 305 - 314

10

Nr. 327 - 315

10

Nr. 481 - 425

10

Nr. 486 - 483 

9

Elective

2

Biol. 105, 240, and 241 (Allied courses)

12

Math. 298

3

Comp. 210

3

Total 75

 

*Biol. 240-241 substitute general requirement of Biol.. 107-108.

 

 

CURRICULUM FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

 

FIRST YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE CREDITS COURSE CREDITS

*Biol. 240

 4

 *Biol.. 241

 4

*Math. 117

 3

 *Math. 118

 3

*Psych.100

 3

 Nr. 130

 3

Soc.Sc.110

 3

 Eng. 110

 3

Theol. 120

 3

 Theol. 121

 3

Orient.003

 0

 Orient. 004

 0

Phys. Ed.

 1

 Phys. Ed.

 1

CREDITS 17 CREDITS 17

 

SUMMER

COURSE CREDITS

English 114

 3

Span. 131

 3

CREDITS 6


SECOND YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE CREDITS COURSE CREDITS

Nr. 204

 3

 Nr. 217

 5

Nr. 208

 3

 Nr. 215

 2

*Chem. 121

 3

 *Chem 122

 3

Hum. 103

 3

 Hum. 104

 3

Comp. 210

 3

 *Biol.. 105

 4

Spanish 132

 3

 

CREDITS 18 CREDITS 17

 

THIRD YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE CREDITS COURSE CREDITS

Nr. 305

 5

 Nr. 315

 5

Nr. 314

 5

 Nr. 327

 5

Esp. 205

 3

 Art Appreciation

 3

English 115

 3

 Nr. elective

 2

 

 

Phil. 207

 3

CREDITS 16 CREDITS 18


FOURTH YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE CREDITS COURSE CREDITS

Nr. 481

 5

 Nr. 486

7

Nr. 425

 5

 Nr. 483

 2

Phil. 312

 3

 Phil. 340

 3

Math 298

 3

 Hist. P.R. 253

 3

 

 

Theol. 220

 3

CREDITS 16 CREDITS 18

*Requisites for nursing courses.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION


NURSING 130 - ASSESSMENT OF THE HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL
                            THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE
Requisites: Psych.. 100, Biol. 240, Math.117
Co-requisites: Biol. 241, Math. 118

Provides for the development of student knowledge and skills in assessing individual health needs throughout the life cycle. Factors affecting this process such as heredity, environment, exercise, nutrition and others are discussed. The role of the nurse in health teaching and preventive care is introduced.

3 credits, 3 class hours, 1 semester

 

NURSING 204 - BASIC THEORIES IN NURSING
Requisites: Psych. 100, Nr. 130
Co-requisite: Nr. 208

Introduction to the concept of professional nursing based on the following theories: developmental, behavioral, adaptative, general, and interactive systems. Study of the historical evolution of nursing. Focus on the holistic Christian vision of the human being and his interaction with the environment.
Emphasis in the use of communication as a tool in the assessment phase of the nursing process, and the role of the professional nurse as a provider of health care services.

Supervised clinical practice required.

2 class hours, 3 laboratory hours,1 semester, 3 credits

 

NURSING 208 - PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Requisites: Biol. 240, 241; Nr. 130

Focus on pathophysiology of common acute and chronic conditions which affect individuals through the life cycle. Includes the human adaptative processes to maintain homeokynesis and struggle against threats to physical integrity. Concepts are presented as the basis for nursing interventions in caring for clients.

3 class hours, 1 semester, 3 credits

 

NURSING 215 - PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY
Requisites: Nr. 130, Nr. 204, Nr. 208; Math. 117-118, Biol. 240-241, Chem 121
Co-requisites: Nr. 217, Biol. 105, Chem. 122

Provides for the development of knowledge of common drugs and solutions and the development of skills for their administration. Emphasis is placed on nursing responsibilities, including posology and concepts of pharmacology. Theory is complemented with clinical practice.

1 class hours, 3 laboratory hours, 1 semester, 2 credits

NURSING 217 - FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES IN NURSING CARE
Requisites: Biol. 240-241, Math. 117-118, Nr. 130, 204, 208
Co-requisites: Biol. 105, Nr. 215, Chem. 122

Use of the nursing process as a tool to meet the patient's holistic needs. Emphasis is placed on nursing intervention through the application of scientific principles and the development of basic skills to offer nursing care. Theory is complemented by selected clinical experiences in multiple health settings.

3 class hours, 6 clinical practice hours, 2 simulated lab hours, 1 semester, 5 credits

NURSING 221 - ROLE OF THE NURSE IN SPIRITUAL CARE OF THE PATIENT
                            (Elective Course)
Requisites: Nr. 130, 204; Theol. 120-121

The nursing process is utilized in the solution of spiritual problems presented by patients and their families. The Christian vision of man, the concepts of love, faith, forgiveness, hope, and the meaning of life and the role of the nurse as a provider of spiritual care are discussed throughout the course.

2 class hours, 1 semester, 2 credits

NURSING 222 - PRINCIPLES OF CLIENT AND/OR FAMILY TEACHING
                            (Elective Course)
Conference: 2 hours
Requisites: Psych. 100, Nr. 130,204, 215 and 217

An elective course to help nursing students in the development of teaching skills with client and/or family, considering their physical, mental, spiritual and social needs. The basic concepts of the teaching-learning process are introduced using the Nursing Process as framework. It focuses on teaching theories, the formulation of objectives, the developing of strategies, selecting
methods and the evaluating process.

2 class hours, 1 semester, 2 credits

NURSING 224 - ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE IN INTRAVENOUS THERAPY
Requisites: Biol. 240-241, Biol. 105, Nr. 130, 204, 215, 217

Course designed to help students in the refinement of skills in intravenous therapy. Focus on the capacitation of students to use concepts from the biological sciences, pharmacology and chemistry, in administering intravenous fluids, blood and derivates and parenteral nutrition.
Common complications, signs, symptoms, nursing intervention and prevention, legal and ethical issues are discussed. Emphasis on interventions within the context of the nursing process.

1 class hour, 3 hours laboratory, 1 semester, 2 credits

NURSING 305 - PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
Requisites: Nr. 130, 204, 208, 215, 217
Co-requisites: Nr. 314

Provides for the understanding of basic concepts in the development of a healthy personality, and the application of mental health principles in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of psychopathology. Includes the study of behavior and the appropriate nursing actions to help individuals adopt healthy ways to cope with the difficulties of daily living.

The basic tools utilized are: the nursing process, the therapeutic relationship, the use of the "self" in the therapeutic process and interactions with individuals, families, communities, and the health team based on principles of Christian philosophy.

Practice with individuals in Psychiatric Hospitals and in the community.

3 class hours, 6 laboratory hours, 1 semester, 5 credits

NURSING 314 - THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THE PREVENTION, CARE
                            AND REHABILITATION OF THE ADULT WITH 
                            PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Requisites: Nr. 130, Nr. 204, 208, 215, 217
Co-requisites: Nr. 305

Study and analysis of health problems which interfere with integral functioning of individuals.  Emphasis is placed on the nursing process as a tool to provide nursing care in the satisfaction of the following needs: fluids and electrolyte balance, tissue repair; protection, nutrition, urinary and intestinal elimination, and sexuality. Emphasis in the use of health histories and physical assessment as important tools in the assessment phase and nursing diagnosis.

Basic concepts such as: interpersonal relationships, diet therapy, rehabilitation, teaching, asepsis, pharmacotherapy, epidemiology, and Christian and ethical principles are integrated.  Provides for the development of communication skills, critical thinking and nursing  interventions. Clinical practice in secondary and tertiary clinical settings.

3 class hours, 6 clinical practice hours, 2 simulated lab hours, 1 semester, 5 credits

NURSING 315 - The Role of the Nurse in the Prevention, Care, and Rehabilitation of Adults with Pathophysiological Conditions
Requisites: Nr. 130, 204, 215, 217, 305, 314
Co-requisites: Nr. 327

Study and analysis of health problems which interfere with the integral functioning of individuals.  Emphasis in the nursing process as the tool to provide nursing care in the satisfaction of the following needs: oxygenation, circulation, cellular proliferation, metabolism, chemical and neural regulation. Emphasis in the use of health histories and physical assessment as important tools in the assessment phase and nursing diagnosis.

Basic concepts such as: interpersonal relationships, diet therapy, rehabilitation, teaching, asepsis, pharmacotherapy, epidemiology, Christian and ethical principles are integrated.  Provides for the development of communication skills, critical thinking and nursing interventions. Clinical practice in secondary and tertiary settings.

3 class hours, 6 clinical practice hours, 2 simulated lab hours, 1 semester, 5 credits

NURSING 327 - THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THE PREVENTION, CARE AND
                             REHABILITATION OF THE CHILD WITH PATOPHYSIOLOGICAL
                             CONDITIONS
Requisites: Nr. 130, 204, 208, 215, 217, 305, 314
Co-requisite: Nr. 315

Focus on the acquisition of knowledge and development of skills related to the care of the sick child. Identification of needs related to health from birth to adolescence is emphasized.  The nursing process is utilized as a tool in providing nursing care. Emphasis on the use of health histories and physical examination in the assessment phase and the nursing diagnosis.

The child is considered as an integral human being within a family and as God's creature. The effect of illness and hospitalization upon the family unit is analyzed. Theory is complemented with clinical practice.

3 class hours, 6 clinical practice hours, 2 simulated lab hours, 1 semester, 5 credits

 

NURSING 392 - TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF AGED
                             (Elective Course)
Requisites: 305, 314
Co-requisites: Nr. 315, 327

Introduction to the normal physical changes related to old age with implications for nursing assessment and intervention. Emotional, social and spiritual aspects of this stage are discussed and analyzed.

2 class hours, 1 semester, 2 credits

 

NURSING 393 - EMERGENCY NURSING (Elective Course)
Requisites: All Nursing courses from 130 to 327

Trends and new procedures for emergency situations are presented, considering emotional, social and spiritual needs. Principles of disaster nursing and care of patients with trauma are included.

1 class hour, 3 lab hours, 1 semester, 2 credits

NURSING 425 - PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND THEIR IMPACT
                             ON FAMILY UNIT
Requisites: Courses 130-327

Study of the normal process of pregnancy, including labor and delivery, puerperium and the newborn child, all within the family context. Major complications of this process are analyzed.  Students have the opportunity to develop competencies in history taking and physical assessment of the pregnant woman and the newborn. The nursing process and Christian beliefs and principles are utilized to identify and fulfill the needs of families in childbirth and puerperium crisis. Common gynecologic conditions are discussed. Theory is complemented with clinical experiences in different settings.

3 hours class, 6 hours Clinical Practice, 2 hours simulated lab, 1 semester, 5 credits

NURSING 481 - COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
Requisites: All nursing courses up to 300 level.

Emphasis on the nursing process as a tool to offer nursing care and orientation to individuals, families and communities in a variety of agencies and health services. Includes the levels of prevention in the health system with emphasis on primary care, group work, environmental health, vital statistics, epidemiology, major community physical, social and spiritual health problems and intervention. Problem-solving techniques in offering health care to families and
communities are utilized.

3 class hours, 6 clinical practice hours, 1 semester, 5 credits

NURSING 483 - PERSPECTIVES IN NURSING
Requisites: Nursing Courses 130-327

Seminars that provide for the transition from nursing students to a professional nurse. New trends and their relation to the historic development of the profession are discussed. Emphasis is laced on the p legal, social, economic, ethical and moral implications in nursing practice. 
Students are initiated in the research process through the analysis of published studies.

2 class hours, 1 semester, 2 credits

NURSING 485 - ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICUM
Requisites: All Nursing courses from 104-327
.

Practicum designed to develop manual and managerial skills in the comprehensive care of groups of patients with critical conditions and long-term illnesses.  Emphasis on the application of nursing process concepts: taking and writing health histories, physical assessment, leadership, communication, administrative and supervisory concepts, problem-solving techniques, and decision
making.  Case discussion in weekly seminars.

2 class hours, 12 Clinical Practice hours, 3 simulated lab hours, 1 semester, 6 credits

NURSING 486 - ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICUM
Requisites: All nursing up to the third level. Courses 130-327

Practice is designed to develop manual and managerial skills in the comprehensive care of groups of patients with critical conditions and with long-term illnesses. Emphasis on the application of nursing process concepts: taking and writing health histories, physical assessment, leadership, communication, administrative and supervising concepts, problem-solving techniques, and decision making. Case discussion in weekly seminars.

3 seminar hours, 3 simulated lab hours, 12 clinical practice hours, 1 semester, 7 credits

 

NURSING 490 - PRINCIPLES OF NURSING RESEARCH 
                            (Elective Course)
Requisites: All nursing up to the third level courses 130-327

Basic principles of research are introduced. Emphasis is placed on the process of research from the formulation of the problem to the interpretation of data. Discussion of how research contributes to improve nursing practice. Students are initiated in writing a research proposal.

2 class hours, 1 semester, 2 credits