College of Nursing & Health Professions Master of Science in Nursing Admission Requirements Curriculum Course Descriptions Doctorate of Nursing Practice Admission RequirementCurriculum
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Nursing
570 Special
Topics in Nursing (1-3) This courses studies special topics in
nursing and health care.
576
Cardiovascular Surgical Nursing (3) This course integrates advanced
knowledge and research concerning the care of patients undergoing
cardiac surgery for the professional critical care nurse. The course
focus is on innovative management of cardiac surgery patients and
critical thinking skills with emphasis on the collaborative role of
nurses as they participate in the care of the critically ill cardiac
surgery patient.
N601
Advanced Nursing Practice Roles (1) This course is designed to give
an overview of the history, scope and role development of the Nurse
Practitioner (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Educator, and
the Nurse Leader. Focus will
be placed on how the evolution of these roles has influenced the
development, transition and implementation of today's advanced nursing
practice. Professional competencies, educational requirements, and
regulatory controls will be discussed.
N602
Evidence-based Practice for Advanced
Nursing (4) This course
focuses on the application of research and evidence-based practice
principles to advanced nursing practice.
Using these principles and working individually or in small
groups, students critically appraise and synthesize existing literature
and design an evidence-based project.
Scholarly writing skills will be emphasized.
N604
Population Based Care and Health Policy (3) This course prepares
students in advanced nursing practice roles to synthesize global,
ecological and social determinants of health within the context of
epidemiology to promote the development and implementation of local,
state and federal health policies to improve healthcare outcomes.
N606 Nursing
Leadership in Healthcare Systems (4) This course examines leadership
skills needed to asses organizations, identify system’s issues and
facilitate organization wide change.
Analysis of systems will emphasize ethical and critical decision
making, business principles, and outcomes related to patient and
organizational expectations.
614
Advanced Practice Nursing and Health Care Issues
(3) This course examines issues relevant to advanced practice nursing
and the health care delivery system including advanced practice roles,
legal aspects of practice, scope of practice, credentialing, concepts of
authority, power, and leadership, ethical aspects of practice, cultural
sensitivity, continuous quality improvement, economics of health care
delivery, legislative and policy-making activities, and allocation of
health care resources. Sp, Su
617
Advanced Concepts of Pathophysiology
(3) This course explores the physiological and pathological base for the
advanced practice nurse to provide care to children and adults with
acute and/or chronic illness. Examines theories and concepts relevant to
pathophysiologic processes. F, Su
618
Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses (3) This course provides didactic instruction and
clinical practice in physical assessment, developmental screening,
history taking, nursing, and medical diagnosis. Teaching methods include
lecture, independent study, laboratory, and clinical practice. Prereq:
NURS 622. Su
621
Clinical Pharmacology for Nurse Educators
(3) This course is designed to provide the graduate nursing education
student with knowledge of pharmacological agents and herbal therapies
used in the treatment of adults, adolescents, and young children.
Emphasis is placed on indications, mechanism of action, adverse
reactions, patient teaching, and appropriate dosages of drugs. Through
the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course prepares
students to implement, monitor, and evaluate effective patient
pharmacological therapy. Prereq: NURS 617. F
622
Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice
Nurses (3) This course is designed to provide the advanced practice
nursing student with knowledge of pharmacological agents and herbal
therapies used in the treatment of adults, adolescents, and young
children. Emphasis is placed on indications, mechanisms of actions,
prescriptive drug protocols, adverse reactions, and appropriate dosages.
Through the use of variety of instructional methods, this course
prepares students to design, implement, monitor, and alter effective
patient pharmacological therapy. Prereq: NURS 617. Sp
624
Economic Policies in Nursing and Health Care
(3) This course applies economic theories and analytic techniques to
resource allocation in nursing and health care is discussed. Skill
development to analyze health care issues from an economic perspective
will be emphasized including three fundamental observations of the world
that 1) resources are scarce relative to wants; 2) resources have
alternative uses making choice (rationing) necessary and inevitable; and
3) there are significant variations in the relative importance that
people attach to wants, making unique solutions unlikely. Sp
625
Marketing and Competitive Strategies in Nursing and Health Care (3) This course explores concepts of marketing and
competitive strategies are applied to nursing and health care
organizations. Emphasis is placed on methodologies for developing
nursing and organizational strategic marketing plans. Su
628
Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators (3) This course provides didactic instruction and
clinical practice in history taking and physical assessment with a focus
on enhancing assessment skills required by nurse educators. Teaching
methods include lecture, independent study, laboratory, and clinical
practice. Prereq: NURS 621. Sp
631
Individual and Group Behavior in Nursing and Health Care Organizations
(3) This course presents organizational behavior theories and effective
management strategies to lead individuals and groups in health care
organizations. Traditional and contemporary issues including power,
conflict resolution, organizational development, decision-making and
group dynamics will be discussed. F
635
Business of Nursing
(3) This course synthesizes the nurse leader/manager role in the
organization through the completion of a major project is the focus of
this course. Each student will assume the lead role in the development,
implementation, and evaluation of an administrative/management project.
Prereq: NURS 634. Sp
N645
Advanced Nursing Assessment and Intervention I (6) Advanced practice
management of clients with acute and/or chronic illness in a changing
health care delivery system. Emphasis is on the synthesis of
psychological, behavioral, social and physiological theories in the
therapeutic management of acute and/or chronic illness, including
disease prevention and health promotion. Content is centered on the
development of the role of the clinical nurse specialist in the
dimensions of clinician, research, educator, consultant, collaborator,
and manager. Clinical experiences utilize holistic, research-based
nursing therapies to care for individuals, families, and aggregate
populations within communities.
N646 Advanced Nursing Assessment and Initervention II (6) This course further explores the advanced practice management of complex patients with acute and/or chronic illness in a changing health care delivery system. Emphasis is on the synthesis of psychological, behavioral, social, and physiological theories in the therapeutic management of clients with acute and/or chronic illness, including disease prevention and health promotion. Content is centered on developing skills to influence the spheres of nursing and the health care systems.
N647 NURS 647 Advanced Assessment and Intervention III (6) The course facilitates the integration of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role across all spheres of influence. Through the use of specialized practice and application of theoretical knowledge the studetns provided expert, holistic care to individuals and families while managing nursing and health care systems influences within a specific patient population.
654
Primary Care Nursing of Families I
(6) This course focuses on the clinical management of the health/illness
status of children, adults, and elders within a family framework.
Includes theoretical concepts related to individual development and
family function. The clinical focus is on the role of the nurse
practitioner in primary care management including health promotion,
illness prevention, assessment, treatments for acute and chronic
illnesses, and education. Emphasizes role development, including
interdependent and independent practices. Prereq: NURS 613, NURS 614,
NURS 617, NURS 618, and NURS 622. F
656
Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum (6)
This course provides an intensive clinical experience in the family
nurse practitioner role. Selected preceptorships are designed to
maximize individual student learning needs and provide a comprehensive
experience to develop expertise in caring for individuals and families.
Prereq. NURS 655. Su
N661
Psychopharmacology (2) The focus of this course is on integration of
basic neuropharmacology, the effects of psychotropic medications
prescribed in practice, and actions of these drugs in the treatment of
mental health problems across the lifespan.
Basic principles of neuropharmacology, pharmacokinetics,
pharmacodynamics, dose-response relationships, and the roles of specific
neurotransmitters will be included.
Actions of various drugs and effects of those drugs on mood and
behaviors will be included.
Treatment resistance and noncompliance with psychopharmacologic agents
will also be discussed.
N662
Psychiatric Mental Health Care of Families I (6) The focus of this
course is on theoretical and clinical management of the
psychiatric/mental health needs of individuals across the lifespan
within the context of a family-based theoretical model. The role of the
family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner as an independent
and interdependent practitioner and performing comprehensive mental
health assessments are primary clinical foci. Participation in mental
health assessments, planning care for stabilization of mental health,
strategies for mental health promotion, therapies, and mental health
education are included in course content. Prerequisite or Corequisite:
NURS 618, NURS 622, NURS 661
671
Curriculum Development for the Nurse Educator
(5) This course focuses on curriculum development and the role of the
nurse educator. The roles of faculty and health care facility educator
specialists are studied. Curriculum development designs and models are
evaluated. Current issues influencing curriculum development in higher
education and health professions are analyzed. F
672
Teaching Strategies for the Nurse Educator
(5) This course focuses on the assessment of learning needs and the
development and implementation of learning experiences in the classroom
and clinical setting. The theoretical foundations of teaching and
learning, selection of appropriate teaching strategies for classroom,
simulated laboratory and clinical instruction, use of multimedia
learning resources, and the concept of distributive learning are
emphasized. Experience in developing and implementing learning
experiences for the education of nursing professionals is provided. Sp
673
Evaluation Strategies for the Nurse Educator
(5) This course focuses on the process of evaluation in the education of
nurses. Evaluation models and concepts related to the measurement of
outcomes in classroom and clinical instruction are introduced, as well
as those related to program evaluation. Legal and ethical issues related
to student evaluation are discussed. Current issues related to the
evaluation of outcomes in nursing education are emphasized. Su
674
Management of Acutely Ill Adults I
(6) This course focuses on the management of adult clients who are
acutely/critically ill or experiencing an exacerbation of a chronic
health problem. The clinical focus is on the role of the acute care
nurse practitioner working with a multidisciplinary team across settings
to facilitate and accelerate the patient’s return to optimal health.
Prereq: NURS 613, NURS 614, NURS 617, NURS 618, and NURS 622. F
675
Management of Acutely Ill Adults II
(6) This course continues the focus on the management of adult clients
who are acutely/critically ill or experiencing an exacerbation of a
chronic health problem. The clinical focus is on the role of the acute
care nurse practitioner working with a multidisciplinary team across
settings to facilitate and accelerate the patient’s return to optimal
health. Prereq: NURS 674. Sp
676
Management of Acutely Ill Adults III
(6) This course continues the focus on the management of adult clients
who are acutely/- critically ill or experiencing an exacerbation of a
chronic health problem. The clinical focus is on the role of the acute
care nurse practitioner working with a multidisciplinary team across
settings to facilitate and accelerate the patient’s return to optimal
health. Prereq: NURS 675. Su
677
Advanced Nursing Care of Pediatric Patients
(4) This course focuses on
the assessment, diagnosis, and collaborative management of pediatric
patients with acute illness or experiencing an exacerbation of a chronic
health problem. The clinical
focus is on the role of the advanced practice nurse to facilitate and
accelerate the patient’s return to optimal health.
679
Nurse Educator Practicum
(5) Student will have the opportunity to observe master teachers and to
participate in organized faculty development activities. Intensive
education experience in the nursing faculty role will be provided.
Faculty preceptors will guide the student’s participation in selected
teaching activities that occur in the classroom, the learning resource
center, clinical simulation laboratory and the community. This course
may be repeated twice.
713 –
Theory and Practice
(3) This course will focus on nursing, education, organizational,
leadership and management theories. The advanced analysis of the
relationship between theory and evidenced based practice are explored
with emphasis on the application of nursing and other theories at the
highest level of nursing practice. Students will synthesize and apply
theoretical knowledge to their phenomenon of interest.
715 -
Analytical Methods for Population-Based Care
(4) This course will identify and analyze factors that affect the health
of the population. The history and methods of epidemiology will be
explored. Students will use Healthy People 2010 objectives and selected
biostatistics to analyze current public health issues. Students use
analytical methods and evidence based guidelines to critically appraise
existing literature and epidemiological data. Students will determine
and implement the best evidence for population-based health care as it
applies to nursing practice, nursing education and nursing management
and leadership.
717 -
Cultural Diversity
(2) This course focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to
effectively interact with and serve culturally diverse populations.
Topics related to age, race, ethnicity, gender, class, and disabilities
will be emphasized. Concepts related to workforce diversity, health care
belief systems, patient rights and management of health care appropriate
to the patient population will also be explored. Culturally based
assessment tools will be critiqued. Healthy People 2010 objectives will
be used as a framework to explore health care needs of the culturally
diverse population.
721 -
Systems Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration (5) Students engage in the exploration of
leadership in nursing and health care organizations.
Platforms for discussion include concepts of leadership,
organizational theory, quality improvement methods, inter-professional
collaboration, effective communication and change strategies.
Students develop leadership knowledge and skills to initiate
systems transformation.
724 -
Health Care Policy and Strategic Planning
(3) This course prepares students to analyze and influence health policy
environments. Students will analyze and collaborate in revising health
care organization strategic plans. Students will explore the impact of
Healthy People 2010 objectives on health policy and strategic planning.
Students learn to define policy problems; identify and critique
potential solutions; and assess political and economic influences on
health care policy. Students design interventions to influence policy
making and implementation. Methods for evaluating policy and strategic
plans will be explored.
725 -
Resource Utilization in Health Care
(4) This course focuses on the complex variables that influence resource
utilization in nursing and healthcare. The conceptual basis and methods
of financial analysis and decision making as they pertain to the
healthcare delivery systems are analyzed. Health care economics,
marketing principles, human resource management, and the influence of
Healthy People 2010 objectives that impact current healthcare
environments are explored.
727 -
Healthcare Technology and Informatics
(3) This course focuses on conceptual foundations for understanding
health care informatics including the analysis of a variety of
applications of information systems within the health care system.
Elements addressed include theoretical models of nursing
informatics, healthcare computing, data management and information
processing, data acquisition, nursing vocabularies, and knowledge
representation. Managing
organizational change, information security, social and ethical issues
in health care systems, and the effects of informatics on the
practitioner and consumer are studied.
854 -
Critical Appraisal of Practice I
(3) This course focuses on the application of best evidence to promote
nursing practice at the highest level. Students explore current research
and propose methods to use newly acquired knowledge in current practice
situations ensuring quality outcomes. Students synthesize concepts from
biophysical, psychosocial, sociopolitical, cultural, economic and
nursing science to impact and to understand the consequences of advanced
practice decisions. Healthy People 2010 objectives will be used as the
framework for exploring the potential impact of advanced practice
decisions.
855 -
Critical Appraisal of Practice II
(3) This course focuses on the evaluation of best evidence to promote
nursing practice at the highest level. Students use current research and
create a plan to implement newly acquired knowledge in practice
situations and evaluating quality outcomes. Students synthesize concepts
from biophysical, psychosocial, sociopolitical, cultural, economic and
nursing science to evaluate consequences of advanced practice decisions.
Healthy People 2010 objectives will be used as the framework for
evaluating the impact of advanced practice decisions.
866 -
Capstone Project I: Planning
(1) This course focuses on
the initial development of capstone projects including problem
statement, objective, project activities, project timeline, resources,
and evaluation strategies. Method(s) to address Healthy People 2010
objectives will be integrated into the project activities. This course
is part of a four semester sequence required of all DNP students.
867 -
Capstone Project II: Project Proposal
(1) This course focuses on
project development including process and outcome evaluation, budget
development, and measurement tools.
The initial project proposal will be completed during this
course. Students will
present their projects as a poster presentation at research conferences.
This course is part of a four semester sequence required of all DNP
students.
N868
Capstone III: Implementation (1) This course focuses on
implementation of the DNP project.
Strategies to address challenges in the implementation of the
capstone project will be explored.
This course is part of a six semester sequence required of all
DNP students.
N871
Capstone IV: Data Analysis (1) This course focuses on the collection
and analysis of data to evaluate the outcomes of the capstone project.
This course is part of a six semester sequence required of all
DNP students.
N872
Capstone V: Project Report
(1)
This course focuses on the development of the final capstone project
report. Students will
develop a comprehensive report describing their project, implementation,
evaluation, and results.
This course is part of a six semester sequence required of all DNP
students 876 - Capstone Project III – Implementation (1) This course
focuses on implementation of the DNP project.
This course is part of a four semester sequence required of all
DNP students.
N873
Capstone VI: Dissemination (1) This course culminates the DNP
capstone project. Students will present their current project status,
evaluation data, dissemination plans, and future recommendations.
Dissemination of the project outcomes will be completed.
This course is the final course of a six semester sequence
required of all DNP students.
877 -
Capstone Project IV – Dissemination (3) This course culminates the DNP
capstone project. Students will present their current project status,
evaluation methodology, dissemination plans, and future recommendations.
Dissemination of the project outcomes will be completed. Methods to
address Healthy People 2010 objectives will be included in the
evaluation of this project. This course is the final course of a four
semester sequence required of all DNP students.
877 -
Capstone Project IV – Dissemination
(3) This course culminates the DNP capstone project. Students will
present their current project status, evaluation methodology,
dissemination plans, and future recommendations. Dissemination of the
project outcomes will be completed. Methods to address Healthy People
2010 objectives will be included in the evaluation of this project. This
course is the final course of a four semester sequence required of all
DNP students.
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