Graduate Courses

Scientific underpinnings from a variety of disciplines will be explored as they apply to the scholarship and practice of advanced nursing practice. Theoretical foundations of nursing and related disciplines will be applied to enhance health and healthcare delivery in a variety of settings among diverse populations.

Analytical methods will be examined to appraise multiple sources of evidence to determine its applicability for translating the evidence into practice to improve health outcomes and health delivery systems. Epidemiological concepts, statistical analyses and appraisal processes are foundational for this course.

Quality improvement concepts, principles, models and strategies used to improve processes for healthcare delivery and quality of health outcomes will be explored.  The process of new program development and evaluation will be examined.

This course focuses on complexities of healthcare organizational systems and their impact on approaches to care delivery and relativeness to quality and safety outcomes. Principles of organizational culture, resource management and organizational policy will be explored.

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

This course provides an overview of the nurse educator role in both the academic and clinical settings.  NLN Nurse Educator Competencies and education models are examined.  Students examine trends and issues in nursing education and for the nursing professoriate and staff developer.  Students design a professional portfolio to guide personal professional development.

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 design a professional portfolio to guide professional development.

This course is the first of two in which students prepare, and refine components of the Clinical Nurse Leader Scholarly Project. Students will assemble three sections of the scholarly project (introduction/background, literature review, and methods) demonstrating scholarly writing principles.

In this final Scholarly Project course, students implement and evaluate their scholarly project within the clinical practicum setting. Students will disseminate the Clinical Nurse Leader Scholarly Project in various formats, demonstrating effective oral presentation skills and scholarly writing principles.

The influence of healthcare and other policies on organizations and the nursing profession will be analyzed from multiple perspectives including, ethical, social justice, financial and professional impact. The process of policy formation will be examined and applied. The roles of advocate and political activist in promoting innovative and just policies will be fostered.

This course addresses the application and critical impact of informatics on healthcare delivery and healthcare systems. Health information systems and technology to improve health outcomes and approaches to healthcare delivery will be examined. Current and potential future issues that impact the role and use of informatics and technology in healthcare will be analyzed.

Chronic care models, the role of care coordinator, and care coordination activities will be examined. Students will apply care coordination activities to improve population health, the patient’s experience and cost of care, and recommend policy, practice, and system changes for quality improvement. Includes 100 clinical hours. Fee: $55

This course provides the physiological processes related to symptoms and functional problems associated with select illnesses and the pharmacotherapy to treat select chronic illnesses. Symptoms and functional problems related to the pharmacotherapy will be examined. Students will be prepared to use this knowledge to provide evidenced-based care management.

This course provides the principles, knowledge and skills to obtain health histories and focused symptom assessment, and to perform assessment techniques to identify risk behaviors, symptoms and functional problems as a basis to design evidence-based culturally relevant clinical prevention and health promotion interventions for populations with select illnesses.

This course examines principles of adult learning and learner-centered teaching. Students explore learning theories, learning styles, teaching methods to address diverse learning needs, and information technology supporting the teaching-learning process. Evidence-based educational strategies and critical self-reflection on teaching practices will be incorporated.

Policymaking and related challenges faced by educational leaders will be examined. Emotional intelligence and self-reflection, foundational concepts to effectively create a collegial educational environment, will be explored. Theories, approaches and principles to lead teams, coach, and mentor individuals will be emphasized.

Learner-centered assessment and evaluation approaches based on theory-guided and evidence-based practices will comprise the focus of the course. Current and future trends for learner assessment and evaluation in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains will be highlighted.

Students participate in clinical teaching including simulation activities and assume leadership for evaluating student and staff learning. Students will develop, implement and evaluate a learning module based on an assessment of need and the learning environment. Includes 100 clinical hours.

The design, implementation and evaluation of curricula and learning programs will be explored. Students examine principles of course design, construction, sequencing and leveling that yield effective attainment of end-of-program outcomes. Program indicators for quality and compliance with educational standards will be examined.

In the academic setting, students plan, implement and evaluate teaching strategies, learning activities and assessment methods for selected topics including a chronic illness topic. Students teach in the classroom, lab, and simulation settings. Critical reflection on teaching practices and recommendations for practice improvement are made. Includes 150 clinical hours.

This course is the first of two in which students prepare and refine components of the Nurse Educator Scholarly Project. Students will assemble three sections of the scholarly project (background, literature review, and methods) demonstrating scholarly writing principles.

In this final scholarly project course, students implement and evaluate their scholarly project within the academic practicum setting. Students will disseminate the Nurse Educator Scholarly Project in various formats, demonstrating effective oral presentation skills and scholarly writing principles.

Focuses on clinical outcomes management and assessment of the microsystem to apply best practices, principles of leadership and negotiation, and information systems in a healthcare organization. The CNL practica includes the site for planning and implementing the CNL scholarly project. 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. 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.

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.

This course focuses on the role development of the nurse practitioner as an advanced practice nurse prepared at the doctor of nursing practice degree level. Historical, legal, ethical, social, and policy aspects of the role will be examined. Topics such as hallmark competencies, professional behaviors, financial relationships with health systems and interdisciplinary relationships also will be included. Fee: $80

This course provides the theoretical and practical foundation that guides the formation of a DNP-prepared leader. Leadership theories and processes will be appraised for applicability within a complex healthcare environment. Factors that impact the leader’s ability to design and evaluate safe, quality, cost-effective care will be analyzed. The development of personal leadership will be explored.

The focus of this course is on family as client for family nurse practitioner students. Students will examine theories regarding the family unit with attention to how families experience and manage life and health transitions, engage in health promotion behaviors, and access resources needed to maintain balance during transitions. Application to the DNP prepared FNP role will be emphasized.

Scientific underpinnings from a variety of disciplines will be explored as they apply to the scholarship and practice of advanced nursing practice. Theoretical foundations of nursing and related disciplines will be applied to enhance health and healthcare delivery in a variety of settings among diverse populations.

Analytical methods will be examined to appraise multiple sources of evidence to determine its applicability for translating the evidence into practice to improve health outcomes and health delivery systems. Epidemiological concepts, statistical analyses and appraisal processes are foundational for this course.

Quality improvement concepts, principles, models and strategies used to improve processes for healthcare delivery and quality of health outcomes will be explored. The process of new program development and evaluation will be examined.

This course is designed to provide students with the advanced pathophysiological foundation required for understanding diseases and genetic implications across the lifespan. Focus will be placed on key pathophysiologic processes common to many diseases, specific pathophysiologic processes underlying diseases commonly encountered by nurse practitioners, and the human biopsychosocial response to these processes. Fee: $60

This course focuses on the clinical application of pharmacotherapeutics commonly prescribed by nurse practitioners in primary care settings, including drug selection, dosing, monitoring, evaluation, and patient education. This course examines the nurse practitioner role as prescriber.

This course explores the clinical indications, potential risks, and evidence for alternative approaches to herbal and dietary supplement therapies. Conceptual approaches to herbal therapy and botanical medicine are explored. Emphasis is on the safety of herbs and supplements.

This course focuses on the development of clinical decision making skills related to physical diagnosing. 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 patient presentations across the lifespan. Fee: $150

This course focuses on complexities of healthcare organizational systems and their impact on approaches to care delivery and relativeness to quality and safety outcomes. Principles of organizational culture, resource management and organizational policy will be explored.

In this clinical course students apply the principles of patient/family assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults with acute and simple chronic illnesses.  The focused work-up format is used with an emphasis on differential diagnosis.
Students complete 180 hours of supervised clinical experience. (Graded on a P/NP basis.)

In this clinical course students build on the competencies of FNP Clinical I and incorporate assessment, management and referral of patients with acute or chronic mental illness and management of conditions specific to gender (i.e. pregnancy and lactation). Students complete 120 hours of supervised clinical experience. (Graded on a P/NP basis.)

In this clinical course students build on the competencies of FNP Clinical I and II and apply the principles of patient/family assessment, diagnosis, and management of common acute and chronic conditions in pediatric patients. Focus is placed on clinical evaluation of pediatric growth and development, providing anticipatory guidance for well-children and adolescents. Includes 120 hours of supervised clinical experience. (Graded on a P/NP basis.)

In this clinical course students build on the competencies from FNP clinical I, II and III to apply the principles of assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults and older adults with complex and chronic illness. The expanded work-up format is used and includes assessments of self-management, living w/chronic illness, and interprofessional treatment modalities. Includes 180 hours of supervised clinical experience. (Graded on a P/NP basis.)

The influence of healthcare and other policies on organizations and the nursing profession will be analyzed from multiple perspectives including, ethical, social justice, financial and professional impact. The process of policy formation will be examined and applied. The roles of advocate and political activist in promoting innovative and just policies will be fostered.

This course addresses the application and critical impact of informatics on healthcare delivery and healthcare systems. Health information systems and technology to improve health outcomes and approaches to healthcare delivery will be examined. Current and potential future issues that impact the role and use of informatics and technology in healthcare will be analyzed.

The development, implementation and evaluation of health promotion/illness prevention programs and interventions for populations at the microsystem level are the foci of this course. Analysis of epidemiological and research data related to populations, concepts of public health including environmental, occupational health and disaster preparedness and determinants of health are examined as essential components of programs for population health.

The DNP project represents scholarship of practice in nursing for DNP students. Knowledge and skills from prior DNP courses and new knowledge on translational research and implementation and dissemination sciences are foundational for the scholarly product. This is the first of three courses guiding the scholarly product towards microsystem practice change that impacts health outcomes for populations.

Students work with an assigned UP faculty advisor as they apply knowledge from previous DNP courses in the development of a practice change initiative. Students engage in the initial steps of a practice change project working with an identified mentor at their consenting chosen care organization to complete a proposal for the practice change intervention.

This course continues the process of the practice improvement project as described in the Practice Improvement Project I course. Emphasis will be on the implementation, evaluation and sustainability aspects of the process.

This course continues the process of the practice improvement project as described in the Practice Improvement Project I and II courses. Emphasis will be on the dissemination of the practice change project and findings.

This course covers the assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults with acute conditions within a family context. The focused work-up format will be used with an emphasis on differential diagnosing. Fee: $100

This course addresses gender specific healthcare needs. Biological sciences and gender theories will be examined in developing and implementing appropriate health strategies. This course includes preventative care practices, assessment, diagnosis and management of common gender specific conditions.

This course focuses on the assessment and appropriate diagnosis of mental health conditions encountered in the primary care setting. Emphasis is on differentiating between appropriate referral to a mental health professional or management by the family nurse practitioner. Safety, ethical, legal and policy issues will be examined.

This course addresses well child and adolescent healthcare as well as the assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic conditions. Integrative perspectives for facilitating wellness, restoration of health, and the management of chronic and acute conditions in children and adolescents will also be explored.

This course covers the assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults and older adults with complex and chronic conditions. 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 care management will be emphasized.

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 competency with increasingly complex patient situations. Students will demonstrate integration and application of DNP program competencies. Includes 360 clinical hours.

This course explores integrative perspectives for facilitating wellness, restoration of health, and the management of chronic and acute conditions in adults. Strategies include mind body approaches, nutrition, spirituality, complementary and alternative modalities and botanicals. The course examines opportunities for nurse practitioner students to incorporate integrative health principles into their practices.

This is the first of two residency courses. Each course is devoted to the integration and demonstration of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program competencies for post master’s 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. Includes 180 residency hours. Fee: $30

This is the second of two residency courses for Post-Master’s NP students. Includes 180 residency hours.