NURS 8410/8411 Advanced Assessment for Nurse Educators

Catalog Description: Focuses on the advanced assessment component of the nursing process to analyze health status of individuals throughout the lifespan. Focuses on health, risk factors affecting health and the role of health promotion strategies in the prevention of illness. This course will build on the nurse educator student’s undergraduate knowledge base of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology.

Course Objectives. Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Hone interviewing techniques, communication and interpersonal skills. Analysis of health status including the role of risk factors and health promotion strategies in the prevention of illness and disease.

2. Identify principles of history taking in the assessment process of individuals.

3. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the advanced practice nurse in the process of health assessment and health promotion.

4. Identify the key anatomical landmarks and features of the human body systems.

5. Develop advanced health assessment modifications for populations in a variety of settings throughout the lifespan, which advanced practice nurses can incorporate into the care of patients based on developmental, cultural, spiritual, psychosocial, and ethnical needs.

NURS 8050 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing

Course Description: Prescription administration and patient/family education in use of pharmacological agents emphasizing drugs prescribed for common or chronic illnesses; drug selection; adverse drug reactions; age-related differences in utilization; regulations affecting nurses’ prescriptive authority.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Know standards of practice for prescriptive authority as defined by legal guidelines and regulations.

2. Know state and DEA regulations for writing valid prescriptions.

3. Demonstrate understanding of basic pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.

4. Identify basic concepts of drug therapy selection and monitoring.

5. Identify appropriate drugs for selected acute and chronic illnesses across the age generations.

6. Calculate drug dosages based on age, body size, and physiological state.

7. Analyze patient profiles for drug interactions.

NURS 8090 Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing

Catalog Description: Study of human response to health alterations as they impact nursing knowledge and practice. Focus is on recognizing the manifestations of health alterations and developing nursing interventions accordingly.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will:

1. Analyze disease processes that alter health across the life span, including genetics.

2. Recognize manifestations of selected disease processes in major body systems across the life span.

3. Analyze compensatory mechanisms of the body response to illness or injury.

4. Apply current research findings to the analysis of health alterations across the life span.

NURS 8010 Advanced Family and Community Nursing

Course Description: Developmental, psychodynamic, social-political, and cultural theories and concepts are synthesized and applied to the analysis of health and illness in communities and in families across the life cycle. Roles and functions of advanced practice nurses in promoting community health and family health are examined.

B. Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Synthesize and apply selected theories and concepts to the understanding of health and illness in families.

2. Examine critically the relationship between family function, family dynamics, and health and illness throughout the lifespan.

3. Describe health behavior patterns and lifestyles that place families at risk for major health problems.

4. Collaborate with families and other health care providers in formulating case management strategies on behalf of families.

5. Evaluate appropriate research findings for application to the care of families across the lifespan.

6. Establish and maintain interdisciplinary and community linkages to enhance advanced nursing practice with families.

7. Analyze major health problems and their impact on individual family members and the family system.

8. Implement advanced nursing practice roles on behalf of families.

NURS 9050: Health Informatics

Course Description: Focus on the nature, acquisition and analysis of clinical data management of nursing information to support clinical and administrative decision-making, will be explored.  Emphasis is placed in becoming knowledgeable and competent with available resources to manage data relationship to patient care and patient outcomes.

Course Objectives:

1. Explore selected theories relevant to nursing informatics.

2. Apply computer technology to the management of individuals, groups, and/or organizations in the roles of healthcare practitioner, administrator, educator, and/or researcher.

3. Examine social, ethical, and legal issues related to health informatics, electronic health records, and healthcare delivery in the digital age.

4. Investigate data management and computer applications used in healthcare research, clinical practice, nursing, health administration, and/or nursing education.

5. Apply leadership strategies for selecting, planning, implementing, and evaluating  information systems for the provision of nursing services.

6. Develop quality improvement strategies through a) identification of a current problem or issue in the clinical practice setting relevant to nursing informatics; b) utilization of a workflow analysis; c) identification of gaps from current state to future state; and d) proposal of solutions (including implementation and evaluation), following the systems developmental life cycle.

7. Discuss current trends in computer technology and their impact on their design and evolution of information systems in healthcare.

NURS 9210:  DNP Role, Theory, and Philosophy

Course Description: This course examines the role of the DNP and the philosophical,  historical, and theoretical underpinnings of the discipline through analysis of nursing theories and concepts including integration of knowledge from biological and social sciences; role development; and translation of knowledge into the practice. 

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Integrate nursing science with knowledge from philosophical, ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, organizational, and genomic sciences as a basis for doctoral nursing practice.

2. Develop and evaluate effective strategies for managing ethical dilemmas in patient care, the health care organization, the health care system, and clinical research.

3. Utilize science-based theories and concepts to determine the nature and significance of health and health care delivery.

4. Articulate the history, current trends, scope and standards, and competencies, of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) role.

5. Critically analyze data for practice by integrating philosophical and theoretical knowledge within the context of nursing's philosophical framework and scientific foundation.

6. Evaluate changes in nursing practice based on a synthesis of philosophical and theoretical knowledge.

NURS 9020: DNP Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Course Description: This course is designed to build upon principles learned in introductory epidemiology and statistical courses in an applied clinical setting.  Analytical techniques used to analyze and interpret data for advanced nursing practice, emphasizing clinical applications of epidemiological and biostatistical concepts are covered.  Emphasis is on applications of these methods, with enough derivation to comprehend the procedures.  Principles and methods of data analysis center to understanding health-related indicators for population health management will be used.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills necessary to:

1. Apply epidemiological principles to the analysis of populations for clinical decision making in advanced nursing practice.

2. Apply biostatistical procedures to the analysis of populations for clinical decision making in advanced nursing practice.

3. Analyze data using SPSS for clinical decision making in advanced nursing practice.

4. Select appropriate analytical procedures for given clinical situations in advanced nursing practice.

5. Demonstrate an understanding of the derivation and basic theory of analytical procedures covered.

NURS 9270: DNP Healthcare Economics & Finance 

Course Description:  Analysis of healthcare economic trends, diverse factors which influence production and distribution of health services, reimbursement issues and funding sources. Application of key principles and methods of financial analysis, which include cost analysis, and budgeting and cost analysis. Theory and application are integrated and aimed at preparing for leadership in the DNP role.

Course Objectives:  Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Synthesize the roles and responsibility of the DNP related to healthcare economics and finance.

2. Evaluate the impact of healthcare economics and finance on DNP practice.

3. Discuss the decisions involved in health care finance and the impact on budgets and performance expectations.

4. Evaluate the methods for analysis, interpretation, and use of accounting information for planning and controlling the health care organization.

5. Analyze the effectiveness of decisions regarding operating activities based on the measurement, processing, and reporting of financial information.

6. Apply budgeting concepts and procedures, methods for setting standards, benchmarking, monitoring, and controlling for results across healthcare agencies.

7. Developing informational power and skills to present and explain a business practice plan/budget to a Board of Directors, a CEO, or other administrator.

NURS 9040: DNP Leadership in Healthcare Systems

Course Description: Examine transformational leadership in complex health care organizations. Emphasis is on complexity, leadership principles, context, culture, assessment of strengths and opportunities, strategic planning, and leading change.

Course Objectives: Upon course completion, the student will be prepared to:

1. Describe the legal and ethical principles and practices of effective leaders

2. Evaluate indicators of organizational effectiveness and efficiency

3. Analyze the distinctive challenges associated with managing and leading complex organizations through change

4. Demonstrate understanding of effective transformational leadership in selected health care environment

NURS 8070: Nursing Research Design and Methods

Course Description: Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies useful and appropriate to clinical nursing practice and for the development of nursing knowledge; ethics with human subjects; does not include thesis advisement. Course content emphasizes the development of a critical review and synthesis of literature related to a research question or clinical problem. Emphasis is on evidence-based nursing practice.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Critique components of the research process with respect to scientific inquiry and the development of nursing knowledge.

2. Apply research methodologies to clinical problems from naturalistic and rationalistic paradigms.

3. Evaluate research designs for testing hypotheses related to nursing practice. (AACN Essential 4)

4. Evaluate research designs with respect to threats to internal and external validity.

5. Compare sampling strategies and factors influencing sample size.

6. Utilize information technology to access, analyze and disseminate information related to clinical nursing research.

7. Evaluate the protection of human subjects in research.

NURS 8760 Environmental Influences Aggregate & Global Health Planning 

Course Description: An introduction to the practice of global health nursing; the political, economic, and cultural processes of globalization and their impact on population health and healthcare systems. Examine varying meanings of health as well as the range of factors that encourage the health of some and exclude it from others. Study the global health ethical framework based on human rights, cultural diversity, and social justice. Enhance understanding of the global dimensions of health and disease, various strategic health initiatives, and correlating healthcare interventions. Attention will be paid to a variety of topics, including HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, infectious diseases, health in reproduction, social determinants of health, and more.

Course Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

1. Define cultural competence.

2. Apply a cultural competence model to assessing and solving specific health-related case studies.

3. Compare and contrast healthcare issues in industrialized societies with healthcare issues indeveloping societies.

4. Identify central issues in contemporary global health.

5. Explain the specific social, economic, and political factors that shape health care in various parts ofthe world.

6. Detail the ways in which gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and other identities impacthealth and access to health care.

7. Evaluate healthcare policies, specifically in relation to cost, implementation, and outcomes.

NURS 8740 Theoretical Basis of Organizational Behavior and Change

Course Description: This course promotes the use of organizational sciences as a basis for health systems leadership. The student is required to apply these theories in developing organizational change scenarios to improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Students will develop multiple theory-based strategies for generating and sustaining changes that promote enhanced effectiveness, safety, accessibility, and satisfaction in health care organizations. These strategies must address organizational structure, dynamics, and processes of change in the context of culturally sensitive nursing practice.

Course Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 

1. Examine the nature and significance of health and health care delivery phenomena through the lens of organizational and change theories from nursing and other organizational, political, and economic sciences (I; 3E)

2. Analyze impediments to effective interprofessional practice and sensitivity to diverse organizational cultures and populations, including patients and providers. (I;3E)

3. Apply organizational and change theory to support critical analysis of health policy proposals and related issues from the perspective of consumers, nursing, other health professions, and other stakeholders in policy and public forums. (V.1; 4E)

NURS 9060: DNP Outcomes Management 

Course Description:  Examines the science of systems improvement, including models, methods, and tools of process improvement applied to healthcare.  Emphasis on designing outcomes and evidence-based safe and efficient processes and workflows to achieve customer satisfaction and targeted outcomes.

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Examine practice approaches to transform healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for diverse patient populations.

2. Examine leadership, management, and communication skills within the complex healthcare systems to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, ethical, and fiscally responsible quality care in order to improve patient outcomes.

3. Evaluates implementation of evidence-based quality improvement initiatives that address practice patterns, healthcare organizations, and variances in health outcomes in order to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care.

NURS 8260/8261 Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care

Course Description: Examines the science of systems improvement including the models, methods, and tools of process improvement applied to healthcare. Emphasis is on designing outcomes and evidence-based safe and efficient processes and workflows to achieve customer satisfaction and targeted outcomes. Practicum with quality experts permits guided application of classroom content.

Course Objectives: 

1. Identify the roles, knowledge, and competencies required to lead improvement in healthcare.

2. Evaluate the sources and levels of evidence regarding deficiencies in the current system.

3. Analyze theories and potential contributions of other disciplines to the science of improvement.

4. Identify the attributes of quality and the barriers to change from the perspectives of stakeholders.

5. Explore the influences of accreditation, certification, payers, and the medical-legal system.

6. Identify and apply the models and tools of process improvement appropriate to complex systems.

NURS 9090: DNP Project I

Course Description:  A practice immersion experience that enables synthesis literature and knowledge from nursing and other sciences. In this course the DNP student will complete the first phase of the Practice Integration Project: literature search, synthesis of literature, and development of the Practice Integration Project Plan

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Synthesize the role of the DNP in scholarship and quality improvement.

2. Design an evidence-based integrative project aimed at solving a practice problem, improving health, or educational or performance outcomes.

3. Develop a plan for the Practice Integration Project (start to completion).

NURS 9030: DNP Evidence Integration

Course Description:  Focuses on the process of literature synthesis with the goal of analyzing, integrating and applying the evidence. Students will formulate practice recommendations to critically appraise existing guidelines and other forms of evidence. Principles of scientific inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research methods and research ethics will be explored.

Course Objectives:  Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the importance of reliable and current information and resources in evidence based advanced practice.

2. Formulate an answerable clinical or practice question.

3. Utilize evidence-based research methods to execute extensive literature searches in answer to the clinical or practice question.

4. Use analytical methods to critically appraise and rate the existing literature and other evidence to determine and implement the best evidence for practice.

5. Systematically summarize and synthesize findings.

6. Formulate recommendations to answer the clinical or practice question, linked to evidence rating.

NURS 9080: DNP Genomics, Ethics, & Health Policy

Course Description:   This course prepares advanced practice nurses to plan, implement, and evaluation genomics-informed healthc care.  Students develop a contemporary understanding of genomic influences on health and disease and apply genomic-influenced approaches to health assessment, care management, and patient education.  Ethical and policy implications of precision healthcare based on genomic information are examined. 

Course Objectives:   Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to: 

1. Understand the foundational principles of genomics and its influence on health and healthcare, including research, clinical practice, and patient education.

2. Analyze family history/pedigree information and diagnostic test results to identify clients and family members who may benefit from genetics/genomics referral.

3. Apply knowledge about interactions of genetic and environmental factors to the care of clients. 

4. Analyze healthcare and research policies related to ethical, legal and social implications of genetics/genomics to their clients and clients’ family members. 

5. Apply ethical principles to the management of genetic/genomic information about clients and their family members.

6. Apply genetic/genomic information in nursng practice, education and/or administration. 

NURS 9100: DNP Project II Individual Faculty Assignment

Course Description: A practice immersion experience that enables student to obtain Institutional Review Board approval and allows implementation and data collection for the Practice Integration Project. In this course the DNP student will complete the second phase of the Practice Integration Project: Institutional Review Board approval, implementation, and data collection.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Synthesize the role of the DNP role in implementing an evidence-based integrative project aimed at solving a practice problem, improving health, or educational or performance outcomes.

2. Implement the Practice Integration Project using information technology.

3. Collect data for analysis.

NURS 9730/9731 HSL - Assessment and Collaboration with Communities and Systems

Course Description: This course challenges the student to integrate techniques of community assessment and principles of collaboration to develop strategic operational or evaluation plans based on objective comprehensive assessments. Concepts related to a broad spectrum of communities are included with respect to health systems. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation and included with respect to health systems. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation and use of data, working collaboratively within health systems, and examining outcomes patient, staff and/or system.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Analyze health assessment methods, data sources, instruments, and reports for credibility and utility. (Domain #:8; NEC #5)

2. Examine population assessment strategies that are used for health systems planning and operations evaluation. (Domain #:3; NEC #3)

3. Explore the role alignment of incentives in assessment of health systems. (Domain #:3; NEC #5)

4. Plan program assessment to evaluate health system outcomes. (Domain #:7; NEC #2)

5. Critically analyze the role of collaboration and motivational concepts in collaboration for health systems innovations. (Domain #:6; NEC #2)

6. Assess health systems in terms of access, quality, cost, outcomes, goals with sensitivity to culturally diverse populations. (Domain #:3; NEC #5)

7. Analyze the theoretical basis for models for organizing and conducting community assessments. (Domain #:1; NEC #2)

NURS 9110: DNP Project III Individual Faculty Assignment

Course Description: A practice immersion experience that enables student to evaluate collected data to identify the impact on healthcare outcomes from the Practice Integration Project. In this course the DNP student will complete the final phase of the Practice Integration Project: evaluation and dissemination of findings.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Synthesize the role of the DNP role in evaluating and disseminating an evidence-based integrative project aimed at solving a practice problem, improving health, or educational or performance outcomes.

2. Analyze data findings.

3. Identify impact of PIP on outcomes based on evaluation of collected data.

4. Disseminate findings in manuscript publication and presentation at a national or international conference.

NURS 8460 Health Care Financial Management

Course Description: Analysis of healthcare economic trends, diverse factors which influence production and distribution of health services, reimbursement issues and funding sources. Application of key principles and methods of financial analysis, which include cost analysis, and budgeting and cost analysis in complex health systems. Theory and application are integrated and aimed at preparing for DNP leadership role.

Course Objectives: Upon Successful Completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the decision involved in health care finance and the impact on budgets and performance expectations

2. Evaluate the state of financial reporting requirements and practices when accounting systems serve as financial information for economic decision making.

3. Analyze the impact of legal/court actions on the financial and managerial aspects of healthcare leaders.

4. Evaluate the methods for analysis, interpretation, and use of accounting information for planning and controlling the health care organization.

5. Analyze the effectiveness of decisions regarding operating activities based on the measurement, processing, and reporting of financial information.

6. Apply budgeting concepts and procedures, methods for setting standards, benchmarking, monitoring, and controlling for results across healthcare agencies.

NURS 9740 Health Systems Leadership Field Experience I

Course Description: Guided practice to apply advanced nursing knowledge in health systems leadership and advanced practice roles. Joint mentor and faculty guidance and supervision in the topics of health systems leadership, specifically in strengthening leadership, business, and operations skills appropriate to the setting. Competencies of quality improvement, assessing organizational culture and patient-centered care, and application of rapid cycle change will be the focus.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1.Evaluate components of organizational system leadership/management, standards/accountability, planning/decision making, communication, development of people, relationships and business processes. (I.3,II.2, III.1, III.5; 2G)

2.Apply analytic methodologies related to assessing personal leadership fitness and identifying resources available for practice work environment assessment. (II.2; 3B)

3.Contrast the role of people, processes, and technology in technology implementation management; diffusion of innovation, healthcare improvement and cultural transformation. (III.2, IV.2; 5E)

4.Evaluate communication and leadership competencies associated with health care outcomes and patient safety.(Viii.4; 2G)

5.Integrate principles of cultural competence and its relationship to healthcare outcomes through a collaborative interprofessional guideline review. (III.5, VI.1; 1D)

6.Apply principles of organizational culture, rapid cycle innovation within an interprofessional team related to achange in clinical operations (II, 2I)

7.Critique a program level policy which accelerates or deters mission critical performance. (V, 2E)

8.Develop a plan for policy adoption to improve performance improvement of health system outcomes (IV.3, II.2;2I)

9.Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse organizational cultures as it relates to operational change. (II, 1D)