Plan of Study: Family (Individual) Across The Life-Span Nurse Practitioner

NU 795 Scholarly Writing  

This graduate level writing course will help the student refine writing skills from the fundamentals of writing through argumentation. Through a series of small writing assignments, this course will prepare the student for scholarly writing and research. 1 credit  

NU 741 Human Pathophysiology  

This course is an advanced level course in pathophysiological functioning in human organisms. The focus will be on the central concepts of pathophysiology at the cellular, tissue, and program levels. Elements of related supportive and therapeutic management across the lifespan will also be discussed. 4 credits  

NU 715 APN Role in US Healthcare System  

This course will focus on the advanced practice role as it relates to practice in a primary care setting, or women’s health setting. Topics will include the multifaceted aspects of legal and financial issues related to advanced practice; nurse to nurse practitioner to physician role differentiation; how advanced practice nurses manage care provision to individuals and families; and special issues in the community. 2 credits  

NU 745 Advanced Physical Assessment and Diagnostics  

Theory and techniques in the measurement of human health, development, and level of functioning will be presented. Clinical practice in obtaining health histories, conducting physical examinations, making physical measurements, and testing functioning in individuals across the lifespan will be included. Common diagnostic tests will be used to identify pathologic variations and to initiate intervention(s). Clinical experiences will take place in clinics located in rural and medically underserved areas. 3 credits   

NU 7451 Advanced Physical Assessment and Diagnostics Clinical Practicum  

The student will apply techniques in the measurement of human health, development, and level of functioning in the clinical setting. The student will gain clinical practice in obtaining health histories, conducting physical examinations, making physical measurements, and testing functioning in individuals across the lifespan. Credits: 0.5 47.5 clinical hours   

NU 7481 Primary Care Clinical Skill Lab Clinical Skill Practicum   

Graduate students will be introduced to the graduate diagnostic testing modalities including but not limited to: Radiographs, Laboratory Values, Suturing, Extremity Splinting/Casting, Joint injections. Students will participate in learning modules and simulation module activities in order toto achieve course objectives. Diagnostic techniques, procedures, and results will be used to formulate Differential Diagnosis for plan of care development and implementation. 0.5 credits 47.5 clinical hours (on campus) 

NU 737 Healthcare Ethics and Policy   

The focus of this course is the confluence of ethics and policy in health care in general with specific application to nursing. General principles of ethics and those principles most often applied in health care will be considered. This course will include an overview of health care policymaking in the United States, as well as the role of the leader as advocate in ethics and policy.   3 credits   

NU 742 Advanced Practice Nursing Pharmacology  

This course will study the interaction of chemicals with living systems across the lifespan. It explores decision-making processes that identify concepts, and principles that illuminate the importance, meaning, and rationale for using one drug over another. Builds on knowledge of drugs, pathophysiology, and disease states across the lifespan. 3 credits  

NU 710 Quality & Data Analytics  

This course focuses on quality, informatics, and the role of statistics in quality improvement. Concepts, models, and strategies of quality improvement and informatics are examined. Students will apply principles of quality and regulatory management with an emphasis on defining, measuring, and evaluating outcomes within and across organizational systems. The student will apply informatics and statistical concepts to identify, gather, process, and manage information/data. At the end of the course, the student will be able to create and implement innovative solutions to improve patient care and safety. 3 credits 

NU 749 Differential Diagnosis  

Using a problem-based approach to symptoms, students will be introduced to the diagnostic framework, algorithms, and terminology that will allow them to move from symptom to diagnosis.  Evidence-based diagnosis will focus on the accuracy of the health history and sensitivity of the physical exam, laboratory studies and tests to “rule in” or “rule out” specific diseases. Students will learn the importance of formulating clinical impressions that lead to hypothesis testing in the care of patients across the lifespan. 1 credit  

NU 746 Chronic and Episodic Management of the Family I  

This course, the first in two sequential clinical courses in primary care, addresses the health care needs of adults across the lifespan from early adulthood through senescence. It introduces the student to acute and chronic common health concerns. Emphasis is placed on the collaborative management of patients to achieve desired outcomes. Students use scholarly inquiries to further develop their practice. Evidenced-based research as related to normal and high-risk populations. 3 credits   

NU 7461 Chronic and Episodic Management of the Family I Clinical Practicum  

2 credits 190 clinical hours   

NU 748 Health Promotion in Families and Communities  

This graduate level course addresses health risks and trends in communities and families. High-risk populations, aggregates, and communities comprise the focus for investigation. Developmental, psychodynamic, social-political, and cultural theories and concepts are synthesized and applied to analysis of health behaviors in community settings and in families across the life cycle. Risk appraisal methods and evidence-based strategies to identify and prevent health risks in individuals, families, and communities are examined. This course highlights local, state, and federal resources for families, particularly those individuals in medically underserved areas. 3 credits  

NU 737 Healthcare Ethics and Policy   

The focus of this course is the confluence of ethics and policy in health care in general with specific application to nursing. General principles of ethics and those principles most often applied in health care will be considered. This course will include an overview of health care policymaking in the United States, as well as the role of the leader as advocate in ethics and policy.   3 credits   

NU 758 APN as Scholar: Evidence-Based Practice  

This FNP focused research course provides a review of elementary research concepts and the introduction of moderate to advanced research concepts. Students will identify pertinent clinical problems, review the literature regarding those problems, and formulate a plan to address clinical problems using evidenced-based sources and appropriate statistical methods. Students will compose a rudimentary clinically based research proposal for continuation in subsequent graduate level courses. This course fulfills the graduate assessment requirement for writing. 3 credits  

NU 747 Chronic and Episodic Management of the Family II  

This course, the second in two sequential clinical courses in primary care, addresses the health care needs of adults across the lifespan from early adulthood through senescence. It introduces the student to acute and chronic common health concerns. Emphasis is placed on the collaborative management of patients to achieve desired outcomes. Students use scholarly inquiries to further develop their practice. Evidenced-based research as related to normal and high-risk populations. 3 credits  

NU 7471 Chronic and Episodic Management of the Family II Clinical Practicum  

The focus of each of the clinical courses is the management of acute and chronic health problems and the planning and management of both nursing and medical care by the advanced practice nurse. 2 credits 190 clinical hours  

NU 752 Advanced Practice Nursing in Women’s Health  

The focus of this course is the management of acute and chronic health problems in women’s and reproductive health. It will incorporate planning and management of both nursing and medical care by the advanced practice nurse. Particular emphasis will be placed on high-risk groups and individuals living in medically underserved populations. 2 credits  

NU 7521 Advanced Practice Women’s Health Clinical Practicum  

The focus of each of these one-credit courses is the management of acute and chronic health problems and the planning and management of both nursing and medical care by the advanced practice nurse. Particular emphasis will be placed on high-risk groups and individuals living in medically underserved populations..1 credit 95 clinical hours   

NU 751 Advanced Practice Nursing in Pediatrics  

The focus of this course is the management of acute and chronic health problems in the pediatric population. It will incorporate planning and management of both nursing and medical care by the advanced practice nurse. Particular emphasis will be placed on high-risk groups and individuals living in medically underserved populations. 2 credits   

NU 7511 Advanced Practice Pediatrics Clinical Practicum  

The focus of each of these one-credit courses is the management of acute and chronic health problems and the planning and management of both nursing and medical care by the advanced practice nurse. Particular emphasis will be placed on high-risk groups and individuals living in medically underserved populations. 

 1 credit 95 clinical hours   

NU 7151 Advanced Practice Role in the Community Clinical Practicum  

The purpose of this course is to prioritize management strategies and apply selected practice models for delivery of care to families across the lifespan, in a variety of community specialties. The focus of this course is to provide the student with opportunities to integrate in-depth diagnostic and management skills to provide care for families. The emphasis of this course is on the formulation and management of individualized treatment plans based on diagnostic findings and current practice models. 1 credit 95 clinical hours  

NU 793 Professional Transitions  

This course will focus on advanced practice role integration, legal and financial issues related to advanced practice nursing, management of care, and transition to nurse practitioner practice. This course builds on graduate level research foundational knowledge. Students will complete a quality improvement project designed to meet an identified need within the community of practice, develop an IRB proposal, and systematically collect and evaluate evidence for practice improvement. The student will present findings to the practice and the academic community. 2 credits