Aging Studies for Nursing Students Minor

The Minor in Aging Studies for Nursing Students provides undergraduate nursing students with the opportunity to explore the biological, psychological and social perspectives on aging while enhancing their specific knowledge of nursing in relation to older persons. Within the next two decades elders over the age of 65 will comprise 25% of the population in the United States leading to a shortage of over one million nurses to serve the aging population, making this minor particularly beneficial in supporting this career choice for nursing students. The University is a member of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Program Requirements

Core

Nursing Core

Focuses on health promotion and prevention and early detection of alterations in physiological integrity. Leading US and global health issues are discussed, along with clinical implications of those prevalent diseases.

Prerequisites: none

Critical inquiry into the nursing care of family and society in the context of diverse cultures. Explores concepts related to family and society as clients, the family and societal health experience, and nursing strategies to foster family and societal care.

Prerequisites: none

A focus on assessment of the healthy family and the relationship of health assessment to prevention and early detection of disease, incorporating the processes of interviewing, history-taking, and physical assessment. A laboratory component integrating nursing skills and procedures is included.

Prerequisites: none

Focus on identification, implementation, and evaluation of patient/family quality and safety measures. Includes quality movement history and evolution, current quality of care issues, research and innovations, intervention strategies, and instruments; with an analysis of health care quality management system models.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on nursing management of chronic alterations in physiological integrity and meeting needs of patients with commonly occurring chronic health disorders. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of patients with chronic and rehabilitation needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 363, NURS 364, NURS 365, NURS 366

Focuses on the critical inquiry of families' health and illness experiences. Includes didactic and experiential learning designed to promote family centered nursing care during transitions within child, teenage, adult and older adult family transitions.

Prerequisites: NURS 363, NURS 364, NURS 365, NURS 366

Required Core - Choose 3 Credit(s).

This course will answer the question Why should I care about getting old when I am young? through an exploration of the life course perspective, service learning opportunities, and written reflection and exploration.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Gold

This course will answer the question Why should I care about getting old when I am young? through an exploration of the life course perspective, service learning opportunities, and written reflection and exploration.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Social and Behavioral Science Core - Choose 6 - 8 Credit(s).

A cross-cultural examination of the aging process, status, and treatment of elders around the world.

Prerequisites: ANTH 101, ANTH 230, or ANTH 220, or consent

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Aging process and development during the adult years; psychology and psychological concerns of the aging individual; dealing with death.

Prerequisites: PSYC 101

Aging and ageism in the US and globally from a sociological perspective; emphasis on how age intersects with race, social class, gender, and sexuality.

Prerequisites: SOC 101

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Service delivery issues and social work practice with older persons, their families and communities.

Prerequisites: none