Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) Courses

This course provides an opportunity to explore theoretical models of practice in healthcare systems. The relationship between nursing systems models and other disciplines is examined. An emphasis is placed on developing a foundation for application of professional practice through using a systems approach.

This course provides the opportunity to study the nurses’ role in moral and ethical decision-making. This course will challenge the learner to examine moral and ethical value systems when encountering patients with acute and chronic disease processes. This course will allow the nurse to analyze the impact of moral, spiritual, ethical, social, and political values, as they relate to professional practice. Discussions center on recognizing physiological, moral, ethical, and spiritual variance among cultural norms and health care practices in varied racial and ethnic backgrounds. Students will reflect on their personal values as they relate to moral and ethical decision-making, the role of change agents for others and nursing implications to professional, spiritual and personal growth.

This course prepares students to use information systems and technology to support and improve patient care and to impact healthcare systems. This course builds on basic computer competencies and focuses on information literacy and management, including both electronic patient health information and provider decision support resources. Ethical and legal issues specific to the use of informatics will be explored in this course.

This course examines concepts of leadership and advanced practice nursing as they relate to professional practice healthcare delivery systems, healthcare policy, finance, education and personal obligation. The course builds on knowledge from moral and ethical decision. This course examines concepts of leadership and advanced practice nursing as they relate to professional practice, healthcare delivery making theories and evidence-based practice. Opportunities to examine Christian philosophical views of leadership, change theory, barriers to change, and effective leadership strategies are explored. Students will define their role as it applies to their practicum and future practice.

This course provides an opportunity to examine the foundation for best practice, evidence-based nursing practice. An overview of qualitative and quantitative methodology, analysis of literature, research process, and data analysis will be presented. Strategies for devising research are explored and applied through an evidence-based practice (EBP) research proposal.

Advanced Pathophysiology is the first course in a three-part series which provides the scientific foundation for advanced nursing. This course focuses on the etiology, manifestations, and consequences of human pathological processes across the lifespan via an in-depth examination of genetics, risk, prevention, pathogenesis, morphology, and health impact. Case studies explore clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and the process of team collaborative decision making in recognizing the appropriate treatment in primary care.

This course integrates the knowledge of pathophysiology with the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutics, physiological considerations, adverse reactions, contraindications, interactions, compliance concerns, and other issues that pertain to the use of pharmacological interventions in advanced nursing. Case studies explore the process for selecting effective, safe, and cost-efficient pharmacologic or integrative regimens in primary care. Prerequisites: NRSG 673 & 674

This course builds on pathophysiological and pharmacological principles, and expands knowledge and skills of physical examination and psychosocial, spiritual, risk, and functional assessment for advanced nursing. A systematic process for health screening, diagnostic reasoning, and the triangulation of laboratory, radiographic, and other data in the identification of health problems are included. Case studies explore the process and documentation of health assessment in primary care. Prerequisites: NRSG 673 & 674