Associate of Science in Nursing Degree 67 Semester Hours General Education Component (Minimum = 31 Credits) Credits Required Humanities 9 Social Sciences / History 6 Natural Science/Math 8 Information Literacy 1     Nursing Component (Minimum = 36 Credits)   Nursing Concepts 1 4 Nursing Concepts 2 4 Nursing Concepts 3 4 Nursing Concepts 4 4 Nursing Concepts 5 4 Nursing Concepts 6 4 Nursing Concepts 7: Foundations of Professional Practice 4 Clinical Performance In Nursing Examination (CPNE) 8

Course Descriptions

Nursing Concepts 1
Nursing Concepts 1 focuses on the nursing process and on nursing care of patients in the following areas: Health, wellness, illness, environmental safety, biological safety, medication safety and psychological safety. It includes common concepts of nursing care and nursing actions common to all patients throughout the life cycle. Nursing Concepts 1 also, focuses on patient needs and the nursing care actions associated with them. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category.

Nursing Concepts 2
Nursing Concepts 2 focuses on the nursing process and on nursing care of patients in the following areas: Nutrition, eliminations, oxygenation, fluid and electrolyte balance, activity and mobility, and rest and sleep. It includes common concepts of nursing care and nursing actions common to all patients throughout the life cycle. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category.

Nursing Concepts 3
Nursing Concepts 3 focuses on the nursing process and on nursing care of patients in the following areas: Comfort and pain, human sexuality, cultural diversity, chronic illness, community-based nursing, needs of the childbearing family, sensory impairments and reproductive disorders. It includes common concepts of nursing care and nursing actions common to all patients throughout the life cycle. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category.

Nursing Concepts 4
Nursing Concepts 4 focuses on the nursing process and on nursing care of patients in the following areas: Cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems, abnormal cellular growth, congenital anomalies, genetic disorders and developmental problems. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category.

Nursing Concepts 5
Nursing Concepts 5 focuses on the nursing process and on nursing care of patients in the following areas: Behavioral responses, affective responses, anxiety responses, aggressive responses, disruptive responses, dysfunctional coping behaviors, factors influencing an individual's behavioral responses, regulatory mechanisms and metabolic mechanisms. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category.

Nursing Concepts 6
The Excelsior College Examination in Nursing Concepts 6 measures knowledge and understanding of the various health care needs and problems encountered by the associate degree nurse. Questions are based on the common and specific manifestations of these needs and problems and the nursing care actions properly associated with them. Questions pertain to patients of various age groups in the proportion that members of these groups use health care services. Questions concern both acute and long-term needs and problems of medical, surgical, and pediatric patients. The examination requires you to possess the technical vocabulary and knowledge of anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and emotional and physical development generally expected of the associate degree nurse. The examination requires you to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical framework for each content area as well as the ability to apply this knowledge to nursing practice using the nursing process. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category. This exam will replace Differences in Nursing Care Area C.

Nursing Concepts 7: Foundations in Professional Nursing
The Nursing Concepts: Foundations of Professional Practice examination measures knowledge and understanding of the roles and functions of the associate degree nurse within the occupation of nursing. Content includes the health care delivery system; the interdisciplinary health team; and the legal, ethical, and educational aspects of current nursing practice. The influences of nursing history, nursing organizations, and licensure on the associate degree nurse's function in the delivery of care are considered. This is a required examination for the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth four credit hours in the lower-division associate degree category. This exam will replace Occupational Strategies in Nursing.

American Literature
This exam assesses the ability to do the kind of writing that explains, interprets, analyzes, or presents and supports a point of view, as well as to apply the principals and conventions of standard written English.

Analysis and Interpretation of Literature
This exam is organized around the major genres of literature-fiction, poetry, and drama - with individual lessons on the elements of these genres: Plot and structure, character, setting, style, symbolism and myth, and theme. Within each genre, careful selection of literary works allows students to examine classic as well as more contemporary pieces. The final examination is worth six credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

English Composition with Essay
This exam assesses the ability to do the kind of writing that explains, interprets, analyzes, or presents and supports a point of view, as well as to apply the principals and conventions of standard written English.

English Literature
This exam deals with the prose, poetry, and drama written by British authors from 1500 to 1970. It requires knowledge of the major authors and literary works and familiarity with common literary terms and basic literary forms. The final examination is worth six credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Ethics
This exam measures ethical knowledge as it applies to practical ethical situations. Application of knowledge about ethics is accomplished through the use of case studies and related sets of multiple-choice questions. Knowledge categories include basic theories and concepts such as utilitarianism, natural law theory, justice, duties and obligations, and rights. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category.

Religions of the World
This exam reflects an interdisciplinary exam of study of the major religions as viewed in their social and historical contexts. It draws content from sociology, psychology, and philosophy. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category.

Anatomy & Physiology
This exam includes an understanding of anatomical and physiological factors involved in the functioning of major body systems, with emphasis on systems that maintain, integrate, and control body functions. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth six credit hours in the lower- division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

General Biology
This exam covers three major areas of the biological sciences: Molecular and cellular biology, organismal biology, and populational biology. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth six credit hours in the lower- division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Microbiology
This exam tests for a knowledge and understanding of bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, viruses, and their relationships with humans. It includes introduction to microbiology, biology of microorganisms, control of microorganisms, disease and resistance, biology of infectious diseases, and industrial and environmental microbiology. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Statistics
This exam includes the fundamental concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics presented in a service exam applicable to different majors. The final examination is worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Abnormal Psychology
This exam covers the long-standing and serious forms of mental disturbance, including character disorders, brain damage, retardation, and psychotic process; central focus on classification, dynamics, symptoms and treatment, with practical experience as a companion to mental patients. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category.

Foundations of Gerontology
This exam covers concepts and definitions, demography and statistical/empirical trends. It covers the biological, physiological, and sociological aspects of the aging process, death and dying, economics of aging, work and retirement, and political and public policy. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category.

History of the U.S. I: Early Colonization to 1877
This exam covers the period of American history from the Spanish and French colonization to the end of reconstruction. Primary emphasis is on the English colonies and the period of nationhood. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

History of the U.S. II: 1865 to the Present
This exam covers the period of American history from the end of the Civil War to the present. Primary emphasis is on the twentieth century. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Introduction to Educational Psychology
This exam includes topics such as educational aims and philosophies, principals of learning, teaching methods and classroom management, child growth and development, and evaluation and assessment of learning. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Introductory Psychology
This exam includes topics such as learning and cognition, behavior personality, perception, motivation, and emotion, life-span development, and social psychology. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Introductory Sociology
This exam deals with social institutions; stratification; social patterns, processes, changes, and the sociological perspective. It emphasizes facts and concepts as well as general theoretical approaches. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Life Span Developmental Psychology 
This exam covers developmental psychology throughout the life span. It measures understanding of the concepts, covers principles and theories associated with life span development as well as the ability to apply this understanding in specific situations. The student will be expected to integrate content across the stages of the life span. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.

Social Psychology
This exam deals with the social determinants of behavior. An examination of theories and current research in such areas as: Aggression, attitudes, communication, conformity, group processes, and interpersonal perceptions. The final is a multiple-choice examination worth three credit hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category.

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