The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is an undergraduate education that is available for nurses who have a diploma in nursing from a vocational level colleges and seek to advance into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program builds upon the courses taken in nursing colleges. The education duration at AUA is five semesters and two summer terms and covers 75 required credits.
The program prepares nurses to promote health and deliver nursing care to the diverse patient population across the lifespan and across the four spheres of care:
1. Disease prevention and health promotion
2. Chronic disease
3. Regenerative or restorative, and
4. Palliative or supportive
AUA prepares specialists who are well-grounded and well-rounded individuals, able to think critically and creatively, learn on their own, understand different kinds of thinking, work in teams, and deal with people from different cultures and disciplines. The program provides rich and varied opportunities for practical experiences that focus on person-centered care (care of the individual, family, and important others).
Find more information on admission and application process here.
BSN Student Handbook 2023-2024
Course Listing and Descriptions
BSN: 101 Professional Nursing Practice (3 credits)
In this course students will explore recent issues affecting the nursing profession in terms of role expansion of the nurse. Three main areas will be covered including concepts such as compassionate care, professional practice, evidence-based practice, ethical practice, effective communication, person and family centeredness, health promotion and disease prevention, quality and safety in healthcare delivery, and interprofessional practice. The second area includes nursing roles such as the role of the nurse as care provider, educator, researcher, manager, advocate, leader, monitor and auditor of quality and safe care, and policy maker. The third area focuses on the nursing process as an organizing framework for nursing practice.
BSN 201: Health Assessment Across Age groups (3 credits)
This course integrates a holistic person-centered approach to health assessment of various age groups. The role of the nurse as diagnostician, communicator, teacher, and collaborator is emphasized throughout the health assessment process. It focuses on the development of effective communication skills in history taking, physical assessment, and documentation. Emphasis is placed on the assessment of the physical, psychosocial, and cultural dimensions of the client. Assessment of children and older adults are discussed.
BSN 202: Evidence-Based Maternal and Child Health Nursing (3 credits)
This course focuses on improving patient outcomes through an evidence-based nursing practice approach to meet the needs of the childbearing family and the ill child. The role of the nurse as a care provider, advocate, health educator, and nurturer in the hospital, outpatient, and community settings is stressed. It is tailored to the needs of the learners, building on their clinical experience. The course uses the nursing process as a framework of practice. Maternal health covers holistic assessment, evidence-based intervention, and evaluation of reproductive health issues of the childbearing family from conception to the neonatal period. Pre-requisite: BSN 101, BSN 201.
BSN 203: Health and Nursing Informatics (3 credits)
This course explores the dynamics of combining information technology with nursing practice mainly the use of information systems to improve the quality and safety of patient care. The course content is divided into three modules: module 1 introduces participants to the role of electronic health records, mobile health, and telehealth in supporting and improving the quality of patient care; module 2 describes the use of electronic Decision Support system to enhance patient safety and evidence-based practice; and module 3 focuses on the optimal use of data, information, and knowledge to advance individual and public health.
BSN 204: Evidence-Based Adult Gerontology Health Nursing (3 credits)
This course focuses on the holistic nursing care of adult and older adult clients experiencing medical and surgical problems. Knowledge and skills from previous and current nursing courses and concepts from basic sciences and humanities establish the foundation for this course. The nursing process will provide the framework for planning and implementing client-centered care in this course. Emphasis is on application of evidence-based practice as professional nurses in caring for adult and older adult clients and their families in various health care settings. Pre-requisite: BSN 101, BSN 201.
BSN 205: Research in Nursing (3 credits)
The Nursing Research course is an introduction to the research process. The course covers both quantitative and qualitative research methods, various research designs, sampling methods, data collection methods, analysis and interpretation of results. There will be emphasis on the critical evaluation of research articles, and the utilization of research findings to promote evidence-based Nursing practice. Research proposal development/scientific writing will be covered in the course.
Pre-requisite: Senior standing*.
BSN 210: Community Health Nursing, Public & Population Health (6 credits)
Community Health Nursing (CHN) course builds upon the community and public health nursing science, humanities and social sciences to empower nursing students comprehend the role of the community health nurse working directly with individuals, families and groups in the delivery of evidence-based care in community health services. CHN responsibilities include working directly with individuals, families and small groups to promote, preserve and maintain health anywhere on the health illness continuum at all stages of the life cycle.
Pre-requisite: Senior standing*.
BSN 211: Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
This course is designed to advance learners’ understanding regarding concepts on common mental health disorders. Psychosocial concepts, cultural, ethical and legal influences will be discussed in depth. The biopsychosocial assessment skills of the individual client will be explored as well. The role of the nurse during the client’s recovery and the skills necessary to conduct a comprehensive mental health assessment are of particular emphasis in this course. The case study approach will be used to facilitate linkage of theoretical concepts to practice.
Pre-requisite: Senior standing*.
BSN 212: Care of Patients and Families with Complex Health Problems (3 credits)
This course introduces concepts and issues related to the diagnosis and management of patients with critical illness. The course content is organized around the nursing process framework and the bio-psychosocial dimensions of human beings. Areas of emphasis include ethical and psychosocial issues related to critical illness; advanced assessment in critical illness; management of critically ill adults with cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, metabolic, and renal problems, as well as emergency nursing care. The course has two components: theory and clinical.
Pre-requisite: BSN 202, BSN 204.
BSN 221: Leading and Managing Nursing and Healthcare Services (6 credits)
This course introduces the students to the managerial functions and the leadership skills needed to provide high quality nursing care in various healthcare settings. It includes a theory component and clinical assignments. The theory part comprises four modules: module 1 presents the historical evolution of management and leadership theories and how did we arrive at what we understand about leadership and management today; module 2 introduces the scientific approaches to planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling client care; module 3 describes the behavioral approaches to effective communication, problem solving, change management, staff motivation, and creating a safe work environment; and module 4 focuses on the use of international patient safety goals to enhance patient safety in hospitals and community centers.
Pre-requisite: Senior standing*.
BSN 270-279 course series on Nursing Enhancement in Special Topics – several 3-credit courses
The nursing enhancement courses are designed to practice nursing skills and apply the nursing process with special population such as older adults and patients with special needs. During this course, students will build on their work experience and on the information gained in first and second semesters of the nursing program.
BSN 280: Interprofessional Education and Practice (1 credit)
This course is intended for nursing students and students from other health disciplines. Students will be introduced to the philosophy of and learn necessary skills for interprofessional practice. The course is taught through short seminars and case-studies on health topics where interprofessional collaboration is critical. The aim of this course is to prepare future healthcare professionals to provide team-based health promotion and care with the common goal of building a safer and better patient-centered and community/population-oriented health system.
Pre-requisite: Senior standing*.
BSN 290: Evidence-Based Nursing Practice / Capstone Project (5 credits)
This experiential course focuses on preparing students towards their transition to professional nursing practice. The course uses capstone project as a means to help BSN students to transition to full professional roles as compared to their semi-professional functions. The capstone project requires students to synthesize knowledge and utilize evidence to solve clinical problems such as patient and family centered care, team work and collaboration, evidence-based practice and evidence-based management, quality and performance improvement, patient safety, work environment, and revising and creating practice policies. Students will organize into groups, develop a capstone project, and a formal presentation to share with students, faculty, and invited guests.
Pre-requisite: Senior standing*.
*Senior standing indicates the completion of first-year BSN courses including
BSN 101, BSN 201, BSN 202, and BSN 204.