Nursing
Associate in Nursing Degree
Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate
The Nursing program at DACC affords students the opportunity to become a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse and members of a respected and rewarding profession by offering classroom and clinical education courses in nursing. Nursing is a dynamic and exciting discipline offering the rewarding experiences of helping others achieve their health care goals by providing professional nursing care, patient teaching, effective communication, and management of patient care.
Upon acceptance into the nursing program, and successful completion of all prerequisite and nursing courses, the new graduate will be prepared as an entry-level generalist in Licensed Practical Nursing or Registered Nursing. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN licensure exams and become licensed Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses anywhere in the United States. Students should note, however, that program completion does not in and of itself guarantee licensure, which is a function of the various state boards of nursing, nor does it guarantee employment.
The DACC nursing program philosophy embraces the concepts of caring, health, and wellness. Faculty assist adult learners with achievement of their maximum educational potential through exposure to a variety of teaching and evaluation methods. Special emphasis is placed upon the nursing process, critical-thinking, clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, safety, professionalism, nursing informatics, and the evolving teaching-learning process.
Accreditation/Approval1
The DACC Nursing program is approved for operation by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Board directly:
New Mexico Board of Nursing
6301 Indian School Road NE, Suite 710
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: (505) 841-8340
- 1
Please refer to the DACC Nursing program website for more information regarding the accreditation and/or approval status of the Nursing program.
Categories of Essential Functions
In order to participate in the Nursing Program, the student must be capable of performing the following:
Observation
- Visually discriminate incremental readings on various medical equipment
- Visually discriminate between different colored objects
- Discriminate between various auditory stimuli
Communication
- Communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal and written formats
- Read and interpret the English language without assistance
- Communicate effectively via electronic means, including computers and “smart” devices
Motor
- Stand for long periods of time
- Lift 50 pounds
- Perform patient care procedures with manual dexterity
Intellectual
- Collect, interpret, and integrate information
Special Admission Criteria
As a professional educational program, the Nursing Program is a limited-entry program. To be considered for admission, students are required to successfully complete:
- all prerequisites,
- the designated entrance exam, and
- submit all materials required for the student selection process (complete application package).
Information on requirements, transfers, and deadlines for applications are available on the Nursing program website, or by calling (575) 527-7735 or 575-874-7786
Prior to the first day of classes, each student must submit documentation of the following: current immunizations, TB test, American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers, background clearance for Healthcare Providers and drug screening. Additional information regarding specific requirements is available from the Nursing Program office.
Nursing Program Prerequisites
Prior to applying to the Nursing Program, students must be admitted to DACC. Students are also responsible for understanding all of the information in the related-requirement science courses of Anatomy and Physiology I and II, regardless of when these courses were taken. In the event that they were taken more than seven years prior to admission to the Nursing program, these courses must be repeated for credit.
Security Background Check
Prospective students are required to complete and pass a security background check in order to take clinical courses. Past criminal violations may prevent a student from completing the degree and gaining a nursing license or employment in the field.
Requirements to Remain in the Nursing Program
In order to remain in the program, students must receive a C or better in each technical course attempted.
Course Fees
In addition to tuition, a fee of $250 is charged for each of the following courses:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 136 | Foundations of Nursing Practice | 4 |
| NURS 147 | Adult Health I | 6 |
| NURS 201 | Special Topics | 3 |
| NURS 226 | Adult Health II | 4 |
NURS 130. Foundations of Pharmacology
5 Credits (5)
This course provides the nursing student with an introduction to the foundations of pharmacology including: science of drug action, principles of medication administration, accurate calculation of drug doses, medication therapy across the lifespan, application of medications to treat health alterations, normal and adverse responses by the client to medication therapy, medication safety, medication regulation, national patient safety goals, and appropriate nursing interventions to achieve the desired goals of medication therapy. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: Nursing Majors and Community Colleges only.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize personally held values and demonstrate assessment of the values held by diverse patients, as well as their preferences and expressed needs related to pharmacological therapy.
- Communicate with other members of the healthcare team to establish a plan to meet the needs of individuals, including commonly related to adverse or side effects of pharmacological therapy throughout the lifespan.
- Compare an individualized patient care plan utilizing an evidence-based approach for patient(s) across the lifespan to outcomes related to the administration of pharmacological therapy.
- Demonstrate adherence to policies, procedures, and standards of care for the administration of pharmacological therapy in healthcare delivery systems.
- Apply strategies to reduce the risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care.
- Utilize varied communication technologies, electronic healthcare databases, and electronic health records to plan nursing care for the administration of pharmacological therapy across the lifespan.
NURS 134. Foundation of Nursing Skills and Assessment
1 Credit (1)
This course provides nursing students with introductory nursing concepts related to implementation and evaluation of nursing skills and assessment including: techniques of fundamental nursing care, basic and intermediate nursing skills, and foundational physical assessment techniques associated with care across the lifespan. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: Nursing Majors and Community Colleges only.
Corequisite: NURS 134L, NURS 136, NURS 136L.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe personally held values, attitudes, and beliefs related to health and wellness.
- Describe scopes of practice, roles and values of health care team members.
- Describe an evidence-based practice approach to provision of patient care and professional nursing practice across the lifespan.
- Identify policies, procedures, and standards of care related to the provision of professional nursing care.
- Describe strategies that reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
- Identify essential information that must be available in a common database to support patient care across the lifespan.
NURS 136. Foundations of Nursing Practice
4 Credits (4)
This course will introduce the nursing student to foundational theoretical concepts of professional nursing practice, the nursing process, and foundational nursing skills. It includes developmental concepts related to clients across the lifespan. Clinical experiences in the simulation lab, long-term care, the community, and rehabilitation settings will provide the student with the opportunity to apply learned skills to provide total care to meet needs of one adult client and to develop care planning skills related to actual problems. Students must be concurrently enrolled in both the lecture and lab sections of the course. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: Nursing Majors and Community Colleges only.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: NURS 134, NURS 134L, NURS 136L.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe personally held values, attitudes, and beliefs related to health and wellness.
- Describe scopes of practice, roles and values of health care team members.
- Describe an evidence-based practice approach to provision of patient care and professional nursing practice across the lifespan.
- Identify policies, procedures, and standards of care related to the provision of professional nursing care.
- Describe strategies that reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
- Identify essential information that must be available in a common database to support patient care across the lifespan.
NURS 137. Care of Geriatric Patient
3 Credits (3)
This course will introduce the nursing student to foundational concepts of age-appropriate/specific care of the older adult who represents the largest population of individuals placing demands on the healthcare system. It includes basic and complex concepts and issues related to care of the older client across the care continuum, provision of cost-effective care in a resource sparse environment. Students must be admitted into the nursing program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: NURS majors. Restricted to Community Colleges campuses only. May be repeated up to 3 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize personally held values and demonstrate assessment of the values held by older adults related to chronic illness and age-related changes, as well as their preferences and expressed needs as measured by: a. Give examples of cultural, religious, socioeconomic, environmental, and internal influences on the health and illness of an older adult; b. Select health protection, health promotion, and disease prevention strategies related to care of older adults; c. Relate own beliefs and attitudes related to aging that might impact ability to provide care to the older adult.
- Communicate with other members of the healthcare team to establish a plan to meet the needs of older adults with commonly occurring chronic illness or age-related changes as measured by: a. Locate care delivery settings and sources for referral and coordination of healthcare needs for older adults.
- Compare an individualized patient care plan utilizing an evidence-based approach for older adults to outcomes related to the administration of pharmacological therapy as measured by as measured by: a. Describe sources of information regarding evidenced-based protocols for care of older adults; b. Use principles of ethical practice in delivery of care to the older adult.
- Demonstrate adherence to policies, procedures, and standards of care related to the provision of professional nursing care of older adults with chronic diseases as measured by: a. Give examples of healthcare policies and national standards of care related to the provision of care to older adults.
- Apply strategies to reduce the risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care pertinent to the provision of care to older adults: a. Recognize potential and actual safety issues that are pertinent to the provision of care to older adults; b. Apply nursing interventions that reduce risk of harm to older adults.
- Utilize varied communication technologies, electronic healthcare databases, and electronic health records to plan nursing care to support care of older adults as measured by: a. Discuss issues with use of technology related to the care of older adults; b. Discuss essential information that needs to be in a common database relevant to care of the older adult.
NURS 147. Adult Health I
6 Credits (4+6P)
This course focuses on application of the nursing process and theoretical concepts of care for adults with commonly occurring health problems. Selected clinical learning experiences in the simulation lab, acute care, and community settings will allow the student to continue development of: prioritization skills, proficiency in performance of nursing skills, collaborative skills with clients, families, peers and health care team members, care planning skills related to patient actual, psychosocial, and potential problems in the delivery of total nursing care to meet needs of one adult client. Students must be concurrently enrolled in both the lecture and lab sections of the course. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize personally held values and demonstrate assessment of the values held by diverse patients, as well as their preferences and expressed needs related to health and wellness as measured by: a. Give examples of how personal values, values of patients, families, and medical personnel impacts the involvement of patients in their care related to selected course topics for adult clients with chronic and acute illness; b. Select health protection, health promotion, and disease prevention strategies related to selected course topics for adult clients; c. Relate the scope, risk factors, physiologic processes, attributes, and clinical management of chronic disease to selected course topics for adult clients.
- Communicate with other members of the healthcare team to establish a plan to meet the needs of individuals, including commonly occurring chronic and acute health care problems throughout the lifespan as measured by: a. Locate significant information to report to other disciplines; b. Select resources for continuity of patient care related to selected topics; c. Apply the principles of delegation to selected course topics.
- Compare an individualized patient care plan utilizing an evidence-based approach for patient(s) across the lifespan to outcomes for the patient(s) as measured by: a. Implement individualized patient care utilizing an evidence-based approach related to selected course topics; b. Use principles of ethical practice in the delivery of nursing care for patients with chronic or acute illness.
- Demonstrate adherence to policies, procedures, and standards of care for the provision of care in healthcare delivery systems as measured by: a. Give examples of policies, procedures, and standards of care related to selected course topics.
- Apply strategies to reduce the risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care as measured by: a. Identify variations in physiologic integrity related to selected course topics; b. Apply nursing interventions to reduce risk of harm related to selected course topics.
- Utilize varied communication technologies, electronic healthcare databases, and electronic health records to plan nursing care for patients with chronic illnesses across the lifespan as measured by: a. Discuss available technology for delivery of nursing care related to selected topics.
NURS 149. Mental Health Nursing
3 Credits (3)
This course will allow the nursing student to develop skills necessary to provide nursing care for clients with mental health problems in various health care settings including: common mental health disorders, psychosocial dysfunction, psychosocial safety/substance abuse issues, violence, suicide, restraints, developmental age related pathophysiology, psychopharmacology, cultural/religious considerations, grief/loss, promotion of mental health, and therapeutic communication. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program in order to enroll in the course. Restricted to: Nursing Majors and Community Colleges only.
Prerequisite: NURS 134, NURS 134L, NURS 136, NURS 136L.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: NURS 130, NURS 149L.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize personally held values and demonstrate assessment of the values held by diverse patients, as well as their preferences and expressed needs related to health and wellness.
- Communicate with other members of the healthcare team to establish a plan to meet the needs of individuals, including commonly occurring chronic and acute health care problems throughout the lifespan.
- Compare an individualized patient care plan utilizing an evidence-based approach for patient(s) across the lifespan to outcomes for the patient(s).
- Demonstrate adherence to policies, procedures, and standards of care for the provision of care in healthcare delivery systems.
- Apply strategies to reduce the risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care.
- Utilize varied communication technologies, electronic healthcare databases, and electronic health records to plan nursing care for patients with chronic illnesses across the lifespan.
NURS 201. Special Topics
3 Credits (3)
Specific topics NCLEX course will help prepare students for the predictability exam and NCLEXRN. This course assists students in being emotionally, didactically and technically prepared to take both examinations. Students will review how to prepare to take this examination though a series of sample tests, quizzes and group discussions. A variety of core content subject matter will be covered to allow the student to be prepared to take the comprehensive examinations. At the conclusion of this course, the student will take a comprehensive predictability exam. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course.
Prerequisite: NURS 130, NURS 134, NURS 134L, NURS 136, NURS 136L, NURS 147, NURS 147L, NURS 149, NURS 149L, NURS 224, NURS 224L, NURS 226, NURS 226L.
Corequisite: NURS 236, NURS 236L.
Learning Outcomes
- Utilize diverse patients’ values, preferences, and expressed needs to drive development of the plan of care for acute and chronically ill patients through application to NCLEX style questions.
- Evaluate ability to function within own scope of practice as a member of the healthcare team to deliver care to individuals and families across the lifespan with complex health alterations through application to NCLEX style questions.
- Demonstrate the use of evidence-based approaches for the delivery and evaluation of care to patients across the lifespan through application to NCLEX style questions.
- Formulate a plan of care for the provision of care in healthcare delivery systems using policies, procedures and standards of care through application to NCLEX style questions.
- Interpret effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care including evidence-based practice, national patient safety goals, and core measures through application to NCLEX style questions.
- Utilize information management tools to monitor outcomes of care processes and deliver nursing care to patients with chronic or acute illness across the lifespan through application to NCLEX style questions.
NURS 224. Maternal Child Nursing
5 Credits (5)
This course provides the intermediate nursing student with an in-depth review of care of the childbearing woman, family structures and roles, and nursing care of the child from birth through adolescence. Emphasis includes the care of pre-partum, intra-partum and postpartum clients, the neonate and health deviations in pediatric clients. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: Nursing Majors and Community Colleges only.
Prerequisite: NURS 130, NURS 134, NURS 134L, NURS 136, NURS 136L, NURS 147, NURS 147L, NURS 149, NURS 149L.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: NURS 224L.
Learning Outcomes
- Utilize diverse patients’ values, preferences, and expressed needs to drive development of the plan of care for the child bearing woman (19-65 years) and pediatric client (newborn-18).
- Evaluate ability to function within own scope of practice as a member of the healthcare team to deliver care to individuals and families across the lifespan with complex health alterations as it relates to the child bearing woman (19-65 years) and pediatrics.
- Demonstrate the use of evidence-based approaches for the delivery and evaluation of care to patients across the lifespan as it relates to the child bearing woman (19-65 years) and pediatric client (newborn-18).
- Formulate a plan of care for the provision of care in healthcare delivery systems using policies, procedures and standards of care as it relates to the child bearing woman (19-65 years) and pediatric client (newborn-18).
- Interpret effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care including evidence-based practice, national patient safety goals, and core measures as it relates to the child bearing woman (19-65 years) and pediatric client (newborn-18).
- Utilize information management tools to monitor outcomes of care processes and deliver nursing care to patients with chronic or acute illness across the lifespan as it relates to the child bearing woman (19-65 years) and pediatric client (newborn-18).
NURS 226. Adult Health II
4 Credits (4)
This course focuses on application of nursing process and theoretical concepts of care for adults with complex health alterations. Selected learning experiences will allow the student to apply: prioritization skills, collaborative skills with clients, families, peers and health care team members, and care planning skills related to patient actual, psychosocial, and potential problems in the delivery of nursing care to meet needs of three adult clients. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: Nursing majors and Community Colleges only.
Learning Outcomes
- Utilize diverse patients’ values, preferences, and expressed needs to drive development of the plan of care for the adult client with acute illness.
- Evaluate ability to function within own scope of practice as a member of the healthcare team to adult clients with acute illness.
- Demonstrate the use of evidence-based approaches for the delivery and evaluation of care to patients across the lifespan as it relates to adult clients with acute illness.
- Formulate a plan of care for the provision of care in healthcare delivery systems using policies, procedures and standards of care as it relates to adult clients with acute illness.
- Interpret effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care including evidence-based practice, national patient safety goals, and core measures as it relates to adult clients with acute illness.
- Utilize information management tools to monitor outcomes of care processes and deliver nursing care to adult clients with acute illness.
NURS 235. Nursing Leadership and Management
1 Credit (1)
This course introduces the intermediate nursing student to professional practice principles of nursing leadership and management including: health policy and politics, fiscal management & budgeting, conflict management, decision making, interdisciplinary practice, working with teams, roles in disaster planning and management, application of standards of care to risk management, organization of care delivery, health care systems, processes, and practice environments. Students must be admitted into the Nursing Program to enroll in this course. Restricted to: NUR majors. Restricted to Community Colleges campuses only. May be repeated up to 1 credit.
Learning Outcomes
- Utilize diverse patients’ values, preferences, and expressed needs to drive development of the plan of care for acute and chronically ill patients as measured by: a. Discuss how personal values impacts the delivery of care to clients across the lifespan.
- Evaluate ability to function within own scope of practice as a member of the healthcare team to deliver care to individuals and families across the lifespan with complex health alterations as measured by: a. Employ the principles of delegation to the assignment of nursing team duties and patient room assignments; b. Analyze effective communication with health care team members; c. Apply effective communication strategies in common nursing activities; d. Discuss methods to resolve conflict.
- Demonstrate the use of evidence-based approaches for the delivery and evaluation of care to patients across the lifespan as measured by: a. Analyze personal values that influence approaches to ethical issues and decision-making; b. Describe ways in which nursing research can be used to guide nursing practice.
- Formulate a plan of care for the provision of care in healthcare delivery systems using policies, procedures and standards of care as measured by: a. Discuss the use of key indicators to measure performance; b. Recognize tools and processes for continuous quality improvement.
- Interpret effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care including evidence-based practice, national patient safety goals, and core measures as measured by: a. Discuss ways to improve care while reducing costs; b. Incorporate an understanding of legal risks into the practice of professional nursing and recognize how to minimize risk.
- Utilize information management tools to monitor outcomes of care processes and deliver nursing care to patients with chronic or acute illness across the lifespan as measured by: a. Discuss the necessity of using recognized taxonomies and standardized nursing languages in nursing documentation.
NURS 236. Nursing Preceptorship - Adult Health III
3 Credits (3)
This course is the final course involving care of the patient with acute or chronic illness. It focuses on care of patients with complex or multi-system problems allowing the graduating nursing student to discuss and apply all the skills learned in previous nursing courses. Selected learning experiences will allow the student to: organize care of a group of clients, collaborate with clients, families, peers and health care team members, and support care planning skills related to patient actual, psychosocial, and potential problems in the delivery of nursing care to meet needs of clients. Only students who have been admitted to the nursing program and have successfully completed all level 1, 2 and 3 nursing courses may enroll in this course. Restricted to: Nursing majors and Community Colleges only.
Prerequisite: NURS 130, NURS 134, NURS 134L, NURS 136, NURS 136L, NURS 147, NURS 147L, NURS 149, NURS 149L, NURS 224, NURS 224L, NURS 226, NURS 226L.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: NURS 201, NURS 236L.
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate the values, preferences, attitudes, and expressed needs of the acutely ill patient into the plan of care related to the care of the adult client with complex health deviations.
- Integrate the contributions of other members of the healthcare team into the delivery of nursing care for individuals across the lifespan with complex or multi-system health alterations related to the care of the adult client with complex health deviations.
- Discriminate between valid and invalid reasons for modifying evidence-based clinical practice based on clinical expertise or patient/family preferences in the creation of a plan of care for delivery and evaluation of care for patients across the lifespan related to the care of the adult client with complex health deviations.
- Evaluate the use of policies, procedures and standards of care in healthcare delivery systems and adapt the care as appropriate related to the care of the adult client with complex health deviations.
- Interpret and analyze effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others while providing professional nursing care, creating a structure for implementation of evidence- based practice, national patient safety goals, and core measures in the care of the adult client with complex health deviations.
- Integrate use of appropriate technology and information management tools to support safe delivery of care to the adult client with complex health deviations.
Name: Kelly Briarton, Nursing Advisor, Sunland Park Center
Nursing Advisor @ Espina Campus
Office Location: Sunland Park Center @ DASP 104A
Office Location: Espina Campus @ DAHL 190E Espina
*please call to make appointment as some days advisors are working remote, but can meet online
Phone: 575-874-7786 or 575-528-7249
Email: daccnurs@nmsu.edu or KBriarton@dacc.nmsu.edu
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Name: Patricia Martinez, Nursing Admin @ PMartinez@dacc.nmsu.edu
Name: Celia Amaya, Nursing Admin @ CAmaya@dacc.nmsu.edu
Office Location: DAHL 190 Espina Campus
Phone: (575) 527-7735
Website: https://dacc.nmsu.edu/academics/programs/nursing/index.html