Health Professions Department

Course Descriptions

Allied Health Medical Support

• AHMS 108 - Health Data Content & Struct

  Credits: 2. Offered spring. In-depth study of origin, use, content and structure of health records; storage and retrieval systems; numbering and filing systems; documentation requirements; use and structure of health care data sets; and how these components relate to primary and secondary record systems. Additional topics include gathering, compilation and computing of healthcare related statistics, use of research and statistical methods for developing healthcare data into information for various requesters.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHMS 144 - Medical Terminology

  Credits: 3. Offered every term. Introduction to a medical word building system using Greek and Latin word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHMS 156 - Medical Billing Fundamentals

  Credits: 3. Offered every term. Prereq. or coreq., AHMS 220 or consent of instr. An introduction to insurance claim processing for the major medical insurance programs. Students will be provided with a basic knowledge of CPT and ICD-9 procedural and diagnostic coding. Emphasis on completing universal insurance forms to maximize reimbursement as well as trouble shoot denied or underpaid claims.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHMS 160 - Beginning Procedural Coding

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., AHMS 156, AHMS 108 or consent of instr. Foundation for utilizing the CPT coding system to increase compatibility and comparability of medical data among users and providers. 

• AHMS 162 - Beginning Diagnosis Coding

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., AHMS 156, AHMS 108 or consent of instr. Introductory foundation for utilizing the International Classification of Diseases coding for classification of morbidity and mortality information for statistical purposes and for indexing medical records by disease and operation.

• AHMS 164 - AHMS 164 Beginning Diagnosis Coding: ICD-10

  Credits: 3. This course covers basic and intermediate levels of theory and application of ICD-CM principles and guidelines for coding and sequencing diagnoses and procedures. Students perform basic and intermediate coding using real health records, case studies, and scenarios. Application will focus on the use of the electronic ICD-10-CM with an overview of encoder software. This coding class involves hands-on coding, and knowledge of basic use of applicable coding books or the electronic ICD-10-CM. Currently the students take this course through Great Falls

• AHMS 191 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• AHMS 192 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 9. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

• AHMS 212 - CPT Coding

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., AHMS 210 or consent of instr. Comprehensive application of the CPT coding system to assign codes for services, supplies and equipment for comparative analysis, research and reimbursement.

• AHMS 213 - ICD-10 CODING

  Credits: 3. Prereq., AHMS 164. Basic understanding of diagnostic and procedural coding principles should already be established. The course requires interpreting ICD-10-CM coding and reporting guidelines to sequence and assign appropriate diagnostic codes for both inpatient and various outpatient settings. Compliance issues associated with various IPPS reimbursement systems such as MS-DRGs, as well as APCs are covered. Encoder software will complement the ICD-10-CM manual in the application of coding processes. Clinical information will be interpreted from brief case studies and progress to the coding of health record excerpts.

• AHMS 216 - Pharmaceutical Products

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn.  Fundamental principles of pharmacology and the implications of medication use.  Includes the law as it pertains to drug use, dosage forms, routes of administration as well as the pharmacologic actions and uses of drugs.

• AHMS 220 - Medical Office Procedures

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn. An introduction to the necessary skills and qualities required to function successfully in the medical arena. Emphasis on medico-legal and ethical responsibilities, records management and financial management of the medical practice, and interpersonal communications to include patient reception, telephone techniques and appointment scheduling.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHMS 245 - Simulated Lab

  Credits: 3. Prereq., consent of instr. This course will use computer applications and software in maintaining health information in medical records through practice utilizing HIT applications through the AHIMA Virtual Lab, to include the following applications: Master Patient Index, Electronic Health Record, Encoder, Abstracting, Chart Tracking, Release of Information.

• AHMS 252 - Computerized Medical Billing

  Credits: 2. Offered spring, Prereq., AHMS 156; prereq. or coreq. AHMS 220; or consent of instr. A medical package is used to enter and update patient data, enter charges, payments and adjustments, and generate management reports, insurance forms, and patient statements.

• AHMS 255 - Medical Transcription I

  Credits: 3. Offered every term. Prereq., CAPP 154; prereq. Or coreq., AHMS 144. An introduction to the transcription of authentic physician-dictated medical reports in a variety of medical specialties. Emphasis on the development of accuracy and speed in interpreting, transcribing and editing medical dictation for content and clarity.

• AHMS 256 - Medical Transcription II

  Credits: 3. Offered every term. Prereq., CAPP 154 and AHMS 255.  Advanced medical transcription of realistic physician-dictated medical reports in a variety of medical specialties. Emphasis on production and increased speed in interpreting, transcribing and editing medical dictation for content and clarity.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHMS 270E - Medical Ethics

  Credits: 3. Offered every term. Ethical decision-making tools for addressing common ethical issues in the health professions.

  Course Attributes:

  • Ethical & Human Values Course

• AHMS 291 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• AHMS 292 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

• AHMS 298 - Medical Info Internship

  Credits: 3. Offered every term. Prereq., last semester in program, minimum of "C" in AHMS/AHMA (MED) courses, and approval of program director. On-the-job training in positions related to each student's career goal in the medical information field. This experience increases students' skills, prepares them for initial employment and advancement on the job, and increases occupational awareness and professionalism. Students work a minimum of 180 hours at an approved site and attend a scheduled one-hour seminar.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

Allied Health Respiratory Care

• AHRC 101 - Communication Management

  Credits: 1. Offered autumn. Prereq., Acceptance into Respiratory Care Program. Study of respiratory care departmental organization and administration procedures, effective communication strategies, and legal and ethical issues for the Respiratory care professional.

• AHRC 115 - Blood Gas Analysis

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn. Prereq., acceptance into the Respiratory Care program. Study of the indications, rational, methods, instrumentation, and analysis of Blood Gases. Emphasis will be placed on the physiology and clinical implications of acid-base abnormalities.

• AHRC 129 - Patient Care & Assessment

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOH 201N-202N. Introduction to nursing- related knowledge and skills with emphasis on application of microbiology to aseptic technique. Assessment of the respiratory system with cardiopulmonary diagnostic and laboratory tests interpretation. Observation and interpretation of overall patient condition is integrated throughout the course.  

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 130 - Respiratory Care Lab IB

  Credits: 1. Offered autumn. Prereq., acceptance into the Respiratory Care program. Basic clinical competencies taught in RES 129 are studied in a laboratory setting. Peer and instructor review of competencies included. Students focus on patient assessment skills and techniques/equipment.

• AHRC 131 - Resp Care Fundamentals

  Credits: 5. Offered autumn. Prereq., acceptance into the Respiratory Care program. Orientation to basic respiratory care science including the application of principles of physics and chemistry. Emphasis on theory, operation and troubleshooting of equipment used at the entry level of practice. Microbiology in relation to equipment processing, pulmonary rehabilitation and home care included.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 133 - Resp Care Pharmacology

  Credits: 3. Offered winter. Prereq., acceptance into the Respiratory Care Program or consent of instr. Principles of basic chemistry introduced with an application to pharmacology as related to the pulmonary system. Cardiovascular and related pharmacology studied in preparation for ACLS and ventilator management.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 150 - Respiratory Care Lab I

  Credits: 1. Offered autumn. Prereq., acceptance into the Respiratory Care program. Basic clinical competencies taught in RES 131 are studied in a laboratory setting. Peer and instructor review of competencies included. Students earn their BLS certification.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 231 - Resp Crit Care

  Credits: 4. Offered spring. Prereq., RES 120, 129, 131, 133, 150. Continuation of RES 131. Physiology, indication, contraindications, and application of mechanical ventilation. Emphasis on patient assessment, monitoring, stabilization and weaning during assisted pressure breathing. Analysis of the various modes of ventilation, including optimizing the patient-ventilator interface in the adult through various advanced airway techniques.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 232 - Resp Path & Disease

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., RES 120, 129, 131, 133, 150. Special lectures in medicine and disease as related to the cardiopulmonary system. Emphasis on recognition of signs and symptoms of disease and implications for treatment through the study of selected case studies.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 235 - Cardiopulm Anat & Phys

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., RES 120, 129, 131, 133, 150 or consent of instr. Principles of physiologic chemistry are introduced and applied to the macro and micro anatomy of the cardiopulmonary system with a focus on structure and function. Application made to pathology and assessment of patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 242 - Respiratory Management

  Credits: 1. Offered autumn. Prereq., RES 260T, 265T. Study of respiratory care departmental organization and administration procedures.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 243 - Perinat & Pediat Res Care

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., RES 260, 265. Study of perinatal and pediatric respiratory care with emphasis on assessment, resuscitation and mechanical ventilation of the neonate and pediatric patient. The theory of Neonatal Resuscitations (NRP) will be presented.  Neonatal and pediatric diseases will be studied.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 250 - Respiratory Care Lab II

  Credits: 2. Offered spring. Prereq., RES 120, 129, 131, 133, 150. A continuation of RES 150 with emphasis on adult critical care. Clinical competencies taught in RES 231 and RES 235 are studied in a laboratory setting. Peer and instructor review of competencies included.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 252 - Respiratory Care Review

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn. Prereq., RES 260, 265. A review of respiratory care in preparation for credentialing exams. Students must take an Entry Level Self-Assessment Exam, a Written Registry Self- Assessment Exam, and a Clinical Simulation Self-Assessment Exam.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 255 - Clinical Experience I

  Credits: 5. Offered spring. Prereq., RES 120, 129, 131, 133, 150. Emphasis on the student directly performing basic clinical skills in a patient care setting to include hospitals, home care, and pulmonary function laboratories. Students also participate in physician rounds.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 260 - Resp Care Lab III

  Credits: 1. Offered summer. Prereq., RES 231, 232, 235, 250, 255. Students study principles and theory of advanced life support.  Peer and instructor review are included. Students will be Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) certified at the end of this class.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 265 - Clinical Experience II

  Credits: 5. Offered summer. Prereq., RES 231, 232, 235, 250, 255. Continuation of clinical skills learned in RES 255. Introduction to adult critical care along with sleep and cardiac diagnostics. Students also participate in physician rounds.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 270 - Resp Care Lab IV

  Credits: 1. Offered autumn. Prereq., RES 260, 265.  Emphasis on neonatal and pediatric critical care. Clinical competencies introduced in RES 241 are studied. Peer and instructor review of competencies are included.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 275 - Clinical Exp III

  Credits: 6. Offered autumn. Prereq., RES 260, 265, 270. Continuation of RES 265 with critical care of the adult. Neonatal and pediatric critical care experiences are emphasized.  Students also participate in physician rounds.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 291 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 8. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHRC 292 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

Surgical Technology

• AHST 101 - Introduction to Surgical Techn

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the program. Provides an orientation to the scrub and circulatory roles of the surgical technologist in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods. Entry level skills and theories are emphasized.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 115 - Surgical Lab I

  Credits: 2. Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the program. Demonstration of sterile technique in the campus lab, various skills and their application in the operating room.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 154 - Surgical Pharmacology

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the program, M 090. Basic overview of the medications that are commonly used before, during and after a surgical procedure.

• AHST 191 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  Course Attributes:

  • Ethical & Human Values Course
  • Technical Course

• AHST 200 - Operating Room Techniques

  Credits: 5. Offered autumn. Prereq., completion of all second semester courses. Focus on the scrub and circulator roles of the surgical technologist in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. More complex skills and theories; impact of new technologies in the 21 century st operating room.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 201 - Surgical Procedures I

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn. Prereq., completion of all second semester courses. A study of surgical procedures following the patient through the preoperative, intraoperative, and post-operative stages of specific surgical specialties.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 202 - Surgical Procedures II

  Credits: 5. A study of surgical procedures following the patient through the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stage of CV/thoracic, orthopedic, neurological, and ophthalmic specialties.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 215 - Surgical Lab II

  Credits: 2. Offered spring.  Demonstration of more complex skills in the campus lab, including assistant circulating, and their application in the operating room. 

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 250 - Surgical Clinical I

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn. Prereq., completion of all second semester courses and successful completion of AHST 215. Perioperative experience in the minor surgical procedure role through a supervised clinical hospital rotation.

• AHST 251 - Surgical Clinical II

  Credits: 5. Offered spring. Prereq., completion of all third semester courses. Perioperative experience in the major surgical procedure role through a supervised clinical hospital rotation.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHST 298 - Surgical Internship

  Credits: 5. Offered spring. Prereq., successful completion of  AHST 202, 251T. Capstone experience in the perioperative role in preparation for initial employment, increasing occupational awareness and professionalism. Students take call for emergency surgeries alongside experienced hospital staff.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

Radiologic Technology

• AHXR 100 - Intro to Diagnostic Imaging

  Credits: 3. Offered fall. Introduction to the field of radiology and its mix of technical equipment, lab work, hospital environment, patient care and team work.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHXR 121 - Radiographic Imaging I

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn. Introduction to fundamental physics principles underlying radiology and diagnostic x-ray production. Topics include electromagnetic waves, electricity and magnetism, electrical energy, and power and circuits as they relate to radiography. Factors of image quality and exposure methods: density, contrast, recorded detail, distortion, technique charts, manual and automatic exposure control, and tube rating charts.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHXR 140 - Radiographic Methods

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Knowledge and skills necessary for quality patient care during standard and specialty radiographic procedures.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHXR 141 - Radiology Lab

  Credits: 1. Co-Requisite AHXR 140 Radiological Methods. Students will practice all patient positioning skills necessary for competency as Radiologic Technologists.

• AHXR 192 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHXR 195 - Radiographic Clinical: I

  Credits: 1 TO 14. (R-20) Offered over two semesters throughout the Radiology Technology program, beginning Spring semester. Students will begin with an introduction to patient management and basic radiographic procedures. The final semester offers opportunities in advanced patient management skills and experience with highly skilled radiographic procedures. Each semester builds on the previous semester, always emphasizing the principles of ALARA.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• AHXR 221 - Radiographic Imaging II

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Offers students more technical and detailed information on the use of image receptor systems, processing principles, advanced digital imaging systems and imaging modalities used in radiology. 

• AHXR 225 - Radiobiology/Radiation Protctn

  Credits: 2. Offered spring. Principles of radiation protection and radio biology. Topics include the effects of ionizing radiation on body tissues, protective measures for limiting exposure to the patient and personnel, and radiation monitoring devices.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHXR 240 - Radiological Methods II

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Knowledge and skills necessary to perform standard and specialty radiographic procedures. Emphasis on radiographic specialty procedures, pathology, and advanced imaging.

• AHXR 241 - Radiology Lab II

  Credits: 1. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOH 201N, 202N, and 211N, coreq., AHXR 240. Students will practice all patient positioning skills necessary for competency as Radiologic Technologists.

• AHXR 270 - Radiographic Registry Review

  Credits: 2. Offered spring. An overview of imaging concepts as a review for the national certification test. Topics include a systematic approach for image evaluation, patient care, radiation protection and the physics of radiographic imaging.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• AHXR 274 - Cross Sectional Anatomy

  Credits: 3. Course offered on line each semester. Students must be ARRT certified with a current state license to register for the CT courses. This course will cover information specific to ARRT guidelines in preparation for the Computed Tomography Exam. The regions of the body to be included are: Head, Neck, Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis and Musculoskeletal. Within each of these categories, focus will be placed on these relevant factors. Sectional Anatomy (axial, sagittal and coronal planes), Contrast Media (types, contraindications, administration), Imaging Processes (scout acquisition and methods, parameter selection, protocol modification) and Special Procedures (Reformatting, 3-D rendering, biopsies/drains, screening).

• AHXR 275 - Physics and Instrumentation

  Credits: 2. Course offered on line each semester. Students must be ARRT certified with a current state license to register for the CT courses. This course will cover information specific to ARRT guidelines in preparation for the Computed Tomography Exam. The course will be broken down in to the following sections: Patient Assessment and Preparation (to include patient history, screening, and consent. Immobilization, patient monitoring, accessory medical devices, lab values and medications/dosage). Contrast Administration (to include contrast media types, considerations, administration and dosage, venipuncture, injection techniques, post-procedure care and adverse reactions). Radiation Safety and Dosimetry (to include technical factors, protection and shielding, dose measurement and dose reduction/optimization).

• AHXR 291 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• AHXR 295 - Radiographic Clinical: I

  Credits: 12 TO 24. (R-20) Offered over two semesters throughout the Radiology Technology program, beginning Spring semester. Students will begin with an introduction to patient management and basic radiographic procedures. The final semester offers opportunities in advanced patient management skills and experience with highly skilled radiographic procedures. Each semester builds on the previous semester, always emphasizing the principles of ALARA.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• AHXR 298 - Internship

  Credits: 1. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

Nursing

• NRSG 100 - Introduction to Nursing

  Credits: 1. Offered each semester. This online course is a prerequisite to the Practical Nursing program. Student will be presented with an introductory level of the core concepts of nursing practice and other issues such as the legal concerns and ethical/cultural issues that face professional nurses on a consistent basis.

  Course Attributes:

  • Practical Nursing Prog Rqrmnt
  • Registered Nursing Prog Rqrmnt

• NRSG 106 - Nursing Assistant

  Credits: 4. The Nursing Assistant course will prepare students for careers in health care under the supervision of the licensed nurse. Students will learn the basic entry-level nursing skills to work in health care setting as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Course includes providing or assisting in client care, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, ambulation, transferring, feeding, using equipment, documenting and reporting the general well-being of the client.

• NRSG 110 - Dosage Calculation Hlth Prof

  Credits: 2. This course is intended to provide the student the theory and psychomotor skills to correctly and safely calculate medications for clients in diverse health care settings. It will prepare students for the calculations used in health care professions. Students will review various systems of weights and measures (metric, apothecary, and household), conversions between these systems, ratio/proportions, dosage calculations, percentage preparations, reducing and enlarging formulas, dilution, concentrations, and intravenous flow rates.

• NRSG 131 - Fundamentals of Nursing Lab

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., SCN 201N-202N, M 115, WRT 101, SCN 150N, PSYX 100S, CHMY 121N with lab, and acceptance into the practical nursing program.  Introduces the student to basic principles and psychomotor skills to provide a framework for developing initial competencies in patient care.  Campus lab experience is used initially.  Off campus clinical experience in a long term care setting completes the hands on portion.  Successful students are qualified to apply for certification as certified nurse assistants.

• NRSG 138 - Gerontology for Nursing

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program.  Introduces the student to the skills and knowledge needed to provide nursing care to aging clients.  Topics explored include current trends (including legal and ethical issues) in gerontological nursing, developmental stages and transitions associated with aging, expected age-related physiological changes, and assessment findings, recognition and management of acute and chronic illness that commonly occur in the older adult population, promotion of health for the older adult client, end-of-life issues and care.

  Course Attributes:

  • Practical Nursing Prog Rqrmnt
  • Registered Nursing Prog Rqrmnt

• NRSG 140 - Core Concepts of Adult Nursing

  Credits: 7. Offered spring and autumn.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Prepares the student to care for clients experiencing common, well-defined health alterations in settings where stable clients are anticipated.  Students are introduced to standardized nursing procedures and customary nursing and collaborative therapeutic modalities.

• NRSG 142 - Cre Cncpts of Mtrnl Chld Nrsng

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Information about fetal development and prenatal and postnatal care of the mother and newborn emphasizing caring, communication, professionalism, and critical thinking.  Role of the nurse in meeting the needs of the family is emphasized.  Clinical application of caring for the mother and newborn will allow the student to demonstrate acquired knowledge.  

• NRSG 143 - Cre Cncpts Mtrnl Chd Nrsng Cln

  Credits: 3. Offered intermittently. Prereq:  all first semester practical nursing courses and consent of instr. Capstone course that allows the student to work collaboratively with an identified LPN preceptor, performing the role expectations for care in that workplace setting.

• NRSG 144 - Cre Cncpts of Mentl Hlth Nrsng

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Exploration of physiological, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, and environmental factors associated with mental health/illness affecting individuals and families.  Focus will be placed on basic concepts of psychiatric nursing, therapeutic modalities, as well as psychiatric disorders including psychopharmacological management.

  Course Attributes:

  • Practical Nursing Prog Rqrmnt
  • Registered Nursing Prog Rqrmnt

• NRSG 147 - Practical Nursing NCLEX Review

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq: Successful completion of all courses in the first semester of the practical nursing program. Preparation for the national test for LPN licensure.

• NRSG 148 - Leadership Issues

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Capstone course that provides the Practical Nursing student information regarding the current status of vocational nursing. There is a forty-five hour clinical/precepted component to provide the student opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in the long-term care setting.

• NRSG 191 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• NRSG 192 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

• NRSG 230 - Nursing Pharmacology

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. This course provides the student with an overview of pharmacology with an emphasis of the study of effects, interactions, and nursing considerations of pharmacologic agents on the client population across the lifespan. The course also explores the ethical, legal, cultural and age implications of pharmacologic therapy across diverse populations and the lifespan.

• NRSG 231 - Nursing Pharmacology Lab

  Credits: 2. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. An integration of lab experiences focusing on the basic principles in providing safe medication administration, including intravenous therapy across diverse populations and the lifespan.

• NRSG 232 - Foundations of Nursing

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. This course provides opportunities to develop competencies necessary to meet the needs of individuals throughout the lifespan in a safe, legal, and ethical manner using the nursing process. Students learn concepts and skills necessary for maintaining standard precautions, physical, psychological and nutritional safety, along with skills needed in therapeutic interventions. Students are introduced to the concepts of professional nursing, patient needs, safety, communication, teaching/learning, critical thinking, ethical-legal, rural nursing, cultural and ethnic diversity, and interdisciplinary patient-centered care.

• NRSG 233 - Foundations of Nursing Lab

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. An integration of lab experiences focusing on psychomotor nursing skills needed to assist individuals in meeting basic human needs. Application of the nursing process and hands-on learning experiences for nursing skills, patient assessments, nutritional safety, and basic therapeutic skills are practiced and demonstrated.

• NRSG 250 - LPN to RN Transition

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., admission to the registered nursing program and current unencumbered LPN license.  Focus on the role transition from LPN to RN in relation to the concepts and principles of holistic nursing care.  Focus is on the continuing development of roles and responsibilities of the RN as defined by the scope of practice standards, nursing theory and conceptual models.

• NRSG 252 - Cmplx Care Maternal/Child Clnt

  Credits: 3. Offered spring and autumn semester.  Prepares the student to provide care to maternal/child clients experiencing acutely changing conditions in settings where outcomes are less predictable.  Topics include care of the client during childbirth, high-risk pregnancies, obstetrical emergencies, neonatal emergencies, and infants and children requiring complex collaborative care.   

• NRSG 254 - Complex Care/Mntl Hlth Client

  Credits: 2. Offered spring and autumn.  Explores physiological, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual and environmental factors associated with mental health/illness.  Focus is placed on psychotherapeutic management in the continuum of care, milieu management and special populations with emphasis on individuals, families and communities.

• NRSG 256 - Pathophysiology

  Credits: 3. Offered spring and autumn.  Prereq: successful acceptance into the ASRN Nursing Program.  An introduction to the basic principles and processes of pathophysiology including cellular communication, genes and genetic disease, forms of cellular injury, fluid and electrolyte/acid base balance, immunity, stress coping and illness, and tumor biology.  Pathophysiology of the most common alterations according to body system will also be discussed as well as the latest developments in research related to each area.

• NRSG 262 - Complex Care Needs - Adult Cli

  Credits: 4. Offered spring and autumn. Prepares the student to provide nursing care to adult client's experience acutely changing conditions in setting where outcome is less predictable.  Emphasis is placed on the nurse's repsonse to emergent/life-threatening/rapidly changing conditions.  Topics covered include collaborative therapeutic modalities related to acute/complex neurological, cardiac, respiratory, hematological, endocrinologic events, shock, sepsis/SARS, complex burns, etc.

• NRSG 265 - Advanced Clinical Skills

  Credits: 1. Offered spring and autumn.  Prepares students to carry out complex nursing interventions.  Topics covered include central venous therapy, parenteral nutrition hemodynamic monitoring, advanced airway/ventilator support, intracranial pressure monitoring, IV  medication administration, high risk IV infusions, blood/blood product administration, conscious sedation, advanced wound care, etc.

• NRSG 266 - Managed Client Care

  Credits: 4. Offered spring and autumn.  Covers topics related to integrated nursing care of individual clients and groups as well as basic principles related to supervision of nursing practice and management of resources.

• NRSG 291 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 6. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

• NRSG 292 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

  Course Attributes:

  • Technical Course

Pharmacy Technology

• PHA 196 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently.

Pharmacy

• PHAR 100 - Intro Pharm Practice for Techs

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., admission into Pharmacy Technology program.  This course offers information regarding careers in pharmacy.  It includes the history of pharmacy practice and defines roles of  personnel relating to pharmaceutical services. Ethical standards of the occupation and federal and state laws regulating pharmacy practice with emphasis on Montana State Pharmacy Law regulating pharmacy technicians are studied. Day-to-day operations including preparation, maintenance, and storage of pharmaceuticals and records, and basic concepts of computer operations and latest technologies are reviewed. Skills will be developed with are necessary for the pharmacy technician to communicate effectively in the following ways: 1) as a representative of the profession of pharmacy, 2) as an intermediary between the pharmacist and patient, and 3) as an intermediary between the pharmacist and other health care professionals.

• PHAR 101 - Pharmacy Calculations

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Calculations used in pharmacy practice; includes various systems of weights and measures, dosage determinations, percentage preparations, reducing and enlarging formulas, dilution, and concentration.

• PHAR 102 - Pharmacology for Technicians

  Credits: 6. Offered autumn. Prereq., admission into Pharmacy Technology program. Study of the properties, reactions, and therapeutic value of the primary agents in the major drug classes.

• PHAR 104 - Pharmacy Dispensing Lab

  Credits: 4. Offered autumn. Prereq., admission into Pharmacy Technology Program. Develop dispensing and distributive skills with hands-on lab, and lecture format.

• PHAR 120 - Medication Safety

  Credits: 3. Offered spring online only. Prereq., PHAR 100, 101, 102, 104 and second semester standing in Pharmacy Technology Program.  This course will introduce students to national safety initiatives developed by the Institute of Medicine, The Joint Commission, The Institute of Safe Medicine Practices and others. This awareness will help students become part of the solution in promoting safe medication  practices.

• PHAR 192 - Independent Study

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

• PHAR 198 - Internship: Pharmacy

  Credits: 4. Offered spring. Prereq., PHAR 100, 101, 102, 104 and second semester standing in Pharmacy Technology Program. Training and experience in either hospital, compounding, home infusion, nursing home or other alternative pharmacy settings under supervision of a pharmacist. Emphasizes special skills unique to that pharmacy setting.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums