Students can register now for NUR 420/POS 420 The American Healthcare System, an updated elective offered in Fall 2026 and open to students from all disciplines.
This interdisciplinary course examines how the U.S. healthcare system works through both nursing and political science perspectives. Using current, no-cost Open Educational Resources from 2024 and newer, students will explore key topics such as healthcare policy, system structure, and the forces shaping modern care.
Non-nursing students are encouraged to enroll; nursing prerequisites will be waived to make this course more accessible.
For more information, contact instructor Nora Bowne at nora.bowne@maine.edu.
Student Comments
“This class helped me see the bigger picture behind those challenges and how they are tied to the structure of the healthcare system itself.”
“I now better understand how policies, insurance models, and reimbursement structures influence the way care is delivered at the bedside.”