Curriculum

This course provides an opportunity for students to focus on the clinical applications of the major classifications of drugs. The emphasis is on clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Clinical correlations using case studies with applications to special populations, in primary, secondary, and tertiary settings will be addressed. Legal parameters for prescription writing protocols and factors promoting patient compliance with drug therapy will be included. Application of this knowledge for special patient populations will be further developed in Nu 800, 802, 804, and 806.

This course has dual foci. The first is to provide an opportunity to analyze theoretical concepts, principles and processes from nursing and related disciplines to guide advanced clinical practice and role development. These theories reflect important contributions from both the nursing profession and non-nursing disciplines. The course provides a historical perspective and analysis of nursing theorists from Nightingale to emerging theorists and includes an introduction to theories fundamental to advanced practice nursing, such as role theory and family nursing theory. The second course emphasis is an exposure to relevant historic, current and future practice issues inherent in the varied roles of the advanced practice nurse. Both state and national legislation, issues and trends are addressed as they relate to the effective and appropriate role of advanced practice nurses within the rapidly changing healthcare system.

Class - 2.5 Hours/Week, Clinical - 3 Hours/Week = 3 Cr. Hr. The focus of this course is the assessment of total health status of clients throughout the lifespan. It is designed to enable the student to refine and further develop diagnostic reasoning skills and utilize a regional approach to physical exams in the delivery of primary health care. The course builds on undergraduate health assessment skills and includes a clinical practicum which provides the student the opportunity to apply advanced nursing knowledge and practice in the areas of physical and psychosocial assessment of clients. Students will perform complete health assessments on selected clients, obtaining an in-depth health history, performing a comprehensive physical examination, recording findings and developing a problem list and treatment plan. 42 Hours of Clinical/Semester

This course examines the reaction of the body to disease throughout the lifespan. Using a conceptual approach that is designed to integrate knowledge from basic and clinical sciences, it focuses on alterations in biological processes which affect the body's dynamic equilibrium. Alterations at the cellular and organ level are presented and include genetic, metabolic, infectious, immunologic, degenerative, and neoplastic processes. Clinical problems will be developed and explored to facilitate the acquisition of critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation skills needed by practitioners in the management of clients with chronic and acute health problems.

This course explores the principles and uses of the research process in nursing. It is designed to provide the advanced practice nursing student with the knowledge to be an active participant in the research experience and prepare the student to write and present orally a research proposal. Content will focus on evidence based practice, understanding the role of an advanced practice nurse as a researcher and fostering skills to develop a research proposal that will be the foundation and beginning process of each student's "capstone" project.

Class-2 Hours/Week, Clinical-6 Hours/Week=3 CR. HR. The focus of this course explores theories and the practice of health care for children from infancy through adolescence within a context of family health care. The course will focus on health promotion and acute and chronic illness conditions experienced by these childbearing and childrearing families. This course will focus on health-illness issues experienced by this population in underserved rural and urban areas. The clinical practicum experience will present the advanced practice nursing student with clinical experience in assessing, planning, and managing care for families in these age groups at a variety of clinical sites. Opportunities will be available in both the classroom and clinical setting to further explore the roles inherent to the advanced practice nurse who provides primary health care to these clients. 84 Hours of Clinical/Semester

Class-2 Hours/Week, Clinical-6 Hours/Week=3 CR. HR. The focus of this course explores theories and the practice of health care for women within a context of family health care. The course will focus on health promotion and acute and chronic illness conditions experienced by these childbearing and childrearing families. This course will focus on health-illness issues experienced by this population in underserved rural and urban areas. The clinical practicum experience will present the advanced practice nursing student with clinical experience in assessing, planning, and managing care for families in these age groups at a variety of clinical sites. Opportunities will be available in both the classroom and clinical setting to further explore the roles inherent to the advanced practice nurse who provides primary health care to these clients. 84 Hours of clinical/semester

Class-4 Hours/Week, Clinical-12 Hours/Week=CR. HR. This course explores relevant theories and practice issues in the health care of adults and families. It will focus on health promotion and simple acute and chronic health problems experienced by this population within a family and community context. Sociopolitical, cultural and ethical issues will be addressed. The clinical practicum will present the advanced practice nursing student with clinical experience with clients in early to middle adulthood in a variety of clinical sites. Clinical practicum opportunities may include sites that provide primary care to underserved and at risk populations, home care sites and tertiary sites. Opportunities will be available in both the classroom and clinical setting to explore the roles inherent to the advanced practice nursing student who provides primary health care to clients and families in this age group. 168 Hours of Clinical/Semester

The focus of this course is to critically explore theory and interprofessional practice issues related to rural community life. Through readings, fieldwork, films, guest speakers, and discussions, we will explore the complex relationships between the health and lives of diverse rural community populations, and the larger socioeconomic, physical and cultural environments of society. Fundamental ideas about the nature and scope of community, how it is defined, and by whom are addressed, as is the concept of “culture” and the ways in which systems of belief shape policy and services, the clinical decisions of practitioners, perceptions of illness and health, and ultimately, the lived human experience of rural life. The activities students will engage in throughout the course are designed to use a population perspective as a conceptual lens in which to understand rural community health and will help you appreciate how individual experience differs according to race, gender, age and class. The outcome of the course is a case study of a rural community and a critical appraisal of the aspects of rural life that contribute to health concerns and everyday challenges as well as the benefits of life in rural communities.

Class-3 Hours/Week, Clinical- 12 Hours/Week=5 CR. HR. The focus of this course includes relevant theories and practice issues in the health care of individuals and families in late adulthood. It explores health promotion, as well as the acute and chronic health care needs and conditions experienced by this group of clients within a family and community context and using a systems approach. Bio-psycho-social issues are analyzed from an advance practice registered nurse perspective as they relate to this population. Cultural competence and bioethical issues are explored. The clinical practicum presents the nurse practitioner student with precepted clinical experiences in assessing, planning, and managing care for clients and families in this age group at a primary care site. The clinical practicum experience may include tertiary and home care sites. 168 Hours of Clinical/Semester

This course is designed to provide the graduate student with an opportunity to explore and evaluate the political process, fiscal policies, and their impact on public health and the health care system. The use of sociopolitical and ethical frameworks are interwoven with policy development. Opportunities are provided for students to critique public policy and determine how the behavior of health professional's impact governmental decisions and regulatory processes. Students will explore legislative processes, state/federal policies, and analyze current legislative and policy issues.

Class-3 Hours/Week, Capstone-1 Hour/Week, Clinical-12 Hours/Week=6 CR. HR. This is the culminating clinical course in the program. The focus is on integrating the knowledge and clinical management skills from previous courses in preparation for the transition from graduate student to nurse practitioner. Students take part in seminars, allowing them to thoroughly explore the clinical issues that arise while caring for clients across the lifespan, having varied health care needs. As part of this course, the student completes a "capstone" project. This project will provide students with experience in scholarly writing and the publication process. Students select one clinical and professional issue and develop it into a publishable paper. Papers must be submitted to a scholarly journal for peer review prior to graduation. This is in addition to the clinical component of the course. 168 hours of clinical/semester.

This course has dual foci. The first is to provide an opportunity to analyze theoretical concepts, principles and processes from nursing and related disciplines to guide advanced clinical practice and role development. These theories reflect important contributions from both the nursing profession and non-nursing disciplines. The course provides a historical perspective and analysis of nursing theorists from Nightingale to emerging theorists and includes an introduction to theories fundamental to advanced practice nursing, such as role theory and family nursing theory. The second course emphasis is an exposure to relevant historic, current and future practice issues inherent in the varied roles of the advanced practice nurse. Both state and national legislation, issues and trends are addressed as they relate to the effective and appropriate role of advanced practice nurses within the rapidly changing healthcare system.

This course examines the reaction of the body to disease throughout the lifespan. Using a conceptual approach that is designed to integrate knowledge from basic and clinical sciences, it focuses on alterations in biological processes which affect the body's dynamic equilibrium. Alterations at the cellular and organ level are presented and include genetic, metabolic, infectious, immunologic, degenerative, and neoplastic processes. Clinical problems will be developed and explored to facilitate the acquisition of critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation skills needed by practitioners in the management of clients with chronic and acute health problems.

This course explores the principles and uses of the research process in nursing. It is designed to provide the advanced practice nursing student with the knowledge to be an active participant in the research experience and prepare the student to write and present orally a research proposal. Content will focus on evidence based practice, understanding the role of an advanced practice nurse as a researcher and fostering skills to develop a research proposal that will be the foundation and beginning process of each student's "capstone" project.

This course is designed to provide the graduate student with an opportunity to explore and evaluate the political process, fiscal policies, and their impact on public health and the health care system. The use of sociopolitical and ethical frameworks are interwoven with policy development. Opportunities are provided for students to critique public policy and determine how the behavior of health professional's impact governmental decisions and regulatory processes. Students will explore legislative processes, state/federal policies, and analyze current legislative and policy issues.

This course provides an opportunity for students to focus on the clinical applications of the major classifications of drugs. The emphasis is on clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Clinical correlations using case studies with applications to special populations, in primary, secondary, and tertiary settings will be addressed. Legal parameters for prescription writing protocols and factors promoting patient compliance with drug therapy will be included. Application of this knowledge for special patient populations will be further developed in Nu 800, 802, 804, and 806.

Class - 2.5 Hours/Week, Clinical - 3 Hours/Week = 3 Cr. Hr. The focus of this course is the assessment of total health status of clients throughout the lifespan. It is designed to enable the student to refine and further develop diagnostic reasoning skills and utilize a regional approach to physical exams in the delivery of primary health care. The course builds on undergraduate health assessment skills and includes a clinical practicum which provides the student the opportunity to apply advanced nursing knowledge and practice in the areas of physical and psychosocial assessment of clients. Students will perform complete health assessments on selected clients, obtaining an in-depth health history, performing a comprehensive physical examination, recording findings and developing a problem list and treatment plan. 42 Hours of Clinical/Semester

The focus of this course is to critically explore theory and interprofessional practice issues related to rural community life. Through readings, fieldwork, films, guest speakers, and discussions, we will explore the complex relationships between the health and lives of diverse rural community populations, and the larger socioeconomic, physical and cultural environments of society. Fundamental ideas about the nature and scope of community, how it is defined, and by whom are addressed, as is the concept of “culture” and the ways in which systems of belief shape policy and services, the clinical decisions of practitioners, perceptions of illness and health, and ultimately, the lived human experience of rural life. The activities students will engage in throughout the course are designed to use a population perspective as a conceptual lens in which to understand rural community health and will help you appreciate how individual experience differs according to race, gender, age and class. The outcome of the course is a case study of a rural community and a critical appraisal of the aspects of rural life that contribute to health concerns and everyday challenges as well as the benefits of life in rural communities.

Class-2 Hours/Week, Clinical-6 Hours/Week=3 CR. HR. The focus of this course explores theories and the practice of health care for children from infancy through adolescence within a context of family health care. The course will focus on health promotion and acute and chronic illness conditions experienced by these childbearing and childrearing families. This course will focus on health-illness issues experienced by this population in underserved rural and urban areas. The clinical practicum experience will present the advanced practice nursing student with clinical experience in assessing, planning, and managing care for families in these age groups at a variety of clinical sites. Opportunities will be available in both the classroom and clinical setting to further explore the roles inherent to the advanced practice nurse who provides primary health care to these clients. 84 Hours of Clinical/Semester

Class-2 Hours/Week, Clinical-6 Hours/Week=3 CR. HR. The focus of this course explores theories and the practice of health care for women within a context of family health care. The course will focus on health promotion and acute and chronic illness conditions experienced by these childbearing and childrearing families. This course will focus on health-illness issues experienced by this population in underserved rural and urban areas. The clinical practicum experience will present the advanced practice nursing student with clinical experience in assessing, planning, and managing care for families in these age groups at a variety of clinical sites. Opportunities will be available in both the classroom and clinical setting to further explore the roles inherent to the advanced practice nurse who provides primary health care to these clients. 84 Hours of clinical/semester

Class-4 Hours/Week, Clinical-12 Hours/Week=CR. HR. This course explores relevant theories and practice issues in the health care of adults and families. It will focus on health promotion and simple acute and chronic health problems experienced by this population within a family and community context. Sociopolitical, cultural and ethical issues will be addressed. The clinical practicum will present the advanced practice nursing student with clinical experience with clients in early to middle adulthood in a variety of clinical sites. Clinical practicum opportunities may include sites that provide primary care to underserved and at risk populations, home care sites and tertiary sites. Opportunities will be available in both the classroom and clinical setting to explore the roles inherent to the advanced practice nursing student who provides primary health care to clients and families in this age group. 168 Hours of Clinical/Semester

Class-3 Hours/Week, Clinical- 12 Hours/Week=5 CR. HR. The focus of this course includes relevant theories and practice issues in the health care of individuals and families in late adulthood. It explores health promotion, as well as the acute and chronic health care needs and conditions experienced by this group of clients within a family and community context and using a systems approach. Bio-psycho-social issues are analyzed from an advance practice registered nurse perspective as they relate to this population. Cultural competence and bioethical issues are explored. The clinical practicum presents the nurse practitioner student with precepted clinical experiences in assessing, planning, and managing care for clients and families in this age group at a primary care site. The clinical practicum experience may include tertiary and home care sites. 168 Hours of Clinical/Semester

Class-3 Hours/Week, Capstone-1 Hour/Week, Clinical-12 Hours/Week=6 CR. HR. This is the culminating clinical course in the program. The focus is on integrating the knowledge and clinical management skills from previous courses in preparation for the transition from graduate student to nurse practitioner. Students take part in seminars, allowing them to thoroughly explore the clinical issues that arise while caring for clients across the lifespan, having varied health care needs. As part of this course, the student completes a "capstone" project. This project will provide students with experience in scholarly writing and the publication process. Students select one clinical and professional issue and develop it into a publishable paper. Papers must be submitted to a scholarly journal for peer review prior to graduation. This is in addition to the clinical component of the course. 168 hours of clinical/semester.