Report to the NMU Academic Senate
from
The Committee on Undergraduate Programs
Chair: Lesley Putman
First Reading: March 28, 2017
Table of Contents
1. Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (pages 1-2)
A. Change name of Department
2. School of Nursing (Pages 2-5)
A. New Courses
1. NU 414 Nursing Care of Populations for the Practicing Nurse (Clinical)
2. NU 454 Professional Nursing Practice (Clinical)
B. Program Change
1. RN to BSN
3. Department of Health and Human Performance (pages 6-9)
A. New Courses
1. ATR 420/520 Orthopedic Assessment I
2. ATR 421/521 Orthopedic Assessment II
3. ATR 441/541 Principles of Athletic Training
4. ATR 442/542 Orthopedic Taping and Bracing
5. ATR 460/560 Therapeutic Exercise
6. ATR 480/580 Therapeutic Modalities
7. ATR 485/585 Evidence Based Practice and Clinical Decision-Making in Athletic Training
1. Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
A. Change Name of Department
Department of Languages, Literatures, and International Studies (LLIS)
Rationale:
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is the “home” of the International Studies major and minor, and has been for at least eight years. As faculty members with a wide (indeed, global) range of research and teaching interests, we have been responsible for maintaining the International Studies curriculum and for promoting the major and minor both on- and off-campus. Nearly half of the faculty in our department have taught the key International Studies courses. Our department is responsible for CUP proposals related to the major, and oversees the vital study-abroad component of the major as well. This proposed name change will clear up some of the confusion students and prospective students often have as they look for the area that oversees the International Studies major and minor—many contact the Office of International Programs and then need to be re-directed to us. We are confident the proposed change will clear up the confusion.
The proposed name change communicates more accurately the scope of our professional expertise—we are scholars and teachers of world languages and literatures, but we are also experts in the study and teaching of world cultures. The name change also better reflects the training we received in graduate school. (For the past several decades, masters and doctoral programs in languages and literatures have reflected a “cultural studies” approach—a multifaceted approach which draws upon gender studies, history, politics, and religious studies, to name just a few elements—rather than what might be called a strictly literary “great books” approach.) Our proposed new name reflects the broad range of academic, personal, and professional experiences that support our research and teaching. It also nicely parallels the following statement from our department’s mission statement: “Our courses and programschallenge students to cultivate global competencies in languages,literatures and cultures.”
Effect on Other Departments:
This name change should have no impact upon other departments.
Costs:
Minimal. New stationery, some changes to signs in Whitman Hall, and website updates.
2. School of Nursing
A. New Courses
Proposed Bulletin Copy:
NU 414 Nursing Care of Populations for the Practicing Nurse (Clinical)
3 cr. (0-0-6)
Offered: Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN program, NU311.
Corequisite or Prerequisite: NU411
Application of NU 411 concepts to the nursing process in planning population-based nursing care in community settings.
Rationale:
This new course will be implemented for the RN to BSN student population only and would be taken in place of NU412 Nursing Care of Populations (Clinic). The RN to BSN students come to the BSN program already possessing an RN license and clinical practice experience. Currently, these students are taking NU412, which is a course with similar objectives but geared toward the traditional nursing student. NU414 will be organized in such a way that the RN to BSN student will be able to expand upon the experience they already have from their careers as practicing nurses. NU414 will also better meet the recommendations of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). In 2012, the AACN published a white paper outlining “Expectations for Practice Experiences in the RN to Baccalaureate Curriculum”. This white paper specifically states that:
“These expectations include the advancement of clinical reasoning and proficiency in performing psychomotor skills. Psychomotor skill development for the RN to BSN student must be differentiated from the expectations of the entry level student”.
Proposed Bulletin Copy:
NU 454 Professional Nursing Practice (Clinical)
3 cr. (0-0-6)
Offered: Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: Admission to the RN to BSN program, NU311, NU411, NU414, NU421, NU441
This course is an intensive professional internship with a preceptor in a primary, secondary or tertiary care setting that will enhance the student’s skills necessary to function in the professional role. The student focuses on a selected area of practice within the current health care environment.
Rationale:
This new course will be implemented for the RN to BSN student population only and would be taken in place of NU452 Transition Into Professional Nursing Practice (Clinic). The RN to BSN students come to the BSN program already possessing an RN license and clinical practice experience. Currently, these students are taking NU452, which is a course with similar objectives but geared toward the traditional nursing student. NU454 will be organized in such a way that the RN to BSN student will be able to expand upon the experience they already have from their careers as practicing nurses. NU454 will also better meet the recommendations of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as outlined above in the rationale for NU 414.
Effect on Other Departments:
None. Neither of these courses will be used by other departments.
Costs:
There are no costs associated with these new courses because they are replacing current courses. However, they are part of the revised RN to BSN program and possible costs for that revised program are discussed under the program change proposed below.
B. Program Change
Proposed Bulletin Copy:
RN to Baccalaureate Nursing Major
This degree is designed for students who already hold an RN license, but who have not completed a baccalaureate program.
Total Credits Required for Degree 120 credits
General Education Courses (10 Courses) 30-40 credits
Required Courses in Major 63 credits
NU 211 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (Theory) (T)* (4 credits)
NU 212 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (Clinic) (C)* (3 credits)
NU 221 Pharmacology I (T)* (2 credits)
NU 231 Pathophysiology (T)* (3 credits)
NU 301 Nursing Care of Adults I (Theory) (T)* (4 credits)
NU 302 Nursing Care of Adults I (Clinic) (C)* (6 credits)
NU 311 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (T) (2 credits)
NU 321 Nursing Care of Women and the Perinatal Family (Theory) (T)* (3 credits)
NU 322 Nursing Care of Women and the Perinatal Family (Clinic) (C)* (2 credits)
NU 331 Nursing Care of Children/Adolescents (Theory) (T)* (4 credits)
NU 332 Nursing Care of Children/Adolescents (Clinic) (C)* (2 credits)
NU 341 Pharmacology II (T)* (2 credits)
NU 401 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (Theory) (T)* (4 credits)
NU 402 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (Clinic) (C)* (3 credits)
NU 411 Nursing Care of Populations (Theory) (T) (4 credits)
NU 412 Nursing Care of Populations (Clinic) (C) (3 credits)
NU 414 Nursing Care of Populations for the Practicing Nurse (Clinic) (C) (3 credits)
NU 421 Nursing Issues Seminar (T) (2 credits)
NU 431 Nursing Care of Adults II (Theory) (T)* (2 credits)
NU 432 Nursing Care of Adults II (Clinic) (C)* (3 credits)
NU 441 Leadership and Management in Nursing (Theory) (T) (2 credits)
NU 452 Transition into Professional Nursing Practice (Clinical) (C) (3 credits)
NU454 Professional Nursing Practice (Clinic) (C) (3 credits)
Other Required Courses * 26 credits
BI 203 Medical Microbiology (3-5 credits)
BI 207 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 (4 credits)
BI 208 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 (4 credits)
CH 109 Introductory Organic and Biochemistry for the Health Sciences [III] (4 credits)
HN 301A Nutrition for Health Professions I (2 credits)
HN 301B Nutrition for Health Professions II (2 credits)
PY 100 Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
AH 102 Growth and Development (3 credits)
*”Other required courses” will be waived for students who possess both a current unencumbered RN license from any state within the US and an Associate Degree in Nursing.
**Students are required complete 120 credits in total, 32 credits at NMU, and meet the general education requirements thus additional courses may be required and will be determined on an individualized basis.
Rationale:
The RN to Baccalaureate students come to the BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program already possessing an RN (registered nurse) license and clinical practice experience. Deleting NU412 and NU452 from this program will eliminate the clinical courses in which traditional BSN students (with limited knowledge and no experience practicing as an RN) and RN to BSN students work side by side. Adding NU414 and NU454 to the RN to BSN program will allow the students to expand upon the experience already gained from their careers as practicing nurses.
The goal of this change is to better meet the expectations of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) by meeting the RN to BSN student at his/her knowledge base and expanding upon that, rather than potentially spending a great deal of time covering information they have already mastered. In 2012, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) published a white paper outlining “Expectations for Practice Experiences in the RN to Baccalaureate Curriculum”. This white paper specifically states that:
“These expectations include the advancement of clinical reasoning and proficiency in performing psychomotor skills. Psychomotor skill development for the RN to BSN student must be differentiated from the expectations of the entry level student”.
The School of Nursing currently has a fully accredited but poorly enrolled RN (registered nurse) to Baccalaureate major. Students who possess an RN license and are returning to school for a baccalaureate degree often have full time jobs and other commitments that prevent them from attending college in face to face format during normal business hours. In an attempt to move this program online, these changes are likely to facilitate enrollment while continuing to maintain academic rigor and a well-rounded education.
The ‘other required courses’ listed in the bulletin are pre-requisites to the nursing program. These pre-requisites serve to prepare pre-nursing students for success in the nursing program and successful completion of the nursing board exam (NCLEX-RN). Students who are entering the RN to BSN program have already passed the NCLEX-RN and have successfully completed an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Therefore, the content from the ‘other required courses’ is generally mastered through their Associate degree and requiring these courses has the potential to complicate the ability for students to complete this program from a distance.
Effect on Other Departments:
At this point, the enrollments in the RN to BSN program are very low so a change in courses or pre-requisites is likely to have minimal impact. However, if the nursing department sees a major increase in enrollment and partners with an online program management company, it is likely that other departments will also see increased enrollment. If the partnership with online program management (OPM) goes through, the plan is for the RN to BSN students to take 16 credits of courses offered through the new Applied Workplace Leadership minor offered out of the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service. This would serve as a mutually beneficial endeavor since RN to BSN students will need relevant courses to reach the credit and General Education requirements and the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service will be seeking students to fill the newly created courses.
Costs:
The Division of Extended Learning and Community Engagement and the School of Nursing have been exploring the best way to transition our RN to BSN program to an online version. It has not yet been decided if a partner for online program management (OPM) will be used. If an OPM is used, it has been estimated that as many as 30 students could be admitted six times per year with a maximum of 240 students when the program is fully enrolled. Steve VandenAvond, Vice President for the Division of Extended Learning and Community Engagement, has developed a budget model which provides funds for additional necessary resources including payment to the OPM, advising, a program coordinator, faculty, online course development, etc.
3. Department of Health and Human Performance
A. New Courses
Proposed Bulletin Copy:
ATR 420/520 Orthopedic Assessment I
4 cr. (3-0-2)
This class will be offered for undergraduate or graduate credit. Details describing additional requirements for graduate students will be explained in the course syllabus.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate: BI 207, BI 208, ATR 421 Graduate: Admission to the AT Master’s program; ATR 541
Techniques used in the evaluation of athletic injuries to the foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower spinal region. Emphasis is placed on taking a medical history, performing a medical observation, physical palpation, functional and special testing, and injury pathology and injury epidemiology. Techniques and concepts are presented with a strong focus on the importance of the use of an evidence-based approach to orthopedic assessment practices
Rationale:
This course provides intensive instruction in orthopedic assessment – which is one of the primary content areas required by AT programs and accreditation.
This course will be required for students in the Master’s in AT program. Students in the AT Master’s program will take the graduate version (ATR 520) of this course.
Undergraduate students may take ATR 420 as an elective. This elective course is appropriate for students enrolled in many of the pre-professional programs offered by NMU, including Pre-Med, Pre-PT, Pre-OT, Pre-Chiropractic. In addition, it may be an appropriate elective for students majoring in Physical Education & Management of Health & Fitness.
Proposed Bulletin Copy:
ATR 421/521 Orthopedic Assessment II
4 cr. (3-0-2)
This class will be offered for undergraduate or graduate credit. Details describing additional requirements for graduate students will be explained in the course syllabus.