Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP)

This course focuses on advanced aspects of integrative nursing care to promote holistic health and wellness. Integrative concepts and principles are explored. A holistic assessment approach is utilized to assist in synthesizing inter-relationships between core course concepts. Students evaluate evidence related to integrative therapies and their application to clinical practice and self-care. Competence Statement: Synthesizes course concepts and principles well enough to apply appropriate advanced integrative approaches that promote holistic health and wellness.

Full course description for Advanced Integrative Nursing Care

This course focuses on foundational principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Indications, efficacy, therapeutic effects, and adverse effects of selected drugs will be examined, compared and contrasted. Utilizing critical thinking skills, the student will incorporate evidence-based, ethical, and holistic principles into pharmacotherapeutic decision making.

Full course description for Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

This course focuses on advanced concepts of physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms which cause alterations in biological processes and affect homeostasis. The etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment options of specific diseases and conditions will be examined.

Full course description for Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice

This course focuses on the advanced, comprehensive assessment of individuals across the lifespan. A holistic, nursing theoretical framework provides the structure for the course. The course builds on the students' knowledge and skills of basic physical assessment, anatomy and physiology, and provides a foundation for the advance practice nurse to evaluate the health of individuals across the life span. The course emphasizes documentation, and practice skills necessary for advanced communication, biopsychosocial and physical assessment, critical diagnostic reasoning, and clinical decision-making. Students acquire advanced knowledge and skills through a case based, problem focused learning framework that integrates theoretical, empirical, and experience-based practical knowledge. Competence Statement: Knows the principles of holistic health assessment well enough to apply these skills and techniques in a simulated setting.

Full course description for Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice

This laboratory experience focuses on the application of skills taught in N616. Students will practice interview skills, physical exam techniques and assessments across the lifespan. Demonstration of complete physical exam is required for course completion. Competence Statement: Knows the skills and techniques of a holistic assessment well enough to obtain a complete health history perform an age appropriate complete physical exam and problem focused physical exam, and provide age appropriate health promotion and anticipatory guidance across the lifespan.

Full course description for Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice Lab

This course introduces the application of nursing science in evidence-based primary prevention, risk assessment and health maintenance across the lifespan. Students are introduced to differential diagnosis and the management of select common acute and chronic health conditions. Students utilize assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills in the interpretation of subjective and objective data. Advanced practice laboratory and diagnostic testing integration is reinforced. Students develop differential diagnosis skills and begin to develop individualized holistic treatment plans.

Full course description for Primary Care I: Acute and Chronic Care

This clinical practicum course builds on the clinical reasoning skills learned in N638L and facilitates application of content of NURS 621. In a clinical setting serving the lifespan of ages, the student will perform histories and physicals, determine differential diagnoses, and develop holistic, evidence-based plans of care under the guidance of a preceptor. Accurate interpretation of clinical data, appropriate prescribing practices, and accurate documentation of patient encounters is fostered. A minimum of 175 clinical hours with approved preceptor(s) are required.

Full course description for Primary Care I Practicum: Acute and Chronic Care

This course focuses on advanced nursing practice with emphasis on family and individual health promotion and maintenance for the Family Nurse Practitioner. Major theoretical foundations are presented including the Shuler Nurse Practitioner Practice Model, and Health Promotion Model. Students apply theories and concepts to health maintenance assessment, risk mitigation, therapeutic communication, genetics/genomics screening and planning. Focus is placed on use of the clinical decision-making process for the assessment and plan for advance practice nurses.

Full course description for Family Health Promotion and Health Maintenance

This course prepares graduate nursing students to become skilled educators in academic, clinical, and community settings. It emphasizes educational theories, instructional strategies, curriculum development, assessment methods, and the integration of technology, equipping students to effectively teach and lead in nursing education.

Full course description for Scholarly Teaching and Learning in Nursing

This course focuses on the knowledge needed to interpret common laboratory and diagnostic tests encountered in advanced practice nursing. Content includes recognizing, analyzing and interpreting normal and abnormal laboratory and diagnostic findings within the context of patient care. Attributes, strengths and limitations of common diagnostics are reviewed to guide clinical decision-making. Competence Statement: Knows interpretation of common laboratory and diagnostics tests well enough to apply to the provision of care as an advanced practice nurse.

Full course description for Labs and Diagnostics for Advanced Practice Nursing

This course focuses on the use of health care informatics and technology in advanced nursing practice. The development of the science of informatics and information systems is reviewed. The use of information systems to communicate, document and bill for patient care is explored. Information systems are used to analyze practice outcomes at the individual and practice group levels compared to national standards and critique the systems. Challenges and opportunities to improve health through the use of information systems and technology are explored. Competence Statement: Knows information systems and technology well enough to be utilized to improve patient care outcomes and health care systems.

Full course description for Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice

This course focuses on applying knowledge learned from NURS 616/616L Health Assessment for the Advance Practice Provider and associated lab course. Students must demonstrate the ability to perform clinically appropriate examination skills based on a variety of commonly encountered primary care complaints, including special populations and patients across the lifespan. Students will assess, analyze, and organize data gathered through health history taking and examination¿exhibit the ability to synthesize and present the patient case in preparation for starting Family Nurse Practitioner clinical rotations.

Full course description for Applied Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing Lab

This course focuses on the theoretical foundations necessary to provide leadership within teams/groups/systems related to continuous improvement of quality and safety influencing health outcomes. Leadership and quality improvement philosophies, approaches, models, and methods are analyzed. Students apply relevant leadership techniques and strategies which emphasize ethical and critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration and communication, and systems based analysis.

Full course description for Leadership in Health Care Systems

Students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work collaboratively focus on the foundational knowledge of HIV prevention and care and develop the ability to work as a member of an interprofessional collaborative healthcare team. Learners explore options for involvement in HIV care as part of their healthcare career. The focus is on lifelong learning related to HIV care and interprofessional collaborative practice. Students will have a four-hour shadowing experience as part of the class.

Full course description for Interprofessional Care Collaboration

This intensive certification review course is designed to prepare graduates of the DNP FNP program for the national board certification offered by AANP or ANCC. This class focuses on preparing students to apply their clinical knowledge of the population; focus of family and individual across the life span: pediatrics, obgyn, adolescent, adult, and geriatric primary care. This review course provides interactive modules through APEA to help prepare for and pass the FNP board certification exam.

Full course description for Intensive Review for Certification

This course focuses on developing a quality improvement proposal based on current healthcare and client problems, guided by clinical expertise and reasoning, using the best available evidence. Students will explore the impact of bias on research and strategies to minimize the effect. Students will evaluate quantitative and qualitative nursing and healthcare research reports. Students will appraise scientific nursing and healthcare literature using analysis and synthesis skills.

Full course description for Research Methodology and Advanced Evidence-Based Practice

This course focuses on analyzing epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental, and other scientific data related to population health at both local and global levels. Students apply this knowledge to develop evidence-based plans aimed at improving population health outcomes. The intervention plan addresses health promotion and disease prevention efforts, with a particular focus on health inequities affecting diverse populations worldwide. A global perspective on social determinants of health, emerging infectious diseases, climate change, and transnational health challenges is integrated into advanced nursing practice roles.

Full course description for Global Health and Epidemiology: A Population-Based Approach

This course utilizes the Schuler Nurse Practitioner Practice Model and other nursing theories to focus on evidence-based prevention concepts, health maintenance, diagnosis, and management of specific health conditions for pediatric, women/men's reproductive health. Students demonstrate increasing proficiency in advanced assessment, differential diagnosis skill development and diagnostic reasoning skills. There is an introduction to social determinants of health and genetic/genomic considerations. Students develop increase proficiency with patient centered evidence-based plans of care across the lifespan.

Full course description for Primary Care II: Pediatric and Woman's Health/Reproductive Care

This clinical practicum course builds on the skills learned in N621P and facilitates application of content in N722 with a focus on clinical decision-making skills. In a clinical setting serving patients across the lifespan, students focus on the advancement of differential diagnostic and critical thinking skills. Students apply evidence-based knowledge of pediatric, woman¿s/men's reproductive care in the clinical practicum. Students integrate knowledge of family, culture, holism, community, and caring as they plan holistic evidence-based care for patients in clinical settings. A minimum of 200 clinical hours with an approved preceptor(s) are required.

Full course description for Primary Care II Practicum: Pediatric and Woman's Health/Reproductive Care

This course utilizes the Schuler Nurse Practitioner Practice Model and other nursing theories to focus on evidence-based health maintenance, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of specific diseases across the lifespan with an emphasis in family practice care. Students will acquire new knowledge of acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students will continue to demonstrate increasing proficiency in assessment, diagnostic reasoning skills, differential diagnosis, laboratory and diagnostic test selection, performance, and interpretation, pharmaceutical therapies, and evidence-based treatment plans of care with a concentration in family practice. Additionally, this course will identify and analyze social determinants of health across the lifespan related to plans of care.

Full course description for Primary Care III: Concentrated Family Practice

This course focuses on clinical experiences which includes enhancement of history taking and physical examination skills in addition to the introduction of advanced primary care family practice concepts utilizing content from NURS 723. Advancement of clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis through case study examination, documentation review, and discussion with a concentrated family practice focus. Students integrate knowledge of family, culture, holism, community, communication, and caring as they plan holistic care for patients in clinical settings across the lifespan. Issues that arise from the clinical setting regarding advanced practice nursing roles will be addressed. This practicum includes a minimum of 200 clinical hours with approved preceptor(s) with an emphasis in family practice.

Full course description for Primary Care III Practicum: Concentrated Family Practice

This course focuses on developing advanced skills in primary care management of adult and older adult clients with complex, multi-system illnesses. Etiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, disease management issues, genetics and ongoing health promotion/disease prevention will be addressed utilizing an evidence-based framework for providing complex care based in systems biology, healthy aging theory, and advanced practice nursing theory. Health disparities based in racism, ethnicity, poverty, and structural violence, their effects on physical and mental health, and the DNP prepared family nurse practitioners' responsibility to combat these disparities will be addressed.

Full course description for Primary Care IV: Geriatric and Complex Care

This clinical practicum emphasizes the management of complex, multi-system illnesses in adults and older adults. Students will refine their differential diagnostic and critical thinking skills through case study analysis, documentation review, guided self-evaluation, and reflective discussions. The practicum integrates knowledge from nursing science, social and biological sciences, biomedicine, ethics, public and community health, mental health, integrative and functional care systems, and trauma-informed care to support the development of holistic treatment plans for patients with multifaceted health needs. In addition, students will address health promotion strategies tailored to the complexity of the patient's condition. The course includes 200 hours of supervised clinical practice under the guidance of an approved preceptor.

Full course description for Primary Care IV Practicum: Geriatric and Complex Care

This final clinical course is the culminating practicum experience in the Doctor of Nursing Practice¿Family Nurse Practitioner program. The course emphasizes the integration of advanced knowledge, skills, and judgment in the holistic care of clients across the lifespan with complex, multi-system illnesses. Students will demonstrate mastery in assessment, diagnosis, and management of diverse conditions, with a focus on applying evidence-based principles, laboratory and diagnostic proficiency, and advanced differential reasoning. Students will analyze health promotion and maintenance needs for individuals and families, develop individualized care plans that incorporate social determinants of health, and apply specialized practices within the family nurse practitioner role. The course also highlights the integration of genetic/genomic, pharmacogenetic, and environmental exposure information to support personalized and patient-centered care.

Full course description for Primary Care V: Concentrated Primary Care and Specialty

This final clinical practicum course is the culminating practicum experience in the Doctor of Nursing Practice¿Family Nurse Practitioner program. The course emphasizes the integration of advanced knowledge, skills, and judgment in the holistic care of clients across the lifespan with complex, multi-system illnesses. Students will demonstrate competency in assessment, diagnosis, and management of diverse conditions, with a focus on applying evidence-based principles, laboratory and diagnostic proficiency, and advanced differential reasoning. Through the required 225 hours of preceptor-guided clinical experiences, students will refine their expertise in providing safe, ethical, and theory-informed primary care while preparing to transition into independent practice.

Full course description for Primary Care V Practicum: Concentrated Primary Care and Specialty

This course focuses on building the structure of the student¿s DNP project. Students begin the DNP project-focused literature review and critique. Students also establish a community site that serves as the location for the DNP scholarship project. This course applies prior program content in application to a DNP scholarship project. Students may accrue up to 10 scholarship hours. Competence Statement: Know concepts from previous DNP program courses well enough to initiate a DNP scholarship project.

Full course description for Pre-Scholarship

This course focuses on conducting a needs assessment and defining the scope of a problem at a community site that will serve as the location for the DNP scholarship project. Students accrue 40 - 50 required hours for their scholarship projects. Competence Statement: Know concepts of needs assessment well enough to identify a practice problem and the scope of a scholarship project.

Full course description for DNP Scholarship Project Assessment

This course focuses on developing and leading people toward the accomplishment of organizational goals and managing project resources within health systems. Process improvement methodologies and implementation science frameworks are applied to strengthen students' ability to design and manage projects. Application of concepts related to project planning, resource management, and project oversight within the health care environment are applied to a quality improvement project.

Full course description for Health Systems Quality, Project, and Resource Management

This course focuses on developing a proposal for a scholarship project designed to positively influence processes, systems, communities, or policies impacting health. Students will identify theoretical underpinnings, analyze scientific evidence, and evaluate the literature applicable to the scholarship project. Students must successfully present the scholarship proposal. Students accrue 75 clinical hours related to the scholarship project.

Full course description for DNP Scholarship I

This course focuses on the analysis of regulations and policies that impact health and health care. Students analyze health issues and the social, economic, and political implications of current and proposed policies. Students compare health policies and health outcomes to evaluate alternative approaches to advancing health equity. Students learn to develop and pursue appropriate strategies to influence policymakers and educate others. Competence Statement: Knows the principles and concepts of health policy well enough to provide leadership to design, implement, and advocate for policies that advance health.

Full course description for Health Policy and Advocacy

This course focuses on implementing a scholarship project designed to positively influence processes, systems, communities, or policies impacting health. Students will guide the scholarship project while collaborating with stakeholders, the scholarship project mentor, and the scholarship project faculty adviser. Students accrue 75 clinical hours related to the scholarship project.

Full course description for DNP Scholarship II

This course focuses on the evaluation of a scholarship project designed to positively influence processes, systems, communities, or policies impacting health and the dissemination of the results. Students will evaluate the entire project process, present a plan for sustainability, reflect on his/her role leading the project, and demonstrate accomplishment of program objectives. Students must successfully present the final scholarship project. Students will accrue 75 clinical hours related to the scholarship project.

Full course description for DNP Scholarship III

This course is the application of statistical knowledge in reading, evaluating, and utilizing research findings. Students will know and understand the advanced statistical methods applied in the health sciences, and the students will develop the skills required to critique research, especially nursing research, and to have an understanding of the fundamental requirements of conducting their own research studies.

Full course description for Advanced Biostatistics in Health Research