School of Nursing
The School of Nursing and Health Sciences provides a unique environment for learning. Whether your focus is health promotion and wellness or illness care and disease prevention our programs can lead you to careers as a professional to positively impact health care.
The School of Nursing awards three degrees with multiple emphases:
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) emphases:
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP/FNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- MS (Nursing) to DNP Population Health
The Masters (MS) with a Major in Nursing Emphases:
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP/FNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Nurse Educator
*All graduate emphases can be completed with a Post MS Certificate
A Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). The BSN can be completed through:
- The basic (traditional) program
- The accelerated program (those with a previous non-nursing baccalaureate degree
- The RN (ADN) to BSN or MS online program
School of Nursing Mission
The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare graduates for professional positions as safe, competent and caring nurses to meet the healthcare needs of diverse populations.
School of Nursing Goals
The School of Nursing will:
- Provide quality learning experiences for nursing students that prepare graduates for entry level baccalaureate nursing practice or advanced nursing practice in a culturally diverse community.
- Provide multiple degree entry paths based on previous education and academic entrance criteria that support student achievement at a professional level.
- Serve as a regional nursing education center for southern Colorado, by collaborating with local and regional health care agencies to provide nursing programs.
- Maintain educational excellence demonstrated by program status consistent with the Colorado Board of Nursing, national accrediting agency criteria and educational emphases on professional nursing standards.
- Provide a supportive and caring learning environment to address the learning needs for a diverse student population.
- Support role development responsive to the changing health care environment by redefining and maintaining competencies throughout one’s practice.
National Accreditation
The CSU Pueblo School of Nursing baccalaureate educational program is fully accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
State Board Approval
The CSU Pueblo School of Nursing baccalaureate educational program is fully approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing.
Colorado Community College System or Compact State Dual Enrollment/ADN to BSN
BSN courses may be taken concurrently while enrolled in a Colorado compact state or a Colorado Community College System ADN program. In addition, pre-requisite courses may be taken while concurrently enrolled. Upon receiving RN licensure and completion of all BSN courses students are eligible for escrow credits through articulation.
Academic Programs
- Nurse Educator, Certificate
- Nurse Educator, Post Masters Certification
- Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
- Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
- Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice: Population Health, Emphasis
- Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
- Nursing, Joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Nursing, Master of Science: Nurse Educator Emphasis
- Nursing, Master of Science: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
- Nursing, Master of Science: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
- Nursing, Master of Science: Nurse Educator Emphasis
- Nursing, Master of Science: Nurse Manager & Leader Emphasis
- Nursing, Master of Science: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
- Nursing-Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Post Masters Certification
- Nursing-Adult/Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner, Post Masters Certification
- Nursing-Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post Masters Certification
Nursing (NSG)
Undergraduate Courses
Introduction to women's health issues and a basic understanding of how women's health has been influenced historically, culturally and by socio-economic factors. (F, S)
Introduces nursing history, theory, and key concepts related to healthcare and professional integrity and leadership. (S, SS)
Utilizes the nursing process to provide safe, patient-centered care. Emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. (S, SS)
Application of NSG 232. Assists students to develop fundamental competencies to provide safe, evidenced-based, patient-centered care. (S, SS)
Topics and/or nursing skills for enrichment of required nursing courses, and which serve the interest of student, will be considered. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Independent Study. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Utilizes evidence-based practice to assess, analyze and promote health in diverse populations across the lifespan. (S, SS)
Fosters evidence-based practice and clinical judgment to develop comprehensive assessment skills across the lifespan. (S, SS)
Introduces evidence-based theories which influence ethical issues in health care. (AN)
Applies pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics to patient-centered care. Focuses on safety, legal implications and evidence-based practice. (S, SS)
Introduces registered nurses to mission and philosophy of the nursing program, professional nursing practice and personal growth. Utilizes concepts of evidence-based, patient-centered care. (AN)
Apply QSEN skills, attitudes, knowledge to improve health care delivery. Identify concepts of quality improvement based on evidence. Survey teamwork/communication /collaboration and transitions of care. (AN)
Introduces safe, patient-centered care of the neonate and procreative family during the peri-natal period. Includes health promotion, high risk management, safety and human sexuality. (F, S)
Application of NSG 312. Provides evidence-based, patient-centered care to the neonate and family throughout the peri-natal period. (F, S)
Integrates assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiologic concepts utilizing evidence-based practice to provide safe, patient-centered care to adults with acute and chronic health concerns. (F, S)
Application of NSG 322. Provides evidence-based, patient-centered care to adults and families based upon best practices. (F, S)
Utilizes evidence-based practice theories to promote healthy aging and patient-centered care of older adults. (F, SS)
Introduces patient-centered care of children, adolescents and their families. Emphasizes evidence-based practice related to health promotion, safety and disease management. (F, S)
Application of NSG 332. Provides evidence-based, patient-centered care of children, adolescents, and families. (F, S)
Critically analyzes and applies nursing research to practice. Uses evidence-based practice to promote continuous quality improvement and patient-centered care. Prerequisite: MATH 156. (F,S)
Introduces theory, infrastructure and ethical application of health informatics for the delivery of safe, effective, efficient, and quality patient-centered care. (S)
Introduces evidence-based concepts focusing on mental health promotion and disease specific patient-centered care. (F, S)
Application of NSG 382. Provides evidence-based, patient-centered care in behavioral health settings. (F, S)
Special Topics. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Synthesizes pharmacological concepts and prototype agents with focus on the physiological action, effect and utilization of selected drug groups in evidence-based practice. Pre or corequisite: NSG 420. (A grade of B or better is required for prerequisite courses.) Corequisite: Pre or corequisite: NSG 420. (A grade of B or better is required for prerequisite courses.) (S)
Integrates assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiology concepts using evidence-based practice to provide patient-centered care to adults with complex health concerns. (F, S)
Application of NSG 420. Provides patient centered care to adults and families utilizing evidence-based practice. Emphasizes teamwork and collaboration for multiple patients. (F, S)
Synthesize evidence-based practice theories and integrates concepts of healthy aging to promote patient-centered care of older adults by allied health professionals. (AN)
Application of NSG 442. Provides population-focused care in community health settings. (F, SS)
Application of NSG 420. Provides simulated patient centered care to adults and families utilizing evidence based practice. Emphasizes teamwork and collaboration for the care of multiple simulated patients. Prerequisite: Follow nursing program catalog sequence. Corequisite: NSG 442, NSG 442L. (F, SS)
Analyzes management and leadership theories. Explores issues related to quality improvement, evidence-based practice, professional integrity/leadership and teamwork/collaboration. (F, S, SS)
Prepares for transition into professional nursing practice. Integrates patient-centered care concepts for a variety of health needs across the lifespan. (S, SS)
Application of NSG 452. Manages multiple, complex patients in a variety of health care settings utilizing evidence-based practice. Emphasizes integrity, leadership, team work and collaboration. (S, SS)
Provides an opportunity for a concentrated clinical specialty practicum with instructor approval. (S) Repeatable (6).
Special Topics. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Faculty-directed research project for undergraduate student. Prerequisite: NSG 351 with a grade of B or better. (AN)
Independent Study. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Graduate Courses
Prepare students for the rigors of academic writing at the graduate and professional levels. (F)
Analyze nursing and healthcare research using the most common inferential statistical methodologies to identify accurate data results and evidence gaps. (F)
Explores advanced practice nursing roles and competencies emphasizing clinical quality, safety and ethical issues. (F)
Introduces the core concepts of the advanced nursing practice role. (F)
Examines the theoretical basis of nursing which guides evidence-based advanced nursing practice, research, education, and administration. (F)
Expand knowledge to determine the best evidence and quality improvement methods to reduce risk and improve patient outcomes in the advanced nursing practice role. (S)
Evaluate ethical, legal and political concepts in healthcare delivery systems. (S)
Analyze and utilize the historical, political, economic, and financial concepts in the development in one's practice and the advanced nursing practice role. (S)
Analyzes concepts of health promotion related to delivery of evidence-based patient-centered care in advanced nursing practice. (S, SS)
Examines alterations in human psysiologic function in diverse populations across the lifespan using evidence-based practice principles. Corequisite: NSG 561. (F, SS)
Applies pharmacological consepts in the management of patients across the lifespan within the scope of evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Corequisite: NSG 552. (F, SS)
Enhances assessment skills across the lifespan within the scope of evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Corequisite: NSG 562L. (S)
Demonstrates assessment skills across the lifespan within the scope of evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Corequisite: NSG 562. (S)
Utilizes analytical methods and disciplined inquiry to expand knowledge for implementation of a safe and quality evidence-based advanced nursing practice. (S)
Analyzes theory, infrastructure and ethical application of health informatics for the delivery of quality advanced nursing practice. (F, SS)
Focuses on roles, theories and processes of nursing curriculum development from an evidence-based practice foundation. (F)
Explores evidence-based practice learning theories and instructional strategies for teaching nursing in a variety of settings. (S)
Focuses on understanding and applying formal and informal assessment and evaluation strategies utilizing informatics in order to implement data-driven instruction. (SS)
Synthesizes theory into practice based on specialty competencies and advanced practice clinical requirements. This course may need to be repeated based on specialization. (F, S, SS)
Individual project selected, outlined and pursued by student. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and advisor approval. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Special Topics. (AN) Repeatable (6).
Creates an advanced nursing practice research proposal as the first step in thesis development. (AN)
Explore the Nurse Manager and Leader competencies in the advanced nursing practice role during a leadership immersion in a healthcare setting. (S/U grading). Prerequisite: Must complete at least 12 credit hours in program prior to enrolling. (F,S,SS,E,O,AN)
Independent Study. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Preparation of thesis to meet degree requirements. Must be enrolled each semester in at least one credit hour if thesis is still in process. Prerequisite: NSG 593 and approval by thesis advisor. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Focuses on diagnostic reasoning and problem solving for the advanced practice nurse. (S, SS)
Explore and practice simulated advanced practice nursing procedure skills for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care and Family Nurse Practitioner. (S)
Demonstrate safe simulated advanced practice nursing procedure skills for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care and Family Nurse Practitioner. Prerequisite: NSG 613L. (SS)
Engages students in primary care management for the family across the lifespan. (S/U grading). Corequisite: NSG 631 or 632 or 633 or completion of all 3 (F,S,SS) Repeatable (11)
Explores the advanced practice nurse???s role in patient-centered care of adult and geriatric populations. Corequisite: NSG 641. (SS)
Recognizes the advanced practice nurse???s role in patient-centered care of adult and geriatric populations. Corequisite: NSG 642. (F)
Applies the advanced practice nurse???s role in patient-centered care of adult and geriatric populations. Corequisite: NSG 643. (S)
Analyzes the advanced practice nurse???s role in patient-centered care of adult and geriatric populations. Corequisite: NSG 644. (SS)
Synthesizes the advanced practice nurse???s role in patient-centered care of adult and geriatric populations. Corequisite: NSG 645. (F)
Explores the advanced practice nurse???s role while providing evidenced-based patient-centered care of psychiatric-mental health patients across the lifespan. Corequisite: NSG 651. (F)
Applies the advanced practice nurse???s role while providing evidenced based patient-centered care for psychiatric-mental health patients across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NA. Corequisite: NSG 652. (S)
Implements the advanced practice nurse???s role while providing evidenced based patient-centered care for psychiatric-mental health patients across the lifespan. Corequisite: NSG 653. (SS)
Synthesizes the advanced practice nurse???s role while providing patient-centered care of psychiatric-mental health patients across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NSG 651L and NSG 651L. Corequisite: NSG 652 & NSG 652L (spring) or NSG 653 & NSG 653L (summer) or NSG 654 & NSG 654L (fall). (F, S, SS) Repeatable (3).
Explores theories and conceptual models which frame psychiatric-mental health interventions. (F, S)
Applies psychopharmacological concepts in the management of psychiatric-mental health patients across the lifespan. (F, S)
Analyzes techniques of assessment and evaluation utilizing standard diagnostic criteria. (SS)
Focuses on diagnostic reasoning and problem solving for the psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurse. (SS)
Integrate the Nurse Manager and Leader competencies into the advanced nursing practice role during a leadership immersion capstone project in a healthcare setting. Prerequisite: Must take in last semester, may be concurent with other courses. (F)
Expand knowledge to determine the best evidence and quality improvement methods to reduce risk and improve patient outcomes in the advanced nursing practice role. Prerequisite: NSG 505. (S)
Examine theoretical and philosophic foundations for illness patterns, injury, and high-risk behaviors in individuals, aggregates, and populations using evidence-based nursing practice to influence health outcomes. Prerequisite: NSG 505. (SS)
Introduces the dynamics of financial theory and strategic management for establishing an advanced nursing practice (DNP 45 hours clinical required). (F)
Integrates organizational and systems leadership knowledge and skills to influence communication, productivity, health outcomes and practice excellence (DNP 45 hours clinical required). (S)
Evaluate ethical, legal and political concepts in healthcare delivery systems (DNP 45 hours clinical required). (S)
Develop and defend scholarly DNP project proposal DNP clinical hours required. Prerequisite: NSG 801. (F)
Develops the role of the DNP during clinical immersion while initiating a DNP project implementation in a designated multidisciplinary emphasis area. DNP clinical hours required. Prerequisite: NSG 802. (S)
Analyze DNP project findings to prepare project defense and maintain clinical immersion. DNP clinical hours required. Prerequisite: NSG 803. (SS)
Defend DNP project and disseminates findings. DNP clinical hours required. Prerequisite: NSG 804. (F)
Integrate the DNP essentials into the advanced practice nursing role during an adult-gerontology acute care setting. Prerequisite: NSG 805. (F)
Integrate the DNP essentials into the advanced practice nursing role during an adult-gerontology acute care and family setting. Prerequisite: NSG 805. (S)
Integrate the DNP essentials into the advanced practice nursing role during a Psychiatric Mental Health clinical setting. Prerequisite: NSG 805. (S)
Develop, implement, analyze, defend and disseminate findings for a scholarly DNP clinical immersion change project. Develop the DNP role in a multidisciplinary clinical emphasis area. Prerequisite: NSG 801. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (16).