Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner

4 Credits

This course focuses on the critical components of contemporary nursing knowledge, including concepts, statements, metaparadigms, philosophies, conceptual models, and theories. Students evaluate the variety of ways to organize nursing knowledge and explore the implications of their application. Through the clinical application of the course content, students examine the use of theory, nursing research, and nursing knowledge in professional environments. The findings of research are examined for their adoption and diffusion of innovations in nursing.

4 Credits

This course emphasizes the history and development of advanced practice nursing roles and competencies, as well as the organizational and regulatory scope of practice requirements expected in these roles. Watson's theory of human caring provides the foundation for traditional and holistic care activities. Students examine the impact and evolution of this role transition, certification, and professional activities as these relate to advanced practice nursing. Also addressed are the changes in health care and their implications for advanced practice nursing. The impact of health care policy, managed care, as well as concepts related to financial responsibility within the health care delivery systems will be examined. This course provides the necessary strategies to address ethical issues for the health care professional. Research principles applicable to the advanced practice nurse will also be discussed and reinforced.

4 Credits

This course provides students with advanced anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of systems in relation to an individual's health across the lifespan. Focus is given to the physiological and biological manifestations and adaptive and maladaptive changes that occur. The knowledge gained in this course lays a foundation for the management of primary care issues of the family and its members.

4 Credits

This course is designed to provide the nurse practitioner student with the information and skills to initiate and monitor drug therapy. This course will integrate advanced knowledge regarding the clinical application of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, techniques and methods of drug prescribing, approaches to data collection and problem-solving with discussions about drug therapy for common acute and chronic diseases. Emphasis will be on the practical application of important concepts used in clinical practice for clients across the lifespan.

4 Credits

This course emphasizes advanced practice history taking, physical examination, and obtaining and assessing diagnostic data for patients across the lifespan. Students learn to justify actual and potential health problems through interpretation and integration of the history, health assessment, and laboratory data.

4 Credits

This course is a continuation of NRP/531: Advanced Health Assessment I and provides the theoretical foundation for common office procedures encountered in primary care. ECG, X-ray, spirometry interpretation, and diagnostic imaging, as well as minor surgery and orthopedic procedures are included. Selected skills are practiced under supervision during residency.

4 Credits

This two-part, combined theory and clinical course focuses on management of common pathological conditions related to the neurological, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems for adults and geriatric patients including implications for the individual and the family. Coding and billing are discussed. Theory, research, and clinical experiences guide prevention, disease management, and evaluation of patient outcomes. Identification and application of pharmacology therapies are incorporated. This course provides the health care professional with the necessary strategies to address ethical issues specific to adult and geriatric patients.

4 Credits

This two-part, combined theory and clinical course focuses on the management of common pathological conditions related to the musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, hematological, and genitourinary systems of adults and geriatric patients, including implications for the individual and the family. The management of psychiatric issues and skin pathology are discussed. Theory, research and clinical experiences emphasize prevention, disease management, and evaluation of patient outcomes. Identification and application of pharmacological therapies are incorporated. This course provides the health care professional with the necessary strategies to address ethical issues specific to adult and geriatric patients.

4 Credits

This combined theory and clinical course focuses on management of normal and common pathological conditions that occur in women's health across the lifespan. Special emphasis is placed on disease prevention, reproductive health issues, contraceptive therapies, and normal OB. Students develop a systematic approach to women's health issues based on physiology and pharmacology. Appropriate educational and collaborative skills for the individual and their families are explored. The management of pharmacological issues is addressed. This course provides the healthcare professional with the necessary strategies to address ethical issues specific to women's health issues.

4 Credits

This combined theory and clinical course focuses on the management of normal and common pathological conditions for children from birth through adolescence, as an individual and as a family member. The course combines theory and clinical experiences to emphasize assessment, prevention, and management utilizing a holistic model of care. Growth and development, anticipatory guidance, and behavioral theories are emphasized. Identification and application of pharmacological therapies are incorporated. The effects of culture on development, parenting, and health care practices are also evaluated. This course provides the health care professional with the necessary strategies to address ethical issues specific to pediatric and adolescent populations.

8 Credits

This course provides students with precepted clinical experiences. Business practices of the independent or semi-independent practitioner, including guidelines and regulations in the advanced practice role, are discussed. Students consolidate and refine their acquired skills in assessment and patient management in order to attain a level of competency and proficiency that will allow them to function in the nurse practitioner role. This course contains additional theory content across the lifespan. This course provides the health care professional with the necessary strategies to address ethical issues. Incorporation of research principles is reinforced throughout the course.