This course is designed to provide pre-nursing students with major tools to the essential competencies necessary to be successful in both prerequisite nursing courses and the GPC program of nursing.  The competencies that a student acquires include, but are not limit to, reading health related literature for comprehension, organizational strategies, stress and time management, study and test taking skills, and the ability to use critical thinking skills in the sciences and nursing courses.  By attaining these competecies students enhance their potential for academic development, socialization into the role of student nurse, and completion of the nursing program.  This course is NOT a part of the nursing curriculum.  It will not substitute for a required nursing course and will not lead to a degree in nursing.

At the end of the semester the student will be able to
1.  show beginning proficiency in the use of vocabulary related to the health sciences.
2.  demonstrate the ability to read for comprehension in health related courses.
3.  utilize two effective stress management skills.
4.  utilize critical thinking skills in reading, researching, studying and test taking related to the health sciences.
5.  describe how academic development has been enhanced.
6.  utilize team builing techniques.
7.  demonstrate development of a professional portfolio.

None Specified

1.  Tentative Schedule:
    Week One:
          Introduction to the course
          Study Strategies
    Week Two:
          Study Strategies, continued
          Organizational Skills
    Week Three:
          Study Strategies
          Reading for comprehension
    Week Four:
          Application of Critical Thinking to  
          study skills
          Test-taking Strategies
    Week Five:  
          Stress Management & Time Management
    Week Six:
          Medical Terminology
          Application of Critical thinking to
          Test taking
    Week Seven:
          Application of Critical thinking to
          Test taking
          Building a team to gain success
    Week Eight:
          Application - Chemistry
    Week Nine:
          Application - Biology
    Week Ten:
          Using Journal & Research Articles to
          support work
    Week Eleven:
          Application - Anatomy
    Week Twelve:
          Application - Nursing
    Week Thirteen:
          Shadowing experience in the
          Hospital/Clinic
    Week Fourteen:
          Portfolio Presentation
          Mission Statement
          Reflection paper due

Required Activities:
    1.  Shadowing a nurse in a healthcare setting (four hours)
    2.  Viewing two educational nursing video sessions
    3.  Participating in classroom discussions and small group assignments
    4.  Submitting a two-page typed reflection paper on a topic mutually agreed upon by instructor and student
    5.  Developing a portfolio.
    6.  Presenting highlights of the developed portfolio to classmates

    1.  Course Grade
Students must meet all the course objectives and course requirements to pass NURS 1501
This includes:
- A final overall grade average of 75
- All required activities must be completed satisfactorily
- Final grade will be determined as follows:
             * Quizzes                   50%
             * Reflection Paper          10%
             * Portfolio                 20%
             * Portfolio Presentation    20%

      2.  Departmental Assessment
This course will be assessed at the end of each sememster that it is offered and as needed throughout the year.  Students will complete course and instructor evaluations and results will be considered in course revisions.  All learning activities will be evaluated to assess their adequacy in helping students to meet course objectives.  Recommendations for changes will be proposed to the Program Council (Nursing Curriculum Committee).  Proposed recommendations will be implemented the next time the course is offered.