NURS 5000 Introduction to Nursing Science and Practice — 8 credits

This course will introduce students to the foundational discipline-based knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to practice as a nurse. Essential nursing interventions will be performed in the lab and clinical settings. Using the nursing process and patterns of knowing, students will provide care to individuals across the lifespan experiencing selected pathophysiological processes and alterations in functional patterns.
Prerequisites: Admission to the entry-level concentration.

NURS 5001 Foundations in Evidence-Guided Nursing Practice — 6 credits

In this course students will focus on evidence-guided nursing and collaborative care of the individual across the lifespan experiencing selected pathophysiological processes and alterations in functional patterns. Assessment skills are strengthened as students acquire knowledge of the pathophysiological changes underpinning abnormal findings. Application of pharmacology in nursing practice will be introduced.
Prerequisites: NURS 5000, NURS 6140.

NURS 5002 Application of Evidence-Guided Nursing Practice — 6 credits

In this course students will continue to focus on the nursing care of the individual across the lifespan. Students will apply critical thinking, clinical decision-making and evidence-guided nursing practice to complex health problems of the individual. Nursing and collaborative interventions are implemented and evaluated.
Prerequisites with concurrency: NURS 5001, NURS 6012.

NURS 5030 Introduction to the Role of the Operating Room Nurse — 1 credit

This elective course provides learning opportunities to introduce and apply theory and knowledge related to the operating room nurse role. Students will engage in classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences related to this professional nursing specialty. Students will be co-mentored by nurses in the practice setting and nurse faculty in the academic setting to create a rich and intensive on-site learning experience in the operating room. Coursework will focus on specific skills, knowledge and attitudes pertinent to the operating room nurse role with emphasis on and interconnection with the competencies for baccalaureate prepared nurses.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

NURS 5600 Clinical Internship — 0 credits

This elective clinical internship course provides learning opportunities to apply nursing knowledge and skills in the context of an internship experience. The focus is on gaining depth of understanding of the role of the registered nurse. Students will be precepted by nurses in the practice setting. Students will also work with a St Catherine University nursing faculty during this experience.
Prerequisite: Instructor and internship director permission.

NURS 6004 Ethics and Health Care — 2 credits

The purpose of this course is to examine current and future ethical dilemmas in nursing practice. Students will analyze ethical theories and approaches to ethical decision making in relation to nursing practice, health care systems and policies of care. Students will apply knowledge of ethical theories, themes of Catholic Social Teaching and professional nursing standards while participating in case analyses of ethical issues.
Prerequisites: NURS 5002, NURS 6012.

NURS 6007 Promoting and Protecting the Health of Vulnerable Populations — 2 credits

In this course students will focus on nursing care of the individual, families and populations in mental health and community settings. Students will have the opportunity to apply public health theory and population-based nursing care in diverse community settings. Mental health theories, the pathophysiology of mental illness, and pharmaceutical interventions will be introduced in the classroom and applied in simulated and acute care settings. Creative and critical thinking will be required as students deliver nursing care in resource-limited settings.
Prerequisites: NURS 6015, NURS 6160.
Corequisite: NURS 6063 for students in the Entry Level Master's Nursing Program.

NURS 6011 Global Health and Populations — 3 credits

In this course students will examine the social justice issues related to the question of “Why are some people in some countries so much healthier than others?” Students will explore factors that explain the unequal distribution of health and disease in various populations throughout the world. The course will begin with an introduction to the language of global health: the burden of disease, epidemiology, cost-effectiveness, and health systems. Students will participate in an immersion experience to expand the role of the professional nurse to the strengths, challenges and needs of either local or global populations.
Prerequisite: NURS 7000 or permission of instructor.

NURS 6012 Basic Graduate Nursing Informatics — 2 credits

In this course, students will learn about nursing informatics, an integral part of nursing practice in the era of the electronic health record and growing sophistication of information technology. Students will learn how to use informatics and information technology to improve and support their nursing practice. This course will introduce students to essential informatics content to promote their informatics competence and knowledge and skills pertaining to the data/information/knowledge/wisdom continuum. Course content includes knowledge acquisition, generation, processing, and dissemination principles. The course includes learning activities commensurate with your program of study.
Prerequisite: Admission to master's degree nursing program or instructor's permission.

NURS 6015 Family Centered and Population Focused Care — 6 credits

This course explores the concept and practice of family-centered and population-focused health care. Emphasis is on the care of the childbearing and childrearing families in acute and community settings. Students will learn the role of the public health nurse and basic concepts of epidemiology to better understand the complexity of local, national, and global healthcare systems. Students will be challenged to practice cultural humility as they plan and deliver care in a diversity of settings.
Prerequisite: NURS 5002.
Prerequisite with concurrency: NURS 6004.

NURS 6040 Nurse Informatician as Change — 1 credit

The Nurse Informatician is uniquely poised to serve as a change agent in any context in which they serve. This course, which include a mix of practicum and didactic, creates opportunities to synthesize, apply and demonstrate the initial skills and knowledge from the student’s initial course work. Students may apply their learning to the areas of population/public health, intra-professional collaborative practice and across the Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom continuum. Students will also explore scope of practice, professional identity and career opportunities in the field and prepare to successfully transition into new or expanded roles. Prerequisites and
Co-Requisites: Completion of or co-requisite with NURS 7080 and NURS 8140. This practicum and didactic course is intended to be taken in the first year of a student’s program of study. Individual programs of study and exceptions will be reviewed and approved at the discretion of course faculty.

NURS 6063 Evidence-Based Practice — 3 credits

In this course, students will learn about the ethical translation of current evidence in advanced nursing practice and health care. The course stresses the interdependence and fluidity of various approaches to evidence-based practice with an emphasis on developing skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis. Students will examine the use of evidence in nursing practice and apply skills gained in future course work.
Prerequisite: Admission to master's degree nursing program.
Corequisite: NURS 6007 for students in the Entry Level Master's Nursing Program.

NURS 6125 Health Promotion in Primary Care: Pediatric — 3 credits

This course focuses on theories and concepts of population health and primary prevention in pediatric populations within the context of the DNP-NP role. Factors that influence health, including the social determinants of health, culture, health-related policies, and advocacy, are integrated throughout the course content. Evidence-based strategies to improve health and reduce risk at the local, regional, systems, and national level will be analyzed for both the individual patient/family and for defined groups or populations. Students will develop skills in advanced assessment, interviewing, teaching, counseling, and coaching, specific to health promotion and risk reduction in pediatric populations with an emphasis on childhood growth and development and anticipatory guidance.
Prerequisites: NURS 6223, NURS 6160, NURS 6260, and NURS 6143.

NURS 6132 Introduction to Clinical Nurse Leader — 2 credits

This course defines the basic concepts of the CNL role and practice. Essential domains of CNL practice are leadership, clinical outcomes management, and care environment management. Core concepts to be covered include diversity, therapeutic communication, trauma informed care, professional identity, professional communication, and holism. The frameworks for nursing, including the nursing process, as they have evolved over time will be integrated into the study of the CNL. Students will be introduced to processes and expectations of graduate education in nursing, and developing a personal academic success plan. Concepts from this course will be applied in the clinical experience.

NURS 6135 Health Promotion in Primary Care: Adult and Geriatric Populations — 3 credits

Examine theories and concepts of population health and primary prevention in the adult and geriatric populations. Explore evidence-based strategies to improve health and reduce risk in adult and geriatric populations at the local, regional, systems, and national level. Prerequisite(s): NURS 6160, NURS6223, NURS 6260 and NURS 6143.

NURS 6140 Advanced Health Assessment across the Lifespan — 2 credits

This course introduces advanced physical assessment of patients across the lifespan with particular focus on the use of the problem oriented health record format, health history, and physical examination techniques. Content focuses on screening, assessment skills and on population specific assessment techniques.
Prerequisite: Admission to master's degree nursing program.

NURS 6142 Advanced Health Assessment across the Lifespan for the Nurse Educator — 2 credits

This course introduces advanced physical assessment of patients across the lifespan with particular focus on the use of the problem oriented health record format, health history and physical examination techniques. Content focuses on screening, assessment skills and on population specific assessment techniques. The content will expand on the basic physical assessment skills learned at the baccalaureate level.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Nurse Educator program.

NURS 6143 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan — 3 credits

This course introduces nurse practitioner students to advanced physical assessment of patients across the lifespan. Students build on prior nursing knowledge to acquire skills in history taking, advanced physical exam techniques, and documentation of assessments in preparation for independent nurse practitioner practice.

NURS 6145 Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Practitioners — 1 credit

This course enhances the screening and assessment skills introduced in NURS 6140 and provides specialty assessment techniques and documentation within a diagnostic evaluation framework. Students will receive instruction and practice with the advanced physical assessment skills necessary for the independent nurse practitioner provider.

NURS 6150 Holistic Health Assessment and Clinical Experience for the CNL — 3 credits

In this course, the bio-psycho-socio-cultural-spiritual assessment of individuals and families across the lifespan for planning nursing care will be studied. Assessment of developmental stages and health promotion needs (including assessment of health literacy), age-appropriate risk factors, and individual health will be covered. Multiple clinical settings and spheres of care will be considered, and students will identify how to adapt the assessment for different patient needs. Prerequisite: Admission to MSNEL Program
Corequisite: Students must co-enroll in Clinical 1, an experiential course in which students will apply these concepts in the care of patients.

NURS 6155 Pathophysiological and Pharmacological Basis for CNL Practice I — 3 credits

This advanced course is the first in a two-part sequence that builds on previous knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Selected major drug classifications and exemplar diseases will be studied in this course and continued in the second Pathophysiology/Pharmacology course. Common pathophysiological alterations in humans across the lifespan, and corresponding pharmacological therapies, will be studied for selected physiological systems. Environmental, genetic, political, legal, and economic factors as they are integrated in clinical judgment and nursing management of disease and pharmacological agents will be related to the CNL’s scope of practice. The mathematics for calculation of dosages, and patho/pharm safety measures related to medication use, will be addressed.
Corequisites: NURS 6132, NURS 6150.

NURS 6160 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology across the Lifespan — 3 credits

This course builds on the baccalaureate-prepared nurses’ foundational knowledge of physiology to provide an advanced examination of physiologic functioning applied to common pathophysiologic alterations in humans across their lifespan. Content includes the role of cellular function, inflammation, genetics, genomics, and immunology on disease and disorders. Body systems provide a framework for students to understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms for common diseases and disorders that will be encountered in NP practice. The impact of social determinants on the development of disease and disorders and the subjective experience of disease will be explored.

NURS 6165 Pathophysiological and Pharmacological Basis for CNL Practice II — 3 credits

This advanced course is the second in a two-part sequence that builds on previous knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Selected major drug classifications and exemplar diseases will be studied in this course as a continuation and integration of major drug classifications and exemplar diseases studied in the NURS6155. Common pathophysiological alterations in humans across the lifespan and corresponding pharmacological therapies will be studied for selected physiological systems. Environmental, genetic, political, legal, and economic factors are integrated with clinical judgment and nursing management of selected diseases and pharmacological agents related to the CNL’s scope of practice. The mathematics for calculation of dosages and patho/pharm safety measures related to medication use will be reviewed.
Prerequisites: NURS 6132, NURS 6150, NURS 6155.

NURS 6215 Nursing Interventions I — 4 credits

Holistic nursing care based on evidence, multiple ways of knowing, and patient-determined care goals for alterations in human functioning in selected healthcare settings will be covered. The nursing process will be used as the decision-making framework for determining priorities and actions in providing nursing care to selected patients and coordinating care across settings. Fundamental human functions and their role in health and illness are explored. Nursing Interventions 1 establishes the basis for further study in Nursing Interventions 2. Prerequisite: NURS 6132, NURS 6150, NURS 6155, and Clinical I.
CoRequisite: Clinical Experience II.

NURS 6223 Advanced Pharmacology across the Lifespan — 3 credits

This course examines pharmacological principles including, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacotherapeutics, toxicology, and complementary and alternative therapies across the life span. Legal, economic, and practical issues related to prescription drugs, illegal substance and over-the-counter drugs are examined. Major drug classifications are reviewed and factors involved in the assessment of drug-related health problems.
Prerequisite: Admission to the master’s degree program in nursing.

NURS 6240 Clinical Experience II — 1 credit

This clinical course gives students an opportunity to continue to develop assessment skills and begin selecting, implementing, and evaluating nursing interventions. Students will apply content and concepts from previous and current coursework to provide safe care in acute or community-based settings. Integration of concepts will be achieved through clinical assignments and seminars.
Prerequisites: NURS 6132, NURS 6150, NURS 6155.

NURS 6245 Nursing Interventions II and Clinical Experience III — 3 credits

Holistic nursing care based on evidence, multiple ways of knowing, and patient-determined care goals for alterations in human functioning in selected healthcare settings will be covered. Self-care and personal change models will be used as the decision-making frameworks for determining priorities and actions in providing nursing care to selected patients with complex and chronic health alterations. Concepts presented in previous courses are integrated into designing nursing care for individuals, families, and groups with life-altering conditions. In the clinical portion of the course, students will have an opportunity to continue to develop assessment skills and selecting, implementing, and evaluating nursing interventions. Students will apply content and concepts from previous and current coursework to provide safe care in acute or community-based settings. Integration of concepts will be achieved through clinical assignments and seminars. Prerequisites NURS 6215, NURS 6245
Co-Requisite: NURS8150.

NURS 6260 Clinical Reasoning, Diagnostics, and Procedures — 3 credits

This course is designed to facilitate the development of diagnostic reasoning skills and clinical decision making. Students will utilize knowledge from Pathophysiology, EBP, Health Assessment, and Pharmacology to direct the collection and analysis of patient and diagnostic data leading to an accurate differential diagnosis and development of a working diagnosis. Students will also learn to perform a variety of procedures commonly encountered in primary care with an opportunity to demonstrate those skills during the immersion dates.

NURS 6270 Procedures and Diagnostics in Primary Care — 1 credit

This course is designed to prepare advance practice nurses with the basic knowledge required to safely incorporate a variety of minor procedures in their clinical practice. Procedures covered include: minor skin excisions, toenail removal, laceration repair, review of a systematic approach to interpreting plain films of the chest and extremities. Learning activities include required and recommended readings, video demonstrations, completion of interactive online tutorials and case discussions. The practicum allows students to participate in simulated hands on practice with incision and drainage, suturing, splinting, x-ray interpretation.
Prerequisites: NURS 6140, NURS 6160; NURS 6125 or NURS 6135.

NURS 6311 Preparation for Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practice: Pediatrics — 1 credit

This course prepares students for nurse practitioner practice with the pediatric population by focusing on advanced health assessment, health interviewing, clinical decision-making, and acute care visits. Students will synthesize and translate didactic information learned in previous courses during practice scenarios, including simulation, conducted in a faculty- supervised learning environment.
Prerequisites: NURS 6140, NURS 6160, NURS 8110, NURS 6125, NURS 6410, NURS 6223.

NURS 6312 Simulation for Nursing Education — 1 credit

This is a seminar course focusing on the application and utilization of healthcare simulation standards of best practice. Healthcare simulation can be used in the four applications of: (1) teaching & education, (2) assessment & evaluation, (3) systems integration, and (4) research. The course will include theory, discussions, and interactive activities to understand and integrate these concepts into educational and systems design thinking. Students will leave this seminar course with an ability to apply these concepts into clinical and/or academic settings.

NURS 6321 Preparation for Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practice: Adults and Older Adults — 1 credit

This course prepares students for nurse practitioner practice with the adult and older adult population by focusing on advanced health assessment, health interviewing, clinical decision-making, and acute care visits. Students will synthesize and translate didactic information learned in previous courses during practice scenarios, including simulation, conducted in a faculty- supervised learning environment.
Prerequisites: NURS 6140, NURS 6160, NURS 8110, NURS 6135, NURS 6420, NURS 6223.

NURS 6345 Nursing Interventions II and Clinical Experience III — 2 credits

Holistic nursing care based on evidence, multiple ways of knowing, and patient-determined care goals for alterations in human functioning in selected healthcare settings will be covered. Self-care and personal change models will be used as the decision-making frameworks for determining priorities and actions in providing nursing care to selected patients with complex and chronic health alterations. Concepts presented in previous courses are integrated into designing nursing care for individuals, families, and groups with life-altering conditions. In the clinical portion of the course, students will have an opportunity to continue to develop assessment skills and selecting, implementing, and evaluating nursing interventions. Students will apply content and concepts from previous and current coursework to provide safe care in acute or community-based settings. Integration of concepts will be achieved through clinical assignments and seminars. Prerequisites NURS 6215, NURS 6245
Co-Requisite: NURS8150.

NURS 6350 Clinical Experience IV — 1 credit

This clinical course gives students an opportunity to continue to develop assessment skills and selecting, implementing, and evaluating nursing interventions. Students will apply content and concepts from previous and current coursework to provide safe care in acute or community-based settings. Integration of concepts will be achieved through clinical assignments and seminars. Prerequisites NURS 6132, 6150, 6155, 6165, 6215, 6240, 6245, 6560, 7140, 8150.
Corequisites: STAT7000, 6800.

NURS 6410 Primary Care I: Common and Acute Health Challenges in Pediatrics — 3 credits

This course focuses on the advanced practice nursing assessment and management of common and acute alterations in health within pediatric primary care. Learning experiences are designed to enhance students' advanced assessment, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making ability in the role of the advanced practice nurse.
Prerequisites: NURS 6125, NURS 6223, NURS 6160, NURS 6260, and NURS 7143.

NURS 6415 Primary Care Clinical I: Common and Acute Conditions in Pediatrics — 3 credits

This clinical course focuses on application of advanced practice nursing assessment and management of common alterations in health of the pediatric population with an emphasis on primary care. Students apply collaborative patient management skills with children in a variety of settings to enhance their advanced assessment skills, critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making ability, and role definition in advanced practice nursing.
Prerequisites: NURS 6140.

NURS 6420 Primary Care I: Common and Acute Conditions in Adult and Geriatric Populations — 3 credits

Synthesize prior course work to develop advanced nursing practice competencies in diagnosing and managing adult and geriatric patients who are experiencing common uncomplicated physical and mental health conditions.
Prerequisites: NURS 6135, NURS 6160, NURS 6223, NURS 6260, NURS 7143.

NURS 6425 Primary Care Clinical I: Common, Acute Conditions in Adults and Older Adults — 3 credits

Primary Care Clinical I: Common Acute Conditions in Adults and Older Adults (3 clinical credits) This clinical course focuses on application of advanced practice nursing assessment and management of common minor acute alterations in health of the adult and older adult population in primary care with an emphasis on primary care. Students apply collaborative patient management skills with adults and older adults in a variety of settings to enhance their advanced assessment skills, critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making ability, and role definition in advanced practice nursing.
Prerequisites: NURS 6140, NURS 6160, NURS 8110, NURS 6135, NURS 6420, NURS 6223.
Prerequisites with concurrency: NURS 6012, NURS 6270, NURS 6321.

NURS 6433 3Ps for the Nurse Educator — 3 credits

This course builds on the fundamentals to integrate advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment as it relates to the role of the advanced nurse. Students will focus on the application and synthesis of these advanced concepts within practice and across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: Admission to graduate nurse educator program or permission of the instructor.

NURS 6435 Primary Care Clinical I: Pediatrics — 1 credit

This clinical course focuses on the application of advanced practice nursing assessment and management of common alterations in the health of the pediatric population with an emphasis on primary care. Students apply collaborative patient management skills with children in a variety of settings to enhance their advanced assessment skills, critical thinking skills, and clinical decision-making ability in the role of the advanced practice nurse.
Prerequisite: NURS 6410.
Corequisite: NURS 7410.

NURS 6560 Clinical Immersion — 2 credits

Students will select a patient population or care setting for in-depth study and clinical practice. Possible options include global health, care of the child-bearing family, acute and critical care adult health, nursing care of children, hospice, community and public health, and mental health nursing. Students will develop assessment skills and select, implement, and evaluate nursing interventions appropriate for the identified health needs. Students will apply content and concepts from previous and current coursework to provide safe care in acute or community-based settings. Integration of concepts will be achieved through clinical assignments and seminars.
Prerequisite: NURS6245.

NURS 6683 Directed Study — 3 credits

NURS 6684 Directed Study — 4 credits

NURS 6693 Learner Centered Teaching — 3 credits

In this course, students will explore the role of a nurse educator in a variety of settings. Students will be introduced to the National League for Nursing (NLN) Nurse Educator Core Competencies, educational pedagogies, and the design and implementation of classes and short presentations. Application of evidence based teaching strategies and learning activities to support an inclusive learning environment and the dignity of the learner with diverse perspectives and strengths is emphasized.
Prerequisite: NURS 7140.

NURS 6800 Nursing Ethics — 3 credits

The purpose of this course is to examine current and future ethical dilemmas in nursing practice through application of nursing ethics to support social justice. Students will analyze ethical theories and approaches to ethical decision-making in relation to nursing practice, health care systems and policies of care. Students will apply knowledge of ethical theories, themes of Catholic Social Teaching and professional nursing standards while participating in case analyses of ethical issues.
Prerequisites: NURS6125, NURS6132, NURS6150, NURS6155, NURS6165, NURS6240, NURS6245, NURS6560, NURS7140, NURS8150.

NURS 6951 Independent Study — 1 credit

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract.
Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.

NURS 7000 Nursing Leadership in Complex Health Care Systems: High Acuity Care — 7 credits

This course extends the students’ understanding of acute illness and introduces them to the complex challenges of caring for critically ill and physiologically or psychologically unstable patients. Students will implement evidenced based nursing interventions designed to meet the needs of patients with rapidly changing clinical conditions and examine health policies and disparities that impact the disease’s trajectory. The technological monitoring devices that can be used to assist in the management of these acutely ill patients will be explored. Clinical immersion provides an intensive exposure to the health care environment and offers the student opportunities to provide and manage care at the point of care.
Prerequisites: NURS 6007, NURS 6063.
Corequisite: NURS 6223.

NURS 7060 Evidence Based Practice — 3 credits

In this course, students will learn about the ethical translation of current evidence in advanced nursing practice and health care. The course stresses the interdependence and fluidity of various approaches to evidence-based practice with an emphasis on developing skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis. Students will examine the use of evidence in nursing practice and apply skills gained in future course work.
Prerequisite: Admission to a graduate nursing program.

NURS 7080 Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice — 3 credits

In this course students will learn how information and communication technologies inform and support interprofessional nursing practice delivered in various settings with diverse stakeholders including patients. Nursing informatics concepts and practices will be applied to efforts towards improving care delivery, advancing quality improvement science, and integrating evidence-based practices all as a part of the continued evolution of professional nursing practice. Nursing and healthcare data, information, and knowledge will be applied as a means of supporting clinical judgement, evaluating and improving various systems, and informing quality and safety initiatives. Ethical and social justice implications will be explored, including legal and regulatory issues in information and communication technologies.
Prerequisite: Admission to a graduate nursing program.

NURS 7085 Enacting Change as a Nurse Informatician — 1 credit

The Practicum experience creates opportunities to synthesize, apply and demonstrate skill and knowledge from across the nursing informatics curriculum. Students may apply their learning to the areas of population/public health, intra-professional collaborative practice and across the Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom continuum. Students will address real-world issues through and demonstrate critical thinking, creative problem solving and insights into the nursing informatics field. Students will also explore professional identity and career opportunities in the field and prepare to successfully transition into new or expanded roles.
Prerequisites: NURS 6040 Nurse Informatician as Change Agent.

NURS 7095 Nurse Informaticist Leading Healthcare Quality Improvement — 3 credits

The Nurse Informaticist (NI), operating in a variety of healthcare and health professions education settings, will lead projects aimed at improving systems, processes, and outcomes utilizing health, information, and communication technologies. In this course, students will develop Project Management (PM) skills to be effective leaders of projects where they will apply concepts related to nursing science, Informatics, and Quality Improvement (QI). Students will explore the stages of PM, user-centered design, establishing a project team, guiding a team through all phases of a project, consideration of continuous QI versus Quality Assurance, data planning and analysis, implementation, outcome evaluation, project monitoring, transition to stakeholders with sustainability planning. The impact of a project will be considered from the perspectives of interprofessional teams; end-users and stakeholders; social justice; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); and impact on patients.

NURS 7100 Nursing Leadership in Complex Health Care Systems: Assimilation into Prof Nursing Practice — 4 credits

This course prepares the student for the complexity of nursing work and assimilation into the professional practice role. Opportunities to practice leadership and teaching skills will be provided as the student instructs and evaluates others in a lab setting. Written and oral presentation skills are further refined with the development of a professional paper and presentation. Critical thinking and persuasion skills are used as student participate in structure controversies. Multiple strategies and opportunities to practice for the NCLEX-RN are provided.
Prerequisites: NURS 6223, NURS 7000.
Prerequisite with concurrency: NURS 6011.

NURS 7125 Nursing Data to Wisdom — 3 credits

This course introduces the concepts, principles, and applications of data science and the transformative continuum of the data, information, knowledge, and wisdom model. Data analytic concepts and methods are examined in the context of data transformation, information generation, knowledge discovery, decision-making, exchange, and quality and outcome evaluation using publicly available healthcare datasets and platforms. Implications of data security and privacy are explored in relation to data analytics. Additional course topics include social determinants of health, health equity, interoperability, and emerging trends in data science and data analytics in learning health systems.
Prerequisites: STAT 7000 Introduction to Biostatistics.

NURS 7140 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice — 3 credits

This course establishes the foundational knowledge needed for advanced level nursing by (1) exploring the transformative power of knowledge as it relates to the discipline of nursing, (2) reflecting on and evaluating knowledge in nursing and other disciplines that contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of new nursing practice, and (3) validating the unique perspectives that empirical, ethical, personal, aesthetic, and emancipatory knowing each bring to professional nursing practice.
Prerequisite: Admission to a graduate nursing program.

NURS 7170 Preceptorship I — 1 credit

This clinical course extends the student’s understanding of the CNL role, and introduces them to population health at the microsystem level in providing nursing care and using horizontal leadership skills. Clinical immersion provides an intensive exposure to the healthcare environment and offers the student opportunities to provide and manage care at the point of care. Students will implement evidence-based nursing interventions designed to meet the needs of a defined population of patients. The three domains of CNL practice, nursing leadership, clinical outcomes management, and care environment management, will be implemented in clinical practice. Prerequisites: NURS6125, NURS6132, NURS6150, NURS6155, NURS6165, NURS6240, NURS6245, NURS6350, NURS6560, NURS6800, NURS7140
Corequisites: NURS 7300.

NURS 7270 Preceptorship II — 2 credits

This clinical course continues the student’s understanding of the CNL role, and supports competence in professional nursing practice. The continuation of the clinical preceptorship provides an intensive exposure to the healthcare environment and offers the student opportunities to provide and manage care at the point of care. The three domains of CNL practice: nursing leadership, clinical outcomes management, and care environment management, will be implemented in clinical practice.
Prerequisites: NURS6132, NURS6150, NURS6155, NURS7140, NURS6125, NURS6240, NURS6165, NURS6245, NURS6560, NURS6800, NURS6350, NURS7300, NURS7170.
Corequisites: NURS 7272 and NURS 7274.

NURS 7272 CNL Role in Implementing and Sustaining Care Outcomes — 3 credits

Building on the proposal developed in CNL Role in Improving Care Outcomes, students apply concepts explored in this program to a practice change that impacts population healthcare outcomes at the microsystem level. Working with the clinical preceptor and faculty, students will develop skills in the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of a practice change in an appropriate area of practice.
Prerequisites: NURS 6132, NURS 6150, NURS 6155, NURS6215, NURS 6240, NURS 6165, NURS 6245,NURS 6560, NURS 6800, NURS 6350, NURS 7170, NURS 7300.
Corequisites: NURS 7270 and NURS 7274.

NURS 7274 Transition to CNL Practice — 3 credits

This course addresses health care systems that impact the daily practice of nurses, particularly as individuals, families, groups, and populations with complex needs encounter the healthcare delivery system. Students will consider healthcare policies, laws, and financing that lead to health disparities and are barriers to social justice, including regulation of healthcare providers. The student will develop insight into emerging clinical problems and patterns, and examine the impact of health care issues from a global and international perspective. The role of the CNL in influencing and leading change in policy will be explored. Family dynamics and participatory action theories will be introduced as decision-making frameworks for determining priorities and interventions as the CNL manages care for populations at the microsystems level.
Prerequisites: NURS 6132, NURS 6150, NURS 6155, NURS 7140, NURS 6215, NURS 6240, NURS 7060, NURS 6165, NURS 6245, NURS 6560, NURS 7080, NURS 6800, NURS 6350, STAT 7000, NURS 8150, NURS 7300, NURS 7170.

NURS 7300 CNL Role in Improving Care Outcomes — 3 credits

In this course, students apply concepts explored in this program to a practice change that impacts population healthcare outcomes at the microsystem level. Working with the clinical preceptor and faculty, students prepare and submit a CNL Project Proposal by the term end. The project will address implementation of a practice change in an appropriate area of practice, including an evaluation of processes and/or outcomes. The project will focus on social justice and health inequities within the specified population. The project will focus on social justice and health inequities within the specified population. Students will apply skills in proposal development by working with expert nurses who are engaged in quality improvement projects for a 50 hour practicum. The project proposal and practicum will be completed in the CNL Project Implementation course in the following semester.

NURS 7402 Innovation and Technology for Teaching — 2 credits

In this course, students will focus on the use of innovative technology tools for teaching, information-gathering and communication. These tools will be explored as vital supplements and complements to sound teaching-learning practices. Theory and learning activities include web-based learning, design and use of media, ethical issues, digital assessment and evaluation practices through the use of both existing and emerging tools. The contexts of technology-enabled teaching include staff development, inter-professional teams and academic environments across the delivery modality spectrum.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Nurse Educator or Nursing Informatics program.

NURS 7410 Primary Care II: Immunologic and Infectious Challenges in Pediatrics — 3 credits

This course is designed to equip pediatric nurse practitioners with the specialized knowledge and skills required to effectively diagnose and manage chronic health conditions in pediatric patients. Focused on an evidence-based approach, this course delves into the complexities of assessing, diagnosing, treating, and managing various chronic illnesses commonly encountered in the pediatric primary care setting.
Prerequisite: NURS 6410.
Corequisite: NURS 6435.

NURS 7415 Primary Care Clinical II: Immunologic and Infectious Challenges in Pediatrics — 3 credits

This clinical course focuses on the application of advanced practice nursing assessment and management of chronic conditions common in primary care of the pediatric population. Students apply collaborative patient management skills with children and families in a variety of settings to enhance their advanced assessment skills, critical thinking skills, and clinical decision-making ability in the role of the advanced practice nurse.
Prerequisites: NURS 6435 and NURS 7410.
Corequisite: 7810.

NURS 7420 Primary Care II: Chronic Health Challenges in Adult and Geriatric Populations — 3 credits

Build on concepts from Primary Care I to include the diagnosis and management of chronic conditions common in primary care of adult and geriatric patients. Emphasis is placed on patient-centered management strategies for chronic conditions, in the context of patient/family characteristics and social determinants of health.
Prerequisites: NURS 6420.
Prerequisites with concurrency: NURS 6445.

NURS 7425 Primary Care Clinical II: Adult and Geriatric Populations — 3 credits

Immersive clinical experience focusing on the diagnosis and management of chronic conditions common in primary care of adult and geriatric patients.
Prerequisites: NURS 6445, NURS 7420
Prerequisites with concurrency: NURS 7820.

NURS 7460 Quality and Safety Outcomes in Advanced Nursing Practice — 3 credits

In this course students will examine principles of health care quality and safety related to nurse practitioner practice. Students will examine philosophies, models, and processes for quality improvement and apply them to actual or hypothetical scenarios. Core measures for local and national initiatives, including nurse sensitive indicators, serve as the backdrop for this course. The role of clinical outcomes and quality metrics required for regulatory compliance and benchmarking is explored. Principles of data management and analysis are applied to the process of reporting errors, measuring quality and safety outcomes and developing meaningful reports.
Prerequisites: NURS 6070; NURS 7415 or NURS 7425; NURS 7810 or NURS 7820.
Corequisites: NURS 8130; NURS 7815 or NURS 7825.

NURS 7463 Quality and Safety Outcomes in Advanced Nursing Practice — 3 credits

In this course, students will examine principles of healthcare quality and safety as it relates to professional nursing practice. Philosophies, models and techniques for quality assurance/improvement work will be examined and applied to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios. Core measures for local and national initiatives will serve as backdrop for this course, including nurse-sensitive indicators and the expanding role of clinical outcomes and quality metrics as a means of regulatory compliance and benchmarking. The course will also include principles of data management and analysis as a means of analyzing errors, and measuring and reporting on quality and safety measures, particularly in the digital healthcare age.
Prerequisites: NURS 6012 and HLTH 6010.

NURS 7510 Assessment, Diagnosis and EBM of Psychiatric Mental Health Conditions for Adults and Older Adults — 3 credits

This course focuses on the advanced practice nursing assessment and management of alterations in psychiatric and mental health conditions of the adult and older population. Content enhances the assessment skills, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic interventions reflecting current evidence-based practice. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner role is defined in the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisite: NURS 7560, NURS 7570, Admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Second Certificate program.

NURS 7515 Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan - Clinical I — 1 credit

This clinical course focuses on the comprehensive role of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to guide screening and diagnostic activities related to psychiatric and medical co-morbidities are explored across the lifespan. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner clinical practice is demonstrated in the context of social justice, ethics and holistic care.
Prerequisites: NURS 7510, NURS 7560, NURS 7570, Admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Second Certificate program.

NURS 7520 Assessment, Diagnosis and Evidence Based Practice Management of Psychiatric and Mental Health Condit — 3 credits

This course focuses on the advanced practice nursing assessment and management of alterations in psychiatric and mental health conditions of children and families. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is further defined by analyzing the impact of advocacy actions on therapeutic alliances and collaboration with health care consumers, families, and groups. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is defined in the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisites: NURS 7510, NURS 7560, NURS 7570.

NURS 7525 Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan: PMHNP Clinical II — 3 credits

This course focuses on the advanced practice nursing assessment and management of alterations in psychiatric and mental health conditions of children and families. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is further defined by analyzing the impact of advocacy actions on therapeutic alliances and collaboration with healthcare consumers, families, and groups. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is defined in the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisites: NURS 7510, NURS 7515, NURS 7560, NURS 7570.

NURS 7530 PMHNP 3: Role of the PMHNP--Integrated Care Across the Lifespan — 3 credits

This course focuses on the impact of psychiatric disorders and mental health problems on the individual’s functional status, quality of life, and recovery course across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches to treatment including cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. The health impact of life stressors, traumatic events, and situational crises is explored within the context of the therapeutic environment. The role of the PMHNP is expanded through multidisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration and use of community resources for the development of a comprehensive plan of care. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner role is defined in the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisites: NURS 7510, NURS 7520, NURS 7560, NURS 7570.

NURS 7535 Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan: PMHNP — 2 credits

The course focuses on the advanced practice nursing assessment and management of alterations in psychiatric and health conditions of children and families. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is further defined by analyzing the impact of advocacy actions on therapeutic alliances and collaboration with health care consumers, families and groups. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is defined in the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisites: NURS 7510, NURS 7515, NURS 7520, NURS 7525, NURS 7560, NURS 7570,.

NURS 7560 Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan — 2 credits

This course examines psycho-pharmacological principles including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacotherapeutics, toxicology, and complementary and alternative therapies used to treat psychiatric-mental health conditions across the life span. Legal, economic, and practical issues related to prescription drugs, illegal substance, and over-the-counter drugs are examined. Major psycho-pharmacological classifications are reviewed and factors involved in the evaluation of adverse effects, pharmacological treatment, and non-pharmacological treatment outcomes across the lifespan are examined. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is defined within the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Second Certificate program.
Corequisite: NURS 6223.

NURS 7570 Neurobiology & Psychopathologic Disorders Across the Lifespan — 2 credits

This course provides a comprehensive examination of the neurobiologic and psychopathologic functioning and common neurobiologic/psychopathologic alterations in humans across the lifespan. Content builds on the fundamentals of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology. The influence of environmental and genetic factors on mental health is emphasized. Content reflects national and international guidelines and accepted evidence-based practice protocols in care management to address emerging problems. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is defined within the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care.
Prerequisite: NURS 6160, Admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Second Certificate program.

NURS 7574 Curriculum Design and Evaluation Measurement — 4 credits

In this course, the student will learn about principles, concepts, and theories of curriculum design and evaluation. The student will investigate best practices for designing and delivering curriculum at the class session, course, and programmatic levels, as well as best practices for assessing and evaluating individual, peer, and faculty within diverse settings. Special emphasis is placed on day-to-day evaluation strategies applied to individual learners or groups of learners including classroom assessment techniques; test item writing, construction, and analysis; rubrics; and evaluation of critical thinking and clinical performance. These learning activities will promote the student’s development as a curriculum designer and facilitate their ability to engage in constructive feedback, program development, and evaluation.
Prerequisites: NURS 6025, NURS 6063, NURS 7453, or permission of instructor.

NURS 7580 The Business of Providing Care for Patients with Psychiatric-Mental Health Disorders — 1 credit

This course focuses on the business principles of psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner practice with emphasis on business principles for starting, operating, and maintaining a PMHNP practice. Practical tools and resources for the development of sound business practices, practice regulatory requirements, insurance recommendations, and practice management strategies are evaluated. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role is defined within the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care. Pre-requisites: NURS 7510.

NURS 7583 Curriculum Design and Evaluation I — 3 credits

In this course, the student will build on basic principles, concepts, and theories for education and curriculum design and evaluation introduced in previous course work. Students will utilize best practices, overarching frame factors, and personal creativity to design, deliver and evaluate an inclusive and integrated curriculum at the individual session level. Embedded throughout unfolding case studies (based in either the academic, staff development, or industry education setting) are learning activities that will foster the student’s skills and knowledge as a thoughtful curriculum designer, and will facilitate their ability to competently engage in curriculum development and evaluation of learning outcomes and objectives.
Prerequisite: NURS 6693.

NURS 7590 Holistic Interventions for Patients with Psychiatric-Mental Health Conditions — 1 credit

This course provides the foundation of holistic healing and use of integrative care strategies by the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) in the care of patients with psychiatric and mental health disorders. Students will be introduced to selected integrative therapies and interventions. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner clinical practice is discussed in the context of social justice, ethics, and holistic care. Pre-requisite: NURS 7510.

NURS 7683 Curriculum Design and Evaluation II — 3 credits

In this course the student will expand their ability to apply principles, concepts, and theories of curriculum design and evaluation exploring desing and integrated curriculum and evaluation methods across diverse settings common to nurse educators. Program design and mapping will be introduced in accordance with accreditation standards, professional competencies, and licensure exams. Evaluation of session, course, and programmatic level outcomes using holistic assessment techniques will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: NURS 6693, NURS 7583.

NURS 7810 Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Conditions in Pediatrics and Their Families — 3 credits

This course integrates the role of the DNP-prepared PNP in the coordination and management of care for pediatric patients and their families experiencing complex, multimorbidity health conditions. Content is presented in the context of interprofessional team care utilizing evidence-based strategies for improving the quality of life and well-being for patients and families facing complex health issues. Corequisite: NURS 7415. .
Prerequisites: NURS 6410, NURS 7410, and NURS 6435.

NURS 7815 Primary Care Clinical III: Chronic and Complex Conditions in Pediatrics and Families — 3 credits

This clinical course focuses on expanding advanced practice skills and evidence based interventions in pediatric health to pediatric patients and their families experiencing complex, multimorbidity health conditions. Students will focus on the coordination and management of children with chronic and complex health conditions and their families.
Prerequisites: NURS 7415 and NURS 7810.

NURS 7820 Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Health Challenges in Adult and Geriatric Populations — 3 credits

Integrate the role of the DNP prepared AGNP in the coordination and management of care for adult and geriatric patients experiencing complex, multimorbidity. Content is presented in the context of interprofessional team care utilizing evidence-based strategies for improving quality of life and well-being for patients and families facing complex health issues.
Prerequisites: NURS 6420, NURS 6445, NURS 7420.
Prerequisite with concurrency: NURS 7425.

NURS 7825 Primary Care Clinical III: Adult and Geriatric Populations — 3 credits

Immersive clinical experience focusing on the coordination and management of care for adult and geriatric patients and families experiencing complex, multimorbidity.
Prerequisites: NURS 7425, NURS 7820.

NURS 7900 Evidence-Based Practice and Quality and Safety Outcomes in Health Care — 4 credits

This course prepares the student for interdisciplinary clinical leadership in health care by developing critical appraisal competencies which serve as a foundation for translation of best evidence to improve healthcare quality and safety. This is accomplished in the context of theory, ethical standards and social justice principles. Nursing knowledge and scientific inquiry, as well as the design and conduct of research, are explored. An emphasis is placed on enhancing the skills of advanced literature searches, in-depth evaluation of both research and non-research, and powerful translation strategies. Students will examine philosophies, models, and processes for quality improvement and apply them to actual or hypothetical scenarios.
Corequisites: NURS 7415 or NURS 7425; NURS 7810 or NURS 7820. Offered in the summer.

NURS 7951 Independent Study — 1 credit

NURS 8003 Applied Concepts of Leadership in Nursing Education — 3 credits

This capstone course pulls together all prior learning in the Nurse Educator curriculum. Students will engage concurrently in both didactic and practicum work. Students will cultivate an appreciation for their expanded role as nursing leaders to influence and create change in complex systems, particularly in nursing education. Practicum experiences will provide opportunities for students to integrate their awareness, activism, advocacy, and application of nurse educator best practices into various settings. Topics related to role transition will also be addressed.
Prerequisites: NURS 6312, NURS 6693, NURS 7402, NURS 7583, NURS 7683.

NURS 8110 Foundations of Nurse Practitioner Practice I — 1 credit

This course provides students with a foundational understanding of the scientific grounding of nurse practitioner practice, ethics, Catholic Social Teaching, and cultural awareness. Students will wrestle with the meaning of a nursing practice science, and explore nursing meta- and mid-range theories. They will reflect on their own lived experience as it frames a biopsychosocial spiritual construct and investigate how reflection and resilience scaffold the role of nurse practitioner. Ethical theories including virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, casuistry, and principlism.will be critiqued. Differences between health care ethics and health law will be demonstrated. Examples of how Catholic Social Teaching, in combination with virtue ethics, shapes a just society will be presented. Course readings and class experiences will assist students in defining and understanding cultural awareness, cultural humility, and cultural competency.
Prerequisite: NURS 6160.
Prerequisites with concurrency: NURS 6140, NURS 6145.
Co-requisites: NURS 6223, NURS 6125 or NURS 6135, and NURS 6410 or NURS 6420.

NURS 8120 Foundations of Nurse Practitioner Practice II — 1 credit

Students will build on the knowledge gained from the first foundations course and evaluate the concepts of ethics, law, culture, and Catholic Social Teaching in the context of the patient-provider relationship. Nursing science, cultural sensitivity, ethics, and Catholic Social Teaching will be utilized to enhance the delivery of individual patient care. Content will be further broadened to include key policy issues that influence the provider-patient relationship including access to care, cost containment, cultural health disparities, quality measures, environmental concerns, and patient satisfaction. The course will explore how a practice grounded in nursing ethics and CST contribute to policy development for just, high quality, effective care.
Prerequisites: NURS 8110, NURS 6140, NURS 6160, NURS 6125 or 6135, NURS 6410 or NURS 6420, NURS 6223.
Corequisites: NURS 6415 or NURS 6425, NURS 7410 or NURS 7420, HLTH 6010.

NURS 8130 Foundations of Nurse Practitioner Practice III — 2 credits

This course is the culmination of foundational knowledge for advanced nursing practice. Students will demonstrate leadership in the area of ethics, Catholic Social Teaching, and cultural competence within communities and health care systems. Students will analyze the community for the effect of social determinants of health, cultural and historical factors, environmental concerns, and pertinent health care policy issues, with the end goal of designing interventions to optimize community health. Prequisites: NURS 8110, NURS 8120;
Corequisites: NURS 7815 or NURS 7825, NURS 7460.

NURS 8150 Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice — 3 credits

In this course students will apply knowledge, skills and attributes of the graduate nurse to lead change within organizational systems to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Four concepts of organizational change are emphasized: (1) identification of opportunities for improvement within complex adaptive systems; (2) strategic management of change initiatives that promote teamwork and socially responsible leadership, (3) collaboration with key stakeholders to advance change and, (4) evaluation of targeted outcomes to ensure progress towards meeting organizational goals.
Prerequisite: Admission to a graduate nursing program.

NURS 8200 Practicum — 1-8 credits

In this practicum students will complete Master’s practicum hours in preparation of their DNP Projects. Knowledge acquired in previous nursing courses is synthesized in this practicum. Students are required to develop their own objectives to guide their own learning based on previous experiences and future goals. Course credits are determined with faculty advisers and based on previous practicum experiences.
Prerequisites: Admission to DNP Program, instructor and program director approval.

NURS 8300 Advanced Outcomes Measurement and Evaluation — 3 credits

Students will apply outcome evaluation project management skills to continuous quality improvement, program evaluation, and evidence-based practice projects in complex systems. A systematic approach will be used to help students identify a clinical, health-related administrative, or health professions education problem and develop SMART Aims. They will develop a logic model and apply QI science, nursing science, and data science to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes. Advanced informatics skills, knowledge, and abilities will support a data driven outcome measurement, data analysis, and evaluation plan. Students will practice dissemination of outcomes using the SQUIRE framework, data visualization, and presentation formats.
Prerequisite: Admission to a graduate nursing program.

NURS 8350 Graduate Nursing Informatics Capstone — 2 credits

The Capstone experience creates opportunities to synthesize, apply and demonstrate skill and knowledge from across the nursing informatics curriculum. Students will apply their learning to the areas of population/public health, intra-professional collaborative practice and across the Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom continuum. Students will directly participate in existing research and projects giving them faculty and professional mentorship and a guided learning experience. Students will also explore professional identity and career opportunities in the field and prepare to successfully transition into new or expanded roles. Project work and practicum hours will culminate in both a presentation and written summary of course and program achievements. Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Completion of or co-requisite with NURS 8300 Advanced Outcomes Measurement and Evaluation and NURS7085 Enacting Change as a Nurse Informatician.

NURS 8500 Underpinnings of the Discipline of Nursing — 4 credits

In this foundational DNP course, students will explore the nature of knowledge development as it relates to the discipline of nursing using an iterative, interactive and innovative approach. Emphasizing analysis and evaluation, students will use investigatory frameworks to critically appraise knowledge in nursing and other disciplines. Integration of nursing science with knowledge from principles of social justice; ethics; and the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences leads to the development, implementation and evaluation of new practice approaches. Using a wide array of knowledge, students will propose actions and strategies in nursing practice to enhance health.
Prerequisite: Admission to the DNP program.

NURS 8501 DNP Practicum — 1 credit

In this first practicum, students apply didactic concepts to a practice change that impacts healthcare outcomes through direct or indirect care. All projects focus on a system and/or population. Students prepare and submit a DNP Project Proposal by term end that addresses implementation in an appropriate area of practice, including sustainability and an evaluation of processes and/or outcomes. Using scientific underpinnings of the discipline, students articulate evidence for their practice change and explore the implications of a DNP project from a social justice perspective that addresses health care disparities.

NURS 8502 DNP Practicum — 1 credit

Practicums are designed to support DNP project completion, recognizing that each student does not adhere to the same timeline. This practicum course is tailored to the student’s unique project needs and deliverables are developed by the student and approved by the faculty adviser at the beginning of the term. Students are required to develop Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) in SMART goal format (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound) describing practicum deliverables supporting project completion. Suggested deliverables include: project implementation, data collection/analysis, wrap-up plan, and/or dissemination.

NURS 8503 DNP Practicum — 1 credit

Practicums are designed to support DNP project completion, recognizing that each student does not adhere to the same timeline. This practicum course is tailored to the student’s unique project needs and deliverables are developed by the student and approved by the faculty adviser at the beginning of the term. Students are required to develop Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) in SMART goal format (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound) describing practicum deliverables supporting project completion. Suggested deliverables include: project implementation, data collection/analysis, wrap-up plan, and/or dissemination.

NURS 8506 Post Masters Practicum — 0 credits

This course provides students a self-guided path to solidify knowledge about quality improvement, patient safety, patient/family-centered care, leadership, the triple aim for population health, and engagement in reflective practice through guided online activities and student-selected opportunities. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the post-master's DNP program.

NURS 8507 Post Masters Practicum — 2 credits

This course provides students a self-guided path to solidify knowledge about quality improvement, patient safety, patient/family-centered care, leadership, the triple aim for population health, and engagement in reflective practice through guided online activities and student-selected opportunities. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the post-master's DNP program.

NURS 8511 DNP as Change Agent — 2 credits

In this practicum, students prepare a draft of their IRB application, including development of all supporting documentation (e.g., informed consent (if applicable), recruiting materials, survey/questionnaire(s), focus group or interview questions, letter(s) of support). Students also complete required Human Subjects Research learning modules (CITI training; Social & Behavioral Research track), including 1. History and Ethical Principles 2. Defining Research with Human Subjects 3. Assessing Risk in Social and Behavioral Sciences 4. Informed Consent 5. Privacy and Confidentiality and 6. Unanticipated Problems and Reporting Requirements in Social and Behavioral Research.

NURS 8512 Nursing and Social Justice — 2 credits

In this practicum, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students strive to understand what it means for a DNP to exemplify St. Catherine University’s Ethics and Social Justice outcomes: “the ability to apply ethical standards to judge individual and collective actions” and “the development of attitudes and behaviors that reflect integrity, honesty, compassion, and justice in one’s personal and professional life.” Students engage knowledge from the nursing literature on social justice and emancipatory knowing and meaningful experiences with people from marginalized populations to develop a moral judgment framework that can guide their DNP practice. Through the process of this practicum, students will deepen their knowledge of self and others.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice dual degree program; HLTH 6020; MBA 6000, MBA 6100 (MBA dual degree); ORLD 7500 (MAOL dual degree); HHS 6740, HHS 6820, HHS 7520 (MAHS dual degree); MHI 5070 (MHI dual degree).

NURS 8513 Interprofessional Practice — 2 credits

In this practicum, students will complete hours that support the DNP role of developing interprofessional collaborative teams, using the Interprofessional Education Competencies (IPEC), TeamStepps®, and research about the effectiveness of TeamStepps® in creating highly effective teams. The course will also include observations of an interprofessional team, examining team function based on the TeamStepps®, IPEC competencies, and the literature, where students synthesize interprofessional, collaborative team practice knowledge.
Prerequisites: Admission to one of the following DNP dual degree options: MAHS+DNP, MAOL+DNP, MBA+DNP or any other DNP option (post-master or nurse practitioner).

NURS 8514 DNP Practicum — 1 credit

The intent of this practicum is to provide dual degree students with essential foundational understandings and resources necessary for entry into the DNP program. Students review the historical beginnings of the DNP, its intended purpose, and expected outcomes. Academic writing skills, APA formatting, and plagiarism avoidance is discussed. Students explore effective oral and written communication strategies and identify writing strategies useful for achieving academic success.
Prerequisite: Admission to one of the dual degree DNP programs.

NURS 8515 DNP Integration I — 2 credits

The first DNP project practicum focuses on a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the context, organization, population, and problem. In order to complete a thorough assessment, a student will use theories, process improvement methods and reflective practice to design and plan a quality improvement project.
Prerequisites: Admission to the DNP program and completion of Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (NURS 8140).

NURS 8516 DNP Integration II — 2 credits

In the second DNP project practicum course, students apply advanced nursing knowledge to design a quality improvement project considering social justice and ethics in health care. After completing a thorough literature review, students design the quality improvement project translating evidence and targeting systems-level problems. Context-specific interventions are designed with feasibility in mind and evaluated with measurable outcomes.
Prerequisite: NURS 8515.

NURS 8517 DNP Integration III — 2 credits

The quality improvement project is implemented during this practicum course. Using leadership skills, the student will expand knowledge of self in the role of the DNP-prepared nurse, collect project data, and communicate with project stakeholders to disseminate project outcomes/next steps.
Prerequisite: NURS 8516.

NURS 8518 DNP Integration IV — 2 credits

In this final project practicum course, students will focus on transitioning into the doctor of nursing practice role. They will continue to work with their mentor on the dissemination of their DNP scholarship. Students will synthesize the finished QI project in a scholarly paper, write an executive summary of the project to share with stakeholders, and develop and deliver a poster presentation delivered to a diverse audience, outlining the important aspects/findings of their QI project. Finally, students will prepare a professional biography.
Prerequisite: NURS 8517.

NURS 8520 Advanced Evidence-based Practice — 4 credits

In this course students will explore the nature of evidence as it relates to the discipline of nursing. Emphasizing critical appraisal of nursing research and research from other scientific disciplines as evidence, students will engage in knowledge development activities to address translation of research in practice, the evaluation of practice and activities aimed at improving the reliability of healthcare practice and outcomes for individuals and populations. The integration of knowledge and evidence from diverse sources and across disciplines is used to evaluate practice patterns against national benchmarks to determine variances in outcomes and explore alternative solutions surrounding clinical problems to improve healthcare outcomes.
Prerequisites: NURS 7060 or IPE 7000.

NURS 8523 Advanced Evidence-based Practice — 3 credits

In this course students will explore the nature of evidence as it relates to the discipline of nursing. Emphasizing critical appraisal of nursing research and research from other scientific disciplines as evidence, students will engage in knowledge development activities to address translation of research in practice, the evaluation of practice and activities aimed at improving the reliability of healthcare practice and outcomes for individuals and populations. The integration of knowledge and evidence from diverse sources and across disciplines is used to evaluate practice patterns against national benchmarks to determine variances in outcomes and explore alternative solutions surrounding clinical problems to improve healthcare outcomes.
Prerequisites: NURS 7060 or IPE 7000.

NURS 8525 Advanced Informatics — 2 credits

In this doctoral-level course, students will expand and build upon basic informatics competencies. The content and learning experiences are focused primarily on the evaluation of the impact of informatics on outcomes. Students will learn advanced concepts pertaining to clinical information systems, patient care technologies, clinical decision support, legal/ethical issues, consumer health informatics and the integration of evidence-based practice in support of systems change. The emphasis of this course is on the design, select, use, and evaluation of select information technologies.
Prerequisite: NURS 6012, the expectation of computer and information literacy. Open to graduate level nursing students or with instructor's permission.

NURS 8535 Leadership in Organizations and Systems: Implications for Practice — 3 credits

In this course, students will learn about leadership in organizational systems and processes that emphasize the primacy of clinical practice, improving health outcomes, and ensuring patient safety. Two important competencies for leaders surround the phenomenon of organizational change are emphasized: managing organizational change in increasingly complex and ambiguous settings and intentionally shaping organizational change using principles of social justice in order to create new contexts in which organizational outcomes can be achieved more justly and effectively. This course will increase the student's ability to create, successfully engage key stakeholders in, and carry out organizational change in highly complex situations.
Prerequisites: NURS 8500, NURS 8520.

NURS 8536 Healthcare Economics and Finance — 3 credits

In this course, students will concentrate on health care economics and finance as it relates to clinical practice, improving health outcomes, and ensuring patient safety. Students will develop an understanding of basic economics and financial concepts and apply them to the healthcare market context. Students will gain the understanding of the business and financial acumen needed for healthcare leaders by creating a system-level project budget, analyzing its value with financial analysis tools, and concisely presenting this information with a modified business plan. The organization of global healthcare delivery models and their payment systems, along with the financial, legal, technological, and ethical dimensions of changing practice are addressed.
Prerequisite: NURS 8150.

NURS 8540 Health Care: Power, Policy and Politics — 4 credits

This course provides an in-depth exploration of various aspects of healthcare policy, including an immersive experience in the policy development process. Students will critically analyze healthcare policy, focusing on social justice, advocacy, and intended and unintended consequences in developing equitable health and social policy proposals. Strategies for leading change from a policy perspective will be explored and practiced. Students will develop a personal political activism plan to impact healthcare policy as DNP-prepared nurses.

NURS 8543 Health Care: Power, Policy and Politics — 3 credits

This course addresses the complexity of national and global health care systems, focusing on interprofessional, cross-cultural and advanced technological issues that converge to impact the daily practice of all healthcare providers. Students will learn about being accountable for ensuring high quality safe care, measuring and providing efficient and cost-effective care, analyzing data for identifying emerging clinical problems and patterns, identifying and enhancing current interprofessional relationships, enhancing cross-cultural abilities to provide care, and examining the impact of health care issues from a global and international perspective. Strategies for influencing, creating and leading change in current and future/evolving local, state, national and international health care policies are emphasized, including consensus building, policy-making, lobbying, political activism and methods for evaluating policy outcomes.

NURS 8600 DNP Project — 4 credits

NURS 8600 represents the culmination of knowledge acquired in previous DNP coursework and practicum experiences. Through completion of a final scholarly project, students demonstrate an ability to synthesize and apply learnings, engage in clinical scholarship, and integrate all DNP Essentials into practice. NURS 8600 focuses on dissemination and course assignments support this outcome.
Prerequisites: NURS 8511.
Prerequisite with concurrency: NURS 8503.

NURS 8601 DNP Project: Part 1 — 1 credit

The DNP project is the culmination of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This project involves a systems level change in nursing practice, education and/or service designed to improve the outcomes of a specific population. Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired in previous DNP courses and practicum experiences in this project. The DNP project is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated in collaboration with a project committee comprised of the student's faculty project advisor, faculty reader and site mentor. Prerequisites: NURS 8502, NURS 8520 or by special permission of the DNP project advisor. Please note: This course (4 credits total) may be taken in one term as NURS 8600, over two terms as NURS 8610 and NURS 8620, or over four terms as NURS 8601, NURS 8602, NURS 8603 and NURS 8604.* The prerequisite to the initial course for all options is NURS 8520. The series must be completed during or after the term students register for NURS 8540. *Students with specific needs related to registration requirements may complete the DNP Project by taking these four 1-credit courses. The last course - NURS 8604 - must be taken with or after NURS 8540.

NURS 8602 DNP Project: Part 2 — 1 credit

The DNP project is the culmination of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This project involves a systems level change in nursing practice, education and/or service designed to improve the outcomes of a specific population. Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired in previous DNP courses and practicum experiences in this project. The DNP project is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated in collaboration with a project committee comprised of the student's faculty project advisor, faculty reader and site mentor. Prerequisites: NURS 8502, NURS 8520 or by special permission of the DNP project advisor. Please note: This course (4 credits total) may be taken in one term as NURS 8600, over two terms as NURS 8610 and NURS 8620, or over four terms as NURS 8601, NURS 8602, NURS 8603 and NURS 8604.* The prerequisite to the initial course for all options is NURS 8520. The series must be completed during or after the term students register for NURS 8540. *Students with specific needs related to registration requirements may complete the DNP Project by taking these four 1-credit courses. The last course - NURS 8604 - must be taken with or after NURS 8540.

NURS 8603 DNP Project: Part 3 — 1 credit

The DNP project is the culmination of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This project involves a systems level change in nursing practice, education and/or service designed to improve the outcomes of a specific population. Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired in previous DNP courses and practicum experiences in this project. The DNP project is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated in collaboration with a project committee comprised of the student's faculty project advisor, faculty reader and site mentor. Prerequisites: NURS 8502, NURS 8520 or by special permission of the DNP project advisor. Please note: This course (4 credits total) may be taken in one term as NURS 8600, over two terms as NURS 8610 and NURS 8620, or over four terms as NURS 8601, NURS 8602, NURS 8603 and NURS 8604.* The prerequisite to the initial course for all options is NURS 8520. The series must be completed during or after the term students register for NURS 8540. *Students with specific needs related to registration requirements may complete the DNP Project by taking these four 1-credit courses. The last course - NURS 8604 - must be taken with or after NURS 8540.

NURS 8604 DNP Project: Part 4 — 1 credit

The DNP project is the culmination of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This project involves a systems level change in nursing practice, education and/or service designed to improve the outcomes of a specific population. Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired in previous DNP courses and practicum experiences in this project. The DNP project is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated in collaboration with a project committee comprised of the student's faculty project advisor, faculty reader and site mentor. Prerequisites: NURS 8502, NURS 8520 or by special permission of the DNP project advisor. Please note: This course (4 credits total) may be taken in one term as NURS 8600, over two terms as NURS 8610 and NURS 8620, or over four terms as NURS 8601, NURS 8602, NURS 8603 and NURS 8604.* The prerequisite to the initial course for all options is NURS 8520. The series must be completed during or after the term students register for NURS 8540. *Students with specific needs related to registration requirements may complete the DNP Project by taking these four 1-credit courses. The last course - NURS 8604 - must be taken with or after NURS 8540.

NURS 8610 DNP Project: Part 1 — 2 credits

The DNP project is the culmination of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This project involves a systems level change in nursing practice, education and/or service designed to improve the outcomes of a specific population. Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired in previous DNP courses and practicum experiences in this project. The DNP project is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated in collaboration with a project committee comprised of the student's faculty project advisor, faculty reader and site mentor. Prerequisites: NURS 8502, NURS 8520 or by special permission of the DNP project advisor. Please note: This course (4 credits total) may be taken in one term as NURS 8600, over two terms as NURS 8610 and NURS 8620, or over four terms as NURS 8601, NURS 8602, NURS 8603 and NURS 8604.* The prerequisite to the initial course for all options is NURS 8520. The series must be completed during or after the term students register for NURS 8540. *Students with specific needs related to registration requirements may complete the DNP Project by taking these four 1-credit courses. The last course - NURS 8604 - must be taken with or after NURS 8540.

NURS 8620 DNP Project: Part 2 — 2 credits

The DNP project is the culmination of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This project involves a systems level change in nursing practice, education and/or service designed to improve the outcomes of a specific population. Students will synthesize the knowledge they have acquired in previous DNP courses and practicum experiences in this project. The DNP project is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated in collaboration with a project committee comprised of the student's faculty project advisor, faculty reader and site mentor. Prerequisites: NURS 8502, NURS 8520 or by special permission of the DNP project advisor. Please note: This course (4 credits total) may be taken in one term as NURS 8600, over two terms as NURS 8610 and NURS 8620, or over four terms as NURS 8601, NURS 8602, NURS 8603 and NURS 8604.* The prerequisite to the initial course for all options is NURS 8520. The series must be completed during or after the term students register for NURS 8540. *Students with specific needs related to registration requirements may complete the DNP Project by taking these four 1-credit courses. The last course - NURS 8604 - must be taken with or after NURS 8540.

NURS ELEC Nursing Elective — 1-5 credits

NURS ELECU Nursing Elective-Upper Div — 1-6 credits