Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN), the graduate will have the following competencies and be able to:

1. Integrate knowledge, skills and values from the liberal arts, sciences, humanities and nursing theories to provide holistic, competent and safe care for individuals, families and communities within a multicultural society.
   
2. Utilize the nursing process (assess, diagnose, plan, implement, evaluate) as a framework in caring for individuals, families, communities and populations across the health care continuum in diverse settings.
   
3. Appraise and synthesize evidence-based practice guidelines and research findings to improve patient outcomes.
   
4. Demonstrate effective therapeutic and inter-professional communication in the provision of high-quality safe nursing care.
   
5. Use health informatics and patient care technology in the management of patient care.
   
6. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals by working dependently, independently and interdependently to deliver patient-centered care to individuals, families, and communities.
   
7. Implement effective leadership and management skills including motivating employees and self-mentoring, conflict management, introducing change, decision-making and delegation responsibilities.
   
8. Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for life-long learning and professional skills.
   
9. Employ ethical principles, legislations, and regulations related to nursing practice in the UAE and globally.
   

National Qualifications Frame (NQF)

Employment opportunities abound for graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) due to the high demand for nurses in the UAE and worldwide. Graduates from the program are employed as general nurses providing direct healthcare to patients, families, and communities. Graduates may assume various roles in nursing practice, education, leadership and management, and research.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program combines theory and practice to prepare nurses to work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools and communities.

The nursing program offers two streams leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): the basic stream (BSN), a four-year stream open to high school graduates and the bridging stream (RN-BSN) open to registered nurses with a diploma degree in nursing;

the latter may be done on a full-time or a part-time basis.

The Department of Nursing launched a master's degree in critical care nursing in 2020 to satisfy an expressed need for this specialization in the UAE.

The program is designed to meet the objectives of the Department of Nursing. A student undertaking this program should complete a total of 137 credit hours distributed as follows:

Every student is required to take 24 credit hours of general education courses distributed over seven domains. Eighteen (18) mandatory credit hours are selected from domains A through F, and (6) elective credit hours selected from domains G and H as indicated in the University section (General Education).

Students are required to complete 24 mandatory credit hours of college-required courses. Description of these courses appears in the College of Health Sciences section of the catalogue.

The current basic BSN program encompasses 89 credit hours of the program requirements listed in the table below.

Study Plan

The updated study plan starting the fall 2016-2017 is as follows:

Courses offered by the department of nursing are designated (0503ABC) where ABC represents the year, term and sequence as described in the College Section.

The basic program in nursing includes core courses only. Descriptions of these courses are given below.

 Prerequisite: 0500160 - Human Anatomy and Physiology. Co-requisite: 0503253 – Pathophysiology

This course is designed to help students learn and apply principles and skills used in the comprehensive health assessment of individual adults. History taking and physical examination techniques are presented through lectures, seminars, self-instruction modules, audiovisuals and supervised laboratory practice.

 Prerequisites: 0503260 - Fundamentals of Nursing and 0503262 - Clinical Pharmacology. Co-requisite: 0503351 - Adult Health Nursing (1)/Practicum.

This course examines the actual and/or potential physiological alterations and psychosocial impact on adult/elderly patients.  Concepts of illness, illness prevention, health promotion, and rehabilitation are presented in the context of a healing and caring nursing practice. Assessment strategies, diagnostic procedures, and pharmacological principles are integrated into the nursing process using problem-based learning approach.

 Prerequisite: None.

In this course, the learner, as a health care professional, studies and understands the role and functions of group process with emphasis on the interpersonal relationships and advanced therapeutic communication techniques, conflict resolution and transcultural communication. This course also addresses communication skills relevant to the assessment of individuals and families.

 Prerequisite: 0503251 – Physical Assessment.

The course is designed to teach students basic clinical skills to prepare them for the clinical setting. The course includes basic nursing skills such as vital signs, personal hygiene, nutrition, elimination, body mechanics, and patient safety. Students are required to demonstrate the skills in the clinical skills laboratory.

 Prerequisite: 0503260 - Fundamentals of Nursing and 0503262 - Clinical Pharmacology. Co-requisite: 0503353 Maternity & Newborn Nursing/ Practicum.

This course introduces the students to the physiological and psychosocial aspects of women's health throughout the childbearing age. The healthcare needs of the mother, newborn, and family constitutes the major emphasis of this course. Using the problem-based learning approach, the management of normal and high-risk conditions in the pre-natal, labor and delivery, and postpartum stages is explored.

 Prerequisite: 0503260 - Fundamentals of Nursing. Co-requisite: 0503352 - Maternity and Newborn Nursing.

This course introduces students to the care of pregnant women during antenatal, labor, delivery, and postnatal period. The course enables students to use the nursing process as a framework to assess mothers and newborns, identify actual and potential nursing diagnoses, plan for and implement goal-directed nursing interventions, and critically evaluate the plan's effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of skills relevant to the course expected outcomes and competencies.

 Prerequisite: 0503350 - Adult Health Nursing (1) and 0503351 - Adult Health Nursing (1)/Practicum. Co-requisite: 0503361 - Adult Health Nursing (2)/Practicum.

This course is a continuation of Adult Health Nursing I (0503350). The course focuses on the emergent needs of adult/elderly patients with co-morbidities, acute and chronic health conditions. Using a holistic nursing care approach, disease management and health promotion strategies are incorporated in the care of adult/elderly patients. Assessment strategies, diagnostic procedures, and pharmacological principles are integrated into the nursing process using problem-based learning approach.

 Prerequisite: 0503350 - Adult Health Nursing (1) and 0503351 - Adult Health Nursing (1)/Practicum. Co-requisite: 0503364 - Adult Health Nursing (2).

This course complements 0503364 - Adult Health Nursing (2). The course integrates the holistic care modalities in planning and implementing nursing interventions to meet the healthcare needs of adult/elderly patients in special units. Essential competencies including clinical judgment, teamwork, professional behaviors, therapeutic communication and utilization of the nursing process as a framework for nursing practice are emphasized throughout the course in supervised clinical settings.

 Prerequisites: 0503350 - Adult Health Nursing (1) and 0503351 - Adult Health Nursing (1)/Practicum. Co requisites: 0503364 - Adult Health Nursing (2) and 0503363 - Pediatric Health Nursing/Practicum.

This course focuses on the essentials of nursing management of children with developmental, psychological, environmental and health-related problems. The course introduces students to growth and development, health promotion, and disease prevention as relevant to children. The nursing process, along with problem-finding/solving, and peer persuasion strategies are utilized to analyze selected clinical case studies.

 Prerequisites: 0503350 - Adult Health Nursing (1) and 0503351 - Adult Health Nursing (1)/Practicum. Co requisite: 0503362 - Pediatric Health Nursing.

This course provides the opportunity for application of the nursing concepts pertinent to children and their families as they deal with common acute and chronic health problems. The course focuses on the application of the nursing process to assess children, identify actual and potential nursing diagnoses, plan for and implement goal-directed nursing interventions, and evaluate the plan's effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of skills relevant to the theoretical component of this course in supervised clinical settings.

 Prerequisite: 0503364 - Adult Health Nursing (2) and 0503361 - Adult Health Nursing (2). Co requisite: 0503451 - Critical Care Nursing/Practicum.

This course introduces students to the care of patients with life-threatening conditions. The course focuses on the integration of knowledge and skills required to provide holistic and safe nursing care to critically ill adults/elderly patients in critical care settings. The course includes an introduction to critical care nursing with physical assessment skills, diagnostic procedures, pharmacological interventions, and nutritional measures integrated throughout the content areas. The emphasis is on critical thinking and nursing process as a framework for practice.

 Prerequisite: 0503263 - Health Education and Health Promotion and 0503362 - Pediatric Health Nursing. Co requisite: 0503453 - Family and Community Health Nursing/Practicum.

The course introduces the scope of family and community health nursing including the essentials of family dynamics, family life cycle, developmental tasks, family and community assessment, and factors that influence family health. This course enables the students to assess physical, social and cultural environments, identify population at risk, implement and evaluate appropriate primary health care nursing interventions in partnership with community and health agencies. Health promotion and disease prevention concepts are integrated in the course content through problem-based learning approach.

 Prerequisite: 0503362 - Pediatric Health Nursing. Co requisite: 05053452 - Family and Community Health Nursing.

The course applies basic principles of community health care in the care of family and community in supervised community healthcare settings. The course focuses on essential topics pertinent to primary health care, schools, industries, Maternal Child Health Centers, and other community resources.

 Prerequisite: 0503252 - Advanced Communication. Co requisite: 0503461 - Mental Health Nursing/Practicum.

This course presents basic information on psychiatric mental health. It also explores the nature and scope of mental health and illness, treatment and preventive measures. Students will have the opportunity to master these concepts through concurrent clinical rotations. This course of study will build upon the eight threads or competencies: Critical Thinking, Technical Skills, Therapeutic Communication, Leadership/Management, Time Management/Organization, Professional Behavior, Caring, and Utilizing the Nursing Process. The content of the course is delivered through selected clinical cases in a problem-based format.

 Prerequisite: 0503252 - Advanced Communication. Co requisite: 0503460 - Mental Health Nursing.

This course provides the opportunity for nursing practice in the community and in acute and chronic health care institutions with an emphasis on maintenance and restoration of mental health. Students are provided the opportunity to work with individuals and families experiencing stress responses, maladaptive and severe behavioral disorders.

Prerequisites: 0503350 - Adult Health Nursing (1); 0503364 - Adult Health Nursing (2); 0503352 - Maternity and Newborn Health Nursing; 0503362 - Pediatric Health Nursing; 0503453 - Family and Community Health; and 0503454 - Critical Care Nursing. Co requisites: 0503460 - Mental Health Nursing and 0503461 - Mental Health Nursing/Practicum.

The clinical course allows students to consolidate their knowledge and skills in desired/selected clinical settings.  Students are supervised by clinical preceptors from the service in areas such as medical, surgical, pediatrics, maternity, and critical care. Students are expected to work independently through preceptorship model.

 Prerequisite: 0500450 - Introduction to Research.

This course provides students the opportunity to apply knowledge of the research process to the investigation of health-related research questions. Students will work with their research advisors to finalize the development of a scientifically sound and feasible research proposal with emphasis on the study design, data collection tools, forms, and procedures. In addition, students will conduct the research project, enter and analyze data, write a research report, and present the findings of their research study. Emphasis is placed on steps of the research process including: literature review, study design, sampling; data collection, and analysis, interpretations and dissemination of research findings. 

RN-BSN Program

This program is designed to meet the needs of nurses who wish to build on their previous education and experience. Completion of the program will expand the options available to them within the nursing career. Students in this program may study on full-time or part-time basis. The study plan is developed for full-time students. Students studying on part-time basis should plan their course of study in consultation with their department advisor. The three clinical practicum courses could be done in the students' own work place with prior agreement between the two institutions. Students are given advanced credit hours for their nursing diploma program and must then complete a total of 72 credit hours distributed as follows:

I.   University Requirements

 Mandatory requirement

This category includes one English course.

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University electives​

​​Each student must successfully complete 6 credit hours of University electives in two courses chosen from domains G and H. The list of the University required courses and their descriptions is presented in the College of Health Sciences section of this catalogue.

II.   College Requirements

The six credit hours of College requirements are listed in the table below:

Program Requirements

The current  RN-BSN Program consists of the 54 credit hours of core courses listed in the table below.

Study Plan

The updated study plan for the  RN-BSN Program starting in the fall of 2016-2017 is summarized below.

Course Description

The RN-BSN program requires core courses only. Descriptions of the core courses are given below.

 Prerequisite: None.

In this course, the learner as a health care professional, studies and understands the role and functions of group process with emphasis on the interpersonal relationships and advanced therapeutic communication techniques, conflict resolution and trans-cultural communication. This course also addresses communication skills relevant to the assessment of individuals, and families.

 Prerequisite: None.

This course focuses on the development of health assessment knowledge and skills required to provide care to individuals, families and communities. The skills of physical assessment will be emphasized in this course.

 Prerequisites: 0503252 - Advanced Communication and 0503366 - Advanced Health Assessment.

An applied nursing practice course which focuses on the integration of research theory and concepts in a variety of health care settings. This course will promote the development of independent decision-making and allow application of knowledge in an area of particular interest to the students.

 Prerequisites: None.

This course introduces students to theoretical foundations of nursing as a profession, as well as the process of theory evolution and knowledge development in nursing. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to the main theories relevant to the nursing profession with extra emphasis placed on middle range theories due to their relative applicability to clinical practice. Theory analysis to determine its relevance and applicability in nursing practice, education, and management is of main concern to this course. This course will thus empower students with the necessary knowledge and skills to compare, contrast and utilize various theoretical perspectives, and critically apply nursing theories in their settings.

 Prerequisite: 0503365 - Clinical Practicum 1B.

This course provides an applied nursing practice experience in a community-based health care setting with an emphasis on skill development in health promotion, health education and community assessment.

 Prerequisite: 0503455 - Clinical Practicum 2B.

This nursing course promotes the integration of theory with nursing practice in a variety of health care settings. The selective clinical setting provides the opportunity for students to pursue personal learning objectives and to examine issues and concepts relevant to their role as practitioners, educators, or administrators.

 Prerequisite: 0500450 Introduction to Research

This course is intended to expand and update students' knowledge of evidence-based practice. This course will lay out the foundations for evidence-based practice and outline its process. Students are expected to formulate clinical questions related to their area of practice (PICOT), search the relevant literature, critically appraise the existing evidence, and prepare evidence-based practice guidelines to improve practice. Students are expected to present guidelines for healthcare professionals at clinical sites to allow for feedback.

 Prerequisites: 0500450 - Introduction to Research.

This course provides students the opportunity to apply knowledge of the research process to the investigation of health-related research question. Students will work with their research advisors to finalize the development of a scientifically sound and feasible research proposal with emphasis on the study design, data collection tools, forms, and procedures. In addition, students will conduct the research project, enter and analyze data, write a research report, and present the findings of their research study. Emphasis is placed on steps of the research process including: literature review, study design, sampling; data collection, and analysis, interpretations and dissemination of research findings.

 Prerequisite: None

This course introduces the students to the status of nursing in the UAE health care system. Perspectives to be explored include social, political, organizational, and legal/ethical factors affecting nursing as a profession. The continuing debate about the essence of nursing including professional issues concerning practice, education, research, management, and health care policy will be examined. Current issues will be critically analyzed in relation to their influence on the nursing profession and nursing practice. The focus is learning the context of nursing to promote professional development and growth. Peer persuasion strategies through debates, are utilized to analyze the content of the course and share their experiences in actual practice.