Graduate Courses

This course covers the statistical and quantitative tools for conducting basic research in the healthcare environment. It introduces selecting appropriate research design, evaluating reliability and validity of measures, and planning appropriate statistical analysis. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability distribution, hypothesis testing, and extensive treatment of inferential statistics. Microsoft Excel is the tool of analysis for the course.

Knowledge development will be explored for understanding the basis of theories in nursing and theories complimentary to nursing for effective leadership within microsystems. The process of theory building will be critiqued and analyzed. Meta-theory as well as mid-range theories of nursing and leadership will be studied to refine and enhance theory-guided practice.

This course focuses on the role development of the nurse practitioner as an advanced practice nurse prepared at the Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree level. Key aspects of the role will be examined including historical, legal, ethical, social, and policy aspects. Topics such as hallmark competencies, professional behaviors, financial relationships will also be included.

Introduces key concepts of population health nursing and prepares students to apply concepts and processes of population health nursing in a multicultural community setting, while emphasizing vulnerable populations. Clinical engages students working with community partners to identify and utilize community assets to meet population needs. Includes 90 clinical hours.

This course serves as the theoretical foundation for coordinating and providing nursing care to a variety of populations and families across multiple care settings. Various assessment tools and intervention strategies for population and family health will be examined in practice with populations and families sharing common health and illness phenomena.

Students explore how families experience and manage life and health transitions, promote the health of their family and its members and what resources families use/need to maintain balance and function. The family nurse role is explored and practiced through assessments of families, written reflections, and discussions that facilitate the application of theory.

Course focuses on nursing management of adults experiencing physiological health care problems across practice settings using theory, evidence, and critical reasoning. Students will demonstrate efficient time management, prudent use of resources, client advocacy, and actions that promote client safety and quality of care. Includes 90 hours of clinical. Fee: $200.

This course presents evidence-based approaches to assessment and fundamental nursing therapeutics of diverse adult clients through laboratory, seminar, and clinical experiences. Students will integrate evidence, client values, diversity and evaluation of outcomes to organize, revise, and prioritize care. Fee: $175.

Pathophysiology focuses on the theoretical bases and manifestations of responses to pathophysiology, both effective and ineffective, with an emphasis on the individual.

Principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics are examined in relation to drug therapy. Drug therapy is presented as an integral component of nursing practice. Application of nursing pharmacology knowledge is made to clients with selected health and illness problems.

Using the nursing program outcomes, students explore the discipline of nursing. Students will study the historical development, clinical reasoning, theoretical base, ways of knowing, and relationship of nursing to the health care system. Legal and ethical boundaries of nursing will be introduced. Students study communication theory and learn ways to communicate effectively as a nurse.

Course focuses on providing nursing care to clients experiencing complex multi-system physiological problems across trajectory of illness. Emphasis on integration of evidence, clinical decision-making, theories in delivery of client-centered care to diverse adult populations. Students develop mastery in planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care. Includes 135 clinical hours.

Focuses on the nursing care of clients with acute or chronic mental illnesses. Promotion, maintenance, and restoration of mental health throughout the lifespan are addressed. Professional, legal, and ethical issues in psychiatric mental health nursing are examined. Includes 90 hours of clinical experience.

This course is designed to provide students with the advanced pathophysiology base required for managing disease processes across the life span. Focus is on pathophysiological principles with application to selected clinical examples.

Course focuses on the development of clinical decision making skills related to physical diagnosing during the process of health assessment. The advanced health assessment process includes appropriate histories, physical exams, labs/diagnostic testing, use of screening tools, diagnosing physical variations and abnormalities, identification of health needs, and documentation for multiple client presentations across the lifespan. Includes 45 hours of lab.

Students use multiple theoretical frameworks to explore how families experience and manage life and health transitions, engage in health promotion, and access resources families use and need to maintain balance during health transitions. The role advanced practice family nursing is examined. Opportunities for application of theory will be provided through family assessment, case studies, essays, guest speakers and discussion/group presentation.

This course covers the assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults with acute and simple chronic illnesses within a family context. The focused work-up format will be used with an emphasis on differential diagnosing. Includes 180 hours of clinical experience.

This course addresses pediatric clients with acute and chronic conditions. Beginning with growth, development, and anticipatory guidance for well children, the course incorporates further assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic conditions in children and adolescents. Includes 120 hours of clinical experience.

This course is designed to provide the AEM UP student with leadership knowledge and skills needed to function effectively in complex environments as a visionary, socially responsible leader. Emphasis is on the use of best practices, self-assessment, and multiple approaches to influence and impact health care delivery and policy.

This course addresses female clients and their gender specific care needs. Beginning with the well-woman and preventive care practice, the course incorporates further assessment, diagnosis, and management of common gynecological conditions and contraceptive needs. Specific management issues will include caring for the pregnant, peri-menopausal, and menopausal client and their unique health care needs. Includes 120 hours of clinical experience.

This course is to provide a synthesis of the student's nursing science, research, and clinical courses through a guided writing experience culminating in a program grant.

This course covers the assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults and older adults with complex and chronic illnesses. The expanded work-up format will be used and will include self-management, living with chronic illness, and multiple treatment modalities. Best practices for chronic illness care will be emphasized. Includes 180 hours of clinical experience.

Final comprehensive clinical management experience allows students to apply knowledge gained throughout course of study. Students will engage in management of elderly and intensive experience with rural or urban underserved clients, or with clients of a different cultural group. Seminar sessions provided to discuss role issues. Includes 190 hours of precepted clinical experiences.

Students demonstrate achievement of University core competencies and School of Nursing Program Outcomes in a 180 hour clinical immersion with a clinical preceptor(s). Provides opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills in practice as a confident, competent beginning professional nurse. Evaluations completed by clinical faculty and preceptor.

First of a two course sequence, this course explores the logic, methods of research, and statistical analysis for evaluating evidence based care in a variety of settings. This course examines a variety of research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and statistical analyses used in quality assurance, clinical research, epidemiology, and outcomes research.

This course is the second in a two-course sequence, which explores the logic, methods of research and statistical analysis for evaluating evidence based care in a variety of settings.

This course is designed to provide family nurse practitioner students with a biopsychosocial base for managing conditions unique to and prevalent in men. Students will be prepared to apply theories of the biological sciences and theories of masculinity in developing and implementing gender appropriate strategies to address men's health and men's health policy.

This course focuses on the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader in health care delivery systems. Content includes issues of nursing leadership, advanced nursing practice including advocacy, social justice, ethics and cultural care. Students will design a professional portfolio to guide professional development.

Students will be introduced to several complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies (Oriental, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and naturopathic medicine; energy healing, herbal, and spiritual concepts of healing). In addition, there will be discussion and evaluation of how these practices are used by the general public, medicine and nursing to promote general health and treat common diseases.

This course builds on content and outcomes from NRS 516 (Professional Role Development I). The course will expand the student's knowledge of communication theory, with additional focus on interpersonal communication, assertive and responsible communication and conflict resolution. Ethical and legal issues in nursing will be examined and applied to practice.

This course focuses on the assessment and appropriate diagnosis of mental heath conditions encountered in the primary care setting. Emphasis is on differentiating between referral to a mental health professional or management by the family nurse practitioner. Approaches to maintain the safety of clients, their families, and the health care setting will be included. Includes 60 hours of clinical experience.

This clinical course focuses on the well individual and family. Knowledge and skills from NRS 520: Health Assessment for Advanced Practice will be applied through screening and health exam opportunities in settings such as schools, Head Start preschools, occupational sites, senior centers and migrant clinics. Includes 30 hours of clinical experience. Fee: $55

Introduces principles of learning and teaching to prepare the advanced practice nurse to educate patients, nursing staff, and higher education students. Learning theory, educational philosophy, models of teaching, and the purposes and methods for assessment of learning will be introduced. Students will complete a teaching project/practicum.

This course is designed to provide a conceptual understanding of the policy making process and the political context of contemporary health and social policy in the United States. The focus is on acquiring skills to assess policy dimensions of clinical practice issues, translate them into feasible policy, and advocate for them within the policy arena.

AEM UP students integrate previous knowledge into a specialized knowledge base of maternal-child nursing. Normal physiological and disease processes are examined within the family as context, emphasizing health promotion and health maintenance. Family focused nursing care to childbearing and childrearing families will be delivered in acute care and community based clinical settings. Includes 90 clinical hours.

This course explores the logic and methods of research and statistical analysis for use in clinical practice. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are included. Students will select, use, and interpret qualitative and quantitative (statistical) analysis for addressing clinical nursing problems.

Students use nursing and organizational science to understand complex organizational structures and system issues. Students will apply principles and strategies of practice management to improve practice environments, facilitate change, ensure patient safety, and foster ongoing quality improvement outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on working in collaborative interprofessional teams.

Students acquire knowledge and skills in the translation of research into clinical practice. The purpose of translational research is to translate research findings into clinical applications and use clinical observations to generate research foci for nursing research. Translational research is the bridge from discovery to delivery. Students identify practice problems, critically evaluate the evidence to improve practice and propose solutions.

First of three guided practica courses for the nurse educator, in advanced clinical concepts and the role of nursing in providing evidenced based care to facilitate positive health outcomes. Students will develop advanced clinical nursing skills in medical-surgical, pediatrics, geriatrics, perinatal or community nursing. Includes approximately 90 clinical hours.

Second of three guided practica courses for the nurse educator, in advanced clinical concepts and the role of nursing in providing evidenced based care to facilitate positive health outcomes. Students will develop advanced clinical nursing skills in medical-surgical, pediatrics, geriatrics, perinatal or community nursing. Includes approximately 90 clinical hours.

Third of three guided practica courses for the nurse educator, in advanced clinical concepts and the role of nursing in providing evidenced based care to facilitate positive health outcomes. Students will develop advanced clinical nursing skills in medical-surgical, pediatrics, geriatrics, perinatal or community nursing. Includes approximately 90 clinical hours.

Students will refine self-appraisal and professional development skills necessary for optimal transition into professional nursing practice. The NCLEX test plan and comprehensive predictor exams will provide the foundation for assessment of learner readiness. Students will be required to discuss how they have met all UPSON program outcomes.

Provides students with theories, practices and research from management and human resources needed to effectively manage personal, personnel, and material resources in a clinical microsystem. Effects of macro societal trends on healthcare fiscal management and health economics explored. Strategic implications and skill building to manage risk and increase productively and efficiency emphasized.

Synthesizes communication research and theory for application to practice. Students will explore strategies to enhance their abilities to communicate effectively within the health care system and produce positive health outcomes. Course content focuses on interpersonal health care contexts, communication in organizational and group health care contexts, and managing friction in health care interactions.

Provides students with an introduction to informatics in a microsystem environment. Three major areas that will be covered are introduction to informatics theory and concepts, clinical information systems, and consumer health informatics.

Provides nurses in advanced nursing with scientific methods such as epidemiology to study health events in groups of people. Population theories including ecological theory, health behavior, and other substantive theories will be applied. Assessment tools and intervention strategies for health of selected populations who share common health and illness phenomena will be examined.

This course integrates principles of pharmacology and advanced pathophysiology as the base for nursing management of disease processes and clinical application of pharmacology. This course includes a review of integrated health assessment building upon undergraduate skills. Includes 45 hours of skills lab.

This course is designed to provide students with the advanced pathophysiological foundation required for understanding diseases across the life span. Focus is on the pathophysiological concepts that contribute to various diseases and how humans respond to these processes.

This course is a continuation of NRS 571 Pathophysiology and it continues to explore pathophysiological processes that contribute to diseases across the lifespan and how humans respond to these processes. Focus is on selected pathophysiological processes commonly encountered in advanced nursing practice.

Advanced pharmacology and clinical application of drugs commonly prescribed by nurse practitioners in primary care settings, including drug selection, dosing, monitoring, evaluation, and client education. Examines nurse practitioner role as prescriber.

Application of advanced knowledge of pharmacology in the care of clients across the life span. Includes pharmacology, clinical use and dosing, monitoring parameters, outcome evaluation, and patient education for nurse educators.

This course is designed to explore conceptual understandings of integrative health care and its place within a conventional or allopathic health care system. Historical and cultural perspectives of nursing and healing are explored and the concepts of health and healing are analyzed for application to advanced nursing practice with a focus on integrative health.

Students will explore a variety of integrative health care approaches, including but not limited to oriental medicine, acupuncture, Ayurveda, naturopathy, homeopathy, chiropractic and osteopathy, to enhance patient care through the integrative heath care practices. Emphasis in this course is on understanding the framework and beliefs that drive each integrative heath care approach.

Students learn clinical indications, potential risks and how to access evidence-based information about nutrition, herbs and dietary supplements. Exploration of conceptual approaches to nutrition, herbal therapy and botanical science. Emphasis on evaluating and educating patients regarding nutrition, herbs and supplements. Competency development in communicating with other health professionals, documenting and the reporting adverse events.

Students will explore psychoneuroimmunology and other bodies of evidence that link mind and body in health and disease. Healing interventions such as massage, dance, yoga, meditation, art therapy, hypnosis, aromatherapy, music therapy, Tai Chi/Qi Gong, therapeutic touch, etc. will be explored.

This course is designed to establish the holistic foundations of integrative health from the perspective of those who pursue complementary/alternative therapies and to foster understanding integrative health through personal self-care practices as a laboratory for exploration.

Students will explore evidence for the efficacy of complementary/alternative therapies through research review and actual observation of complementary/alternative therapy practitioners in the clinical setting.

Building upon NRS 585 and NRS 586, students will envision, in detail, the implementation of integrative practice within their preferred clinical setting.

This residency is devoted to the integration and demonstration of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program competencies for Post-Masters NP students. Students will demonstrate the most advanced level of NP practice and the application of DNP competencies within their personal NP practice and at the macrosystem level. Taught across 2 semesters (Fall/Spring.) Course approved for IP grade. Includes 360 residency hours. Fee: $55.

Provides framework to evaluate effectiveness of programs, appropriateness of research in providing evidence-based care, and effectiveness of healthcare interventions. Explores conceptual, methodological, organizational, and ethical problems facing nursing, focusing on research analysis and utilization, program evaluation, outcomes research, and use of data. Includes statistical applications. Students must have basic knowledge of research and statistics.

In the semesters in which they are offered, topical electives will cover a variety of subject matter areas as deemed appropriate by the graduate faculty to augment the graduate curriculum in nursing.

Focuses on clinical outcomes management, assessment of the microsystem, identifying a patient care problem and developing a project to address that problem. Projects integrate best practices, principles of leadership and negotiation, information systems to evaluate patient outcomes, and theories of organizational behavior in project design. Includes 100 clinical hours. Fee: $55.

This clinical course assists the CNL candidate to advance his/her practice in the achievement of client outcomes of quality management, risk reduction, and patient safety. The focus of the CNL project this semester is to implement the plan developed in previous courses. Includes 100 hours of clinical experience.

The student refines his/her operationalization of the clinical nurse leader competencies and professional role during this comprehensive clinical management experience. The focus of the CNL project this semester is evaluating the project and disseminating the outcomes of the project. Includes 300 hours of clinical.

The expectation of this course is the completion of a scholarly project in the student's clinical specialty area aimed at improving practice. Projects will meet NONPF Recommended Criteria for NP Scholarly Projects in the Practice Doctorate Program. The course will include 16 hours of seminar. May be repeated for a maximum of 2 credit hours.

This residency prepares DNP students for independent, entry-level FNP practice. Clinical expectations include successful application of previous NP specialty and integrative health courses and progression of clinical knowledge and competencies with increasingly complex client situations. Students also will demonstrate integration and application of DNP program competencies. Includes 360 clinical hours. Fee: $55.