M.S. in Family Nurse Practitioner

NUR 501 Issues in Professional Nursing for Advanced Practice Nurses and Nurse Educators
This course addresses the current professional and legal issues that influence advanced nursing practice, nursing education and the health care delivery system. Health care policy, changes in the economics of health care, and their impact on nursing will be considered.
Credits 3
Fall & Spring

NUR 600P Practicum
Students who meet any of the following criteria will need to register for NUR 600P. Fee is equivalent to one credit per 100 practicum hours. 1) Students who require additional time beyond the academic semester to achieve the total required practicum hours. 2) Students who have a two semester lapse in time between any of the practicum graduate courses. 3) Students who are considered by faculty to be unsatisfactory. 4) Post Master's FNP Certificate Program students.
Credits: 0
Fall & Spring

NUR 604 Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
The pathophysiology underlying diseases is studied to enable the student to form a basis for clinical judgment and diagnosis. The key principles and facts underlying present knowledge of tissue and organ systems, their specialized function and interrelationships will be studied.
Credits: 3
 Fall & Spring

NUR 606 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
The student will build upon basic physical assessment skills in this course. Comprehensive physical examination of the client as well as psychosocial, spiritual developmental, occupational and cultural aspects of health assessment are studied in depth, in order to develop an evidence[1]based comprehensive health assessment and plan of care for clients, which includes the selection and interpretation of appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic tests. The promotion and maintenance of health management in the care of the client will be emphasized. Concurrently, students will complete a laboratory practicum where theoretical content will be integrated into the students' experience. A case study approach will be utilized.
Credits: 4
Spring & Fall

NUR 606L Advanced Health Assessment Practicum (90 hours)
The laboratory practicum is designed to be taken concurrently with Advanced Health Assessment. The practicum experience provides the opportunity for advanced practice nursing students to integrate theoretical content into the clinical experience. Emphasis is placed on developing an evidence[1]based comprehensive and problem-oriented health examination of the client.
Co-requisite NUR 606
Spring & Fall

NUR 615 Advanced Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacotherapeutics
The focus of this course is to prepare Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students in the role of independent prescriber of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments for the myriad of illnesses and diseases found in the primary care environment. To this end, FNP students will be provided with:
• The principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics
 • The scientific and practical basis of appropriate drug therapies
• Practical information on the clinical pharmacology of major drug classes and their use in the primary care environment
• The therapeutic objectives, strategies and evidence-based guidelines for managing both acute and chronic medical illnesses found in primary care
• The foundation to critically evaluate and effectively use pharmaceuticals from current evidence-based clinical pharmacology and therapeutics sources
Credits: 3
Fall & Spring

 NUR 621 Family Theory: Cultural, Social, Ethical and Policy Issues
Through the exploration of family theory and the examination of cultural, social, ethical, legal, and family policy issues which impact upon the family, the student will develop a comprehensive view of issues which need to be considered in the delivery of quality health care to families.
Credits: 3
 Annually

NUR 660 Diagnosis and Management I: Adult-Geriatric Health
This is the first of three diagnosis and management courses that builds on the previous core courses providing the student the opportunity to integrate both advanced theoretical and practical (patient centered) knowledge in order to deliver safe, evidence-based care to the adult population, which includes the geriatric population. The main focus during this semester is the continued skill development in assessment, diagnosis and management of both acute and chronic conditions in the primary care setting in adult clients across their lifespan as well as utilization of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention techniques. Critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and use of evidence-based protocols will be developed throughout the course.
Pre-requisite NUR 615, NUR 621
Co requisite NUR 665
Credits: 3
Spring & Summer

NUR 665 FNP Practicum I: Primary Care of Families (Adult-Geriatric Health)
This practicum is taken concurrently with Diagnosis and Management I (NUR 660). Students are assigned preceptors (a nurse practitioner or a physician) in a primary care setting for their practicum experiences in adult health medicine. Students are introduced to practice protocols and essential competencies necessary to provide safe primary health care to a diverse adult client population across their lifespan. Comprehensive health management, including a holistic client approach, health promotion, disease prevention, and evidence-based decisions, is emphasized in this practicum. (180 hours)
Co-requisite NUR 660
Credits: 4
Spring & Summer

NUR 670 Diagnosis and Management II: Pediatric & Women's Health
This course focuses on two important segments of the population – specifically women’s health and the pediatric population. In the first summer session, the assessment, diagnosis, management, and prevention strategies of common gynecologic conditions / illnesses found in women in the primary care setting will be discussed and reviewed (non-gynecologic women’s health issues will be discussed in both NUR 660 and NUR 780). In the second summer session, the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic diseases/conditions and preventative strategies within the pediatric population will be discussed and reviewed. Each area of focus will require students to use appropriate evidence-based practice protocols. The twelve-week summer session is utilized in order to provide enough time to complete both lectures and required clinical hours.
Pre-requisite NUR 660
Co-requisite NUR 675
Credits: 3
Summer & Fall

 NUR 675 FNP Practicum II: Primary Care of Families (Pediatrics & Women's Health)
 This practicum is taken concurrently with Diagnosis and Management II (NUR 670). Students are assigned preceptors (a nurse practitioner or a physician) in both pediatric and women's health primary care office settings for their practicum experiences in pediatric and women's health medicine. Students are introduced to practice protocols and essential competencies necessary to provide safe primary health care to both pediatric and gynecology clients. Comprehensive health management, including a holistic client approach, health promotion, disease prevention, and evidence[1]based decisions, is emphasized in this practicum. The twelve-week summer session is utilized in order to provide enough time to complete both lectures and required clinical hours. (180 hours)
Credits: 4
Summer & Fall

NUR 760 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Training
The emphasis for this course is on the elements of evidence-based practice. Focus is placed on the cyclical process of identifying clinical questions, searching and appraising the evidence for potential solutions/innovations, planning and implementing practice changes, evaluating the outcomes, and identifying additional gaps in knowledge. Integration of existing evidence with clinical judgement, patient preferences, inter-professional perspectives, and other resources forms the basis for the clinical decision-making process that is inherent in improving patient, population, and organizational outcomes. Processes for leading/managing practice changes are explored.
Pre-requisite NUR 501, NUR 604
Credits: 3
Summer

 NUR 770 Diagnostic and Clinical Reasoning
This course is taken prior to students entering the three Diagnosis and Management didactic courses and practicum courses. During the course, students will integrate what has been learned in the previous courses of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and health assessment with the clinical skills and critical understanding required to provide competent care within the primary care clinical setting (adults, pediatrics, women’s health, and geriatrics) as a licensed independent health care provider. In addition, the students will prepare for the role of the NP in the following skills and learning disciplines that are imperative to master for primary care practitioners:
• Information technology and use of Electronic Medical Records
• Use of coding and procedures for billing purposes • Administrative issues in primary care, i.e., collaborating with various health care disciplines and insurance companies to provide the best care through advocating for patients
• Ordering and interpreting appropriate diagnostic tests, i.e., CXR, ECG, PFT, MRI, CT Scan, laboratory tests
 • Utilizing evidence-based national guidelines for diagnosis and management of both acute and chronic medical conditions
• Acute care interventions, i.e., suturing
• Chronic care interventions, i.e., diabetes management
 • Leadership issues, i.e., promoting nurse practitioners practice policy both locally and at the state level, advocates for improved access, quality and cost effective health care
Thus, this course provides a forum for students to start developing their critical thinking skills in diagnosing and managing diseases as well as developing strategies in understanding and utilization of the myriad of non-clinical requirements placed on nurse practitioners in the clinical setting.
Credits: 4
 Fall & Spring

NUR 775 Diagnostic and Clinical Reasoning Practicum
This practicum course is taken in conjunction with NUR 770 and prior to students entering the three Diagnosis and Management didactic courses and practicum courses. During this practicum course, students will integrate what has been learned in the previous courses of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and health assessment with the clinical skills and critical understanding required to provide competent care within the primary care clinical setting (adults, pediatrics, women’s health, and geriatrics) as a licensed independent health care provider. In addition, the students will prepare for the role of the NP in the following skills and learning disciplines that are imperative to master for primary care practitioners through practical experiences in:
• Information technology and use of Electronic Medical Records
 • Use of coding and procedures for billing purposes
 • Administrative issues in primary care, i.e., collaborating with various health care disciplines and insurance companies to provide the best care through advocating for patients
 • Ordering and interpreting appropriate diagnostic tests, i.e., CXR, ECG, PFT, MRI, CT Scan, laboratory tests
 • Utilizing evidence-based national guidelines for diagnosis and management of both acute and chronic medical conditions
• Acute care interventions, i.e., suturing
• Chronic care interventions, i.e., diabetes management Thus, this practicum provides a forum for students to start developing their critical thinking skills in diagnosing and managing diseases as well as developing strategies in understanding and utilization of the myriad of non-clinical requirements placed on nurse practitioners in the clinical setting. (90 hours)
Credits: 2
Fall & Spring

NUR 780 Diagnosis and Management III: Management of Chronic Complex Medical Conditions Across the Lifespan
This is the final course of the diagnosis and management courses that builds on the previous core courses and two diagnosis and management courses. This course, along with the practicum (NUR 785), focuses on clients with chronic complex medical conditions. It provides the student the opportunity to integrate both advanced theoretical and practical (patient centered) knowledge in order to deliver safe, evidence-based care and manage clients across the lifespan who have chronic complex medical conditions and who are in need of:
• Tertiary prevention strategies in addition to continued monitoring for primary and secondary prevention strategies;
 • Treatment for acute medical conditions in addition to their chronic conditions; and,
 • Treatment for new chronic conditions in addition to their current chronic conditions.
Thus, this course and practicum prepares the Family Nurse Practitioner student for independent practice as well as know when to refer patients to appropriate specialists due to the complexity of the patient’s condition(s). Critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and use of evidence-based protocols will continue to be developed throughout the course.
 Pre-requisite: NUR 670
Co-requisite: NUR 785
Credits: 3
 Fall & Spring

NUR 785 FNP Practicum III: Management of Chronic Complex Medical Conditions Across the Lifespan This is the final practicum course of the diagnosis and management practicum courses that builds on the previous core courses and two diagnosis and management course practicums. This practicum, along with the course (NUR 780), focuses on clients with chronic complex medical conditions. It provides the student the opportunity to integrate both advanced theoretical and practical (patient centered) knowledge in order to deliver safe, evidence-based care and manage clients across the lifespan who have chronic complex medical conditions through practical hands-on experiences in their clinical practicums. Focus will those clients who are in need of:
• Tertiary prevention strategies in addition to continued monitoring for primary and secondary prevention strategies;
• Treatment for acute medical conditions in addition to their chronic conditions; and,
• Treatment for new chronic conditions in addition to their current chronic conditions.
Thus, this practicum and course prepares the Family Nurse Practitioner student for independent practice as well as know when to refer patients to appropriate specialists due to the complexity of the patient’s condition(s). Critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and use of evidence-based protocols will continue to be developed throughout the course. (180 hours)
Co-requisite NUR 780
Credits: 4
Fall & Spring