MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner Program

This course explores and analyzes theories and propositions from social, psychological, medical, nursing, and interpersonal relations as a foundation to understanding research, practice, and scholarship in nursing. This is a three credit hour course.

This course is designed to further nursing science through knowledge utilization and the testing of evidence-based research. The students will be given the opportunity to apply evidence-based research methods to nursing problems identified in their practice. Inductive and deductive approaches will be explored. The focus of this course is on acquiring knowledge and understanding of research reported in the literature, critique findings, and applying to practice. This is a three credit hour course.

The principles and theories germane to leadership will be explored in relation to complex organizations and the development of leadership styles and policy making within Microsystems, mesosystems, and macrosystems to transform those healthcare systems. Course content will include continuous quality improvement models, processes, and tools to measure outcomes in a healthcare facility. Emphasis will be placed on the political, demographic, and economic forces that influence the development of health policy and professional nursing practice. Ethical and legal dimensions of nursing practice and interprofessional relationships at advanced level will be explored. This is a three credit hour course.

This course focuses on pathophysiological processes across the lifespan and the development of clinical reasoning skills that distinguish the relationships between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by injury and disease. Particular attention will be given to etiology, pathogenesis, developmental and environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems.

This is a three credit hour course.

This course provides the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in the therapeutic use of pharmacologic agents. The pharmacologic treatment of major health problems will be explored. Principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics will be examined. The effects of culture, ethnicity, age, pregnancy, gender and funding on pharmacologic therapy will be emphasized. Legal aspects of prescribing will be fully addressed. This is a three credit hour course.

This course will build upon health assessment skills developed in the professional nurse’s basic educational program. The theoretical and clinical basis for assessment in advanced nursing practice will be developed. The process whereby the advanced practitioner utilizes comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment across the lifespan to gather specific data relevant to common health problems is demonstrated. Faculty and preceptors facilitate laboratory and clinical experiences, which focus on assessment of clients and presentation of findings in a variety of settings. This course will require 27 hours of precepted patient care hours practicing the didactic content across the lifespan. This is a three credit hour course.

This course will provide didactic and hands-on practice with the advanced skills needed in primary care. This class requires nine simulation/lab hours on campus or alternative location. The course is a one credit course.