MSN in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

This course explores foundations of scholarly inquiry in nursing within the context of caring science through the structure and process of circle practice. Students in both administration and education concentrations engage in shared leadership and attend to the well-being of the group. The course emphasizes the scholarly practices of closely reading text, making connections with scholarly literature and lived experience, synthesizing scholarly thought, and writing. Students strictly adhere to the rules of style of the American Psychological Association (APA) for guidance in the writing process, including ethics of authorship. [3 credits]

Focuses on the exploration of nursing knowledge development to include philosophy, theories, and conceptual models designed to guide patient care, inform health care delivery system decision-making, educational programming and nursing administration. A first course in the program, grounding learners in nursing science. [ 3 credits ]

Provides opportunities to critically examine multiple leadership theories, styles and approaches in nursing with emphasis on the interrelationships among leaders, followers and the entire multi-disciplinary team. In addition, excellence in nursing leadership will be explored along with the implications and responsibilities of the nurse leader for shaping today's changing educational and health care environments. [ 2 credits ]

This course provides the opportunity for graduate nursing students to engage in enhanced critical inquiry activities as they analyze, interpret, and evaluate research studies. There will be an emphasis on problem identification; design principles; and accessing, analyzing, disseminating and applying nursing research. Students will explore current evidence to guide the development of a research proposal grounded in caring science in their area of interest.
Prerequisite NUR-500. [ 3 credits ]

The course focuses on advancing knowledge, skill, and valuing of family as a critical aspect of the Family and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner roles. Family Nursing Situations for advanced practice are analyzed through the lens of select theoretical and philosophical frameworks. Family Systems Theory, Family Assessment models and Nursing as Caring Theory along with other select caring science and family science theories are applied to guide understandings of family as the unit and context of care in a variety of Family Situations in Primary Care. Situations of health promotion, family crises related to addictions, poverty, violence, homelessness, mental illness, chronic illness, and trauma offer opportunities for exploration of complex family "calls" for nursing. Compassionate family interview, holistic assessment of family health, ilness, and suffering, discerning what matters most to families, and scholarly engagement in relational inquiry allows for reflective family practice grounded in theory. [ 2 credits ]

This course helps students acquire knowledge and skills in the conduct of a comprehensive health assessment including the physical, psychological, social, functional and environmental aspects of health. Data collection, interpretation, documentation and dissemination of assessment data is studied. Techniquest of interviewing, observation, percussion, palpation,  inspection and auscultation in assessing clients across the lifespan are reviewed in simulated and learning environments. Students develop clinical reasoning skills to begin to formulate differential diagnoses. Prerequisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545. Corequisite: NUR-547. [ 3 credits ]

Provides students an understanding of pathophysiology related to human illness, disease prevention and treatment within a systems framework. Utilizing knowledge of the basic sciences and clinical nursing experience, critical thinking processes are used to analyze diverse client presentations of selected illness for symptomatology, pathophysiology and health care implications. Current research and theories that deal with physiologic and pathophysiologic topics are included. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545. Co-requisite: NUR-546. [ 3 credits ]

Advanced study of the actions and effects of drugs on the human system throughout the life cycle. Examines the pharmacotherapeutic properties of all
broad categories of agents with a focus on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics principles, therapeutic and adverse effects, drug interactions, cost, and evidence-based prescribing guidelines. Enables students to safely, and appropriately select pharmacologic agents for the care of persons and diverse populations with common acute and chronic health problems. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547. Co-requisite: NUR-542. [ 3 credits ]

This seminar course engages the instructor and students in mutual learning while critically examining social justice and public health issues. Principles of genetics, genomics, epidemiological data, and patterns of knowing are considered for design and delivery of evidence-based, culturally relevant clinical prevention and health promotion stragegies and interventions. This course also  explores health information and technology that allows for the exploration of the distribution and determinants of health and disease. Emphasis is placed on building awareness and understanding of the advanced practice nurse's involvement in the ecology of health. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542. Co-requisites: NUR-630, NUR-635. [3 credits]

This seminar course engages the faculty and students in mutual learning while critically examining theoretical and practical foundations of acute problems encountered by adults in a primary care setting. It includes primary health care of women. Emphasis is placed on a holistic approach to health promotion, disease prevention, early detection, and management of common acute and chronic health conditions of adults with special attention to care of the reproductive age female patient. The focus is on pathophysiology of the condition, etiology, incidence, clinical findings, and differential diagnosis. Evidence-based research will drive healthcare decision making, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical management to promote health of adults in primary care settings. Caring between nurse practitioner and patient is valued and explored. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-545, NUR-501, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542. Co-requisites: NUR-635 and NUR-549. [ 3 credits ]

This seminar course engages the instructor and students in mutual learning while critically examining advanced practice nursing in the care of adolescents and adults with an emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of common health problems among culturally diverse populations. Research and principles of evidence-based practice are used to apply health promotion and disease prevention strategies for adolescents and adults. What matters most to the adult and adolescent is considered and caring between nurse practitioner and patient is essential and explored. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542, NUR-630, NUR-635, NUR-549. Co-requisites: NUR-636 and NUR-632. [ 3 credits ]

This seminar course engages the instructor and students in mutual learning while critically examining advanced practice nursing roles, grounded in caring science, including past and present trends relevant to understanding leadership functions., organization of health care delivery systems, and the political climate surrounding advanced practice and regulatory and reimbursement processes. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542, NUR-630, NUR-635, NUR-549. Corequisites: NUR-631 and NUR-636. [ 2 credits ]

This course builds on the management of acute and chronic illness to focus on the health care needs of the older adult with chronic illness in the primary care setting. A holistic approach to promoting wellness, maintaining function, and self-care is emphasized. Evidence-based research will drive healthcare decision making, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical management to promote quality of life with older adults. Ethical dilemmas that impact the care of older adults such as palliative care measures, supportive measures, and family care  living at end of life are integrated. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542, NUR-630, NUR-635, NUR-631, NUR-636, NUR-549, NUR-632. Co-requisite: NUR-637. [ 2 credits ]

This is the first practicum experience for nurse practitioner students. Students will have a supervised clinical experience in which they will provide caring science-based holistic assessment and treatment with a variety of patients from diverse populations in the areas of wellness and health promotion, illness prevention, and symptom management. Students will use critical thinking reflective practice, and evidence-based practice to develop skills at the novice level in formulating clinical impressions, differential diagnoses, treatment, and evaluation plans. Requires 130 hours of supervised clinical practice, simulation, and clinical conference. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542. Co-requisites: NUR-630 and NUR-549. [ 2 credits ]

This is the second practicum experience for nurse practitioner students. Students will have a supervised clinical experience in which they will provide caring science-based holistic assessment and treatment with a variety of patients from diverse populations in the areas of wellness and health promotion, illness prevention, and symptom management. Students will use critical thinking reflective and evidence-based practice to develop skills at the advanced beginner level in formulating clinical impressions, differential diagnoses, treatment and evaluation plans. Requires 195 hours of supervised clinical practice, simulation, and clinical conference. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542, NUR-530, NUR-549. Co-requisites: NUR-636 and NUR-632. [ 3 credits ]

This is the third practicum experience for nurse practitioner students. Students will have a supervised clinical experience in which they will collaboratively manage the care of a variety of patients from diverse populations in the areas of wellness and health promotion, illness prevention, and treatment. Students will use critical thinking, reflective caring science-based and evidence-based practice to develop skills at a competent level in formulating clinical impressions, differential diagnoses, treatment, and eveluation plans. Requires 195 hours of supervised clinical practice, simulation, and clinical conference. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542, NUR-630, NUR-635, NUR-549,  NUR-631, NUR-636, NUR-632. Co-requisites: NUR-633 and NUR-634. [ 3 credits ]

This is the fourth practicum experience for nurse practitioner students. Students will have a supervised clinical experience in which they will collaboratively manage the care of a variety of patients from diverse populations in the areas of wellness and health promotion, illness prevention, and treatment. Students will use critical thinking, reflective caring  science-based and evidenced-based practice to develop skills at a proficient level in formulating clinical impressions, differential diagnoses, treatment, and eveluation plans. Requires 260 hours of supervised clinical practice, simulation, and clinical conference. Pre-requisites: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547, NUR-548, NUR-542, NUR-630, NUR-635, NUR-549, NUR-631, NUR-636, NUR-632, NUR-637, NUR-633 or NUR-634. Co-requisite: NUR-510. [ 4 credits ]