Courses

This course is designed to enhance an understanding of the history of the discipline and profession of nursing from a Biblical worldview. Legal and ethical principles are applied to the role of the professional nurse. Parse's humanbecoming paradigm, the ethos of human dignity, and living quality will be explored. Students will discuss the phenomenon of interest in nursing- humanuniverse, assumptions, postulates, and concepts of Parse's theory and demonstrate true presence in the nurse-person relationship. Legal and ethical principles will be introduced.

This introductory course guides and prepares students to develop basic competencies necessary to meet the needs of diverse individuals throughout the lifespan. Using the nursing process, students learn concepts and theories basic to the art and science of nursing.

Skills lab learning experience of fundamental evidenced based nursing. This introductory course guides and prepares students to develop basic competencies necessary to meet the needs of diverse individuals throughout the lifespan. Using the nursing process, students learn concepts and theories basic to the art and science of nursing.

The course focuses on helping students acquire skills to conduct a comprehensive health assessment. The process of data collection, interpretation, documentation and dissemination of assessment data will be addressed. The practicum provides students with the opportunity to use interview, observation, percussion, palpation, inspection and auscultation in assessing clients across the lifespan in simulated and actual settings.

The course focuses on helping students acquire skills to conduct a comprehensive health assessment. The process of data collection, interpretation, documentation, and dissemination of assessment data will be addressed. The practicum provides students with the opportunity to use interview, observation, percussion, palpation, inspection and auscultation in assessing clients across the lifespan in simulated and actual settings.

This is the first of two courses that will support the integrated learning of pathophysiology and pharmacology where students will learn the most common diseases and drugs used to treat these diseases in a manner that promotes clinical reason and judgement. Building on general principles of anatomy and physiology, students will develop an understanding of disease processes, prevention, clinical signs and symptoms, and secondary effects. Methods of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment will be discussed. Curriculum will focus on integration of disease processes, drug therapies, adverse effects, and nursing considerations when providing evidence-based care.

This is the second of two courses building on the principles of PathoPharm 1. Students will continue integrated learning of pathophysiology and pharmacology. They will continue to develop an understanding of disease processes, prevention, clinical signs and symptoms not covered in NUR 518 - PathoPharm I. They will demonstrate connections between pathophysiology, signs and symptoms of disease processes, and methods of treatment. Curriculum will further develop understanding of critical thinking related to prioritizing needs according to health conditions and safely administering medications.

This is the first of two Medical Surgical courses applying nursing theory and using evidence based clinical judgment in the care of adult clients with acute and chronic illnesses.

In this practicum course, learners will apply nursing theory and use evidence based clinical judgment in the care of adult clients with acute and chronic illnesses.

This course focuses on the provision of nursing care for the aging population. Expected and unexpected health-related changes of older adults are explored. Emphasis is on living quality in health promotion and disease prevention. This course will examine how ageism impacts care of the older adult.

This practicum allows students to provide nursing care for the aging population with expected and unexpected health-related changes. Students will participate in health promotion and disease prevention activities in a variety of settings.

Introduction to mental health nursing services and nurse-person and nurse-group communication patterns. Focus is on interdisciplinary collaboration, teaching-learning, and change-persistence patterns with health promotion, disease prevention, and care of individuals, families, and communities with acute and chronic mental health conditions. Nursing services with special populations including the homeless and issues regarding abuse, neglect, trauma, and substance abuse are explored.

Practicum learning experience of nursing services with persons who have the medical diagnosis of mental illness in both inpatient and community treatment settings. Focus is on the changing healthcare systems and collaborative health promotion and disease prevention, as well as the nurse-person, nurse-group, nurse-community patterns of relating, and care of individuals and families with acute and chronic mental health problems.

This is the second of two Medical Surgical courses analyzing nursing theory and applying evidence based clinical judgment in the care of adult clients with complex acute and chronic illnesses.

This course emphasizes applying nursing theory and evidenced based clinical judgment in the care of low and high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, neonatal clients, and their families. The focus is on health promotion, risk reduction, family planning, and disease prevention.

In this practicum course students will use theory and evidenced based clinical judgment in the care of low and high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal clients.

This course applies nursing theory and uses evidence-based clinical judgment in the care of children and adolescents with acute and chronic illnesses. Focus will be upon child growth and development and family-centered care.

In this practicum course, learners will analyze nursing theory and apply evidence based clinical judgment in the care of adult clients with complex acute and chronic illnesses.

This practicum focuses on the application of nursing theory and nurse-family processes in providing evidence-based nursing services to children, adolescents, and their families. The course emphasizes clinical judgment in providing health promotion, disease prevention, and nursing care of pediatric clients with acute and chronic illnesses in diverse settings.

The course focuses on theoretical concepts related to the role of the community/public health nurse as a collaborator within the healthcare setting. Determinants of health for aggregate and vulnerable populations will be explored. The community/public health nurse as a change agent at the local, national, and global policy level will be examined. This course meets the state published mandated reporting requirements for abuse and neglect of at-risk populations.

Students will apply community/public health course information in a variety of community-based settings. Practicum experiences will include discussion of health promotion and disease prevention, case management, community assessment, and interdisciplinary project development. This course, together with the didactic course, will prepare the student to be eligible to apply for a Public Health Certificate after graduation.

This course emphasizes principles of nursing leadership and clinical reasoning to promote safe, quality patient care in a variety of settings. Leadership skills include prioritization, delegation, negotiation, collaboration, and coordination. Roles include provider and manager of nursing care in an interprofessional environment. Specific focus will be on transition to practice as an entry-level professional nurse.

This practicum allows students to demonstrate principles of nursing leadership and clinical reasoning to promote safe, quality patient care in a variety of settings. Prioritization, delegation, negotiation, collaboration, and coordination will be emphasized. This practicum culminates in a project designed to improve outcomes in health promotion and disease prevention.

This final course practicum focuses on knowledge synthesis and role-readiness of a new graduate nurse. Clinical opportunities are provided utilizing preceptor partnerships to further develop leadership and nursing skills necessary for transition to practice.

This course prepares students to pass the NCLEX-RN.

This IPE introductory course provides exposure to learners early in their educational programs to engage in activities that offer knowledge based information, focused on "describing roles and responsibilities" and "demonstrating awareness of interprofessional (IP) communication and teamwork in the context of shared curricular topics required across health professions. An introductory level hybrid course of Inter-Professional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies and an end of course seminar for all students will be required.

This course will engage intermediate learners in their educational program together through their own programs activities that provide opportunities to continue to build upon IPE competencies and develop collaborative skills, knowledge and attitudes. Programs will integrate multifaceted active teaching methods such as simulation, problem-based learning, clinical practicum, community-based projects, service-learning, and other IPE activities.

This course prepares advanced learners to work collaboratively as appropriate, to assess, plan, provide care/intervention and make decisions to optimize client/patient, family, and community health outcomes and improve quality of care through a University wide IPE simulation. Students will draw upon previously learned knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the four domains of IPE education to effectively apply leadership qualities that support collaborative practice, and team effectiveness through reflection and application.

Students examine the art and science of nursing as a guide for nursing practice at the Master's level. Sources of nursing knowledge, such as nursing theories, nursing science, paradigms, domains of nursing, and ways of knowing will be evaluated. Moral and ethical principles will be explored from a biblical worldview as they apply to the discipline and practice of graduate nursing. Ways to overcome perceived barriers to theoretical thinking will be presented and students will learn how to integrate theory with practice.

Students engage in a process of creative scholarly inquiry to generate, synthesize, and translate nursing knowledge. Emphasis is placed on critique of literature, problem identification, selection of appropriate methodologies, ethical procedures, and the dissemination of findings to improve health and transform health care.

Students examine the impact of health policy and principles of bioethics on complex health care systems, including: ethics, regulations and standards, use of health care technologies, improving equitable population health outcomes, interprofessional partnerships, and improving quality and safety while reducing cost. This course will support student acquisition of nursing expertise and assertion of political leadership through examination of ethical theory, patient centered care, cultivation of professional nursing identity, accountability, collaborative disposition and comportment reflective of nursing's characteristics, norms and values.

Students examine individual, collective, environmental, and organizational factors that affect the health of human populations. Interventions for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention will be explored in the broader context of determinants of health to promote wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Students use descriptive and analytic approaches to examine the distribution of disease and current and emerging health trends in populations. Students will compare and contrast methods used in collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative data in disease prevention for specific populations.

Students explore advanced nursing leadership principles, advanced nursing roles, and evidenced-based practice to create effective systems change. Students will examine the role of the masters-prepared nurse as a member and leader of the interprofessional team, communicating, collaborating, and consulting with other health care professionals.

This course will prepare the student to consult in the design and enhancement of information technology related to interactive, web-based systems in healthcare while they evaluate the ethical, legal, and cultural implications, including copyright, privacy, and confidentiality issues. Emphasis will be placed on emerging technologies as students analyze, design, implement, and evaluate information system technologies. Content will also include evaluation of impact of information technologies on clinical practice, education, administration, and research.

This course is designed for the master's students who are not planning to pursue an advance practice registered nurse track such as nurse practitioner. Students will integrate concepts of advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology to apply advanced health assessment principles and skills for comprehensive examination of clients. Focus will be on common deviations from normal. Populations across the lifespan will be included.

Students examine complex physiologic processes essential to an understanding of disease. Disease management concepts are explored in relation to body systems. Age specific alterations are correlated with clinical and medical diagnostic findings to provide the student a basis for biomedical clinical decision-making, diagnostic reasoning, and pharmacotherapeutics.

Students explore advanced pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, and pharmacoeconomics across the life span. Also addressed are schedule II controlled substances, the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II controlled substances, Nurse Practitioner standardized procedures, patient-specific protocols, and the legal requirements for furnishing controlled substances. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based research as a foundation for therapeutic regimens for selected classifications of medications. Characteristics such as age, ethnicity, culture, gender, genetics, and genomic factors when considering pharmacologic interventions. Current national guidelines, legal, and ethical principles will be explored and integrated.

Students integrate advanced knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and clinical judgement to synthesize person-centered assessment data while formulating differential diagnoses. Students will determine a patient's current and ongoing health status, predict risks to health, and identify culturally sensitive health promoting activities utilizing evidence- based practice. This course incorporates weekly laboratory practicum for a total of 45 hours, to facilitate refinement of advance assessment competencies and documentation.

This course analyzes selected teaching and learning models that are applicable to nursing education. Nursing theoretical perspectives with the nursing human becoming teaching-learning model is highlighted. Strategies for course development with didactic and practicum teaching are examined. Research relative to nursing education is reviewed and critiqued. Design of applied research methods to determine effectiveness of teaching strategies is incorporated. Selected University faculty and nurse education issues are also explored.

Provides analysis of evidence-based strategies of teaching-learning that have influenced, and continue to influence nursing education. The multiple roles of the nurse educator related to teaching, scholarship, service, and practice will be evaluated. The determinants of learning, motivation of the learner, literacy, socioeconomic, and cultural attributes will be identified. Instructional methods, settings, materials, and technology will be examined while integrating critical thinking, active learning, and faith integration. Ethical, legal, and cultural issues related to students in different learning environments will be emphasized. Practicum experiences include opportunities for students to implement course content.

Theoretical approaches to educational assessment, the development and implementation of nursing curriculum, and student and program outcomes are addressed. The importance of a cohesive program philosophy, mission statement, conceptual framework, and program outcomes are emphasized. The course includes critical analysis of related topics based upon current research in nursing and higher education literature. Practicum hours include implementation of evaluation and testing strategies in healthcare education settings with emphasis on program improvement resulting from analysis of data related to program improvement indicators.

This practicum course is designed for non-APRN direct care providers to expand clinical knowledge and proficiency in their current practice area. Under the direction of a nursing faculty member, students will be placed with a graduate prepared preceptor in the clinical setting. Students will provide direct patient care to patients, families and communities, collaborate with interprofessional teams, improve patient services, and implement evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Requires 90 hours of supervised clinical practice with a preceptor.

This course guides the student through the process of synthesizing advanced nursing theoretical, practice, and research knowledge learned throughout the MSN program. Students will integrate the AACN's Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing into a professional portfolio and prepare for national certification.

Students explore cultural nursing theories and worldviews that impact healthcare organizations from a biblical perspective. Topics include cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, cultural competence, cultural humility, health equity, literacy, respect, human dignity, and social justice. Methods to overcome institutional racism and improve interprofessional collaboration to transform systems and create quality outcomes will be explored.

Students develop knowledge and skills in the concepts, theories, models, and frameworks that support informatics in practice. Topics include communication, nursing science, information science, computer science, group dynamics, adult learning theory, and systems thinking. Ethical and social issues related to consumer health and privacy will be emphasized.

In this course, the learner implements the role of the informatics nurse specialist in a health care setting. The focus is on the integration and application of theory, knowledge, and skills from previous courses within the various roles open to an informatics nurse specialist. Learners are provided an opportunity to work closely with a preceptor to observe and participate in real world informatics activities. Under the guidance of the preceptor, learners will have the opportunity to use current informatics evidence and research from the literature, collect and analyze data, demonstrate critical thinking skills, identify researchable clinical informatics problems, and identify and evaluate various informatics roles.

Students examine database management systems related to efficiency, data security, information exchange, meaningful use, and quality improvement metrics. Quality measures and benchmarking for management systems on the state and national level will be presented. Workflow modeling in systems design will be examined.

Students use hands-on experience with database management, workflow tools, and other software that interfaces within a healthcare organization. Data management, benchmarking, and meaningful use will be the focus.

Students analyze existing health information systems and whether the Triple Aims and IOM's quality and safety goals are being met. Ways to plan, design, implement, monitor, and maintain a data management system to be used by nurse administrators, clinicians, educators will be presented. Students examine patient education and interdisciplinary professional education methods using critical thinking and problem-solving competencies.

Students integrate leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities related to informatics scope of practice within the context of a real-world environment. Students assume the role of a beginning nursing informatics specialist, collaborating with other members of the interdisciplinary team.

Students assess the gaps related to rules, regulations, security, and privacy within their organization and create a comprehensive project management plan which includes scope, integration, communication, time, cost, risk, quality, and human resources management.

Students focus on effective organizational communication, relationship management, and shared decision-making, which includes the community, interdisciplinary team, and academic partnerships, from a biblical perspective. Topics include complexity science, healthcare delivery models, healthcare policy, governance, patient safety, outcomes measurement, and utilization management. Evidence-based practice related to quality improvement metrics, risk mitigation and management strategies, leadership styles, and the ethics of professionalism will be analyzed.

Students implement effective communication skills, excellent relationship management competencies, an understanding of working within complex adaptive systems, and the importance of adhering to organizational ethics. Students work closely with a nurse leader as their preceptor in a real-world setting.

Students apply content learned in class about financial policies, regulations, and performance budgets related to staffing levels, scheduling, and length of stay. In partnership with their preceptor, students compare budgets and potential cost savings for the organization.

Students evaluate the impact of reimbursement on financial revenue, operations, effective payment systems, financial policies, and regulations within healthcare organizations. Content includes healthcare efficiency, throughput, value-based purchasing to improve patient satisfaction, fee-for-service delivery models, productivity, cost-benefit analysis, information systems to support business decisions, and capital budgeting.

Students explore cultural nursing theories and worldviews that impact healthcare organizations from a biblical perspective. Topics include cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, cultural competence, cultural humility, health equity, literacy, respect, human dignity, and social justice. Methods to overcome institutional racism and improve interprofessional collaboration to transform systems and create quality outcomes will be explored.

Students learn that strategic leadership and interprofessional collaboration are essential to strategic planning. Content includes the strategic planning model, how to develop a mission statement, methods to identify core values within an organization that has meaning for all staff, and ways to create a shared vision and commitment to action while allowing for transparency.

Students focus on strategic planning, managing, and leading within a healthcare organization. Students take on leadership responsibilities with their preceptors in a real-world setting.

This course guides the student through the process of synthesizing advanced nursing theoretical, practice, and research knowledge learned throughout the MSN program. Students will integrate the AACN's Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing into a professional portfolio and prepare for national certification.