RN to MSN

This course develops knowledge related to the profession of nursing, current issues in nursing, and the role of nursing in transforming health outcomes. The ethical and scientific basis for nursing practice is discussed. Nursing's paradigm is defined. Students explore key nursing theories and theories from other disciplines as a foundation for care. Students utilize the concepts from theories, Professional Nursing Standards (ANA), Code of Ethics, Institute of Medicine Report (IOM), Competencies from the Quality, Safety, and Education in Nursing (QSEN) to analyze their practice and to clarify their role as a member of a profession.

Building upon the student's previous health assessment knowledge, this course develops the advanced knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) needed to provide safe, competent, and comprehensive health assessments of individuals and families throughout the lifespan to include physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual health assessments, risk assessments, functional assessments, health history and genetic issues. Students will learn to use advanced communication and physical assessment skills to identify changes in health patterns from acute to chronic problems found in various populations. Pre-requisite NUR4013

This course focuses on health promotion, disease, and injury prevention across the lifespan. Health of communities, vulnerable populations, and health policy are discussed within a global context. Students learn to incorporate epidemiological biostatistical data through knowledge of healthcare informatics to assess factors related to community health. Genetic considerations, culture, health disparities, factors determining population health, and equity in patient care are explored. Practice experience is part of this course.

This course is an introduction to scholarship which includes identification of practice issues; appraisal and integration of evidence; and evaluation of outcomes. The focus is on the identification of research designs within the hierarchy of evidence and accurate interpretation of evidence from individual studies. Students will apply principles of evidence-based practice, identify appropriate researchable questions, and review research-based evidence to improve practice.

Knowledge and skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety are necessary to provide high quality healthcare. In this course, learners explore leadership and change theory and strategies necessary to lead in evolving, contemporary healthcare systems. Students will be prepared to contribute to safety initiatives, quality improvement, policy development, resource management, and strategic planning. An emphasis is placed on professionalism, principles of ethics, decision-making, communication, collaboration, and working within interprofessional teams to facilitate quality care and promote health outcomes.

Health and wellness promotion continues to become more of the primary emphasis in healthcare as compared to previous years. This course introduces students to dimensions of wellness, focusing on a holistic approach to patient care, clinical prevention, and population-focused care. Culture, socioeconomic factors, and health promotion across various populations are discussed. Use of technology and nursing principles are applied to help guide life choices. The practice of integrative medicine is explored.

Knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology are the focus of this course. Throughout the course, learners explore the roles, theories, and standards of nursing informatics. Informatics-based health applications that support communication, care coordination, quality improvement, and data- based decision making across healthcare systems are examined.

he Capstone Experience is designed for candidates to demonstrate the impact of their knowledge and competencies gained throughout the professional nursing program.

In this course, the student examines multiple theories from nursing and related fields to explore value and application to research and evidence based practice. Specifically, the course explores the use of theory in the design of research and development of nursing knowledge. Knowledge and skills to critique quantitative research studies are developed. Emphasis is placed on applying four criteria for critique: construct validity, internal validity, statistical conclusion validity, and external validity. Students focus on principles of evidence-based practice and synthesize the evidence from studies and arrive at a conclusion.

This course focuses on qualitative research traditions and the critique of qualitative studies for trustworthiness. Criteria for evaluating qualitative research include credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. The purposes for qualitative research approaches, to include theory development, are explored. Students are introduced to the interpretation and critique of mixed-methods research as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Students integrate evidence from both quantitative and qualitative studies for evidence-based practice and developing patient- centered care guidelines. The relationships between evidence, quality, and outcomes are analyzed. The impact of health policy is explored.

Focusing on leadership and management theory, students prepare to lead organizations from a systems perspective. Systems of care and organizational behavior are examined. Students learn to base practice on evidence to ensure the safety, high quality, and cost effectiveness of patient care. Students analyze leadership to effectively apply ethical and critical decision- making skills to lead healthcare teams. Students will explore practice issue or concern and plan for intervention. Practice experience is part of this course 50 hours required.

The focus of this course includes information, skills and processes required to improve quality and patient safety utilizing the Graduate QSEN competencies. Students learn to use health informatics and to base practice on research and evidence to ensure the safety, high quality, and cost effectiveness of patient care. Students acquire the skills to select the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards related to quality and apply quality principles within an organization to improve outcomes.

This course focuses on knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to design, implement, and evaluate patient- centered, culturally appropriate care for individuals or populations. Students analyze the multiple dimensions of patient-centered care to include patient/family/community preferences, values, culture, communication, and health literacy. Students are prepared to intervene at the systems level through policy development and advocacy to influence healthcare. Additionally, students will evaluate use of information systems and technology in nursing practice.

Effective nurse leaders learn and apply leadership and strategic management theories to guide their actions and transform evidence into quality practice. This course prepares students to serve in key positions to participate in decision making, advocacy, strategic planning, and to manage change that affects patient care. Operations, marketing, informatics, and decision-making strategies are explored to increase understanding of the strategic business aspect of nursing.

In this course, students connect caring and quality patient care delivery with efficiency and effective financial strategies. They learn to apply evidence-based decision making as it relates to the financial responsibility of the healthcare facility, utilizing resources available to them through the private and public sector and related to the development, delivery and evaluation of patient-centered care. Students learn to apply financial principles to budget forecasting and managerial oversight, capital budgeting and variance analysis. The economics of the US healthcare system will be considered.

This course teaches students how to build relationships in the community, in a clinical setting, and in an academic environment through effective oral and written communication. Students acquire conflict resolution skills and behavior management techniques by translating data-driven research into practical communication strategies. Emphasis is placed on inter-professional communication, cultural competency, and communication with various populations. The course is based on human resource principles, including hiring, separation, and conflict management, team building.

In this course, students demonstrate understanding of the healthcare system and the environment in which healthcare administrators function and serve. The use of strategy management tools to create operational goals and objectives and to identify and leverage marketing opportunities is emphasized. Students investigate transformational thinking as it refers to the changing healthcare environment. They also apply technology as an innovation that impacts practice.

The Capstone/Practicum course is a culminating experience that provides students the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program and focus of study outcomes. This course emphasizes the application of leadership and management theories and concepts in the role of nurse executive. The student will demonstrate the competencies essential to a nurse leader. The role will be applied and analyzed in a healthcare organizational setting, in collaboration with a nurse-leader mentor. Evidence-based leadership and management strategies will be developed and implemented in the selected organizational environment. Practice experience of 150 hours is required.

This course provides an intensive and comprehensive foundation of advanced pathophysiological knowledge and physical assessment skills. Students will learn to apply this knowledge and skill in working with students and teaching the content and competencies required for effective practice. Students will learn to discernment between normal and abnormal findings, develop treatment plans, and develop teaching plans to promote health and education. Informatics and use of technology will be discussed.

This course focuses on advanced pharmacotherapeutics and effective teaching methods for nurse educators in this content area. Pharmacological mechanisms, medication management, treatment of side effects and drug reactions are studied. Drug interventions and nurses’ role in educating patients about medications will be covered. Technology related to safety, delivery and education will be explored.

Guided by theoretical foundations of learning, students examine the tenets of andragogy modeled in practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying principles of teaching and effective instructional strategies, ways to establish an effective learning environment, and reflective practices as a means to advance professional nursing skills. Strategies to support the learning environment in both face to face and online classrooms will be considered. The course will integrate ethical and professional collaboration with colleagues to promote patient outcome attainment.

By surveying various curricular designs and assessment models, this course integrates aspects of theoretical frameworks with differentiated curriculum, instructional and evaluation strategies delivered in academic and clinical settings. Students analyze assessment and evaluation data to determine effective approaches for supporting effective educational programming and patient-centered health while developing skills as nurse professionals and nurse educators. Use of technology in program assessment and evaluation is discussed.

The Capstone Practicum course is a culminating experience that provides students the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program and focus of study outcomes. This course emphasizes the application of teaching and learning theories and concepts in implementation of the nurse educator role. The student will demonstrate the competencies essential to the nurse educator. The role will be implemented, applied, and analyzed in an academic or clinical practice setting, in collaboration with a nurse educator mentor. Students must complete a scholarly project which synthesizes advanced knowledge and skills to address an area of relevance to professional nursing in education. Practice experience of 150 hours is required.