Course Descriptions
Master of Science Courses
Doctoral Courses
NG510 Concepts in Professional Nursing
This course introduces students to the basic concepts that are the foundation of professional nursing practice. Course content includes role and practice issues in professional nursing and health care: the health care continuum; the bio-psychosocial model of health; health prevention and promotion; legal, regulatory and ethical issues; critical thinking and evidence-based practice; practice guidelines and informatics; principles of teaching/learning; theories of the nurse-patient relationship and the role of the professional nurse.
NG511 Biomedical Sciences I
Biomedical Sciences I is the first of two courses providing a review of human biochemistry, pathophysiology and pharmacology. This course focuses on the changes that occur in the human body when normal structure and/or function are altered.
NG512 Biomedical Sciences II
Biomedical Sciences II is the second of two courses providing a review of human biochemistry, pathophysiology, pharmacology and nutrition essential for nursing practice. This course focuses on the changes that occur in the human body when normal structure and/or function are altered by common conditions arising from the natural aging process, disease, injury and disability, and when pharmacological and nutritional interventions are implemented.
NG513 Health Assessment and Skills I
This laboratory course is the first of two that focus on the technical clinical and health assessment skills necessary to deliver safe, competent professional nursing care to adults. Course content includes vital signs, comfort measures, infection control, safety measures, universal precautions, taking a health history, documentation, medication administration and assessment of selected body systems.
NG514 Health Assessment and Skills II
This laboratory course is the second of two courses that focus on the technical clinical and health assessment skills necessary to deliver safe, competent professional nursing care to adults with acute and/or chronic conditions, children, and child-bearing women and their families. Course content includes assessment of the reproductive and gastrointestinal systems, assessment of newborns, and assessment and technical skills related to orthopedic, endocrine and cardiac conditions.
NG516A Nursing I: Care of Persons with Acute and Chronic Conditions
This is the classroom component of NG516. As the first of five clinical nursing courses, this course introduces students to the values, knowledge and competencies that are the foundation of safe, skilled, professional and holistic nursing care for adults of different ages with common medical and surgical needs. The classroom component focuses on the expected outcomes and effects of nursing interventions with adults experiencing specific selected health conditions, and the loss associated with compromised health.
NG516B Nursing I: Clinical Care of Persons with Acute and Chronic Conditions
This is the clinical component of NG516. Students will use critical thinking and effective communication skills to deliver safe, competent, professional and holistic nursing care to adults of different ages with common medical and surgical needs. Working with clinical faculty and other nursing colleagues, students will assess client needs and develop, implement and evaluate a plan of nursing care to meet expected client-centered outcomes and address the loss associated with compromised health.
NG517A Nursing II: Care of Persons with Acute and Chronic Conditions
This is the classroom component of NG517. As the second of five clinical courses, this course continues the introduction from NG516A of core concepts of acute and chronic conditions. Emphasis is placed on providing nursing care to individuals and families experiencing selected psychiatric, neurologic, oncologic, endocrine, sensory and orthopedic conditions. The impact of acute and chronic illness on adult developmental stages and transitions will be examined.
NG517B Nursing II: Clinical Care of Persons with Acute and Chronic Conditions
This course is the clinical component of NG517 and continues the focus of NG516B on the provision of holistic nursing care to individuals and families in hospital- and community-based settings who are experiencing selected psychiatric, neurologic, oncologic, endocrine, sensory and orthopedic conditions.
NG518A Nursing III: Care of the Child-bearing and Child-rearing Family
As the third of five clinical nursing courses, this is the classroom component of NG518. The course presents the values, knowledge and competencies that are the foundation of safe, skilled, professional and holistic nursing care of families experiencing normative child-bearing and child-rearing, and for children who require acute and chronic care. Emphasis is on all stages of pregnancy, experience of hospitalization and adaptation to chronic conditions for children, as well as men’s reproductive health. Life transitions related to child-bearing and child-rearing experiences will be analyzed.
NG518B Nursing III: Clinical Care of the Child-bearing and Child-rearing Family
This course is the clinical component of NG518A. In this third of five nursing courses, students will use critical thinking to make evidence-based clinical judgments for and develop effective communication skills with families experiencing normative child-bearing and child-rearing and with children who require acute and chronic care. Working with persons of diverse backgrounds, nursing colleagues and other members of the interdisciplinary team, students will prioritize and provide nursing care in hospital and community-based settings.
NG519A Nursing IV: Clinical Capstone: Leadership and Management
This course focuses on the professional role of the nurse as a collaborator and leader with nursing colleagues and other members of the interprofessional health care team, and in the context of complex health care systems. Topics include issues such as leadership, governance, delegation, risk management, case management, and policy issues related to the nursing role and economics of health care.The course has didactic and clinical/applied components that are tailored to the student’s individual learning objectives.
NG519B Nursing IV: Clinical Capstone: Clinical Internship
This course focuses on the professional role of the nurse as a provider of care as part of the interprofessional health care team. Working one-on-one with a nurse preceptor approved by GSN nursing faculty, and with guidance from GSN nursing faculty, students integrate the values, knowledge and competencies of professional nursing into their practice as a manager and provider of safe, competent nursing care, and as a nursing colleague and member of an interprofessional health care team. The course has didactic and clinical/applied components that are tailored to the student’s individual learning objectives.
NG520A Community Health Nursing: Promoting the Health of Populations
This is the classroom component of NG520. The fifth of five Graduate Entry Pathway nursing courses, it focuses on the theoretical foundations for assessing and analyzing factors influencing the health of aggregates and populations. Emphasis will be placed on vulnerable populations living locally, nationally and globally. Epidemiologic, demographic, biostatistical, legislative, economic, environmental and international health factors will be explored to identify community-oriented strategies aimed at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention.
NG520B Community Health Clinical Practice
This is the clinical component of NG520. Community health care nursing is designed to offer students the opportunity to apply the nursing process in planning and providing care to aggregates and populations so they may achieve optimum levels of functioning. The completion of a community assessment and development of community-oriented health promotion/disease prevention strategies targeting primary, secondary and/or tertiary levels of prevention is required.
NG521 Transition to Professional Practice I
This course facilitates students’ transition to professional practice and graduate studies. Students will complete preparation for NCLEX. Using assigned readings, personal journals, guest speakers, and seminar discussions led by faculty and clinical leaders, students will develop a philosophy and conceptual framework for their own practice, and reflect on the roles of professional and advanced practice nurses.
NG522 Transition to Professional Practice II
This course is a continuation of NG521 and is designed to co-occur with students’ entry into their first practice role following licensure as a registered nurse. Using assigned readings, personal journals, guest speakers and seminar discussions led by faculty and clinical leaders, students will evaluate their professional growth as clinicians, and discuss issues related to professional and advanced practice nursing that arise in their practice and in the classroom.
N/NG601 Theory and Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I
This course focuses on the use of quantitative research methods and includes discussion of research design, methods of data collection, several analytical procedures and research critiques. The integration of research and theory and the development of nursing science and practice will be examined.
N/NG602 Theory and Research for Advanced Practice Nursing II
This course is designed to examine qualitative research and explore relationships of theory to scientific inquiry and knowledge development. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relationship of theory and research in the development of nursing knowledge to support evidence-based practice.
N/NG603A Societal Forces for Advanced Practice Nursing
This course explores the dynamic issues and societal forces that require leadership for comprehensive assessment, program planning and evaluation in health care and advanced practice nursing. Among these issues are licensure, credentialing, legislative and regulatory processes, ethics, economics, politics, health policy, technological advancement and socio-cultural factors influencing advanced practice nursing and health outcomes.
N/NG603B Community Service Learning Practicum
Through a service-learning community-based practicum, the student will conduct a comprehensive assessment, program planning and evaluation with medically underserved or high-risk communities to promote the federal Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives.
ADVANCED PRACTICE CORE COURSES
N/NG613 Advanced Pathophysiology
The focus of this course is on the interrelation of human systems and the effect that illness in one body system has on the functions of the whole person. Concepts related to clinical physiology and research literature related to pathophysiology of various body systems are examined. Pertinent literature related to nursing interventions associated with improved physiological status is analyzed.
N/NG614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
This course is designed to meet the needs of the advanced practice nurse prescriber in the primary and acute care setting, building upon previous and/or concurrent acquired knowledge from nursing, pathophysiology and other sciences. The development of clinical decision-making skills essential to safe and effective pharmacologic intervention is the focal point of the course.
N/NG615A Advanced Health Assessment
This course further develops and integrates the health assessment competencies of interviewing, performing and documenting comprehensive and episodic health histories and physical examinations. Students will identify common symptoms, identify risk factors, incorporate appropriate health promotion and disease prevention strategies, formulate differential diagnoses and begin treatment plans for common acute and chronic illnesses. Critical thinking and clinical decision making is presented within the context of case studies and the comprehensive analysis of patient data and plan formulation. This is the theoretical didactic portion of advanced health assessment and forms a foundation of advanced clinical practice.
N/NG615B Advanced Health Assessment Practicum
This practicum assesses the student’s integration of techniques in physical examination through lab practice, performance exams and utilization of standardized patients. The integration of all didactic and performance components including clinical decision making skills are demonstrated through successful role playing, case study analysis and an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).
N/NG620 Advanced Nursing Science: Teaching and Curriculum Development for Nurse Educators
This course presents theoretical and evidence-based teaching theories, technologies and skills. Emphasis is placed on contemporary approaches to educating nurses in various settings with different learners. Nurse educator roles, theories of learning, curriculum development and research in nursing education are included.
N/NG621A Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Care Theory for Nurse Educators
The focus of this course is on the development of knowledge essential to support advanced clinical appraisal, clinical decision making, diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions for selected patient populations.
N/NG621B Advanced Nursing Science: Clinical Practice for Nurse Educators
This practicum experience is guided by a master’s-prepared clinical nurse specialist or nurse educator preceptor. The student is offered opportunities to practice and refine clinical appraisal, diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions for selected patient care problems and begin to develop competency in providing education and leadership in a health care organization. Selected processes designed to promote positive patient outcomes and system improvement are addressed.
N/NG622 Advanced Nursing Science: Advanced Instructional Methods for Nurse Educators
This course provides the student with the opportunity to synthesize and apply diverse classroom and clinical teaching strategies. Emphasis is placed on contemporary student-centered instructional methods including collaborative learning, distance education and other evidence-based approaches.
N/NG623 Advanced Nursing Science: Identifying and Measuring Outcomes for Nurse Educators
The emphasis in this course is on identifying, measuring and achieving outcomes. Content builds upon Year One student and patient outcome evaluation content. Program outcome evaluation, test development and clinical evaluation strategies are included. Processes designed to promote performance improvement in health care and to enhance the graduate’s ability to function effectively in a health care organization are discussed.
N/NG624 Advanced Nursing Science: Systems Leadership for Nurse Educators
This course examines organizational processes and structures designed to promote positive patient and educational outcomes. Grounded in theory and research, this course gives the student the opportunity to acquire knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to serve in a leadership role in an educational institution or a health care organization.
N/NG625B Advanced Nursing Science: Teaching Practicum for Nurse Educators
This practicum offers the student the opportunity to enact the role of the academic nurse educator and begin to synthesize leadership concepts into the academic environment. The prerequisite courses provide a theoretical foundation for the application and synthesis activities that characterize clinical learning and leadership in a practice profession. Philosophical and experiential issues specific to clinical and classroom instruction and leadership in nursing education are emphasized in seminar discussions.
N/NG630A Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the adult primary care nurse practitioner. The focus of this course is on the development and refinement of the critical thinking skills necessary to achieve the APN direct care and core competencies of the advanced practice nurse. Grounded in theory and evidence-based research, the course enhances the student’s knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention and management strategies needed to care for the patient and family experiencing acute, episodic and selected chronic health problems in ambulatory and community settings.
N/NG630B Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of the adult primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the development and refinement of the clinical appraisal and diagnostic skills needed by the advanced practice nurse in ambulatory and community settings. The course enhances the student’s ability to apply theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research to the care of patients with acute and chronic episodic health problems. The student implements the role activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional role interaction.
N/NG631A Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the adult primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the refinement and synthesis of critical thinking skills used by the advanced practice nurse to provide advanced practice nursing direct care and core competencies. Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice, the course enhances the student’s knowledge and ability to analyze and manage the comprehensive care of the patient and family in ambulatory community settings, and the professional and environmental issues influencing the health and care of the patient and the role of the advanced practice nurse.
N/NG631B Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of the adult primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the development and refinement of the clinical appraisal and diagnostic skills needed by the advanced practice nurse to provide best practices in ambulatory and community settings. Clinical activities assist students to translate and integrate theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research into the assessment and management of acute and chronic health problems for patients and families in ambulatory and community settings. The student implements activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional role interaction.
N/NG640A Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Theory I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the adult acute care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the development and refinement of the critical thinking skills necessary for the direct care and core competencies of the advanced practice nurse. Grounded in theory and evidence-based research, the course enhances the student’s knowledge of health promotion and disease management strategies needed to manage the acute and critical health problems of the patient and family in health care delivery systems including hospitals and sub-acute facilities.
N/NG640B Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of acute care nurse practitioners. The focus is on development and refinement of the clinical appraisal and diagnostic skills needed by the advanced practice nurse. The course enhances the student’s ability to apply theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research to the care of the patient with acute and critical health problems and their family. The student implements the role activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking and therapeutic intervention including advanced practice nursing procedures, communication and professional interaction.
N/NG641A Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the adult acute/critical care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the refinement and synthesis of the critical thinking skills used by the advanced practice nurse to articulate the direct care and core competencies in management of acute and chronic health problems of the patient and family. Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice, this course enhances the student’s knowledge to analyze the issues influencing the care of the patient and the role of the advanced practice nurse in health care delivery systems including hospitals and sub-acute facilities.
N/NG641B Advanced Nursing Science: Adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of the adult acute care nurse practitioner. The focus is on refinement and synthesis of the clinical appraisal and critical thinking skills needed by the advanced practice nurse in health care delivery systems. The student integrates theories and evidence-based research into the assessment and management of acute and chronic health problems. This course facilitates the student’s knowledge of the management of acute care health issues. The student synthesizes critical thinking, therapeutic intervention including advanced practice nursing procedures, communication, and professional interaction into his/her role as an advanced practice nurse.
N/NG650A Advanced Nursing Science: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Theory I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science courses. The focus is on the development and refinement of the critical thinking skills necessary for the direct care and core competencies of the advanced practice nurse. Grounded in theory and evidence-based research, the course enhances the student’s knowledge of health promotion and disease management strategies needed to manage the chronic and acute health problems of the patient in health care delivery systems in hospital, sub-acute, long-term care, assisted living, clinic and home care settings.
N/NG650B Advanced Nursing Science: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science courses. The focus is on the development and refinement of the clinical appraisal and critical thinking skills needed by the advanced practice nurse in geriatric settings. The course enhances the student’s ability to apply theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research to the care of the patient with chronic and acute problems. The student integrates theactivities of critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication, and professional interaction into his/her role as an advanced practice nurse in hospital, sub-acute, long-term care, assisted living, clinic and home care settings.
N/NG650C
See Electives
N/NG651A Advanced Nursing Science: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Theory II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the gerontological nurse practitioner. The focus is on the refinement and synthesis of the critical thinking skills used by the advanced practice nurse to articulate the direct care and core competencies in management of acute and chronic health problems of the patient. Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice, the course enhances the student’s knowledge to analyze the issues influencing the care of the patient and the role of the advanced practice nurse in health care delivery systems including hospital, sub-acute, long-term care, assisted living, clinic and home care settings.
N/NG651B Advanced Nursing Science: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of the gerontological nurse practitioner. The focus is on the refinement and synthesis of the clinical appraisal and critical thinking skills needed by the advanced practice nurse in geriatric settings. The student integrates theories and evidence-based research into the assessment and management of older patients’ health problems. The student synthesizes critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional interaction into his/her role as an advanced practice nurse in hospital, sub-acute, long-term care, assisted living, clinic and home care settings.
N/NG651C
See Electives
NG660A Advanced Nursing Science: Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the family primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the development and refinement of the critical thinking skills necessary to achieve the direct care and core competencies of the advanced practice nurse. Grounded in theory and evidence-based research, this course enhances the student’s knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention and management strategies needed to care for patients and their families experiencing acute, episodic and selected chronic health problems in ambulatory and community settings.
NG660B Advanced Nursing Science: Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of the family primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the development and refinement of the clinical appraisal and diagnostic skills needed by the advanced practice nurse in ambulatory and community settings of children and adults. The course enhances the student’s ability to apply theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research to the care of patients with acute and chronic episodic health problems. The student implements the role activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional role interaction.
NG661A Advanced Nursing Science: Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the family primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the refinement and synthesis of critical thinking skills used by the advanced practice nurse to provide advanced practice nursing direct care and core competencies. Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice, the course enhances the student’s knowledge and ability to analyze and manage the comprehensive care of patients of all ages and the family in ambulatory community settings, and the professional and environmental issues influencing the health and care of the patient and the role of the advanced practice nurse.
NG661B Advanced Nursing Science: Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science clinical courses for the preparation of the family primary care nurse practitioner. The focus is on the development and refinement of the clinical appraisal and diagnostic skills needed by the advanced practice nurse to provide best practices in ambulatory and community settings of children and adults. Clinical activities assist students to translate and integrate theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research into his/her assessment and management of acute and chronic health problems for patients and families in ambulatory and community settings. The student implements activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional role interaction.
N/NG650C Advanced Nursing Science: Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Theory I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the gerontological advanced practice nurse. The focus of this course is on the development and refinement of the critical thinking skills necessary for this role. Grounded in theory and evidence based research, the course enhances the student’s knowledge of health promotion and disease management strategies needed for the care and education of patients with chronic and acute health problems in health care delivery systems including hospital, sub-acute, long-term care, assisted living, clinic and home care settings.
N/NG651C Advanced Nursing Science: Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Theory II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science theoretical courses for the preparation of the gerontological advanced practice nurse. The focus of this course is on the refinement and synthesis of the critical thinking skills necessary for this role. Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice, this course enhances the student’s knowledge to analyze the issues influencing the care of patients and the role of the advanced practice nurse in health care delivery systems including hospital, sub-acute, long-term care, assisted living, clinic and home care settings.
N/NG680 Health Care Law
This course explores the application of legal theory to current issues in health care, including health care administration, patient treatment concerns, the licensed professionals practice, quality care, peer review, insurance, compliance, fraud and abuse and complex medical/legal issues, including end-of-life care and futility.
N/NG681 Advanced Practice Cardiovascular Nursing I
This course explores the theories of health promotion and disease management pertinent to cardiovascular nursing. It is intended to prepare advanced practice nurses to provide care to cardiovascular patients across health care settings. Health promotion strategies for high-risk cardiovascular patients are explored. Predisposing risk factors along with current treatment modalities for cardiovascular disease are discussed.
N/NG682 Advanced Practice Cardiovascular Nursing II
This course presents an overview of the issues pertinent to the care of the adult with cardiovascular disease by advanced practice nurses. The factors contributing to the development of cardiovascular health problems along with diagnostic indicators are discussed. Theories of disease management and standards of care are synthesized to promote continuity of care throughout the cardiovascular patient’s illness and treatment.
N/NG685 Living with Chronic Disease and Terminal Illness
The focus of this course is on patient adaptation to chronic disease and the dynamic issues surrounding terminal illness, death and bereavement. The physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and ethical issues related to both chronic disease and terminal illness will be explored. Mechanisms to facilitate quality of life as it affects chronic illness versus end-of-life are discussed.
N/NG686 Advanced Practice Oncology Nursing
This course will focus on cancer care knowledge, decision making and practices for advanced practice nurses caring for cancer patients in ambulatory, hospital and community settings. The course will examine cancer epidemiology, prevention, detection, treatment and professional practice.
N/NG688 Advanced Practice Correctional Health Nursing I
This unique interprofessional course explores the dynamic issues and societal forces that affect the correctional health system including legal, regulatory, ethical, economic, political, policy and socio-cultural factors influencing correctional health professionals and advanced practice nursing. It includes a two-week immersion into the culture, environment and clinical practices of correctional health.
N/NG689A Advanced Practice Correctional Health Nursing II
This course focuses on new knowledge, skills, and competencies for professional and advanced practice nurses managing chronic disease through evidence-based practice in correctional and community-based settings.
N/NG689B Advanced Practice Correctional Health Nursing III
This clinical practicum develops the knowledge, skills and competencies for professional and advanced practice nurses managing chronic disease in correctional and community-based settings. Clinical activities facilitate the student’s ability to incorporate public/population health focus with national guidelines for evidence-based practice.
N/NG690 Human Physiology
This is a review course on basic principles of physiology that cover the functions of the human body with emphasis on the nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, renal and reproductive systems. The course will provide a broad view of the current knowledge on how the human body works and is intended for students in the fields of nursing and other allied health fields.
N/NG691 Contemporary Issues in Women’s Health
This elective graduate nursing course provides the advanced practice nursing student with a theoretical foundation to provide evidence-based care to women and will focus on a variety of issues specific to their health care. Specific concerns of women across the lifespan and the effects of culture and environment on women’s health are analyzed. Gender-based health issues and disparities and the role of the advanced practice nurse in dealing with these issues are examined.
N/NG699 Independent/Directed Study
This course is open to all graduate students. Plans for study must be submitted in advance of registration on a form obtained from the Graduate School of Nursing. The student must meet with a faculty member to establish goals and objectives of the independent/directed study; the number of credits given for the study will
then be determined. The student may take more than one independent
study course, but no more than nine credit hours may be applied toward
the degree.
N/NG720 Introduction to Genetics and Genomics for the Health Professions
This course provides the student with an introduction to fundamentals of Mendelian and biochemical genetics and genomics. Basic concepts and principles are covered in the lectures to enhance students’ understanding and utilization of the principles of genetics in clinical settings. Perspectives on ethical and legal issues for advanced practice nurses are also addressed.
N/NG721 Applied Genomics for the Health Professions
This course will address the practical applications of genomics in human disease. Role of genomics in oncology, neurology, cardiovascular, nutrition, and pharmacology will be explored. Concepts in pharmacogenomics, gene therapy, stem cell transplants, enzyme replacement and individualized medicine will be discussed. Students will also practice the skill of obtaining and analyzing family pedigrees for predisposition to genetic illnesses, and design clinical, genetic and educational approaches for the families and patients. The issues of potential benefits and harms of genomic screening, medicine and care will be considered for the disorders.
N702 Research and Theory for the Doctor of Nursing Practice
This course expands students’ understanding of theory and research within the context of advanced clinical practice. The student will explore philosophy, theory, and qualitative and quantitative methods used to develop evidence for clinical practice. The course enables graduates to serve as leaders in synthesizing clinical nursing knowledge and translating research findings into practice within complex health care settings and community-based organizations.
N704 Principles of Epidemiology
This course will provide students with concrete skills to understand and critique the medical literature, an important component of evidence-based medicine. Students will learn about the various types of epidemiology study designs including their potential strengths and weaknesses. Using these skills, students will evaluate articles from the literature in a small group setting and will also individually critique two articles. In addition, students will be introduced to the use of data in hospital quality improvement projects and the roles and functions of a department of public health.
N705 Trends Influencing the Doctor of Nursing Practice
This course explores the trends influencing the role of the DNP in hospitals and community-based settings. The student will develop strategies to address these challenges that are grounded in evidence-based practice. The course enables graduates to serve as leaders in synthesizing clinical nursing knowledge and translating research findings into practice within complex health care settings and community-based organizations.
N707 Applied Nursing Informatics
This course is designed to educate students in information and knowledge management principles that support the use of evidence based practice within nursing. Students will learn to use information systems as strategic tools to promote the health of patients and patient populations and to manage nursing information needs within heath systems.
N708 Organizational Systems and Health Care Financing
This course expands the student’s understanding of systems theory and health care economics. The student will explore current global, technological, socioeconomic and organizational factors that have an impact on the delivery of high quality health care. The course expands upon expert clinical knowledge and enables students to engage with other interprofessional team members in developing and evaluating contemporary approaches to clinical practice within health care organizations.
N722 Quality and Patient Safety: Competencies, Strategies, and Methodologies for the APN
This course focuses on core quality and safety competencies for the advanced practice nurse. Contemporary performance improvement methodologies, the utility of large public data sets, and the concept of reporting transparency will be discussed. Strategies to improve the quality of care and patients outcomes within the health care environment are explored. The role and requisite competencies of the DNP in leading innovative quality and patient safety initiatives will be addressed.
N723 Quality and Patient Safety in Health Care Organizations
The course prepares the advanced practice nurse with the DNP with the knowledge, theory and organizational science concepts necessary to design and evaluate performance improvement in health care organizations related to quality and safety.
N770 Doctor of Nursing Practice Residency I
This course is the first of two advanced nursing science residency courses for the preparation of advanced practice nurses with the practice doctorate. The focus is on development and refinement of the leadership skills needed by the advanced practice nurse. The course enhances the student’s ability to apply theories, standards of practice and evidence-based research to the care of the increasingly complex patients to improve practice and health care delivery. The student implements the role activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional interaction.
N771 Doctor of Nursing Practice Residency II
This course is the second of two advanced nursing science residency courses for the preparation of advanced practice nurses with the practice doctorate. The focus is on the refinement and synthesis of the leadership skills needed by these advanced practice nurses. This course enhances the student’s ability to translate evidence-based research and clinical scholarship to decrease risk and improve health care outcomes for patients. The student implements the role activities of the advanced practice nurse through critical thinking, therapeutic intervention, communication and professional interaction.
N772 Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Project I
This course requires the development of a scholarly capstone project for the preparation of advanced practice nurses with the practice doctorate. The focus is on the identification and implementation of a specific activity that uses evidence to improve patient-focused organizational outcomes. The scholarly capstone project integrates knowledge from the DNP core and specialty courses, electives and clinical residency experience in the formulation of a capstone project that demonstrates advanced practice nursing leadership at the practice doctorate level.
N773 Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Project II
This course requires the completion of a scholarly capstone project for the preparation of advanced practice nurses with the practice doctorate. The focus is on the completion of a specific activity that uses evidence to improve patient-focused organizational outcomes. This scholarly capstone project is derived from the DNP specialty courses and electives including clinical residency experiences. The scholarly capstone project demonstrates the student’s attainment of the program outcomes and provides evidence of the student’s knowledge and expertise as an advanced practice nurse at the practice doctorate level.
N808 Critical Health Policy Issues Seminar
See PhD in Nursing Courses
N815 Statistical Analysis of Data
See PhD in Nursing Courses
N800 History and Philosophy of Nursing Science
This course is designed to prepare students to systematically analyze epistemological, ontological and metatheoretical perspectives in the philosophy of science, while also considering the implications for scientific inquiry, theory development and knowledge development in nursing.
N801 Qualitative Research Methods
The focus of this course is on the use of qualitative research methods to build substantive knowledge in nursing. Issues in qualitative research are identified and discussed and critical analysis of traditional and emerging designs debated. Selected qualitative research designs are presented and the philosophical underpinnings and specific data collection and analysis methods associated with each design are identified, discussed, compared, contrasted and analyzed. Research from nursing and other fields are critiqued. Experiential learning methods and techniques include design, preparation and presentation of a research project.
N802 Quantitative Research Methods
This course provides students with an advanced study of research designs and methods used in quantitative nursing research. Analysis of quantitative methods that are currently used in biomedical, behavioral, social and nursing sciences are explored.
N803 Emerging Nursing Theories
This course is focused on the critical analysis of nursing frameworks, models and theories for practice, research and education. Emphasis is on theory development and analysis with application of criteria for developing theory in nursing science.
N804 Measurement and Instrumentation in Clinical Research
This is an advanced, graduate-level course that focuses on measurement theory and the processes of instrument evaluation, refinement and development. The course explores the use of quantitative and qualitative procedures to measure clinically important variables. In addition, there is an emphasis on the interaction of conceptual, methodological, cultural and pragmatic considerations that are essential to understand when measuring variables among clinical populations.
N805 State of the Discipline
This course explores nursing phenomena and strategies as conceptualized in current nursing research. Emphasis is on the extent and nature of potential synthesis of knowledge across traditional boundaries. To effectively advance knowledge and improve nursing practice, it is essential to be at the forefront of the current state of substantive knowledge in the discipline. The intent of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to analyze and synthesize selected aspects of this knowledge, particularly as it informs their individual research interests.
N806 Advanced Nursing Research
This course emphasizes a synthesis of the core courses in the PhD program through development of a formal grant proposal. The course explores the elements of grant writing, proposal development and ethical considerations related to human subjects’ research. The student is guided in the development of an individual grant proposal eligible for submission to a funding sponsor.
N808 Critical Health Policy Issues Seminar
This seminar provides students with advanced knowledge for health policy analysis and appraisal of critical health care issues. This knowledge is essential to the leadership of nurse researchers, educators and advanced practitioners whose roles require participation in policy development and advocacy. Specifically, the student evaluates common frameworks for policy analysis and applies these frameworks to a range of prominent, contemporary health care issues within social, political and economic contexts to develop and advocate for policy recommendations based on evidence and reasoned argument.
N815 Statistical Analysis of Data
This course provides the student with an introduction to inferential statistics. Emphasis is placed on practical application, rather than mathematical theory. Topics include t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), repeated measures ANOVA and mixed ANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), correlations and scatterplots and regression analyses.
N890 Advanced Statistics
This course builds on N815 Statistical Analysis of Data to provide in-depth instruction on practical applications of multivariate data analysis, focusing on statistical issues and techniques that students are likely to encounter in their research. Topics include pre-analysis data screening, assessment of model fit for analysis of variance and covariance (ANOVA/ANCOVA) and linear regression, model selection techniques, repeated measures ANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and logistic regression.
N895 Independent/Directed Study
This course is open to doctoral students. The goal of independent study is to complement the doctoral student’s program in a way that helps him/her develop additional knowledge and skills that could not be reasonably gained with a traditional course offering. Plans for study must be submitted in advance of registration on the Independent Study Advance Registration form obtained from the Graduate School of Nursing. The student must meet with the faculty member of record to establish written goals, objectives and evaluation criteria for the independent study. Upon establishing the goals and objectives, the number of credits will be determined by the faculty member in consultation with the PhD program director. The student may take more than one independent study, but no more than nine credit hours may be applied toward the PhD degree
N899 Dissertation Credits