PROGRAM IN NURSING SCIENCE

252 Berk Hall; (949) 824-1514
http://www.nursing.uci.edu/; nssao@uci.edu
Ellen F. Olshansky, Director of the Program in Nursing Science

Faculty / Undergraduate Program / Graduate Program / Courses

DEGREES

Nursing Science     B.S., M.S.

Undergraduate Program

Nurse professionals are members of interdisciplinary teams who work with people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and lifestyles to help them achieve the highest level of wellness possible. The Bachelor of Science degree program in Nursing Science prepares graduates to function as generalists in professional nursing practice and to collaborate with other health care providers in clinics, hospitals, and community health settings. The undergraduate curriculum is designed to provide theory and research-based clinical practice focusing on critical thinking, human caring, and clinical expertise. Students who successfully complete the B.S. degree in Nursing Science are eligible to take the licensure examination to become a registered nurse. The Nursing Science major is approved by the Board of Registered Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Most of the courses required for the major require completion of prerequisites. The sample program shown is a preferred sequence that accounts for all prerequisites. Most required courses are offered in sequence and only once a year. New, transfer, and change-of-major students, therefore, ordinarily are admitted to the program once a year prior to the fall quarter. Full-time enrollment is required.

All students interested in the Nursing Science major should be aware that they will be required to do the following: (1) meet the physical and mental requirements necessary to perform nursing practice functions as outlined in Chapter 6, Article 2, Item 2725 of the Business and Professions Code of California (http://www.rn.ca.gov/regulations/bpc.shtml#2725); (2) complete a criminal background check prior to entering the clinical portion of the major in the junior year as required by health care facilities in which students will have clinical experiences; (3) purchase uniforms and other required equipment such as stethoscopes; (4) have access to transportation for off-campus clinical experiences beginning in the junior year.

Admission to the Major

Meeting the UCI admission criteria does not guarantee admission into the major. The admission process is competitive due to limited enrollment. In addition to meeting the UCI admissions criteria, all eligible applicants are required to submit a supplemental application that includes a personal statement and a résumé detailing experiences in health care. A proctored essay and personal interview may also be required.

Freshmen: Preference will be given to those who rank the highest using the selection criteria as stated in the Admissions section of the Catalogue.

Transfer students: Admission to the major is limited and selective. Junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall and who satisfactorily complete course prerequisites will be given preference for admission to the Nursing Science major. The following list of prerequisites is required for transfer students applying for fall 2014 entry. Students wishing to enter before fall 2014 should review the Nursing Science Web site at http://www.nursing.uci.edu for those specific requirements. All applicants must complete the following with grades of B or better: one year of general chemistry equivalent to UCI's Chemistry 1A-B-C; one quarter/semester of organic chemistry equivalent to UCI's Chemistry 51A; one quarter/semester of genetics equivalent to UCI's Biological Sciences 97; one quarter/semester of biochemistry equivalent to UCI's Biological Sciences 98; one quarter/semester of human physiology with laboratory equivalent to UCI's Biological Sciences E109 and E112L; one quarter/semester of microbiology with laboratory equivalent to UCI's Biological Sciences M122 and either M118L or M122L; one quarter/semester of human anatomy with laboratory equivalent to UCI's Nursing Science 100, 100L; one quarter/semester of philosophy equivalent to UCI's Philosophy 4 or 5; one quarter/semester of psychology equivalent to UCI's Psychology 7A/Psychology and Social Behavior 9; one quarter/semester of public health equivalent to UCI's Public Health 1; one quarter/semester of sociology equivalent to UCI's Sociology 1; and one quarter/semester of statistics equivalent to UCI's Statistics 7 or 8. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered.

Change of Major: Due to strict limits on the number of students who can be admitted to the program and rigid sequencing of much of the upper-division curriculum, change-of-major students need to apply in the month of November for fall quarter admission for the following year. Students should contact the Nursing Science Student Affairs Office for information regarding admission to the major. Change-of-major students who are intending to apply to the Program in Nursing Science should be aware that the Program in Nursing Science cannot waive course prerequisites for any School of Biological Sciences or School of Physical Sciences courses. As such, change-of-major students must adhere to the course prerequisites that these Schools have established and have published in the course descriptions that appear in the Catalogue. Change-of-major information is also available at http://www.changeofmajor.uci.edu.

HONORS AT GRADUATION

Honors at graduation, e.g., cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, are awarded to approximately the top 12 percent of the graduating seniors. To be eligible for honors, a general criterion is that students must have completed at least 72 units in residence at a University of California campus. Other important factors are considered (see "Honors Recognition" in the Honors Opportunities information in the Division of Undergraduate Education section).

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE B.S. DEGREE IN NURSING SCIENCE

NOTE: The following degree requirements are effective for students entering the program in fall 2012 as freshmen and fall 2014 as juniors. Students should be aware that some of the required courses listed here are not yet available and will be phased in over the next three years. Consult the Nursing Science Student Affairs Office for more information.

University Requirements: See pages 54-61.

Major Requirements

Chemistry 1A-B-C and 51A; Biological Sciences 97, 98, E109, E112L, M122, and M118L or M122L; Statistics 7 or 8 or equivalent; Public Health 1; Psychology 120D; and Nursing Science 100, 100L, 110, 112LA-LB, 114A, 114B, 118A, 118B, 120, 120L, 125, 130, 130L, 132, 132L, 135, 140, 140L, 150, 150L, 160, 160L, 170, 170L, 175L, 179A, and 179B.

In addition to the courses offered by the Program in Nursing Science, the following courses are included in the required minimum grade point average for continuation in and graduation from the Nursing Science major: Biological Sciences 97, 98, E109, E112L, M122, M118L or M122L; Chemistry 1A-B-C, 51A; Philosophy 4 or 5, Psychology 7A/Psychology and Social Behavior 9; Public Health 1; Sociology 1; Statistics 7 or 8.

NOTE: Double majors with Nursing Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering: Premedical, or with any of the School of Biological Sciences majors are not permitted. Students majoring in Nursing Science may not minor in Biological Sciences.

Sample Program -Nursing Science

NOTE: For students entering fall 2012 as freshmen and fall 2014 as juniors. Refer to http://www.nursing.uci.edu for the sample program charts for prior years.

Graduate Program

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING SCIENCE

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Nursing Science at the University of California, Irvine is a professional degree program which will prepare Registered Nurses in selected specialties and in research so they may assume roles as research-based advanced practice clinicians, administrators, or educators. The program course work is designed to prepare nurses with (1) expertise in a specialized area of advanced nursing practice; (2) role preparation as a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or nurse administrator; (3) leadership and health policy skills; and (4) research skills. The M.S. degree will also prepare students for future doctoral work.

ADMISSION

Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited program, currently be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of California, and provide proof of licensure by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). In addition, eligible candidates must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, have completed a descriptive and inferential statistics course and an upper-division nursing research course at the undergraduate level, and have at least one year direct clinical experience in patient care upon entering the program.

Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the UCI Graduate Division and the Program in Nursing Science admission requirements, and submit both the Application for Graduate Admission and the Nursing Science Supplemental Application in order to be considered for admission. The GRE is not required. Students are admitted every fall quarter.

M.S. CONCENTRATION AREAS

Students applying to the M.S. program must select an area of concentration, either the Family Nurse Practitioner track (FNP) or the Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner track (A/GNP). Graduates of the nurse practitioner (NP) tracks will also be eligible for certification by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

REQUIREMENTS

Students enrolled in the FNP track will complete 72 units. Students enrolled in the A/GNP track will complete 72 units. Students will complete 720 hours of clinical practice with populations in their area of concentration to be eligible for certification. There is no foreign language requirement; proficiency in a language other than English is desirable but not required.

Required and Elective Courses for Both Tracks

Nursing Science 200, 210, 215, 225A, 225B, 230, 230L, 245A-B, 250, 260A, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289.

Required for FNP Track only: Nursing Science 255, 270.

Required for A/GNP Track only: Nursing Science 260B, 280.

There are no qualifying examinations. Successful completion of required course work will advance students to candidacy the quarter prior to scheduled completion of the master's degree program. Instead of a thesis, students complete a Scholarly Concentration in an area of interest over the final two quarters of the program and prepare a major paper. The comprehensive examination will serve as a final examination which will also prepare graduates for certification examinations. Full-time students are expected to complete the program within two years.

Courses in Nursing Science

(Schedule of Classes designation: Nur Sci)

NOTE: The following courses are being offered during the 2012-13 academic year. Students entering the Nursing Science program in fall 2012 should consult the Nursing Science Student Affairs Office for information about courses that will be phased in over the next three years.

LOWER-DIVISION

40 Introduction to Nursing and Health Care (2). Lecture, two hours. Introduction to roles and responsibilities of health care professionals, health care regulations, professional licensure, legal issues, ethics, and cultural competence in health care. Beginning competence in interviewing, communication, and selected physical examination skills. Emphasis on professional role development.

UPPER-DIVISION

100 Human Anatomy (4). Lecture, four hours. Human microscopic and gross anatomy emphasizing anatomical structure and basic structure-function relationship. Corequisite: Nursing Science 100L. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 99 (effective for fall 2012 only). Open to Nursing Science majors only.

100L Human Anatomy Laboratory (2). Laboratory, six hours. Human microscopic and gross anatomy laboratory emphasizing anatomical structure and basic structure-function relationships. Corequisite: Nursing Science 100. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

110 Frameworks for Professional Nursing Practice (4). Lecture, four hours. Conceptual frameworks for professional practice. Scope of professional nursing, jurisprudence and ethics, professional interpersonal relationships, and health care delivery systems in the context of the social, political, and economic environments. Socialization of the student for professional roles in nursing. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

112LA-LB Foundations of Professional Practice (2-2). Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Development of skills in communication, interviewing, functional and physical health assessment across the life span, the art and science of human care, and clinical judgment. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 100; Biological Sciences E109 (may be taken concurrently with Nursing Science 112LA). Open to Nursing Science majors only.

114 Applied Pharmacology (4). Lecture, four hours. Principles of pharmacology applied to intervention in pathophysiologic states across the life span. Discussion of major drug groups with implications for monitoring, drug administration, toxicity, and patient education. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 100, Biological Sciences E109. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

118 Human Health and Disease (4). Lecture, four hours. Pathologic alterations in physiologic processes in cells, tissues, organs, and systems across the life span. Emphasis on critical thinking, application of concepts to clinical practice, and related research. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 100, Biological Sciences E109. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

120 Adult Health Care (4). Lecture, four hours. Restorative, perioperative, and supportive care of adults with acute or chronic alterations in oxygenation, regulation, immune response, elimination, metabolism, mobility, cognition, and/or substance abuse. Emphasis on critical thinking, related research, sociocultural influences, and ethics. Corequisite: Nursing Science 120L. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 112LB, 114, 118, 125. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

120L Adult Health Care Practicum (4). Discussion, one hour; laboratory, 11 hours. Supervised clinical synthesis of knowledge and nursing skill related to adult health. The practicum occurs in hospital inpatient units, surgical and perioperative units, and outpatient clinics in which adults receive restorative, perioperative, or supportive care. Corequisite: Nursing Science 120. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

125 Research Methods and Applications in Health Care (4). Lecture, four hours. Foundational concepts of research in health care. Emphasizes critical evaluation and interpretation of research for application in practice. Prerequisite: a basic statistics course. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

130 Family and Child Health Care (5). Lecture, five hours. Biopsychosocial and cultural aspects of normal and high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care of women, families, and their newborns. Restorative, perioperative, and supportive care of infants and children and their families in health, acute illness, chronic illness, and disability. Corequisite: Nursing Science 130L. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 120. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

130L Family and Child Health Care Practicum (5). Discussion, one hour; laboratory, 14 hours. Supervised clinical synthesis of knowledge and nursing skill related to family and child health care. The practicum occurs in maternity and pediatric hospital inpatient units, surgical and perioperative units, and outpatient prenatal and pediatric clinics. Corequisite: Nursing Science 130. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

135 Older Adult Health Care (2). Lecture, two hours. Theories of aging and application of principles of gerontology in health maintenance of older adults. Concepts and principles of rehabilitation and palliative care. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 120. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

140 Human Behavior and Mental Health Care (4). Lecture, four hours. Biopsychosocial and cultural influences on the promotion and restoration of mental health in adults and adolescents. Affects of acute and chronic substance/drug abuse. Assessment, classification, and restorative/supportive care of adults and adolescents with acute and chronic mental health problems. Corequisite: Nursing Science 140L. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 112LB. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

140L Human Behavior and Mental Health Care Practicum (4). Discussion, one hour; laboratory, 11 hours. Supervised clinical synthesis of knowledge and nursing skill related to human behavior and mental health care. The practicum occurs in adult and adolescent outpatient mental health clinics and inpatient psychiatric units. Corequisite: Nursing Science 140. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

150 Critical and Speciality Health Care (2). Lecture, two hours. Interventions for restorative and supportive care of individuals with life-threatening alterations in health status. Discussion of technology and pharmacology for life support. Includes biological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of critical illness and injury. Corequisite: Nursing Science 150L. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 120. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

150L Critical and Speciality Health Care Practicum (2). Discussion, one hour; laboratory, five hours. Supervised clinical synthesis of knowledge and nursing skill related to critical and specialty health care. The practicum occurs in hospital emergency rooms and critical care units as well as surgical and perioperative units. Corequisite: Nursing Science 150. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

160 Leadership and Management in Health Care (4). Lecture, four hours. Principles, concepts, and theories related to organizations, management, leadership, change, decision-making, and group process applied to the delivery of health care and role of professional nurse as leader and manager of a health team. Corequisite: Nursing Science 160L. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 150. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

160L Leadership and Management in Health Care Practicum (4). Discussion, one hour; laboratory, 11 hours. Principles, concepts, and theories related to organizations, management, leadership, change, decision-making, and group process applied to the delivery of health care and role of professional nurse as leader and manger of a health team. Corequisite: Nursing Science 160. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

170 Community-based Health Care (4). Lecture, four hours. Epidemiology, primary health care, disease prevention, and health promotion applied to nursing care of individuals, families, groups, aggregates, and communities. Sociocultural, political, economic, and environmental influences. Concepts and methods of assessing populations and communities. Corequisite: Nursing Science 170L. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 160. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

170L Community-based Health Care Practicum (4). Discussion, one hour; laboratory, 11 hours. Supervised clinical synthesis of knowledge and nursing skill in a variety of community-based settings. Opportunities for analysis of sociocultural, political, economic, and environmental influences on community-based health care and development of community health/action programs. Corequisite: Nursing Science 170. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

175LA Clinical Preceptorship (2). Laboratory, six hours. Independent study focusing on in-depth clinical nursing practice in a selected area of interest to the student. Students are mentored by a preceptor who is an expert clinician in the area. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 150. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

179A Scholarly Concentration I (2). Research, six hours. Independent study focusing on the research process to provide the evidence basis for a nursing protocol in an area of interest to the student. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 150. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

179B Scholarly Concentration II (4). Lecture, one hour; seminar, one hour; research, six hours. Continuation of independent research with emphasis on preparation of a paper detailing the research process and findings. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 179A; satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement. Open to Nursing Science majors only.

199 Independent Study in Nursing Science (1 to 4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

GRADUATE

200 Research Methods and Evaluation for Evidence-Based Practice (3). Lecture, three hours. Clinical research methods and evaluation procedures relevant to evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Prerequisite: undergraduate statistics course; undergraduate nursing research course.

210 Advanced Pathophysiology (3). Lecture, three hours. Principles of normal body functioning and pathophysiologic changes that occur as a result of compensatory mechanisms and disease. Physical and psychological aspects of altered health are explored from the cellular to the level of the total body system.

215 Health Promotion/Disease Prevention (3). Lecture, three hours. Covers the evidence-based national clinical preventive services guidelines for health promotion and disease prevention. Emphasizes counseling about personal health behaviors, screening tests for the early detection of risk factors and disease, immunizations and chemo-prophylaxis.

225A-B Advanced Pharmacology (2-3). Lecture, three hours. Principles of pharmacology that serve as a foundation for the pharmacotherapeutic management of patients evaluated and treated by advanced practice nurses. Emphasis includes the application of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles.

230 Advanced Health and Physical Assessment (3). Lecture, three hours. Application of theoretical concepts related to comprehensive health assessment of patients across the life span. Analysis, synthesis, and application of comprehensive health assessment data. Corequisite: Nursing Science 230L.

230L Advanced Health and Physical Assessment Laboratory (1). Laboratory, one hour. Clinical laboratory course for the application of concepts related to comprehensive health assessment of patients across the life span. Corequisite: Nursing Science 230.

245A-B Primary Care (3-3). Lecture, three hours. Assessment and management of acute or episodic problems affecting patients and families across the life span. Diagnostics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics are integrated. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 210 and 230.

250 Primary Care Women's Health (3). Lecture, three hours. Primary health care needs of women including adolescent, adult, and aging adults. Emphasizes assessment, diagnosis, prevention, management, and education of common gynecologic and family planning health care needs. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 210 and 230.

255 Primary Care Obstetrics (3). Lecture, three hours. Assessment and management of women during pregnancy. Diagnostics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics are integrated. Includes assessment, differential diagnosis, management, patient/family education, and counseling related to normal pregnancy care. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 210, 230, 230L, and 245A.

260A-B Primary Care Adult/Geriatrics (3-3). Lecture, three hours. Assessment and management of acute or episodic problems affecting adult and geriatric patients and their families. Diagnostics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics are integrated. Prerequisite for 260A: Nursing Science 245A; for 260B: Nursing Science 260A. Formerly Nursing Science 260.

270 Primary Care Pediatrics (3). Lecture, three hours. Assessment and management of acute or episodic problems affecting pediatric patients and their families. Diagnostics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics are integrated. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 210, 230, 230L, and 245A.

280 Aging and Chronic Illness (3). Lecture, three hours. Assessment and management of the geriatric patient. Diagnostics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics are integrated. Includes assessment, differential diagnosis, management, patient/family education, and counseling related to aging. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 260B.

281 Frameworks for Advanced Professional Practice in Nursing (3). Lecture, three hours. Provides an orientation to the scope and standards of advanced professional nursing practice. Principles of jurisprudence, ethics, and advocacy are introduced along with conceptual frameworks for nursing practice.

282 Human Behavior and Mental Health Care for Advanced Practice (3). Lecture, three hours. Focuses on theory and research related to the psychiatric illness and sociocultural factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and class which may impact patients across their life span. Emphasis includes assessment, diagnosis, management, patient/family education, lifestyle modification, and counseling strategies.

283 Primary Care Procedures (3). Lecture, two hours; laboratory, one hour. Introduces the theoretical basis for common procedures performed in primary care clinical practice. Focus includes EKG interpretation, x-ray interpretation, minor surgery, and orthopaedic procedures. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 245A.

284 Advanced Practice Scholarly Concentration (3). Lecture, three hours. Independent study focusing on critique, analysis, and synthesis of research evidence as a basis for advanced practice nursing in an area of interest to the student. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 200.

285 Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum I (3). Laboratory, nine hours. Clinical application of theory and research related to the advanced assessment and health promotion of patients across the life span. Prerequisites: Nursing Science 210 and 230. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

286 Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum II (4). Laboratory, 12 hours. Clinical field study applying theory, research, and developing clinical skills related to the provision of care to patients and their families in increasingly complex clinical situations. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 285. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

287 Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum III (5). Laboratory, 15 hours. Clinical application of theory and research through clinical experiences in selected primary care settings designed to provide students with competencies in the assessment, diagnosis, management, and education/counseling in selected populations. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 286. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

288 Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum IV (6). Laboratory, 18 hours. Continued clinical application of theory and research through clinical experiences in selected primary care settings designed to provide students with competencies in the assessment, diagnosis, management, and education/counseling in selected populations. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 287. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

289 Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum V (6). Laboratory, 18 hours. Culminating clinical experience serves as a transition from the student role to that of the advanced practice nurse. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 288. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

295 Directed Study in Latino Health Care (2 to 4). Independent study in Latino health care. Prerequisite: Nursing Science 286; Spanish language skills.

299 Independent Study in Nursing Science (1 to 4). Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.