Nursing Courses
NURS-080 Job Search for Beginning Registered Nurses
.5 Unit: 9 hours of lecture, per term, P/NP, ND
A short-term course to help graduating nursing students to market themselves in the job market. Resume writing and interviewing skills will be the focus. Lecture, group discussion, role-playing and individual consultation will be used to help prepare students to get their first job in nursing. This course is designed for students who have completed the first year of the nursing program.
NURS-198 Nurse Assistant Certification Course
7 Units: 72 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, ND
Prerequisites: College Reading Assessment score of 34. This prerequisite requirement may be satisfied by completing either ENGL-82, ENGL-84, or ESL-146; or place at ESL level 3.
College Writing Assessment score of 25. This prerequisite requirement may be satisfied by completing either ENGL-82, ENGL-84, or ESL-146; or place at ESL level 3.
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): American Heart Association BLS course for the Healthcare Provider current card required.
This course is designed to train the student to function as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The student will be part of a health team under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or a Licensed Vocational Nurse in a health care agency. The program meets standards according to federal and state regulations. The core curriculum is framed around the modules required by the California Department of Public Health. Example of topics and skill development include communication skills, infection control, patient’s rights, and basic CNA skills.
NURS-199 Home Health Aide
2 Units: 27 hours of lecture, 27 hours of laboratory, per term, SC, CR/NC, ND
Prerequisite: Completion of NURS-198 or current certification as California Certified Nursing Assistant, current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): American Heart Association CPR certification for the HealthCare Provider is required. Online CPR classes are not accepted.
Advisory: Students that completed the Contra Costa College Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) prior to enrolling in the Home Health Aide course must pass the California State Competency Examination and be certified by the State of California as a CNA prior to receiving certification as a Home Health Aide.
This course is designed to train the individual to function as a Home Health Aide (HHA). Students will be part of a health team under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or a Licensed Vocational Nurse in a health care agency. The program meets standards according to federal and state regulations. Students interested in this course must obtain the CNA Application packet from the nursing department office (HS 103) well in advance in order to complete all the necessary forms. The CNA application packet must be completed and submitted to the nursing office prior to or by the first day of class.
NURS-205 Drug Dosage Calculations for Nursing Students
2 Units: 36 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU
This course will present mathematical skills and concepts needed by the professional nurse to safely practice in the clinical setting. Content includes interpreting medication labels, calculating drug doses, intravenous flow rates, and enteral feeding solutions.
NURS-209 Advanced Placement Transition Course
1 Unit: 18 hours of lecture, per term, P/NP, ND
Prerequisite: Admission to Advanced Placement status in the Nursing Program
This course is designed to bridge the gap for the advanced placement student entering the nursing program. The course emphasizes nursing process, therapeutic communication, role transition, orientation to the RN program, and a review of nursing skills.
NURS-210 Fundamentals of Nursing
12 Units: 108 hours of lecture, 324 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205 and NURS-212; admission to the nursing program
Corequisite: NURS-211
This course includes an introduction to health promotion, clinical drug therapy and culture. Emphasis is placed upon the use of the nursing process to identify and meet the normal physical and emotional needs of adults. This course provides an opportunity for the student to practice skills basic to the nursing process. Supervised clinical experience with hospitalized adults will be included.
NURS-211 Developing Competency in Nursing Practice (A)
.6 Unit: 32.4 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205, admission to the nursing program, and NURS-212.
Corequisite: NURS-210
This course is an adjunct to NURS-210. It provides instruction related to specific fundamental nursing skills, as well as an opportunity for individual and small group practice of those skills in the nursing skills laboratory.
NURS-212 Pharmacology for Nurses
2 Units: 36 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG
Advisory: Recommend prior completion of BIOSC-132, BIOSC-134, and either BIOSC-119 or BIOSC-148.
This course will present the basic principles of pharmacology and clinical drug therapy needed by the professional nurse to safely care for the adult medical surgical patient. Content includes principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, the nurse’s role in safe medication administration and in clinical drug therapy.
NURS-230 Nursing Care of Women and Newborns
5.5 Units: 45 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; NURS-210 or equivalent; NURS-212; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-231
Advisory: This course is also for a special category of student. For example: a 30-unit option LVN or an RN who came from another country only needing obstetrics nursing.
This course provides entry level knowledge to periobstetrical and perinatal nursing. The course encompasses the entire childbearing process from preconception planning through pregnancy, birth and the post-partum period. Content progresses from normal to at-risk information and cultural aspects within each phase; pregnancy, labor and birth, care of the newborn, and the post-partum period. Theory is concurrent with clinical experience.
NURS-231 Competency in Nursing Practice (A)
.5 Unit: 27 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-230
This course is an adjunct to NURS-230. It provides instruction about specific obstetric nursing skills as well as an opportunity for individual practice of those skills in the nursing skills laboratory.
NURS-235 Maternal-Child Health Nursing
11 Units: 90 hours of lecture, 324 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: PSYCH-126 or PSYCH-128; NURS-205, 210, 211, and 212 (NURS-210 and NURS-211 may be waived for advanced placement students); and admission to the Nursing Program.
Corequisite: NURS-236
In this course, emphasis is placed on the nurse’s role in helping families to be healthy. Theory content encompasses the childbearing process including pregnancy, labor and birth, postpartum and newborn. Content also includes growth and development levels and common health problems seen in children. The supervised clinical experience provides an opportunity for the student to further develop clinical skills with a focus on patient teaching and health promotion within the family. Cultural variation is integrated throughout. This course complies with the American Disabilities Act.
NURS-236 Developing Competency in Nursing Practice
1 Unit: 54 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205, 210, 211 and 212; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-235
This course is an adjunct to NURS-235. It provides instruction related to specific maternity and pediatric nursing skills, as well as an opportunity for individual and small group practice of those skills in the nursing skills laboratory.
NURS-240 Nursing Care of Children
5.5 Units: 45 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; 210 (or equivalent), 211, 212; PSYCH-126, PSYCH-128, or PE-197; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-241
Advisory: This course is for a special category of student. For example: a 30-unit option LVN or an RN who came from another country only needing obstetrics nursing.
This course places emphasis on the nurse’s role in helping families to be healthy. Content includes growth and development levels, teaching, communication, as well as common health problems seen in children. Cultural variation is integrated throughout. This course provides an opportunity for the student to develop clinical skills related to hospitalized children and experience pediatric settings with a focus on teaching and health promotion within the family.
NURS-241 Competency in Nursing Practice (B)
.5 Unit: 27 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-240
This course is an adjunct to NURS-240. It provides instruction related to specific pediatric nursing skills as well as an opportunity for individual and small group practice of those skills in the laboratory.
NURS-250 Intermediate Medical Surgical Nursing
5.5 Units: 45 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205, 210, 211; admission to the nursing program
Corequisite: NURS-251
Emphasis is placed upon pathophysiology, selected medical-surgical problems, pharmacology and related nursing skills. This course provides an opportunity for students to further develop clinical skills with a focus on patient/family teaching and communication. Supervised clinical experience in medical-surgical settings will be included.
NURS-251 Competency in Nursing Practice (C)
.5 Unit: 27 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-250
This course is an adjunct to NURS-250. It provides instruction to specific intermediate medical-surgical nursing skills, as well as an opportunity for individual and small group practice at those skills in the laboratory.
NURS-255 Intermediate Medical/Surgical and Psychiatric
Nursing
11 Units: 90 hours of lecture, 324 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205, 210, 211, and 212; admission to the nursing program
Corequisite: NURS-256
This intermediate course provides an opportunity for students to expand their understanding of human behavior and the use of the nursing process to assist patients and family members experiencing complicated physical and/or emotional problems. Emphasis will be on effective nursing care of individuals with acute and chronic health care needs. Supervised clinical experience in a variety of settings will be included.
NURS-256 Developing Competency in Nursing Practice (B)
1 Unit: 54 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205, 210, 211 and 212; admission to the nursing program
Corequisite: NURS-255
This course is an adjunct to NURS-255. It provides instruction related to specific medical-surgical and psychiatric nursing skills, as well as an opportunity for individual and small group practice of those skills in the nursing skills laboratory.
NURS-260 Psychiatric Nursing
5.5 Units: 45 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-261
Psychiatric nursing provides an opportunity for the student to learn basic human needs and nursing process frameworks in order to assist patients and families with psychiatric needs. This course includes presentation of communication theory and practice of communication skills. Theory content includes nurse/patient relationship, nursing process, treatment modalities, and psychiatric disorders of children, adolescents, adults and older adults. Supervised clinical experience in the psychiatric setting is concurrent with psychiatric nursing theory.
NURS-261 Competency in Nursing Practice (D)
.5 Unit: 27 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG
Prerequisite: NURS-205; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-260
This course is an adjunct to NURS-260. It provides instruction related to specific psychiatric nursing skills, as well as an opportunity for individual and small group practice of those skills in the nursing skills laboratory.
NURS-275 Gerontological/Medical/Surgical Nursing
12 Units: 108 hours of lecture, 324 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205, 210, 212, 235, and 255; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-276
This course provides an opportunity for students to expand their knowledge of pathophysiology, refine nursing skills, and utilize the nursing process to assist the adult and the elderly patient experiencing complex acute and chronic illness. Emphasis is placed upon effective nursing care of the elderly individual and family and community resources. This course also includes topics in nursing leadership, managed care ethics, and current issues in professional nursing.
NURS-276 Developing Competency in Nursing Practice (C)
.3 Unit: 16.2 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: NURS-205, 210, 211, 212, 235, 236, 255, and 256; admission to the nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS-275
This course is an adjunct to NURS-275. It provides instruction related to specific geriatric and advanced medical-surgical nursing skills, as well as an opportunity for individual and small groups practice of those skills in the nursing skills laboratory.