Reflective of the mission, philosophy, and organizational framework of Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University, the curriculum is organized to provide a solid foundation upon which to base the practice of professional nursing. General studies courses include the areas of the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and applied sciences. The study of the liberal arts and general sciences is aimed at providing students with an understanding and appreciation of their place in the human and natural world. Its focus is to build a foundation for their emerging role as citizens of both a local community and a world culture. The transmission of the rich intellectual and spiritual material of the arts and sciences is deemed essential to the deepening and rounding experience of higher education. Similarly, the critical, analytical, and creative skills fostered in the disciplined exposure to a broad array of college courses supplements in fundamental ways the professional curriculum to create a full human being, one deeply alive to the responsible engagement that is at the core of all education. A total of fifty-eight (58) semester hours of general education courses are taken in logical sequence throughout the curriculum. The study of these disciplines offers the nursing student essential supporting concepts, processes, and skills. Mercer University requires each student to pass one course in religion in order to graduate.
The natural and applied science courses include human anatomy and physiology, human pathophysiology, nutrition, microbiology, mathematics, and statistics. Social science courses include psychology, abnormal psychology, human growth and development, and political science. Two English composition courses are required in the curriculum plan. As an applied science, a management course is required to support professional practice. Twelve (12) semester hours of general education electives, including one course in the humanities or fine arts, are required. The required course in religion satisfies this requirement. The majority of general study courses are taken prior to admission to the nursing program.
Eleven nursing courses, plus four hours of nursing electives, (68 semester hours) are divided among three levels of the curriculum plan. Level 2 nursing courses begin during the first sophomore semester with Essentials of Baccalaureate Nursing (NUR 215). Nursing Processes, Skills, and Concepts (NUR 216), upon which a professional nursing practice can be built, is the first nursing course with a clinical component. Within these courses, the student learns at increasingly complex levels the essential components of professional nursing practice. In Nursing Care of the Adult Client I (NUR 220), second semester sophomore year, the student applies nursing concepts, processes, and skills to adult clients experiencing health alterations.
During Level 3, the junior semesters, the student builds on and further applies nursing concepts, processes, and skills. Beginning with Nursing Care of the Adult Client II (NUR 310), these concepts, processes, and skills are applied to adult clients experiencing complex alterations. Pharmacology in Nursing (NUR 312) is a corequisite of the Adult Health nursing course. This application continues in Nursing Care of Childbearing Family and Nursing Care of Infants and Children (NUR 330 and NUR 331), in which the student works with childbearing and childrearing families. Nursing Research (NUR 321) provides a basis for assessing research studies and applying research findings to nursing practice.
Level 4, the senior semesters, begins with Community Focused Nursing (NUR 410), and Mental Health Nursing (NUR 411). During the final semester of the curriculum plan, the Leadership Practicum and Role Transition (NUR 420) provides a framework to facilitate the student's transition into the role as a beginning baccalaureate prepared professional nurse.
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