Nursing Department MSN Nursing Concentration (15 credits)

NUR 620 Role Theory and Development (3 credits)
Focuses on the role of the advanced practice nurse in the context of current and future health care realities. Domains of direct clinical practice, teaching and coaching, consultation and collaboration, research, nursing theory, leadership, professional role and ethical decision making will be examined. 

NUR 625 Health Care Policy and Politics (3 credits)
Focuses on the social, political, and economic factors that influence health policy decisions. Students will examine the legal, ethical, financial, and political foundations of the health care delivery system and its function as a social institution. The role of the nurse in advanced practice in influencing policy decisions and in addressing the needs of vulnerable and culturally diverse populations will be emphasized.

NUR 640 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
Builds on the undergraduate foundation in health assessment. Course content focuses on cultural competence, evidence based practice, and clinical decision making for the nurse in advanced practice. Course instruction includes didactic, laboratory, and interactive components.

NUR 655 Nursing Research (3 credits)
Expands on the research competencies developed in GEN 502. The theoretical foundations for nursing research will be explored utilizing theories of health promotion and the prevention of illness as examples. Integrated throughout the course is a focus on complex ethical issues inherent in the conduction of nursing research.

Pre-requisite: GEN 502

NUR 681 Clinical Practicum (1 credit theory; 2 credits of practicum)

The role, scope, and function of an advanced practice nurse are explored during a clinical practicum. In consultation with the faculty, students select a specialty area of nursing practice for the clinical component. In conjunction with role exploration, students also examine current research, trends in practice, and emerging technology related to their selected area. Pre-requisites: NUR620 & 640

NUR 674 Curriculum Theory and Application (3 credits)

Introduces students to traditional and contemporary approaches for curriculum planning and design as applied to nursing education. Historical, philosophical, social, political, economic, and professional issues that need to be considered in planning, evaluating, and changing curricula are examined.

NUR 675 Teaching Strategies (3 credits)

Examines the theory and methods of effective classroom and clinical teaching in nursing. Learning theory and teaching will be explored.

NUR 676 Measurement and Evaluation Strategies (3 credits)

Introduces the concepts and theories of measurement and evaluation with application to classroom and clinical nursing education. Techniques for constructing and analyzing appropriate testing measures are explored. Ethicsl, social, cultural, and legal issues related to evaluation are discussed.

NUR 683 Education Practicum (2 credits of theory; 1 credit practicum)

Focuses on the role of the nurse as an educator in the classroom and clinical setting. Case study methodology and analysis will examine challenges confronting the nurse educator. Students will explore and experience the role of the nurse educator during the teaching practicum. Pre-requisites: NUR 640, 681, 674, 675, & 676

NUR 670 Nursing Administration (3 credits)

Using professional standards and competencies as a framework, examines the roles, functions and responsibilities of a nurse administrator. Content focuses on principles of leadership and management, health care organizations and systems, and human resource management. Research related to administrative practice and contemporary issues that affect practice and roles of nurse administrators are examined.

NUR 684 Administration Practicum (2 credits of theory; 1 credit practicum)

Focuses on concepts and theories related to the management of financial resources, quality outcome management, and legal and ethical issues in relation to selected administrative functions of nurse administrators. Contemporary trends and issues affecting the role and function of the nurse administrators are also discussed. During the practicum experience, under the guideance of a master's prepared nurse administrator, students develop competencies in the nurse administrator role. Pre-requisites: 640, 670, 681, and ORG 610

NUR 690 Challenges and Solutions (3 credits)
In this final course in the student's educational program, students demonstrate synthesis of the knowledge gained from all previous graduate course work. During a filed experience, students identify, research, and analyze a critical issue related to their practice area. The students present their capstone project, an action research plan, to a professional audience.

Pre-requisite: Successful completion of all required courses

OR

NUR 691 – MSN: Challenges and Solutions (3 credits)
This is the final, culmination of all previous courses for the MSN students in Adult Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing. This course builds upon the theory and practice from Nurs 685-Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II. MSN students will have the opportunity to ethically and holistically practice: assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, and implementation of therapy with culturally diverse adults, groups, and families. Under the guidance of a masters prepared clinician, the MSN student will use research based interventions during a clinical experience of at least 200 hours and 25 hours of seminar/supervision. Using inquiry skills that are a reflection of the knowledge assimilated from all previous courses from within and outside of the nursing core, the student will prepare an evidenced based capstone paper that will address solutions to a problem from one of the clinical experiences. There will be a formal presentation of the capstone paper. Pre-requisite all required courses.

The following courses currently are offered in the MSN Program and will go on hiatus in Spring 2007.

NUR 642-Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Assists students to examine the cellular, organic and systematic influences that effect the health and wellness of culturally, diverse populations as they cross the life cycle.

NUR 644-Advanced Pharmacology (3)
Provides students with the pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacokinetics as they relate to specific diseases. Emphasis will be placed on prescribing and monitoring pharmacological regimes for culturally, diverse populations, across the life cycle.