Curriculum
Full-Time Plan of Study | Part-Time Plan of Study
Full-Time Plan of Study (3 Years)
Year 1 | 12 credits
Fall
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.
Spring
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.
Summer
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.
Year 2 | 15 credits
Fall
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
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 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
Spring
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
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
Summer
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.
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
Year 3 | 7 credits
Fall
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.
Spring
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
Part-Time Plan of Study (4 Years)
Year 1 | 9 credits
Fall
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.
Spring
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.
Summer
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.
Year 2 | 9 credits
Fall
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
Spring
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.
Summer
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.
Year 3 | 6 credits
Fall
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
Spring
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
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
Summer
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
Year 4 | 10 credits
Fall
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.
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.
Spring
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