Home
WebCampus
Blackboard
Contact Us
Search
Course Descriptions
Nursing
MSN 5100
Statistics for Nurses
0 credits
This self-directed course is intended as a review and reinforcement of basic statistics. Students enrolling in this course will complete a series of computer-assisted instruction modules. Satisfactory scores on the modules will fulfill the statistics requirement for admission into the graduate nursing program.
MSN 6500
Leadership Roles in Advanced Practice Nursing
3 credits
As an introduction to graduate studies, this course seeks to re-orient the student to learning in an academic setting, communicating in the area of information literacy and knowledge building. Shared experiences and exercises will broaden students' understanding of leadership as it applies to various advanced practice roles. A variety of theoretical frameworks, including role theory, are analyzed as a basis for engaging in personal and professional development. Students are encouraged to broaden perspectives and worldview through interaction with, and appreciation of others.
MSN 6501
Advances of Nursing Science
3 credits
This course provides the opportunity for graduate nursing students to study the connections between philosophy, concepts, theories, research, and advanced nursing practice. Examination of major philosophies illustrates the influences on nursing and health care. The development of concepts related to health care is examined with beginning experience in concept analysis. Models and theories that direct and guide practice are applied. The importance of research and its link to nursing science is addressed.
MSN 6603
Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology
3 credits
This course focuses on advanced concepts of normal physiology of major body systems and highlights relationships among systems. Knowledge of normal physiology provides the student with a basis for interpreting health deviations. Variations from normal and pathophysiologic processes are presented.
MSN 6606
Research in Nursing Practice
3 credits
This course explores the interconnectedness of nursing theory, nursing research, and nursing practice. Concepts related to the philosophy of science and generation of knowledge are examined. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches to the research process are encouraged. Clinical projects designed to demonstrate the interrelationship of theory, research, and practice, and which relate to the area of health promotion, are addressed. An action plan is developed to serve as the application phase of the research process. Research utilization and dissemination in advanced practice are discussed. Ways to incorporate clinically-based research are investigated.
MSN 6607
Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Nursing
3 credits
This course emphasizes the application of data analysis to the every day decision-making expected of nurses practicing at advanced levels. Students are introduced to data analysis using commercial statistics software programs (administrative, educational, practice, etc) will be provided. The use of data to apply for, administer, and evaluate grants will also be addressed.
MSN 6641
Philosophical Perspectives of Nursing Leadership
3 credits
This course acquaints students with selected philosophies which have influenced health care, nursing, and clinical ethics. Understanding and debating the philosophical bases of health care support the development of one's personal philosophy of nursing leadership. Students explore their values, analyzing how personal and professional values shape professional practice, decision-making, and system development. Students consider the philosophical bases and utility of contemporary aspects of nursing practice, including holistic care, transcultural influences, and complementary therapies.
MSN 6645
Bioethics in Nursing Practice
3 credits
This course will introduce the student to bioethical concepts that impact upon nursing practice. Students will focus on ethical concepts as they apply to LNC and nursing practice. Conceptual, factual, and normative issues will be explored to provide the framework within which many arguments of biomedical ethics are formulated.
MSN 6650
Critical Analysis of Systems of Care
3 credits
In this course, students examine the historical aspects of current health care systems. Contemporary health care systems are analyzed for economic and ethical impacts on society. Health care systems in the United States and other nations are evaluated for access and quality issues. An assessment of a particular system is conducted to formulate the development of viable solutions.
MSN 6691
Critical Inquiry
3 credits
This course emphasizes research designs and methods. A variety of research designs that are used in contemporary studies will be explored. Methodological issues will be addressed. Students are introduced to data analysis using a commercial statistics software program. The steps in developing a research proposal are applied.
MSN 7000
Independent Study in Nursing
1-2 credits
Students may earn one or two credits through individualized projects with faculty guidance. Projects supplement selected aspects of the program, including research, clinical practice, or theory.
MSN 7310
Legal Issues in Nursing Practice
3 credits
This course provides an overview of the legal process and an introduction to the legal issues nurses face in their clinical practice. Case examples and case analysis methods discussed in class will provide nurses with information on risk management and patient advocacy strategies that positively impact health care delivery.
MSN 7320
Practices in the Realm of Nursing and the Law
3 credits
This course will introduce the student to the field of Legal Nurse Consulting as a specialty practice within nursing. Exploration of the roles nurses play in the legal field, introduction of legal concepts applicable to nursing practice, and analysis of medical-legal scenarios will provide the student with exposure to a variety of career options within the practice of Legal Nurse Consulting.
MSN 7330
Entrepreneurship for Nurses
3 credits
This course will familiarize students with the development of a business plan. Students will learn marketing concepts with relevance to marketing LNC services to attorneys, insurers, and facilities. Skills related to office management and billing will also be addressed. Issues related to professional presentation of self will be highlighted.
MSN 7340
Practicum: Post Master's Legal Nurse Consultant
3 credits
This course serves as a practicum for the post-master's legal nurse consultant student. The student will complete a minimum of 40 hours with a preceptor in the legal field in order to expand his/her expertise. Students work with an individual faculty member who will provide guidance.
MSN 7350
Forensic Nursing: Clinical and Legal Implications
3 credits
In this course, the student will examine the specialty of forensic nursing as it is implemented in health care delivery systems in the US and internationally. Theory and concepts related to forensic nursing practice will be explored, as well as the application of the nursing process as it relates to forensic nursing clients. The relationship among forensic nursing, the justice system, and community-based referral systems will be explored from the perspective of delivering comprehensive patient and victim-centered care utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach. Specific social issues will be addressed, including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, child abuse, and other human rights violations impacting the practice of forensic nursing, our communities at large and the utilization of health care resources.
MSN 7701
Child Development and Assessment
3 credits
This course focuses on advanced comprehensive physical, psychosocial, developmental, and cultural assessment of the child within the context of his/her family and community. Determination of the health status of children from infancy to adolescence through evaluation of a variety of data collection techniques is stressed. Analysis and interpretation of growth and development patterns are discussed as they relate to primary care. The clinical laboratory component enables the student to refine health assessment skills.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, MSN 7702
MSN 7702
Advanced Adult Health Assessment
3 credits
This course focuses on developing advanced health assessment skills appropriate for delivery of primary care to the adult client. The course will provide the student with necessary skills to advance beyond basic history and physical examination to using initial diagnostic reasoning skills. Assessment skills will be refined for the determination of the health status of young, middle, and older adults in the clinical laboratory setting. Students will broaden their ability to recognize abnormal findings within the context of the physical examination. Core concepts will be included regarding promotion of health and wellness in the primary care setting. Emphasis will also be placed on the physical, developmental, psychosocial, and cultural dimension of clients in primary care.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603
MSN 7703
Advanced Pharmacology
3 credits
This course focuses on the study of pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics. Classifications of pharmaceuticals are examined in relation to indication for use and evidence of efficacy. Side effects, idiosyncratic effects, interactions, and allergic reactions are described. Specific problems related to nutritional, developmental, and health status are explored. Client teaching and counseling are addressed with attention to elements promoting a positive response to therapy. Legalities and regulations related to prescription-writing privileges are addressed.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603
MSN 7704
Primary Care I: Acute and Chronic Care of Children
3 credits
This course focuses on providing primary care to infants, children, and adolescents using a lifespan approach. Health promotion and disease prevention are stressed. Assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute episodic illnesses and stable chronic health conditions are emphasized. Concepts of epidemiology are explored and applied. Aspects of differential diagnosis are addressed. The student applies health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management strategies to clients. Theory-based models are addressed as they pertain to the primary care of children.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, MSN 7701, MSN 7703
MSN 7705
Primary Care II: Acute and Chronic Care of Adults
3 credits
This course focuses on providing primary care to young, middle aged, and older adults using a lifespan approach. Health promotion and disease prevention are stressed. Assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute episodic illnesses and stable chronic health conditions are emphasized. Aspects of differential diagnosis are addressed. Concepts of epidemiology are explored and applied. The importance of a theoretical model for primary care delivery is stressed. The student applies health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management strategies to clients.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, MSN 7702, MSN 7703
MSN 7707
Primary Care III: Gender Health Issues
3 credits
This course focuses on providing primary care with special emphasis on gender-related health issues. An epidemiological framework will be applied to the study of health problems. Assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute episodic illnesses and chronic health conditions are addressed.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, MSN 7702, MSN 7703
MSN 7708
Primary Care IV: Acute and Chronic Care of Geriatrics
3 credits
This course focuses on the provision of primary care to the geriatric client and family, aged 64 and above. Assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute episodic and chronic illness conditions are addressed.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, MSN 7702 MSN 7703, MSN 7709
MSN 7709
Geriatric Assessment and Health Promotion
3 credits
This course focuses on developing advanced health assessment skills appropriate for delivery of primary care to the older adult (65+) client. It provides students with the necessary skills to advance beyond basic history and physical examination to using initial diagnostic reasoning skills. Assessment skills are refined for the determination of the health status of the geriatric client in the clinical laboratory setting. Core concepts are included regarding promotion of health and wellness for the geriatric client in the primary care setting. Emphasis is placed on the physical, developmental, psychosocial, and cultural dimensions of geriatric clients in primary care.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 7702
MSN 7740
Health Care Policy
3 credits
This course involves an in-depth study of local, state, national, and international policies affecting the health of populations and the practice of nursing. The nurse's role in the legislative/political process is examined. Issues such as access to health care, insurance reform, malpractice, and institutional policies affecting advanced practice nursing are analyzed.
MSN 7741
Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System
3 credits
This course is designed to develop the student's capacity to shape systems level health policy in politically astute ways. Concepts and issues related to health policymaking and political processes are explored for their impact on specific spheres of advanced nursing practice in contemporary health care systems. Legislative/regulatory and health care delivery/financing issues are examined in relation to the nurse leader's role in health policy development and the impact these issues have on the health care system.
MSN 7750
Teaching and Learning in Nursing
3 credits
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to various domains of learning which are applied to the classroom and clinical environments, including specific student populations and nursing in-service settings. Approaches to the teaching/learning process that are explored include learning theories, assessment of specific population cohort needs, the designing of teaching plans, and evaluation of the outcomes of learning.
MSN 7751
Client-Focused Teaching
3 credits
This course focuses on the teaching role of the nurse's professional practice. Students discuss theories related to client education and how to apply the theories to practice settings. Students explore ways in which factors such as motivation, health beliefs, stage of development, and culture affect the teaching/learning process. A variety of teaching techniques and materials are observed, practiced, and evaluated during a 32-hour practicum with an approved mentor. Students synthesize current client-focused education research into evaluations of current educational material and real-life practice.
MSN 7752
Clinical Teaching and Evaluation
3 credits
This course is designed for the nurse whose role includes teaching in the clinical setting. The learners may be nursing students or nursing staff members. The intention of the course is to expose students to the skills and attitudes necessary for effective teaching and subsequent evaluation in the realm of the clinical setting. Concepts such as formative and summative evaluations are addressed as they relate to clinical teaching. Students participate in a 32-hour practicum with an approved mentor. Current clinical teaching research is evaluated for application in the clinical setting.
MSN 7753
Curriculum Development
3 credits
Students in this course undertake an in-depth study of curriculum development as it relates to teaching in nursing programs or continuing education workshops. Students construct a curriculum, including its philosophical underpinnings, broad goals, learning objectives, teaching methods, and evaluation techniques.
MSN 8112
Gerontology Practicum I
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides continuous guidance in all of the areas.
MSN 8210
Family Practicum II
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some but not all areas.
MSN 8211
Adult Practicum II
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some but not all areas.
MSN 8212
Gerontology Practicum II
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some but not all areas.
MSN 8213
Family Practicum II
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some but not all of the areas. Students are expected to complete 120 clinical hours in the semester, or a cumulative amount of 240 hours.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 8110, MSN 6603, 7701, 7702, 7703
MSN 8214
Adult/Gerontology Practicum II
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some but not all of the areas. Students are expected to complete 120 clinical hours in the semester, or a cumulative amount of 240 hours.
Prerequisite(s): SN 6603, 7702, 7703, 7709, 8111
MSN 8220
Family Practicum III
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some areas but the student can function autonomously.
MSN 8221
Adult Practicum III
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some areas but the student can function autonomously.
MSN 8222
Gerontology Practicum III
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance in some areas but the student can function autonomously.
MSN 8223
Family Practicum III
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance but the student can function autonomously in the areas. Students are expected to complete 120 clinical hours in the semester, or a cumulative amount of 360 hours.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, 7701, 7702, 7703, 8110, 8213
MSN 8224
Adult/Gerontology Practicum III
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides occasional guidance but the student can function autonomously in the areas. Students are expected to complete 120 clinical hours in the semester, or a cumulative amount of 360 hours.
Prerequisite(s): MSN 6603, 7702, 7703, 7709, 8111, 8214
MSN 8332
Gerontology Practicum IV
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides collaborative input but the student is able to generate a full assessment, differential and treatment plan with minimal guidance.
MSN 8342
Gerontology Practicum IV
3 credits
The clinical emphasis affords the student an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in all other courses into the practice role. Collaboration with other providers, with individual patients, and with families is stressed. The student will be expected to demonstrate the clinical course objectives with a clinical faculty who provides collaborative input but the student is able to generate a full assessment, differential and treatment plan.
MSN 8400-8500
Capstone
3 credits
These courses form the culminating experience for students pursuing the Education and Executive Practice tracks in the Nursing Leadership concentration. The student may complete a thesis, project, or practicum. The thesis involves a quantitative or qualitative study with a focus in clinical practice, education, or administration. A project may be undertaken to identify and solve a problem. The practicum is an intensive mentored experience in either nursing education or executive practice. Students are assigned an individual faculty member who will provide guidance throughout the process.
MSN 8501-8503
Independent Studies
1 credits
Students register for these courses when they have finished taking MSN 8400 and MSN 8500, yet are not finished with the capstone. One course is taken each block until the capstone is complete. This course requires approval from a graduate nursing advisor.
MSN 8600-8700
Capstone
3 credits
These courses form the culminating experience for students pursuing the Legal Nurse Consultant emphasis in the Nursing Leadership concentration. Students must complete a practicum, which is structured exactly like the MSN 8400-8500 practicum; there is no choice option for these two courses. Students are assigned an individual faculty member who will provide guidance throughout the process.