Course Descriptions

Core Courses

Four courses form the core and are pre-requisite to the clinical residency courses.  The four core courses (Theoretical Issues with Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations; Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice; Foundations for DNP I:  Scientific Underpinnings; and Health Policy Analysis) provide the theoretical basis for interdisciplinary leadership - care of culturally diverse populations, research strategies to improve health, complex adaptive systems thinking, and improvement in care based on systems and policy change. 

NURS 7305 Theoretical Issues with Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Population Groups

Provides an opportunity to analyze social and cultural factors affecting health using the concepts of the gradient effect in health and social capital.  Students will identify a health issue or problem of interest affecting a specific sub-population and analyze the social and cultural factors (such as ethnic/racial/economic disparities, medical bureaucracies, migration) affecting health in the target population and examine one legislative policy affecting the population of interest.

NURS 7310 Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Principles and methods of epidemiology are applied to the study of a target population. Students will examine epidemiological studies of risk and interventions as a basis for formulating a depth of understanding of the issues.

NURS 7315 Foundations for DNP Practice I:  Scientific Underpinnings

Synthesizes leadership and organizational theories within the context of complex adaptive systems theory as applied to the health care delivery system.  Students will learn methods of systems analysis as a basis for planning an effective re-design and plan the application to their population of interest.

NURS 8310 Health Policy Analysis

Designed to be taken concurrently with DNP II-Capstone. Students will be paired with a preceptor for a 45 hour practicum within a setting in which health policy is developed and/or implemented (e.g., professional or health advocacy group; local, state or federal official). An outcome of the course is the preparation of a health policy brief based on analysis and alternative recommendations for bettering the health of citizens.

Clinical Residency Courses

APRN certification requirements include a minimum of 500 clinical practicum hours.  The three clinical residency courses in the DNP program (Evidence Based Methods and Practice I; Evidence Based Methods and Practice II-Clinical Residency; and DNP II-Capstone) are designed to build on clinical management skills over an additional 560 hours of clinical practice with increasingly complex analysis of a targeted vulnerable population group, culminating in an intervention project to improve health care quality outcomes.

NURS 7630 Evidence Based Methods and Practice I

Initial clinical residency as a member of a health care team, with a medical and/or nursing preceptor to serve as mentor and guide.  In addition, each student will be assigned a faculty mentor who will assist the student throughout the program. The student will identify a vulnerable population group and as part of the didactic course requirements examine relevant evidence to clarify the needs of the target population.  Students will interface with information systems and other systems within the clinical setting to facilitate assessment of the target population.  This course includes a total of 128 hours of preceptored clinical experience.

NURS 7635 Evidence Based Methods and Practice II-Clinical Residency

Continuation in the refinement of clinical skills as a member of the interdisciplinary team within the same clinical setting.  The goal of this course which includes 256 clinical practicum hours is the assessment and analysis of the relevant micro, meso, and macro systems which influence the care of the target population, and the development of a proposal for an intervention plan to improve quality of care.  The proposal will be approved by an interdisciplinary committee of faculty and clinical preceptors from the relevant agency.

NURS 8390 DNP II-Capstone

Includes 128 hours of clinical practicum.  In this course, the student will implement the proposal plan, evaluate outcomes, and disseminate findings from the project.

In addition, two upper division electives are required. These are at the discretion of the student with the approval of their advisor. Recommended areas include, but are not limited to, education or business.

 

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