Master of Science in Nursing
| Core | Clinical | ACNP | CNS | FNP | FPMHNP | NED | NML |
NURS 601 Roles for Advanced Nursing Practice (1)
This course is designed to give an overview of the history, scope, and role development of the Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, 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.
NURS 602 Evidenced 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. (N603 prerequisite/co-requisite)
NURS 603 Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
This course will prepare participants to synthesize, integrate, and apply nursing theories and theories of related sciences for the promotion of intercultural awareness and interprofessional collaboration in advanced nursing practice to improve health outcomes.
NURS 604 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.
NURS 605 Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
This course focuses on developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable the learner to utilize information gained from technology to improve healthcare outcomes. Content includes the use of technology for delivering and enhancing patient care; the use of communication technologies to integrate and coordinate care; the use of data management to analyze and improve outcomes; the integration of health information management for evidence-based care and health education; and the facilitation of electronic health records to improve patient care, mitigate error, and support decision making.
NURS 606 Nursing Leadership in Health Systems (4)
This course examines leadership skills needed to assess 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.
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Required Clinical Specialty Courses
NURS 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
NURS 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. Sp
NURS 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
NURS 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
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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 603, NURS 604, NURS 606, 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
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NURS 645 Advanced Nursing Health Assessment and Intervention I
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. Prereq: NURS 613, 604, 606, 617, 618, and 622.
NURS646 Advanced Assessment and Intervention II
Course Description: 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. Prereq: NURS 645
NURS647 Advanced Assessment and Intervention III
Course Description: 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 students provided expert, holistic care to individuals and families while managing nursing and health care systems influences within a specific patient population. Prereq: NURS 646
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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 604, NURS 617, NURS 618, and NURS 622. F
655 Primary Care Nursing of Families II (6)
This course continues to expand the clinical management of children, adults, and elders within a family framework. Includes theoretical concepts related to the management of families with acute or chronic healthcare crises. 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 654. Sp
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
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NURS 661 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. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: NURS 617, NURS 618, NURS 622,
NURS 662 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 Co-requisite: NURS 661
NURS 663 Psychiatric Mental Health Care of Families II (6)
The focus of this course is on expansion of the management of psychiatric/mental health status of individuals across the life span within the context of a family-based theoretical model. Further role development is emphasized, including interdependent and independent practice. Theoretical concepts are related to management of individuals and families with acute and chronic mental health problems. Expanded 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: NURS 662.
NURS 664 Psychiatric Mental Health Care Practicum (6)
This course involves an intensive clinical experience in the family psychiatric & mental health nurse practitioner (FMHNP) role. Preceptors will guide and direct the FMHNP students as they achieve greater independence and develop expertise in caring for families and individuals across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 663.
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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 healthcare 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
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NURS 624 Economic Policies in Nursing and Healthcare (3)
This course applies economic theories and analytic techniques to resource allocation in nursing and healthcare is discussed. Skill development to analyze healthcare 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
NURS 625 Marketing and Competitive Strategies in Nursing and Healthcare (3)
This course explores concepts of marketing and competitive strategies are applied to nursing and healthcare organizations. Emphasis is placed on methodologies for developing nursing and organizational strategic marketing plans. Su
NURS 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
NURS 631 Individual and Group Behavior in Nursing and Healthcare Organizations (3)
This course presents organizational behavior theories and effective management strategies to lead individuals and groups in healthcare organizations. Traditional and contemporary issues including power, conflict resolution, organizational development, decision-making, and group dynamics will be discussed. F
632 Administration of Nursing and Healthcare Organizations (3)
This course examines and applies administrative theories to complex human relationships existing in nursing and healthcare. The course focuses on the nature and make up of organizations, structuring and coordinating work, and the influence of complex systems, community behavior, and internal leadership on the direction and decision-making capacity of healthcare organizations. F
633 Human Resources Management in Nursing and Healthcare (3)
This course explores concepts in human resources management as applied to nursing and healthcare organizations will be presented. Specific labor management issues related to nursing and healthcare organizations also will be incorporated. Sp
634 Financial Management in Nursing and Healthcare Organizations (3)
This course applies principles of financial management and reimbursement to nursing and healthcare organizations. Strategic financial planning, financial statement analysis, budgeting, and financial decision-making strategies are presented. Prereq: completion of NURS 624 preferred. F
This course synthesizes the nurse leader/manager role in the organization through the completion of a major project. Each student will assume the lead role in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an administrative/management project. Prereq: NURS 634. Sp
