Nursing (NURS) Courses

College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS), School of Nursing

See How to read course descriptions for information about the formatting used.

NURS 202 Health Promotion (3) This course is designed for students to understand health in the broadest sense of the word -- as an integrated process for discovering, using, and protecting all possible resource within the individual, 'ohana, community, and environment. (Same as KES 202)

NURS 203 General Pharmacology (3) Pharmaceuticals discussed with emphasis on methods and sites of administration, mechanisms of action, toxicity, rate and uses of major therapeutic agents. Intended for undergraduates in the health sciences and related fields. Pre: MATH 100, BIOL 243, 243L, 244, 244L or instructor's consent.

NURS 347 Health Assessment (3) Introduction to comprehensive health assessment of clients across the life span using critical thinking skills. Emphasis on the pathophysiologic influences on subjective and objective findings of selected systems. Detailed health assessment techniques will be introduced as well as methods of comprehensive history-taking. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 347L Hlt Assessment Practicum (1) (other) Application of the nursing process in the comprehensive health assessment of clients across the life span. Emphasize the pathophysiologic and/or pathopsychologic influences on subjective and objective findings of selected systems. Detailed health assessment techniques as well as comprehensive history-taking. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 348 Human Pathophysiology (3) This course explores concepts of the biological basis for disease in adults and children. Alterations in normal body functions leading to disease and discomfort of the individual will be presented with an organized framework. Note: Restricted to Nursing and Pre-Nursing students only.

NURS 350 Transcultural Care & Hlth Prom (3) The course introduces basic principles of teaching-learning, adult learning, group process and basic transcultural care and health promotion concepts. Note: Restricted to Nursing Students Only. (Attributes: DS, GAHP, HPP)

NURS 351 Professnl Nsg Issues & Trends (3) Introduction of contemporary health reform issues and trends affecting the nursing profession. Overview of the history of nursing, significant national nursing studies, code of ethics, relationship of nursing theory to nursing practice and nursing research. Includes introduction to client care management. Pre: junior standing. Restricted to Nursing Students Only.

NURS 352L Nursing Skills Laboratory (1) (lab) Practice of basic clinical skills in a campus laboratory setting to prepare student for clinical practice in community settings. Includes faculty demonstrations, student return-demonstrations, and performance testing. Course offered CR/NC only. Note: Restricted to Nursing Students Only.

NURS 353 Nursing Concepts & Skills (3) (other) Introduction to the art and science of the professional role of transcultural nursing care. Fundamental nursing concepts, process, and practice will provide the novice nursing student with a firm foundation for advanced nursing study. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 353L Nsg Concpts & Skills Practicum (3) (other) Introduction to the application of the nursing process in the delivery of care to medical/surgical populations. Comprehensive, faculty-guided experiences in developing a beginning knowledge base for entry into the nursing profession. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 355 Adult Health Care I (3) (lecture/other) Care of adult clients with acute medical/surgical problems. Integration of pathophysiology in the understanding of human responses to health deviations. Use of the nursing process to develop individualized, culturally congruent care plans. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 355L Adult Hlt Care I Practicum (5) (other) Application of the nursing process in providing individualized, culturally congruent care to adult clients with acute medical/surgical problems. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 357 Mental Health Care (3) (other) Application of mental health concepts, transcultural caring and professional nursing skills in delivering mental health care. Includes study and application of treatment modalities appropriate to selected psychopathological conditions. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 357L Mental Hlt Care Practicum (3) (other) Application of nursing process in the delivery of mental health care to selected populations. Faulty guided clinical experience in acute and community settings. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 358 Nursing Research (3) Introduction to the research process and the application of scientific method in nursing. Note: Restricted Nursing students only.

NURS 359 Foundation of Health Promotion (3) Exploration of the relationship between health promotion, health policy, and the impact on health conditions in diverse populations. Examination of the importance of health behavior and social determinants of health as contributors to current health problems, and the role of health promotion and education programs in addressing them.

NURS 360 Health Care Policy (3) Analyses of local, national and global economic, legal and social factors impacting health care policies. Discussion of relationship between emerging social issues/trends and health care disparities and capacities. Discussion of social justice, cultural competence, and equity in access and delivery of health care services. Opportunities are provided to participate in political processes impacting nursing and health care policy. (Same at SOC 360)

NURS 361 BSN Nursing Preview (3) Preview of academic and clinical opportunities for baccalaureate level nurses with an emphasis on leadership roles and advanced practice. Exploration of strategies for success as a life-long learner. An experiential component is included in this course which will supplement didactic content. The course is restricted to licensed registered nurses who are in the RN to BSN option of the BSN Program, or by instructor's consent. Offered every spring.

NURS 362 Nursing Professional Writing (3) The professional writing course is tailored for students planning careers in nursing. This class assists the student in developing professional writing skills. Writing is an essential component of the communication skills that help define professional nursing practice. The APA style is included to guide clear and professional communication. It encompasses standards for the content and organization of a paper and ways to express ideas clearly while reducing bias in language.

NURS 370 Transcultural Health Care (3) Introduces theories of transcultural nursing and human caring with an emphasis on exploring the caring values, beliefs, client/family lifeways and health practices of different ethnic groups and self by using culturalogical care assessment skills. Note: Restricted to Pre-nursing and Nursing students only.

NURS 371 Health Information Technology (3) Overview of information technology. Topics cover concepts and methodologies to plan, analyze, design, implement and evaluate health information systems. Note: Restricted to Pre-nursing and Nursing students only.

NURS 372 Spirituality in Health Care (3) An examination of the role of spirituality in patient care for clients of multicultural backgrounds across the life span. Exploration of spirituality as an integral part of self.

NURS 373 Gerontological Health Care (3) Care of the aging adult with an emphasis on successful aging and health promotion. Integration of theory and evidence-based practice in providing culturally congruent care.

NURS 374 Skills Nursing Leadrshp & Mgmt (3) Development of effective leadership skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, presentation and technical writing skills necessary for nursing leadership and management. Emphasis on team management and conflict resolution skills are included.

NURS 375 Applied Human Nutrition (3) Applied nutrition in human health and disease, and the nurse's role in supporting nutritional care. Pre: one chemistry and one anatomy/physiology course, or consent of instructor. Note: Restricted to Pre-nursing and Nursing students only.

NURS 376 Human Lactation (3) No prerequisites, corequisites, cross-listing, special grading options or repeatability for credit. An in-depth focus on the anatomical and physiological basis of lactation and breastfeeding. This course includes the history of infant feeding in the US, the role of culture, benefits of breastfeeding, anatomy and physiology of human lactation including composition of human milk, evidence-based breastfeeding support for expectant and new mothers, and identification of barriers and common breastfeeding problems

NURS 377 End of Life Care (3) This course will introduce, explore and assist interdisciplinary providers (nursing physicians, social workers, spiritual counselors, volunteers, etc) and other individuals to recognize and understand issues related to end of life care.

NURS 409 Perinatal & Pediatric Health (3) Emphasizes the nursing process in providing culturally appropriate care to perinatal women and to children, in the context of the family. Explores preventative health care, anticipatory guidance and health promotion in a developmental context. Note: Restricted to Nursing students

NURS 409L Perinatal & Pediatric Hlt Prac (3) Application of the nursing process in providing culturally congruent nursing care to perinatal women, and to infants, children, adolescents, and their families. Supervised clinical experiences in labor/delivery, nursery, postpartum, inpatient pediatrics and/or community settings. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 411 Community & Collaborative Hlt (3) Emphasis on culturally sensitive care to families and other groups in community health delivery settings. Identification of organizational resources and delivery patterns are investigated for effectiveness in addressing client needs in a variety of community settings. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only

NURS 411L Community & Collaboration Prac (3) Application of the nursing process in delivery of nursing care to individuals, families, groups, and communities. Integration of a service learning project utilizing organizational resources in collaborative relationships with community agencies. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 455 Adult Health Care II (3) (other) Prevention intervention and therapeutic modalities in caring for adult clients with acute medical and/or surgical problems. Emphasis on increasing medical-surgical nursing expertise with incorporation of client management skills and more advanced problem-solving. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 455L Adult Hlt Care II Practicum (5) (other) Continued care of adult clients with acute medical and/or surgical problems. Emphasis on increasing medical-surgical nursing expertise with incorporation of patient management skills and more advanced problem solving. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 457 Ldrshp & Transition to Practic (3) Management and leadership concepts in delivering comprehensive nursing care to clients with complex health care needs. Emphasize critical thinking and evaluation of clinical judgments in nursing practice. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only. (Attributes: ALEX, DS, GCC)

NURS 457L Ldrshp & Tran to Prac Practicu (2) (other) Application of management and leadership concepts in delivering comprehensive nursing care to clients with complex health care needs. Emphasize critical thinking and evaluation of clinical judgments in nursing practice. Note: Restricted to Nursing students only.

NURS 458 Nursing Review (3) Review of human body systems, nursing management, concepts, and skills in client health care. This review includes math and pharmacology with emphasis on critical thinking by discussion of NCLEX practice questions and related rationales. Note: Restricted to Nursing Students Only.

NURS 458L Nursing Review Practicum (2) Application of nursing skills in concentrated clinical experience in the acute care setting. Note: Restricted to Nursing Students Only.

NURS 459 Nursing Review (2) Review of human body systems, nursing management, concepts, and skills in client health care. Note: Pre: Nursing Major

NURS 459L Nursing Review Practicum (1) (lab) Application of nursing skills in concentrated clinical experience in the acute care setting. Pre: Nursing Majors

NURS 471 Intro Rural-Home Health Care (3) Introduction to the theory and role of the nurse in providing culturally congruent care in rural and home settings for client/family systems. Will examine the establishment of cooperative relationships with appropriate rural agencies. Note: Restricted to Pre-nursing and Nursing students only.

NURS 480 Nursing Remediation Theory (4) This course prepares the registered nurse who has been out of nursing for 5 years or more years to return to work. This course also meets the requirement as a remediation course for any applicant who has not passed their NCLEX 3 times within the past 3 years. Students needing NCLEX remediation are only required to complete this theory course. Students enrolling in this course must have graduated from an accredited school of nursing in good standing, have attempted the NCLEX examination within the past 3 years and must be eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam upon completion of the course. PRE: Instructor's Consent.

NURS 481L RN Refresher Lab (2) (lab) This laboratory course is designed to prepare the registered nurse who has been out of nursing for 5 years or more years to return to work. The main areas of instruction will include: general medical and surgical nursing, pediatrics, and maternal newborn nursing. Additionally, new equipment, procedures, charting, documentation, medication, IV therapy, and physician's orders will be reviewed. The course content is derived from the Hawaiʻi Nursing Scope of Practice and the Hawaiʻi Nursing Practice Act. The lab participation is on site at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Students enrolling in this course must have completed initial licensure in United States, must be eligible for licensure in Hawaiʻi upon completion of program and must have been previously licensed as a RN. Pre: Instructor's Consent.

NURS 490 Contemporary Healthcare Ethics (3) Contemporary Healthcare Ethics provides a thorough grounding in ethical principles and theories as evidenced in current healthcare issues and policies. Introduction of various frameworks for ethical decision-making, as well as current trends in the political, economic and legal spheres of the contemporary health care arena. Pre: Enrollment in UH Hilo School of Nursing. Open to other non-nursing majors with permission from instructor.


NURS x94 Special Topics in Subject Matter (Arr.) Special topics chosen by the instructor. Course content will vary. May be repeated for credit, provided that a different topic is studied. Additional requirements may apply depending on subject and topic.

NURS x99 Directed Studies (Arr.) Statement of planned reading or research required. Pre: instructor’s consent.

Additional Courses

Also see the NURS graduate-level courses.