Nursing Courses Offered

NURS 103 - Nurse Assistant (Currently not being offered)

5 units 6.5 hours lecture, 16 hours lab

This course prepares the student to function as an entry-level worker on a health care team in a long-term care facility. The focus is on preparing the student to provide direct care to the patient/resident; to promote comfort measures; and collect, record and report data to licensed personnel. Principles of critical thinking, team building, ethics, caring and cultural sensitivity are integrated throughout the course.

NURS 143 - Introduction to Nursing

2 units 2 hours lecture

In this introductory course, students will examine the professional nurse's role and responsibilities in healthcare settings. Students will study the Nursing Program's philosophy which encompasses Maslow's and Kalish's Hierarchy of Human Needs and Watson's Theory of Human Caring. The students will apply and evaluate the impact of the nursing process when researching care of the patient with biophysical health conditions under the four domains of patient care which includes professional nursing, health, illness, and the healthcare environment. Specific emphasis will be placed on application of the nursing process, critical thinking, therapeutic communication, cultural, development, and diversity.
(formerly Nursing 145) 

NURS 144 - Dosage Calculations

2 units 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours lab

This course is designed to help students develop the necessary skills to calculate accurate and safe medication dosages. Advanced problem solving, application of algebraic concepts, formulas, proportional relationships, system of measurement, and measurement system conversions will be incorporated. Designated lab time will include clinical scenarios involving correct medication formulas and calculations, the selection of correct medical equipment to prepare and administer various types of medication, careful reading and interpretation of sample medication orders, and evaluation of medication labels for safe administration.
(formerly Nursing 48)

NURS 146 - Health Assessment

2 units 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours lab

This course will help students develop and utilize physical assessment and history taking skills necessary to care for the biophysical needs of patients. The course focuses on the communication techniques and critical thinking skills necessary to elicit a health history. (Concepts of patient, professional nursing, health and illness, and the healthcare environment will be introduced.) Physical assessment skills will be developed to determine normal and abnormal findings of various body systems, including a general survey assessment.
(formerly Nursing 155)

NURS 149 - Advanced Placement in Nursing

2.5 units 2 hours lecture, 1.5 hours lab

This course introduces the Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses (LVN/LPN) and transfer students from accredited nursing programs to concepts of nursing as they apply to the El Camino College Nursing Program. Students will become familiar with the four domains of care which include patient, professional nursing, health and illness, and the healthcare environment. Emphasis will be on the role of the nurse as it relates to professional identity and caregiving. Core competencies will include communication, safety, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice. Course discussion will focus on transitioning to the professional nursing role and the impact of legal and ethical boundaries on health care delivery. Students will practice and demonstrate competency in basic nursing skills.

NURS 210 - Implications of Pathophysiology Concepts for Nurses

2 units 2 hours lecture

In this course, the student will deepen their understanding of pathophysiology and the progressive effects of disease on the human body. Common single and multi-system disorders will be used to illustrate clinical relationships among the knowledge of pathophysiology, patient assessment, diagnostics, and management of care.

NURS 220 - Nursing Fundamentals

3.5 units 2 hours lecture, 4.5 hours lab

This course introduces students to concepts related to the four domains of care which include the patient, professional nursing, health, and illness. The course further examines the nursing process as the foundation of nursing practice and emphasizes the delivery of care based on Maslow's and Kalish's Hierarchy of Human Needs and Watson's Model of Caring. Emphasis will be placed on the concepts of infection, thermoregulation, pain, tissue integrity, gas exchange, perfusion, safety, nutrition, elimination, mobility, sleep, culture, spirituality, caregiving, and the health care system. The student will gain a conceptual understanding of principles and be able to apply them in all areas of nursing practice.

NURS 222 - Medical Surgical Nursing - Older Adult

3.5 units 2 hours lecture, 4.5 hours lab

In this course, students will gain skills to assess and care for patients in the hospital setting. Emphasis will be placed on the care of the older adult population and includes critical thinking, legal and ethical issues within the nursing profession. Concepts include hormonal regulation, glucose regulation, perfusion, pain, communication, safety, functional ability, family dynamics, self-management and health promotion, intracranial regulation, cognition, interpersonal violence, ethics, health care law, sensory perception, mobility, and tissue integrity.

NURS 224 - Nursing Pharmacology

3 units 3 hours lecture

This course provides instruction from basic to advanced concepts and principles of pharmacology for nursing students. The knowledge and intervention needed to maximize therapeutic effects and prevent or minimize adverse effects of drugs will be emphasized. Major content areas will include advanced pharmacological principles, major drug classification, selected individual drugs, drug effects on body tissues, human responses to drug therapy, and the application of the nursing process. Anatomy, physiology, and microbiology concepts will be correlated with various pathologies, emphasizing the effects of drug therapy on body systems. Students will learn how to develop and present patient teaching plans. Legal and ethical issues will also be discussed.

NURS 226 - Nursing Skills Practicum I

.5 unit 1.5 hours lab

In this course, students will apply theoretical concepts and practice skills to maintain and promote the four domains of care which includes the patient, professional nursing, health, illness, and the healthcare environment. Students will use the appropriate equipment and gain skill competency by practicing basic nursing skills in the skills lab. Competencies, as they relate to physical assessment, parenteral medication administration, wet-to-moist dressing change, nasogastric tube insertion, feeding and removal, and gastrostomy or jejunostomy feeding will be assessed. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on practice based on the following nursing concepts: medical and surgical asepsis, physical hygiene, vital signs, oxygenation, nutrition, body mechanics, elimination, and medication administration.

NURS 230 - Mental Health Nursing

3.5 units 2 hours lecture, 4.5 hours lab

In this course, students will utilize the nursing process to care for clients with varying degrees of mental health problems. Psychopharmacological therapies will be examined. Students will apply techniques of therapeutic communication and assume a leadership role in the clinical setting. In addition, students will utilize and maintain legal and ethical standards specific to mental health patients.

NURS 232 - Obstetrical Patients and the Newborn

2.5 units 1.5 hours lab, 3 hours lecture

This course focuses on the theory and practical application of concepts related to obstetrical patients and the newborn. The nursing process will be utilized as the foundation of study and emphasis will be placed on the concepts of reproduction, health promotion, selfmanagement, infection, technology and informatics, thermoregulation, perfusion, human sexuality, nutrition culture, and social/ethical aspects. The student will gain a conceptual understanding of principles in all areas specific to the obstetrical patient and the newborn.

NURS 234 - Pediatric Nursing

2.5 units 1.5 hours lecture, 3 hours lab

This course focuses on the theory and clinical application of concepts related to the nursing care of children and their families by emphasizing the holistic care of the child that include the developmental, physiological, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual care of the child within the family unit. Health care concepts discussed in this course will include family dynamic development and functional abilities related to care of the child. Professional nursing concepts including clinical judgement, communication, ethical-legal, evidenced-based practice, health promotion, informatics, patient education, professionalism, safety, and collaboration will also be presented. The student will gain a conceptual understanding of principles and apply them in all areas specific to the pediatric patient.

NURS 238 - Nursing Skills Practicum II

.5 unit 1.5 hours lab

In this course, students will develop mastery of basic care principles and complex nursing skills to include the following nursing concepts; medical and surgical asepsis, physical hygiene, vital signs, oxygenation, nutrition, body mechanics, elimination, fluid and electrolyte, acid-base balance and medication administration. Students will utilize the appropriate equipment and gain skill competency by practicing basic nursing skills in the skills lab. The nursing skills practicum course will assess the student's competencies, as they relate to physical assessment; urinary elimination, venipuncture, infusion pump and volitrol management, and glucose regulation.

NURS 240 - Intermediate Medical-Surgical Nursing I

4 units 2 hours lecture, 6 hours lab

In this course, students are introduced to adult patients with moderate to severe disease states. Theory and clinical practice will focus on the biophysical concepts in medical-surgical conditions. Students will examine problems associated with tissue integrity, nutrition, inflammation, perfusion, acid-base balance, fluid and electrolytes, elimination, hormonal and glucose regulation, functional ability, safety, sexuality, and self-management.

NURS 242 - Intermediate Medical-Surgical Nursing II

4 units 2 hours lecture, 6 hours lab

In this course, students will learn about therapeutic care for patients with moderate to severe disease states by utilizing the nursing process, biophysical and medical/surgical concepts. Emphasis will be placed on the role of nurse as patient advocate and manager of care in the clinical setting.

NURS 244 - Nursing Skills Practicum III

.5 units 1.5 hours lab

In this course, students will apply persistent hands-on practice in the skills lab. They will assimilate mastery of the basic to complex nursing skills based on following nursing concepts: medical and surgical asepsis, physical hygiene, vital signs, nutrition, body mechanics, elimination, fluid and electrolyte, acid-base balance and medication administration. Students will use the appropriate equipment and gain skill competency by practicing basic nursing skills in a safe, supportive and supervised environment in the oncampus skills lab. The student's competency as it relates to physical assessment, administration of blood products, venipuncture of all variation, and oxygenation will be assessed.

NURS 247 - Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing I

5 units 3 hours lecture, 9 hours lab

In this course, students will explore biophysical concepts, knowledge of the critically ill patient across the life span and promoting wellness in culturally diverse populations and nursing management essential to the care of acute/chronic, critical, and emergency nursing. Clinical practice of critical care nursing will occur in a variety of settings.

NURS 248 - Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing II Preceptorship

2 units 6 hours lab

This preceptorship course provides the nursing student, enrolled in their last semester of nursing school, an opportunity to work directly with a RN preceptor. This experience allows students to apply knowledge and skills gained throughout the nursing program. The experience assists the student in making a smooth transition from the learner role to the entry-level registered nurses role in a realistic clinical setting. Opportunities to implement leadership and management skills as well as decision-making and priority setting utilizing legal and ethical principles will be provided.