Curriculum Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Lovely Professional University Kapurthala is designed to provide a comprehensive and progressive educational experience that prepares students for diverse roles in healthcare delivery. The curriculum is structured over eight semesters, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application through hands-on learning experiences.
Year-Wise Academic Structure
The program begins with foundational courses in the first semester, introducing students to basic sciences and essential nursing concepts. As students progress, they engage in increasingly specialized subjects that build upon their growing expertise.
In the second year, students are exposed to core nursing principles such as health assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. This foundation enables them to transition into clinical practice with confidence and competence.
The third and fourth years focus on advanced topics including maternal and child nursing, geriatric care, critical care, and community health. These courses are delivered through a combination of lectures, simulations, and clinical rotations in affiliated hospitals.
Course List Across All Semesters
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credits (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | NUR-101 | Introduction to Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | BIO-101 | Basic Biology | 4-0-0-4 | - |
| I | CHM-101 | Chemistry for Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | MAT-101 | Mathematics I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | HUM-101 | English Communication | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| I | LIT-101 | Introduction to Literature | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| I | PHY-101 | Physics for Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| II | NUR-201 | Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-101 |
| II | BIO-201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4-0-0-4 | BIO-101 |
| II | CHM-201 | Organic Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-101 |
| II | MAT-201 | Mathematics II | 3-0-0-3 | MAT-101 |
| II | HUM-201 | Critical Thinking and Writing | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| II | PHY-201 | Applied Physics | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-101 |
| III | NUR-301 | Community Health Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-201 |
| III | BIO-301 | Pathophysiology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-201 |
| III | CHM-301 | Pharmacology | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-201 |
| III | MAT-301 | Statistics for Health Sciences | 3-0-0-3 | MAT-201 |
| III | HUM-301 | Psychology of Human Behavior | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| III | PHY-301 | Biophysics | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-201 |
| IV | NUR-401 | Mental Health Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-301 |
| IV | BIO-401 | Nutrition and Dietetics | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-301 |
| IV | CHM-401 | Microbiology | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-301 |
| IV | MAT-401 | Research Methodology | 2-0-0-2 | MAT-301 |
| IV | HUM-401 | Health Education and Communication | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| IV | PHY-401 | Medical Instrumentation | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-301 |
| V | NUR-501 | Maternal and Child Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-401 |
| V | BIO-501 | Genetics and Genomics | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-401 |
| V | CHM-501 | Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-401 |
| V | MAT-501 | Advanced Statistics for Healthcare | 3-0-0-3 | MAT-401 |
| V | HUM-501 | Ethics in Healthcare | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| V | PHY-501 | Biomedical Engineering | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-401 |
| VI | NUR-601 | Critical Care Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-501 |
| VI | BIO-601 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-501 |
| VI | CHM-601 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-501 |
| VI | MAT-601 | Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing | 2-0-0-2 | MAT-501 |
| VI | HUM-601 | Cultural Competency in Healthcare | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| VI | PHY-601 | Biomedical Informatics | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-501 |
| VII | NUR-701 | Geriatric Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-601 |
| VII | BIO-701 | Public Health and Epidemiology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-601 |
| VII | CHM-701 | Nursing Informatics | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-601 |
| VII | MAT-701 | Healthcare Policy and Administration | 2-0-0-2 | MAT-601 |
| VII | HUM-701 | Global Health Issues | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| VII | PHY-701 | Healthcare Technology and Innovation | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-601 |
| VIII | NUR-801 | Capstone Project in Nursing | 4-0-0-4 | NUR-701 |
| VIII | BIO-801 | Advanced Clinical Research | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-701 |
| VIII | CHM-801 | Quality Assurance in Healthcare | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-701 |
| VIII | MAT-801 | Leadership in Healthcare | 2-0-0-2 | MAT-701 |
| VIII | HUM-801 | Nursing Ethics and Legal Issues | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| VIII | PHY-801 | Emerging Trends in Nursing Practice | 3-0-0-3 | PHY-701 |
Advanced Departmental Electives
Advanced departmental electives are offered in the later semesters to allow students to explore specialized areas of interest and gain deeper insights into specific aspects of nursing practice:
- Nursing Informatics: This course explores how information technology can be used to improve patient care, enhance communication, and streamline workflows in healthcare settings. Students learn about electronic health records (EHRs), data analytics, and telehealth platforms.
- Global Health Issues: Students examine health disparities across different countries and cultures, focusing on access to care, equity in resource distribution, and sustainable development goals. The course includes case studies from various regions around the world.
- Ethics in Healthcare: Delivers an in-depth analysis of ethical dilemmas commonly encountered in clinical practice, including end-of-life decisions, informed consent, and confidentiality issues. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own moral frameworks and professional responsibilities.
- Community Health Nursing: Focuses on population-level health interventions, including health promotion, disease prevention, and community engagement strategies. Students learn how to assess community needs and develop targeted programs for vulnerable populations.
- Mental Health Nursing: Covers psychiatric nursing theory, therapeutic communication, mental illness classification, and treatment modalities in various healthcare environments. The course emphasizes the importance of de-stigmatizing mental health issues and supporting recovery.
- Critical Care Nursing: Prepares students for managing complex cases in intensive care units, including mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, and emergency procedures. Students practice life-saving interventions in simulation labs and real hospital settings.
- Geriatric Nursing: Emphasizes the unique challenges faced by older adults, including age-related conditions, cognitive decline, and long-term care planning. The course addresses issues such as falls prevention, medication management, and palliative care.
- Maternal and Child Nursing: Provides comprehensive training in pregnancy, childbirth, infant care, and early childhood development, with an emphasis on family-centered care. Students learn about prenatal care, labor and delivery processes, and postnatal recovery.
- Public Health Nursing: Introduces students to epidemiological principles, health policy analysis, and community-based interventions for preventing disease outbreaks. The course includes fieldwork opportunities in local communities.
- Research Methods in Nursing: Teaches systematic approaches to conducting nursing research, from hypothesis formulation to data interpretation and dissemination of findings. Students learn about qualitative and quantitative methodologies, ethics in research, and evidence-based practice.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department strongly believes in project-based learning as a key component of the educational experience. This approach encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations and develop critical thinking skills essential for successful nursing practice.
Mini-projects are assigned during the second and third years, allowing students to work collaboratively on specific health issues within local communities or healthcare institutions. These projects are evaluated based on clarity of objectives, methodology, impact assessment, and presentation skills.
The final-year capstone project allows students to conduct an original study or implement a practical intervention in collaboration with faculty mentors. The selection process involves a proposal defense where students must articulate their research questions, methods, expected outcomes, and relevance to current healthcare trends.
Capstone Project Structure
The final-year capstone project is a significant undertaking that requires students to demonstrate their ability to integrate knowledge across multiple disciplines. Projects are typically undertaken in small teams or individually under the supervision of faculty advisors.
Students begin by identifying a relevant problem or area of interest within healthcare, followed by a literature review and development of a research plan. The project is then implemented, analyzed, and presented in both written and oral formats.
Evaluation criteria include the originality of the approach, rigor of methodology, significance of findings, and potential for implementation in practice. Successful completion of the capstone project contributes significantly to the student's professional portfolio and may lead to publication opportunities or further academic pursuits.