Curriculum

This course addresses selected family, primary care, and community theories within the context of advanced practice nursing and clinical leadership roles.  Emphasis is placed on family and community assessment strategies, the impact of culture upon the family and community systems, and the impact of various primary care-oriented health problems on family roles and functions.

This course provides FNP students with a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of disease processes most commonly seen afflicting patients across the lifespan. Clinical pathology content addresses alterations in major body systems that are commonly found in primary care settings, as well as common testing used in the diagnostic process.

This course explores the effect of the interrelationship between policy, advocacy, and ethics on clinical practice and health care leadership. The advanced practice nurse's role in health care policy and planning is examined. An overview of issues in health care policy and planning, including the socio-political and economic context of health and health-seeking behaviors will be provided. Health care policy and planning at the local, state, and federal levels will be considered. Issues in clinical practice will be examined for how legislation and regulations impact care. The course examines the structure and function of legislative and regulatory organizations, governance, public relations, and global health care issues. Broader social issues common to the care of underserved and vulnerable populations will be examined. Ethical dimensions of public policy formulations and implementation will be highlighted.

This course is the first of two pharmacology courses designed to provide FNP students with an understanding of the mechanisms by which drugs alter the function of living cells to relieve symptoms and physiologic manifestations of disease.  The course begins with an introduction to general principles of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and then concentrates expressly on the pharmacotherapeutics germane to specific body systems. Students are taught the general properties of drug categories used to treat diseases of specific body systems and apply these pharmacologic concepts to clinical situations.  Emphasis is placed on the development of problem solving and decision-making skills and patient education as they relate to the clinical use of pharmacotherapeutics and the role of the FNP in prescriptive responsibilities.

This course introduces the student to the research-practice connection. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative research and basic statistics found in health care and related literature. Students build their research and statistical literacy to support a practice based on credible evidence from current research literature.

This course introduces the fundamentals of patient safety and quality improvement (QI) in a variety of healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on the development, implementation, and evaluation/measurement of evidence-based healthcare QI practices. Management of complex system change within the healthcare environment is reviewed as part of the QI process. Examining key issues related to patient safety is an important concept throughout this course. Information Systems (IS) is also addressed throughout this course to examine the best application to the QI process along with daily practice needs. Students examine key processes involved in optimal patient safety, outcomes, and the overall delivery of health care services.

This course is the second of two courses designed to provide FNP students with an understanding of the mechanisms by which drugs alter the function of living cells to relieve symptoms and physiologic manifestations of disease.  The course concentrates on the pharmacotherapeutics germane to specific body systems.  Students are taught the general properties of drug categories used to treat diseases of these body systems and apply these pharmacologic concepts to clinical situations.  Emphasis is placed on the development of problem solving and decision-making skills, and patient education as they relate to the clinical use of pharmacotherapeutics and the role of the FNP in prescriptive responsibilities.
Prerequisite: TAKE NU-556

This course investigates the study of knowledge shared among members of the nursing discipline, the patterns of knowing and knowledge development, criteria for evaluating knowledge claims, and the philosophy of science. The nature of theory, theory development in nursing, and significant conceptualizations of nursing are discussed. Through guided search and discussion, doctoral students will become knowledgeable about the utilization of theory to guide practice.

This course prepares the student to assess in depth the biopsychosocial health status of clients across the life span by obtaining and documenting a complete and accurate health history and performing a thorough physical examination.  Using acquired data from the history and physical exam, the student is introduced to formulating a working medical diagnosis and plan of care. Course content is designed to provide correlation of assessment strategies with an understanding of the mechanisms of illness and health problems of the main body systems. Integration of common medical testing is introduced. The course assists in the socialization of the student into the role of the FNP in the current health care delivery system. The laboratory component enables the student to develop advanced assessment skills.

In this course students expand their focus from individual client care to consideration of populations, community, and economic challenges within the changing environment of healthcare. Students learn methods of interpretation of epidemiological literature to support evidence based practice change, program development or policy/regulatory initiatives. Students learn descriptive and analytic epidemiological methods, to measure disease burden, to apply epidemiological principles to disease causation, to organize epidemiological information, and to measure disease frequencies.
Prerequisite: TAKE NU-604

This course focuses on chronic disease management models within a quality of life framework.  Students will use evidence-based practice guidelines to support clinical management plans with the goal of symptom control and optimizing health outcomes. The role of the advanced practice nurse on the interdisciplinary palliative care team will be explored to gain an understanding of nursing leadership responsibilities as relates to policy, research and practice to improve patient and system outcomes. Ethical principles will guide clinical decision making when complex problems create a dilemma in the delivery of care to chronically ill and aging populations. This course is a leadership elective 3-credit course for the PM/DNP Hybrid Program student.

The first of 3 clinical courses designed to enable graduate students to learn problem-solving skills and clinical strategies necessary to socialize into the role of the family nurse practitioner. Course content introduces the student to a systematic approach to understanding the delivery of primary health care to the well adult. Various principles of illness prevention and health maintenance are introduced, as well as methodologies used to diagnose and treat common primary care problems. Emphasis is on the consultation role component of the nurse practitioner as well as on the direct provision of primary care and health promotion. In addition to classes, students participate in a required primary care clinical experience.

This course is designed to teach evidence based practice skills that will enable students to conduct extensive evaluations of existing literature to improve patient care.
Prerequisite: Take NU-604

The first of four project seminars, the student uses knowledge and skills related to topic development. This seminar prepares the student to identify a project topic.
Prerequisite: Take NU-745

This course addresses organizational and systems leadership skills for advanced leadership in practice to improve clinical health care systems and promote excellence in care. Focus is on transformational leadership, strategic visioning and planning, collaboration with the health care team to make data driven decisions at both the micro and macro systems level. Understanding how healthcare is financed and the implications for health care organizations are applied. This course is a leadership elective 3-credit course for the PM/DNP Hybrid Program student.

The second of four project seminars. Under the guidance of faculty, lead, and mentor, the student uses knowledge and skill in the implementation and evaluation of the project. Thestudent completes the project evidence review, recommendations and proposal development.
Prerequisite: Take NU-821

This course is the third of 4 project seminars. Under the guidance of the course faculty, DNP project lead, and practice mentor, the student synthesizes, integrates, and translates newly acquired knowledge and skills in the implementation and evaluation of the selected project. In this seminar, the student completes the DNP proposal presentation.
Prerequisite: Take NU-822

The second of three clinical courses designed to enable graduate Family Nurse Practitioner students to learn problem-solving skills and clinical strategies necessary to diagnose and treat common and complex primary care problems found in adult families and their members. Emphasis is on the leadership role component of the nurse practitioner as well as on the direct provision of primary care. In addition to classes, students participate in clinical experiences.
Prerequisite: Take NU-562

This course is a role transition seminar and colloquium that assists the student in preparing for expanded roles and self-reflection. The student synthesizes, integrates, and translates knowledge, skills, and attitudes that have been acquired throughout the program. Practice immersion experiences are designed by students based on AACN Essentials competency self-assessment and scholarly interests.

This course is a clinical practice immersion experience and is individually designed based on the Family Nurse Practitioner student's clinical interests. Specialty clinical experiences and procedure workshops will be used to provide opportunities for increasing clinical skills and competency. Students prepare for a Family Nurse Practitioner national board certification examination using review techniques and online predictor examinations.
Prerequisite: Take NU-823

This is the final primary care clinical course designed to enable graduate students to learn the diagnostic and management skills necessary to complete socialization into the role of family nurse practitioner.  Class content will introduce students to methodologies used to diagnose and treat common primary care problems found in special populations, emerging families and their members. Implementation and synthesis of the role will be addressed through a focus on types of practice settings, reimbursement mechanisms, marketing strategies, employment opportunities, and collaborative relationships.  Future trends in advanced nursing practice will be explored.  The application of advanced nursing practice theory into supervised clinical practice experiences will be included and emphasized.
Prerequisite: Take NU-622

This course is a role transition seminar and colloquium that will assist the student in preparing for expanded roles and self-reflection. The student synthesizes, integrates, and translates knowledge, skills, and attitudes that have been acquired throughout the program. Practice immersion experiences will be designed by students based on AACN Essentials competency self-assessment and scholarly interests. Scholarly writing, grant proposals, and career development strategies will be discussed.
Prerequisite: Take NU-810

This course is the last of the four project seminars. Under the guidance of faculty, lead, and mentor, the student uses knowledge and skills in the implementation and evaluation of the selected project. The studnt completes the final project presentation.
Prerequisite: Take NU-823

This course is a clinical practice immersion experience and is individually designed based on the Family Nurse Practitioner student's clinical interests. Specialty clinical experiences and procedure workshops will be used to provide opportunities for increasing clinical skills and competency. Students prepare for a FNP national board certification examination using review techniques and online predictor examinations in preparation for licensure and employment.
Prerequisite: Take NU-831