Our part-time evening and weekend program enrolls each fall at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing only. The program is offered over eight consecutive semesters totaling thirty-two months in duration.
View our part-time curriculum plan (PDF).
Part-Time Course Descriptions
N101 Professional Concepts of Nursing
This course introduces the student to the role of the professional nurse. The concepts of communication, clinical decision making, professionalism and patient education are explored. In addition, the holistic aspects of patient care such as culture, spirituality, legal and ethical issues will be discussed. Tanner’s clinical judgment model will provide the framework for the student’s development of clinical judgment and decision making.
Credits: 3
Pre-requisites: None
N102-A Foundational Concepts of Nursing
This course introduces the student to the foundational concepts of nursing practice across the lifespan. Basic care and comfort is explored through the concepts of nutrition, elimination, safety, mobility and sensory perception. Physical assessment is a major component of this course. The promotion of health and wellness is an underlying theme carried throughout the course. The student is introduced to basic foundational skills of nursing practice, including medication administration, through both the clinical and lab settings. Students engage in clinical experiences in inpatient medical-surgical units.
Credits: 4.4
Pre-requisites: None
N102-B Foundational Concepts of Nursing
This course is a continuation of Foundational Concepts of Nursing I, introducing the student to additional foundational concepts of nursing practice across the lifespan. Basic care and comfort is explored through the concepts of nutrition, elimination, mobility and sensory perception. Physical assessment is continued from the prior course. The promotion of health and wellness is an underlying theme carried throughout the course. The student continues to practice and refine basic foundational skills of nursing practice, including medication administration, through both the clinical and lab settings. Students engage in clinical experiences in inpatient medical-surgical units.
Credits: 4.6
Pre-requisite courses: Nursing 101 Professional Concepts of Nursing; Nursing 102-A Foundational Concepts of Nursing I
N201-A Physiological Concepts of Nursing
This course introduces the student to the physiological concepts of nursing practice across the lifespan. The fundamental aspects of oxygenation, perfusion, acid-based balance, fluid and electrolytes infection, immunity, inflammation, digestion and metabolism are explored. Through the integration of the nursing concepts, along with Tanner’s clinical judgment model, the student begins to respond to identified patient problems in the clinical setting. Students engage in clinical experiences in acute medical-surgical units.
Credits: 5.8
Pre-requisite courses: Nursing 101; Nursing 102 –A; Nursing 102-B, Anatomy & Physiology I
N201-B Physiological Concepts of Nursing
This course is a continuation of Physiological Concepts of Nursing I introducing the student to the further physiological concepts of nursing practice across the lifespan. The fundamental aspects of perfusion, infection, immunity, inflammation, and metabolism are explored. Through the integration of the nursing concepts, along with Tanner’s clinical judgment model, the student continues to respond to identified client problems in the clinical setting. Students engage in clinical experiences in acute medical-surgical units.
Credits: 5.2
Pre-requisite courses: Nursing 101; Nursing 102-A; Nursing 102-B; and Nursing 201-A, Anatomy & Physiology I&II
N301-A Complex Individual and Family Nursing Concepts
This course introduces the student to complex family concepts of nursing practice. The course explores dynamic concepts across the lifespan. Family dynamics, reproduction and growth and development alterations are a major focus of the course. Through the integration of nursing concepts, along with Tanner’s clinical judgment model, the student focuses on assisting the individual and family to adjust to health alterations across the lifespan. Students engage in various clinical experiences in the areas of pediatric, obstetric, and geriatric nursing.
Credits: 5.5
Pre-requisite courses: Nursing 101, Nursing 102-A, Nursing 102-B, Nursing 201-A, Nursing 201-B, Anatomy & Physiology I&II, Growth and Development
N301-B Complex Individual and Family Nursing Concepts
This course is a continuation of Complex Individual and Family Nursing Concepts I, introducing the student to complex individual concepts of nursing practice. The course explores dynamic concepts across the lifespan. Concepts of mental health nursing are explored as they relate to the individual and the overall impact on the individual and family. Through the integration of nursing concepts, along with Tanner’s clinical judgment model, the student focuses on assisting the individual and family to adjust to health alterations across the lifespan. Students engage in various clinical experiences in the area of behavioral health.
Credits: 5.5
Pre-requisite courses: Nursing 101, Nursing 102-A; Nursing 102-B; Nursing 201-A; Nursing 202-B; Nursing 301-A, Anatomy & Physiology I&II, Growth and Development, Microbiology
N320 Advanced Nursing Concepts
This course introduces the student to advanced concepts of nursing practice. The course builds and expands on the concepts of oxygenation, perfusion, metabolism and infection that were previously introduced in Nursing 211. In addition the advanced concepts of cellular regulation, intracranial regulation and alterations in tissue integrity are explored. Through the integration of nursing concepts, along with Tanner’s clinical judgment model, the student engages in advanced clinical decision making in high acuity environments. Students engage in various clinical experiences that take place in stepdown units, critical care units and emergency departments.
Credits: 7.5
Pre-requisites: Nursing 101, Nursing 102-A; Nursing 102-B; Nursing 201-A; Nursing 202-B; Nursing 301-A, Nursing 301-B; A&P I; A&P II; Growth and Development; Microbiology; College Writing
N340 Transition into Nursing Practice
This course serves as the student’s transition into the role of professional nursing practice. Leadership and management concepts are applied with an emphasis on safety and quality nursing care. Clinical is conducted through a preceptor experience where the student is given the opportunity to manage, delegate and prioritize care for multiple patients.
Credits: 5.5
Pre-requisites Nursing 101, Nursing 102-A; Nursing 102-B; Nursing 201-A; Nursing 202-B; Nursing 301-A, Nursing 301-B; N320; A&P I; A&P II; Growth and Development; Microbiology; College Writing
N360 NCLEX Preparation Course
This course provides the students with NCLEX preparation through content reviews and test taking strategies.
Credits: 2
Pre-requisites: Nursing 101, Nursing 102-A; Nursing 102-B; Nursing 201-A; Nursing 202-B; Nursing 301-A, Nursing 301-B; N320; A&P I; A&P II; Growth and Development; Microbiology; College Writing
Support Courses
As part of the overall curriculum plan, students take the following support courses. These courses are transferable from an accredited college or university if the course was completed in the past 5 years, the total course credits match exactly, and the students’ final grade was a C or better. Please refer to your individual schools website for detailed course descriptions.
Anatomy & Physiology I – Credits: 4
Anatomy & Physiology II – Credits: 4
Microbiology – Credits: 4
Human Growth and Development – Credits: 3
College Writing – Credits: 3
Biomedical Ethics – Credits: 3
