1. Graduate Nursing Core Courses

Theoretical Foundation for Advanced Practice Nursing, NURC-512 (3 credits didactic). This course is designed to facilitate transition into the advanced practice nursing roles. The course operationalizes the theoretical principles and norms within the area of advanced practice nursing. Emphasis is placed on selected nursing theories and other relevant theories, which provide the foundation to guide the student’s advanced nursing practice. Students are provided the opportunity to critique, evaluate, and utilize appropriate theory within advanced nursing practice.

Interdisciplinary Health Care Ethics, NURC-501 (2 credits Didactic). This course focuses on ethical concerns in the nurse-client relationship and current moral issues in nursing practice. Students examine the ethical decision making process and the ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Adaptive behaviors of professional nurses to current health care issues are also analyzed.

Cultural Diversity and Social Issues, NURC-509 (2 credits Didactic). This course is a comparative and analytical approach to the study of diverse religious and cultural groups and current social issues. The focus is on understanding and appreciating cultural diversity and social issues in health and illness. This course facilitates an understanding of the wide array of cultural influences, including ethnicity, race, religion, gender and age differences and how they impact on human behavior.

Health Care Policy, NURC-504 (2 credits Didactic). This course provides an overview of policy decisions related to organization, financing and delivery of health services. Emphasis is placed on the impact of socioeconomic, ethical and political forces that influence health care legislation and its effect on the health status of individuals, groups and communities. The influence of providers and consumers of health services government and special interest groups on health policy formulation and implementation is examined. Implications for professional nursing education and practice are discussed. Students are provided opportunities to become involved in the policy making process with respect to selected health issues.

Nursing Research: Theory and Practice, NURC-502 (4 credits Didactic). The course addresses the process of systematic inquiry that generates and tests theory, develops the knowledge base called nursing science, and evaluates the application of nursing science to clinical practice and educational activities. The focus is an in-depth analysis of all phases of the research process to apply research findings in practice, write a research proposal, for conducting research and implement a research project.

Thesis (NURC-605). This course consists of four credits which include guidance in the preparation of a thesis that meets the standards of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Nursing. Individualized instruction and guidance are tailored to meet the needs of the student in the major area. The student completes and defends the thesis. Prereq: NURC-502

Research Practicum (NURC-606). This four-credit course (taken as two two-credit courses) is the non-thesis option. The course is designed to provide a background for understanding advanced research methods, as well as active guidance in implementation of the research process from experienced researchers. Pre-req: NURC-502

2. Advanced Practice Nursing Core Courses

Advanced Health Assessment, NURP-605 (3 credits Didactic). The purpose of this course is to assist the student to develop the skills in health assessment consistent with advanced nursing practice for health evaluation, promotion and restoration. The Roy Adaptation Model and other selected theories, principles and techniques from the physical and behavioral sciences are utilized to obtain assessment data and make a differential diagnosis of patient complaints commonly encountered in primary care settings.

Advanced Pathophysiology, NURC-511 (3 credits Didactic). This course is designed to provide learning experiences and strategies that will assist the student in understanding advanced pathophysiological concepts. A major emphasis is on utilizing knowledge of physiological alterations and adaptations as a framework for clinical decision making in primary care across the life span. Prerequisite: undergraduate pathophysiology.

Pharmacotherapeutics in Primary Health Care, NURP-601 (3 credits Didactic). The emphasis of this course is on the clinical application of pharmacotherapeutics across the life span. The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs will be examined in great detail. Selected individual drugs involved in specific disease states within categories will be discussed as to indications, efficacy, therapeutic and adverse effects, drug and disease interactions, monitoring parameters, dosing principles, and cost comparisons. Knowledge of basic pathophysiology of disease will be examined. The analysis and interpretation of current research and clinical practice, client advocacy, client education, and potential contributions of nurses within a multidisciplinary health care team are included. Prereq: Undergraduate Pathophysiology.

3. Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Major Courses

The Family Nurse Practitioner clinical major consists of 20 credits of courses that are based on theory and research findings. Theory from the selected conceptual frameworks presented in Core courses is integrated in the clinical major. The courses in Primary Family Care focus on analysis and synthesis of theory and practice in health assessment and comprehensive management of individuals and families. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, physical diagnosis and treatment, maintenance and rehabilitative needs, risk reduction, and successful coping of individuals and families in various health states.

Family Primary Care of Children and Adolescents & Practicum, NURP-606 (4 credits: 3 Didactic and 1 Clinical credit). This course enables the student to begin to develop clinical competency as a Primary Family Health Nurse Practitioner. Foundational concepts will be integrated with nursing theory, research knowledge from other scientific disciplines to construct a framework for the delivery of primary care to the pediatric population utilizing critical thinking and the clinical decision making process. (3 hrs. didactic and 8 hrs. clinical practice per week) Prereqs: NURC-512, NURP-605, NURP-601, NURC-511

Family Primary Care of Women: Theory & Practicum, NURP-607 (4 credits: 3 Didactic and 1 Clinical). This course enables the further development of the Primary Family Nurse Practitioner. Emphasis is on the synthesis of the theories and concepts from nursing and other scientific disciplines to construct a framework that guides comprehensive assessment, interpretation of data, differential diagnosis, interventive strategies and evaluation. The focus is on the delivery of primary care to the adult female as a family member. (3 hrs. didactic and 8 hrs. clinical practice per week) Prereqs: NURC-512, NURP-605, NURP-601, NURC-511

Family Primary Care of Adults & Practicum, NURP-608 (4 credits: 3 Didactic and 1 Clinical). This course enables the further development of the Primary Family Health Nurse Practitioner. Emphasis is on the synthesis of the theories and concepts from nursing and other scientific disciplines to construct a framework that guides comprehensive assessment, interpretation of data, differential diagnosis, interventive strategies and evaluation. The focus is on the delivery of primary care for young and middle-aged adults as family members in primary care settings. (3 hrs. didactic and 8 hrs. clinical practice per week) Prereqs: NURC-512, NURP-605, NURP-601, NURC-511

Family Primary Care of Older Adults & Practicum, NURP-609 (4 credits: 3 Didactic and 1 Clinical). This course is designed to identify and analyze the multiple behaviors of the older adult along their health/illness/rehabilitation continuum through the end of life. Included in the course are cultural, ethnic and gender variations; age specific risk reductions, health promotion, maintenance, rehabilitation, and adaptation to chronic illness. Emphasis is also be on targeting the underserved elderly population.. (3 hrs. didactic and 8 hrs. clinical practice per week) Prereqs: NURC-512, NURP-605, NURP-601, NURC-511

Primary Family Nurse Practitioner Role Seminar and Practicum, NURR-610 (4 credits: 2 Didactic and 2 Clinical). The course includes seminar and preceptorship experience, which prepares the student for the role of the Primary Family Nurse Practitioner.). Emphasis is on concepts and theories related to the role, and their implications for professional practice. Included are collaborative practice, third party reimbursement, scope of practice, credentialing, and licensing topics. (2 hrs. didactic and 16 hrs. clinical practice per week) Prereqs: NURP-608, NURP-606, NURP-607, NURP-609

4. Electives
Students may select elective courses as time and interest dictate.

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