This course is designed to assist first year nursing students in their transition to academic and college life and to ensure all students can thrive in college regardless of their backgrounds. We will discuss and explore academics, diversity, goal setting, lifestyle choices, healthy behaviors, responsibility and commitment in personal actions, community service, and leadership.

This course provides nursing students opportunities to develop leadership and management skills through participation in a variety of programs and activities. Students learn how to work in cooperative relationships with peers, faculty, students in other disciplines, community service organizations, and the public in a service learning environment. Membership in National Student Nurses Association and Student Nurses Association of Virginia is a requirement.

This course introduces the role of the professional nurse in the perioperative specialty and examines perioperative nursing, safety issues, advocacy, and legal issues. Continuity of care throughout the perioperative experience is a theme. The precepted clinical focus includes understanding basic principles of patient assessment, surgical asepsis, and patient safety, while applying pathophysiology and pharmacology to specific patient experiences.

The Independent Practicum in Clinical Leadership Development gives an opportunity to apply leadership theory and practices in the clinical setting through mentoring and coaching third year traditional and first-year second degree students during their assigned clinical rotations. Specific emphasis is given to developing basic teaching and precepting skills, serving as a clinical resource, demonstrating performance of basic skills, and providing others with peer review and performance feedback.

Designed to provide information and guidance about the process of initiating a research project, to explore issues related to the research process, and encourage communication among Distinguished Majors Program participants. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Nursing DMP.

Independent study in Nursing

Learning experiences in the practicum include observational experiences and seminars but the focus of the course is on clinical practice. Experiences will take place on a variety of acute and chronic care units within the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center. Students function under the guidance and supervision of experienced staff nurse preceptors and will have the opportunity to explore the potential and constraints inherent in nursing.