Courses in Nursing (NUR)

M.S.N. Core Courses

NUR 6103 Professional Scholarship (0-0-3). Provides for the synthesis of previous knowledge into a framework for advanced practice. In collaboration with a graduate faculty member, the student contracts for a clinically focused scholarly activity which may include, but is not limited to, the following: the development/implementation/publication of a scholarly paper, special project, or grant proposal. Grading will be on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisites: Nursing 6313. May be taken concurrently with Nursing 6302.

NUR 6301 Design and Methodology of Quantitative and Qualitative Research (3-0-0). This course is designed to extend students’ knowledge of the research process as a basis for advanced nursing practice. Students explore the philosophy, logic and methods of both quantitative and qualitative research in clinical practice by focusing on the relations between research and clinical practice, the research process, and both experimental and non-experimental designs. This course prepares students to critically evaluate published research, and to utilize research findings to guide practice, select interventions, evaluate course outcomes and identify problems to be addressed by future research.

NUR 6313 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing (3-0-0). This course is designed to extend the learner’s knowledge of nursing theory as a basis for advanced nursing practice with individuals and aggregates in a multi-cultural society. This course examines philosophical and theoretical bases underlying concepts and operations essential to nursing. Theories from other disciplines are considered for their influence on the development of nursing theory and on the practice of nursing. Students will analyze, compare, and evaluate selected theories utilized in advanced nursing practice.

NUR 6317 Health Policy and Ethics (3-0-0). This course is designed to explore external and internal forces that impact on the delivery of health care. Content focuses on historical, current, and predicted health care policies formulated at the local, state, and national levels. Health care delivery models, economics, ethical issues, and emerging roles of professional nursing practice are examined. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

NUR 6318 Pharmacotherapeutics (3-0-0). This course focuses on the study of advanced pharmacologic principles of drug therapy used by nurses in advanced practice.

NUR 6324 Advanced Pathophysiology (3-0). A study of the function of the human body as it is altered by and responds to disease, including disease manifestations, mechanisms of disease production and response, and the physiological basis of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This course provides coverage of human diseases organized by the body system that they affect. Prerequisites: Biology 3324 or equivalent.

NUR 6331 Advanced Health Assessment (2-0-3). This course presents the theoretical and clinical principles of advanced health assessment supported by related clinical experiences for the advanced practice nursing student to gain the knowledge and skills needed to perform comprehensive assessments to acquire data, make diagnoses of health status and formulate effective clinical management plans of patients with common, acute, and chronic health issues. A 45-clock hour practicum provides opportunities to practice advanced health assessment skills. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

NUR 6356 Statistical Analysis in Health Care Research (3-0-0). Examines applications of statistical concepts to data collected in health care research. Topics will include basic descriptive measures; sampling and sample size estimation; testing for differences between means, correlation, and measures of association; techniques for analyzing categorical data; and summarizing and presenting statistical results. The use of computer packages for assisting in data analysis will be emphasized throughout the course.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
(Family Nurse Practitioner) Courses

NUR 6105 Advanced Skills for Advanced Practice Nurses (0-3-0). This course focuses on the development of essential advanced practice nursing skills to perform procedures in primary care practice. Diagnostic methods and procedures for patients of all ages will be included in an on-campus 45 hour lab. Prerequisites: Nursing 6318, 6324, 6331.

NUR 6325 Family Primary Care I (3-0-0). Focus on the transition from RN to Family Nurse Practitioner in the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan in a primary care setting. As a provider of family centered care, emphasis is placed on health promotion, risk reduction and evidence-based management of common symptoms and problems. Nursing’s unique contribution to patient care and collaboration with other health care professionals is emphasized.

NUR 6326 Family Primary Care II (3-0-0). Focus is on the progression in the role of the Family Nurse Practitioner in the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan in a primary care setting. As a provider of family centered care, emphasis is placed on health promotion, risk reduction, and evidence-based management of more complex symptoms and problems. Nursing’s unique contribution to patient care and collaboration with other health care professionals is emphasized.

NUR 6327 Family Care I Practicum (0-0-9). A guided clinical experience providing the opportunity to apply family centered primary care related to health promotion and evidence-based diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students complete a minimum of 140 clock hours of practicum.

NUR 6335 Role Development: The Advanced Practice Nurse (3-0-0). This course provides the student with information regarding theory and application of the multiple roles of the advanced practice nurse within the health care system. Environment of change, conflict resolution, professional collaboration, clinical practice outcome measurement will be discussed.

NUR 6336 Family Care II Practicum (0-0-9). A guided clinical experience in the progression of the role of providing family centered primary care related to heal promotion and evidence-based diagnosis and management of common and complex acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students complete a minimum of 140 clock hours of practicum.

NUR 6337 Integrated Clinical Practice: FNP (0-0-9). A guided clinical experience to synthesize skills acquired and to refine abilities in primary family centered care related to health promotion and the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students have the opportunity to refine evidence-based pathophysiological and psychosocial interventions, theories, and concepts of care. Students complete a minimum of 200 clock hours of practicum. Graded pass “P” or fail “F.”

NUR 6350 Foundations of Health Promotion for Individuals and Communities (2-0-3). This course focuses on the advanced practice nurse’s role in promoting health across the lifespan and at multiple levels. Emphasis is on the integration of skills to develop competence in the teaching-coaching function of the advanced practice nurse. Explores various models of health promotion and early disease detection and the application of health promotion strategies. Epidemiology and the transmission of disease will also be discussed. Students complete 45 clock hours of practicum. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing.

NUR 6351 Mental Health Concepts for Advanced Practice Nurses (2-0-3). This course focuses on the development of advanced practice nursing skills in mental health. Specifically, the application of evidence-based knowledge and critical thinking skills in providing clinical management of individuals with common psychiatric-mental health problems across all age groups. Development assessment, crisis intervention, pharmacological management, and therapies are discussed as well as consultation and referral to other mental health professionals. (45 hour clinical practicum.) 

Nurse Educator Courses

NUR 6306 Teaching Strategies in Nursing Education (3-0-0). This course is designed to explore the knowledge and competencies needed to develop and apply innovative strategies and technologies in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. Strategies for distance and web-based learning are also addressed.

NUR 6307 Evaluation in Nursing Education (3-0-0). This course focuses on knowledge and skills needed to design and evaluate tests and scales constructed to measure academic achievement. Practical components of test item construction, essay evaluation, and clinical/laboratory performance evaluation are incorporated. This course also focuses on the essential components of academic program evaluation, including outcomes assessment and accreditation processes and procedures.

NUR 6308 Practicum in Nursing Education (0-0-9). A guided experience where the student, with faculty supervision, will teach in selected situations including classroom, laboratory, and clinical facilities. In addition, students will also have practical experiences in web-based and distance learning. Students will design, implement, and evaluate teaching strategies related to identified educational outcomes. The student will complete a 115 clock-hour practicum. Prerequisites: Nursing 6319, 6306.

NUR 6319 Curriculum and Instruction in Nursing Education (3-0-0). This course explores the nature of curriculum development in higher education based on educational theories and principles. It focuses on the development of curricula for a variety of academic programs in nursing education and the design of teaching and learning strategies for their implementation and evaluation. Factors influencing curriculum, student, faculty, and administrator roles are explored.

Registered Nurse First Assistant Courses

NUR 6309 Role of the RNFA (3-0-0). This course focuses on the role of the advanced practice nurse as a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA). The content utilizes the RNFA Core Curriculum to introduce the advanced practice nurse to the operating room environment and to the RNFA role. Emphasis is placed on surgical anatomy and physiology, principles of asepsis, surgical hazards, first assisting techniques, and scope of practice.

NUR 6401 RNFA Practicum (0-0-12). A guided clinical experience to acquire skills to function as a first assistant in surgery. Students will engage in supervised clinical activities and complete a surgical first assisting log. Case studies and independent learning activities will be required. Four semester credit hours will be received for validated documentation of 180 clock hours of internship in a clinical setting.

Additional Offerings

NUR 6381 Special Topics (3-0). A seminar in selected topics in nursing. (May be repeated once for credit when topic varies.)

NUR 6391 Research. Individual research in nursing. (May be repeated once for credit. Prior approval of instructor and department head required.)