Writing and Communication (BSNC D401)

This course supports the development of the nurse’s effective, respectful, and constructive verbal and written communication skills in the health care sphere. Students will apply relevant communication theories to demonstrate competency in formal and informal written and verbal communications. Students will further tailor their messages in terms of argument, clarity, organization, and style to the appropriate audience (e.g., patients, professional colleagues, the public), purpose, and context. Course content includes ethical considerations, cultural competence, and special situations that occur in healthcare such as communicating with the help of an interpreter.

Patient Stories (BSNC D405)

This course surveys a form of artistic expression combined with an examination of the experience of being a health care patient. Depictions of patient signs, symptoms, and health care interactions in an art form such as theatre, visual art, music, cinema, storytelling, or dance will be used to appreciate the characteristics, conventions, and theoretical orientations of that art form within its sociocultural context. Students will further apply the nursing process and other nursing-specific methodologies to analyze the “stories” underlying the artworks under study. The combination of modes of appreciation specific to an art form with nursing-specific ways of knowing will allow students to pursue a holistic understanding of the patient experience.

Evidence-Based Nursing: From Theory to Practice (BSNC D411)

This course examines the historical and scientific evolution of nursing as both a discipline and a field of study. Students will explore foundational concepts, theories, and models that shape nursing knowledge and practice. They will enhance their clinical reasoning and judgment skills while integrating evidence-based practices into healthcare settings. The course highlights the connection between research, theory, and evidence-based practice, guiding students through the evidence-based practice process and its application to clinical questions. Practical experience in translating research findings into practice will be emphasized, along with an emphasis on ethical considerations and resource management. By prioritizing ethical scholarship, students will be equipped to contribute to the nursing profession with integrity, ensuring safe and effective care. By the end of the course, they will demonstrate the ability to apply evidence-based principles professionally, promoting continuous improvement in healthcare.

Population Health and Advocacy in Nursing (BSNC D412)

This course explores population health management, highlighting the crucial role of nurses in promoting health equity and social justice in diverse communities. Students will analyze health data, assess community needs, and create culturally responsive healthcare interventions. The curriculum covers public health policy evaluation, collaborative action plans, advocacy strategies, and disaster preparedness. Through various activities, students will gain proficiency in epidemiological methods, ethical decision-making, and sustainable health interventions for vulnerable populations, equipping them to lead initiatives, and advocate for improvements in public health outcomes.

Population Health and Advocacy in Nursing practicum (BSNC D412P)

In collaboration with community partners, this practicum focuses on principles of population health and addresses the health needs of diverse groups. Students explores the role of nurses as advocates and educators in promoting health equity and improving health outcomes. Key areas of focus include social determinants of health, epidemiological methods, and evidence-based interventions. Additionally, the course involves analyzing health data to identify trends and risk factors. It also covers the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs in partnership with interdisciplinary teams and community stakeholders, aiming to enhance health outcomes for various populations. This course meets the requirement for a California Public Health Nurse Certificate.

Nursing in Literature (BSNC D420)

This course examines the profession of nursing as depicted in literature which may include fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, biography, film, and other genres. There will be a particular emphasis on understanding the history and cultural development of nursing through the lens of literature. Students will engage with literature purposefully, critically, and contextually to explore narratives that depict the evolution of nurses, patients, and healthcare systems across time and place. Through their writings and class discussion contributions, students will use literary theories to analyze and interpret texts thus revealing issues related to gender roles, ethics, social/political context, and more.

Ethical Foundations of Nursing (BSNC D425)

This course explores the ethical foundations of nursing practice, providing students with the knowledge and skills to navigate complex moral dilemmas in healthcare. The course aims to provide a thorough introduction to the key themes in nursing ethics, including ethical principles, ethical decision-making, safeguarding privacy and confidentiality, professional standards, promoting ethical conduct in research and practice, and ensuring human rights and social justice. Students will examine major ethical theories, including deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics, and apply core ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice to real-world nursing scenarios. This course satisfies the ethical inquiry core foundation (FETI) requirement and advanced writing flag requirement (CADW).

Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Practice (BSNC D430)

This course explores the philosophical foundations of nursing, examining key questions about the nature of care, personhood, health, and responsibility. Utilizing historical and theoretical foundations in nursing, students will critically analyze fundamental nursing and philosophical issues using systematic questioning and argument evaluation. Through the study of value theory, epistemology, and metaphysics, students will engage with philosophical perspectives unique to the profession and demonstrate the integration of philosophical principles into practice. Students will read various philosophical perspectives unique to the nursing discipline, critically examining arguments in light of our own knowledge and experience. Students will engage with these tools in class to build the skills necessary to effectively defend their positions in written assignments.

Health Information Technology: Enhancing Care and Communication (BSNC D440)

This course focuses on the information and communication technologies(ICT) used in healthcare delivery to improve patient outcomes, ensure safety, and facilitate communication across diverse settings. Students explore practical applications and ethical considerations while emphasizing the importance of communication and compassionate care. Students examine how technologies enhance patient care and optimize processes, discussing data collection, decision-making, and knowledge generation. Key topics include regulatory issues, patient privacy, information security, and reimbursement, along with an emphasis on clinical judgment, social determinants of health, and ethics.

Data Visualization (BSNC D441)

This course supports the nurse’s ability to a) reliably interpret the data visualizations routinely encountered in their role, and b) create data visualizations in commonly used formats that adhere to the conventions and constraints of those formats. Learners will combine knowledge of visualization formats, human perception, and audience needs with data skills, design discernment, and adherence to ethical principles to create visualizations that help viewers accurately answer pertinent questions about the topic at hand. Learners will explore data at multiple levels: individual patient data, population health data, and systems/policy-level data. In accompanying written work, learners will state their visualization objectives, explain the assumptions and limitations underlying their source data and selected visualization format(s), justify their design choices, and draw conclusions about the selected topic.

Healthcare Systems Leadership: Promoting Quality, Safety, and Innovation (BSNC D450)

This course equips nursing professionals to navigate complex healthcare systems by exploring organizational structures, healthcare delivery models, and quality evaluation strategies. Students will focus on quality improvement, safety, and the nurse’s role in fostering a culture of respect and high reliability in healthcare environments. Leadership development skills, including communication, team dynamics, and collaboration, are emphasized. Additionally, students will learn about the use of information technologies, such as electronic health records and telehealth, to enhance patient outcomes and safety. The course highlights the integration of evidence-based practice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical decision-making in leadership. Lastly, personal health and well-being are underscored as vital for effective leadership and resilience in healthcare.

Professionalism and Leadership in Nursing Practice (BSNC D451)

This course focuses on the nursing profession as both a science and a discipline, exploring its historical evolution, professional roles, and core concepts of nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on developing a strong professional identity grounded in accountability, advocacy, integrity, and leadership while effectively collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. Students examine the use of leadership skills to optimize care across the continuum, apply information and communication technologies to support decision-making, and explore cost-effective, innovative strategies to improve healthcare outcomes. Personal and professional growth are fostered through self-care, reflective practice, and the application of theory and research-based knowledge to promote intellectual curiosity and social responsibility.

Nursing Leadership Practicum (BSNC D451P)

In collaboration with community partners, this practicum offers hands-on experience applying theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practices in professional healthcare settings. Designed to enhance students’ clinical reasoning, decision-making, care delivery skills, and leadership abilities, the practicum also engages students in quality improvement initiatives that emphasize ethical conduct, social responsibility, and advocacy for health equity and patient rights. Interprofessional collaboration and effective communication are key components, fostering improved patient outcomes and supporting team-based care.

As part of the culminating Integrative Core Project, the student will develop a quality improvement proposal, which will encourage students to synthesize the knowledge and skills gained throughout their coursework. Building on their earlier integrative learning experiences, students will make meaningful connections across disciplines, apply knowledge in diverse contexts, and bridge curricular and co-curricular learning to demonstrate Core competencies essential for success in the evolving field of nursing.

Cry of the Poor: An Introduction to Catholic Theology (THRS D102)

This course is an introduction to the academic study of Catholic theology focusing on Catholic interpretations of essential biblical texts, fundamental Christian beliefs and practices, and the significance of the option for the poor throughout the Catholic tradition and today. Students will also engage other academic disciplines along with Catholic theology in order to better understand the realities of economic inequality and student’s own positions in relation to social constructions of power and privilege. This course is designed for USD's online undergraduate degree completion programs and may not be applied to the requirements for any in-person undergraduate degree program that USD offers.

Cry of the Earth: Religion, the Environment, and Social Justice (THRS D302)

This course is an exploration of the implications of religious ideas and practices for the ways people view and value the natural world, with special attention to the global complexities of diversity, inclusion, and social justice at an advanced level. Throughout this course, students will consider such questions as: What is the religious significance of nature, if any? How have religious attitudes evolved in response to the religious crisis? What role should religion play in helping to solve the ecological crisis, if any? How can the concept of intersectionality help to mobilize a more critical and inclusive approach to religion and the environmental crisis? This course is designed for USD's online undergraduate degree completion programs and may not be applied to the requirements for any in-person undergraduate degree program that USD offers.