M.S. Curriculum

The focus of this core course is on analysis of current nursing and related theories and concepts which guide clinical practice, curriculum development, research, and nursing administration.

This course emphasizes the application of basic research concepts to the building of evidence-based practice in nursing. Advanced competencies are developed in searching and evaluating the literature, examining the merit of different types and levels of evidence, and analyzing the generalizability and implications for clinical practice.

Prerequisites or Corequisites: Admission to one of the Graduate Nursing Tracks, NURS 500 and statistics and/or permission of instructor.

The focus of this course is on the basic and advanced clinical concepts of pharmacology for the advanced practice nurse. Medication selection and administration will be addressed. Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology will be reviewed as appropriate to the physiologic system or medication class being discussed. Evidence-based guidelines with respect to the clinical application of medications utilized in selected acute and chronic health problems will be explored.

Prerequisite or Corequisite: Admission to Graduate Nursing Program.

This course presents a system-focused approach to alterations in normal physiological mechanisms that result in pathologic disease processes. Physiological changes are compared and contrasted over the lifespan and developmental cellular physiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations commonly observed in altered health states are reviewed. This knowledge serves as the foundation for advanced clinical assessment, decision making and management for the advanced practice nurse.

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate study. F,S,SS.

Paradigms in health promotion, health detection and disease prevention across the lifespan are used in synthesis in theory and evidence-based primary care interventions.

Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing Graduate Program or consent of the instructor. F,S.

This course emphasizes health policy issues within the context of legal and ethical concepts. Students will examine and debate health policies in current practice, thus broadening their ability to analyze, implement, and evaluate health policy issues.

Prerequisite: Admission to Graduate Nursing or consent of the instructor. F,S,SS.

This course will build upon health assessment skills developed in the professional nurses' basic educational program. An evidenced-based approach will be used to present methodologies for performance on health histories, developmental assessments, and physical/psychosocial assessments of individuals across the lifespan in the context of an advanced nursing role. Emphasis is on acquisition and analysis of relevant data for the development of a comprehensive health assessment.

Prerequisites: Admission to grad stud; completion of undergrad course in health assessment techniques or consent of instructor.

Prerequisite or Corequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in Pathophysiology or equivalent or consent of instructor. F,S,SS.

The independent study is designed to require you to independently investigate a topic related to your major field of study. Independent studies are single-author works required to ensure that you can investigate a topic and organize a scholarly report on the investigation. Topics will vary among nursing programs. The topic for an independent study must be approved by your advisor. Approval is initiated by you completing a Topic Proposal of Independent Study form, available from the School of Graduate Studies website, and submitting it to the advisor for approval. The proposal must be approved by the advisor and must be filed in the School of Graduate Studies no later than the semester prior to the semester you expect to graduate. The Independent Study will be graded by the advisor, certify completion by submission of the Final Report on Candidate to the School of Graduate Studies by the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar and submit a grade for NURS 997.

Theoretical and scientific foundations for advanced practice nursing care for the family-as-a-unit in health and illness across the lifespan.

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate nursing or permission of the instructor. F,S,SS.

This is the first of a two-course sequence that focuses on evidenced-based primary care diagnosis and management of common episodic/chronic problems encountered by adults, including  including young adults, middle aged adults and older adults and their social network in ambulatory, inpatient, and community settings. Physiological, psychosocial, and pharmacological interventions are integrated into the holistic care that incorporates age-related, cultural, family, and community variations.

Prerequisites: Admission to graduate study, NURS 522 and NURS 585. Corequisite: NURS 597 (II). F,S,SS.

Clinical decision-making skills are developed in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic health conditions throughout the lifespan. Health promotion, health protection and disease prevention are emphasized.

Prerequisite: NURS 534. F,S,SS.

This course will help prepare the advance practice nursing student for prescriptive authority. Topics will focus on decision-making regarding the pharmacological management of common acute and chronic illnesses encountered in primary care settings. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse drug reactions and contraindications will be discussed. Ethical and legal principles of writing prescriptions will also be covered. Students will synthesize research findings related to various medications using case study and discussion.

Prerequisites: Admission to graduate nursing and NURS 505, or consent of the instructor. F,S,SS.

This course emphasizes professional role development of the nurse practitioner. Students will compare and contrast the various roles of the nurse practitioner and evaluate those roles as they relate to the student's individual planned area of practice. The multi-dimensional role of the nurse practitioner as a clinician, advocate, educator and member of the health care team is explored from a historical and current perspective.

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate study. F,S,SS.

This course focuses on advanced practice nursing care of obstetric and pediatric clients within a primary care setting. Health promotion, health protection, and disease prevention are emphasized.

Prerequisites: NURS 522, NURS 523 and NURS 585, or consent of the instructor. F,S,SS.

This clinical practicum course provides the student with the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experience in the area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. A clinical/laboratory component is included.

Prerequisite: Completion of first year curriculum for the Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health or Gerontology specializations. Repeatable. S/U grading.

This clinical practicum course provides the student with the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experience in the area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. A clinical/laboratory component is included. Prerequisite: Completion of first year curriculum for the Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health or Gerontology specializations. Repeatable. S/U grading.

This clinical practicum course provides the student with the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experience in the area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. A clinical/laboratory component is included. Prerequisite: Completion of first year curriculum for the Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health or Gerontology specializations. Repeatable. S/U grading.

This course prepares you for advanced therapeutic communication, interviewing, and assessment of people with mental illness across the lifespan. Skills are developed in differential diagnoses of psychopathology within the scope and standards of advanced psychiatric mental health nursing practice. Clinical application is included.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the PMHNP program or permission of instructor. S.

This course emphasizes professional role development of the nurse practitioner. Students will compare and contrast the various roles of the nurse practitioner and evaluate those roles as they relate to the student's individual planned area of practice. The multi-dimensional role of the nurse practitioner as a clinician, advocate, educator and member of the health care team is explored from a historical and current perspective.

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate study. F,S,SS.

This course provides the advanced practice student with knowledge in the pharmacology of psychopathology across the life span. Emphasis will be placed on prescriptive practice, pharmacological science and therapeutic application of medications for psychiatric symptoms.

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate nursing or permission of instructor. F,S,SS.

This course provides the PMHNP student with knowledge and skill development in the implementation of evidence based clinical therapies and treatments focused on the individual, including cultural variations.

This course provides the PMHNP student with knowledge and skill development in the implementation of evidence based psychotherapeutic interventions with families and diverse groups. Opportunities for clinical implementation accompany the theoretical models.

This is the first of a two-course sequence that focuses on the management of individuals across the lifespan, groups and families with or affected by psychopathology. Continuity of care across settings and community are emphasized.

Prerequisites or Corequisites: NURS 564, NURS 584, and admission to the PMHNP program.

This is the second of a two-course sequence that focuses on the management of individuals across the lifespan, groups and families with or affected by psychopathology. Management of co-morbidities is emphasized.

Prerequisite or Corequisite: NURS 588. S.

This clinical practicum course provides the student with the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experience in the area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. A clinical/laboratory component is included.

Prerequisite: Completion of first year curriculum for the Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health specializations. Repeatable. S/U grading.

This clinical practicum course provides the student with the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experience in the area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. A clinical/laboratory component is included. Prerequisite: Completion of first year curriculum for the Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health specializations. Repeatable. S/U grading.

This clinical practicum course provides the student with the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experience in the area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. A clinical/laboratory component is included. Prerequisite: Completion of first year curriculum for the Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health specializations. Repeatable. S/U grading.