Curriculum Overview
The BSc Nursing program at P P Savani University Surat is meticulously designed to provide a well-rounded education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application. The curriculum is divided into eight semesters, each focusing on specific aspects of nursing science and practice. Students begin with foundational courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics before advancing into specialized areas such as maternal-child health, community nursing, psychiatric care, and critical care medicine.
The academic calendar spans 16 months per year, with the first two semesters dedicated to building fundamental scientific knowledge through lectures, tutorials, and laboratory sessions. From semester three onward, students engage in more advanced coursework that includes clinical rotations, research projects, and specialized training modules tailored to their chosen areas of interest.
The program emphasizes competency-based learning where students are assessed not only on their understanding of concepts but also on their ability to apply them in real-world scenarios. Each course is assigned a certain number of credit hours based on the complexity and duration of instruction, ensuring that students receive adequate exposure to all essential topics while maintaining a balance between theory and practice.
Course Structure
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the courses offered throughout the entire BSc Nursing program:
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NUR-101 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | BIO-102 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4-0-0-4 | - |
| 1 | CHM-103 | Basic Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | MAT-104 | Mathematics for Nurses | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | BIO-105 | Microbiology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 2 | NUR-201 | Medical-Surgical Nursing I | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-101 |
| 2 | BIO-202 | Pathophysiology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-105 |
| 2 | PSY-203 | Psychology of Human Behavior | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 2 | PHARM-204 | Pharmacology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-105 |
| 2 | COMM-205 | Communication Skills in Healthcare | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 3 | NUR-301 | Maternal and Child Health Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-201 |
| 3 | NUR-302 | Pediatric Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-201 |
| 3 | COMM-303 | Health Education and Promotion | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 3 | NUR-304 | Community Health Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-101 |
| 3 | BIO-305 | Immunology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-105 |
| 4 | NUR-401 | Critical Care Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-301 |
| 4 | NUR-402 | Psychiatric Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-201 |
| 4 | NUR-403 | Emergency and Trauma Care | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-201 |
| 4 | PHARM-404 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3-0-0-3 | PHARM-204 |
| 4 | NUR-405 | Research Methodology | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 5 | NUR-501 | Geriatric Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-301 |
| 5 | NUR-502 | Dermatology and Wound Care | 3-0-0-3 | NUR-201 |
| 5 | NUR-503 | Occupational Health Nursing | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 5 | NUR-504 | Nursing Informatics | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 6 | NUR-601 | Public Health Policy and Administration | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 6 | NUR-602 | Leadership in Healthcare | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 6 | NUR-603 | Advanced Clinical Practice | 4-0-0-4 | NUR-401 |
| 7 | NUR-701 | Clinical Internship I | 0-0-6-6 | - |
| 8 | NUR-801 | Clinical Internship II | 0-0-6-6 | - |
Advanced Departmental Electives
Students in their later semesters have the opportunity to choose from a variety of advanced departmental electives that allow them to explore specialized fields within nursing practice. These courses are designed to deepen understanding and develop expertise in niche areas of healthcare delivery:
- Advanced Geriatric Nursing: This course explores specialized care strategies for aging populations, including dementia management, palliative care principles, and end-of-life decision-making.
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Designed to deepen understanding of pregnancy-related complications, labor and delivery processes, and neonatal intensive care interventions.
- Community Health Assessment and Planning: Teaches students how to conduct health surveys, identify community needs, and develop targeted public health initiatives.
- Healthcare Technology Integration: Focuses on integrating modern technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine platforms, and wearable devices into nursing practice.
- Mental Health Nursing in Crisis Situations: Prepares students to respond effectively to acute mental health crises, including suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) management.
- Global Health Nursing: Examines international healthcare challenges and explores best practices for delivering care across cultures and resource-limited settings.
- Nursing Ethics and Legal Issues: Discusses ethical dilemmas in nursing practice, legal responsibilities, and professional boundaries in patient care environments.
- Preventive Care and Disease Management: Emphasizes the role of nurses in preventing disease through screenings, vaccinations, lifestyle modifications, and chronic condition management.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS): Provides certification training for advanced cardiovascular life support procedures used in emergency situations.
- Quality Improvement in Healthcare: Introduces concepts of quality assurance, performance measurement, and continuous improvement methodologies in healthcare delivery.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department strongly believes in experiential learning as a cornerstone of nursing education. Project-based learning is integrated into the curriculum to encourage students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems and develop critical thinking skills essential for professional success.
Mini-projects are assigned at the end of each semester and require teams of 3–5 students to investigate a real-world issue in nursing practice, propose solutions, and present findings to faculty members and peers. These projects often involve collaboration with local healthcare providers or community organizations, giving students valuable exposure to the complexities of modern healthcare delivery.
The final-year thesis or capstone project is a comprehensive endeavor that allows students to explore a specific area of interest in depth. Students are paired with faculty mentors who guide them through literature review, methodology design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of results. Projects may include developing new nursing protocols, conducting pilot studies, evaluating existing healthcare interventions, or proposing policy changes based on evidence-based research.
Assessment criteria for these projects include clarity of problem statement, relevance to current nursing practice, methodological rigor, critical analysis, presentation quality, and potential impact on patient outcomes. The evaluation process involves peer reviews, faculty feedback, and external expert panels to ensure that student work meets professional standards in nursing research and practice.