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

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 agent for others and nursing implications for professional, spiritual, and personal growth.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: 629 (only for Education & Leadership tracks)

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.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: 629 (only for Education & Leadership tracks)

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 using a systems approach.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: 629 (only for Education & Leadership tracks)

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.
Prerequisite(s): NRSG 653, 629 (only for Education & Leadership tracks)

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.
Prerequisite(s): 679

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.

Advanced Pathophysiology I is the first course of two, focusing on advanced pathophysiology. This is the start of 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.

Advanced Pathophysiology II is the second course of two, focusing on advanced pathophysiology. This is the start of 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. Prerequisite(s): NRSG 673.

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. Prerequisite(s): NRSG 673, NRSG 674.

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. Prerequisite(s): NRSG 673, NRSG 674, NRSG 675.

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. Prerequisite(s): NRSG 673, NRSG 674, NRSG 675, NRSG 676.

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. Prerequisite(s): NRSG 673, NRSG 674, NRSG 675, NRSG 676, NRSG 677.

This course presents a theoretical and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of acute and episodic health problems for advanced practice nursing. The course emphasizes the appropriate use of diagnostic measures including laboratory, radiographic, and other technologies, health promotion, disease prevention, and current care guidelines. A clinical practicum (120 hours) provides the opportunity for the diagnosis and management of common acute and episodic health problems in the primary care of adults and geriatric patients. Taken congruently with the first section of NRSG 665. Pre-requisite: NRSG 627

This course presents a theoretical and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of women’s reproductive, acute, episodic, and chronic health problems for advanced practice nursing. The course emphasizes the appropriate use of diagnostic measures including laboratory, radiographic, and other technologies, health promotion, disease prevention, and current care guidelines. A practicum (120 hours) provides the opportunity for the diagnosis and management of women’s reproductive, acute, episodic, and chronic health problems in primary care across the lifespan. Taken congruently with the second section of NRSG 665 with approved preceptor.

This course presents a theoretical and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of children’s acute, episodic, and chronic health problems for advanced practice nursing. The course emphasizes the appropriate use of diagnostic measures including laboratory, radiographic and other technologies, health promotion, disease prevention, and current care guidelines. A practicum (120 hours) provides the opportunity for the diagnosis and management of children’s acute, episodic, and chronic health problems in
primary care. Taken congruently with the third section of NRSG 665. Pre-requisite: NRSG 668 with 240 practicum hours completed.

This course presents a theoretical and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of chronic health problems for advanced practice nursing. The course will emphasize the appropriate use of diagnostic measures including laboratory, radiographic and other technologies, health promotion, disease prevention, and current care guidelines. A clinical practicum (120 hours) provides the opportunity for the diagnosis and management of common chronic health problems in the primary care of adults and geriatric patients. Taken congruently with the fourth section of NRSG 665. Pre-requisites: NRSG 669 with 360 practicum hours completed.

This course presents a theoretical and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of common complex health issues of adults and geriatrics for advanced practice nursing. The course emphasizes the appropriate use of diagnostic measures including laboratory, radiographic and other technologies, health promotion, disease prevention, and current evidence-based guidelines. A practicum (120 hours) provides the opportunity for the diagnosis and management of common complex health problems in the family primary care of adult and geriatric patients. Course requirement includes a 120-hour practicum experience with an approved preceptor. Practicum is taken congruently with the fifth section of NRSG 665 with an approved preceptor. Pre-requisites: NRSG 667 & NRSG 670 and with 480 practicum hours completed.

This course presents a theoretical and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of common complex health issues in women and children for advanced practice nursing. The course emphasizes the appropriate use of diagnostic measures including laboratory, radiographic and other technologies, health promotion, disease prevention, and current evidence-based guidelines. A practicum (120 hours) provides the opportunity for the diagnosis and management of common complex health issues in the family primary care of children and women patients. Course requirement includes a 120-hour practicum experience with an approved preceptor. Practicum is taken congruently with the sixth section of NRSG 665 with an approved preceptor. Pre-requisites: NRSG 668 & NRSG 669 and with 600 practicum hours completed.

This experience focuses on the synthesis of previously gained knowledge and skills in the provision of advanced nursing care to individuals, families, and communities. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, disease prevention, and clinical management of clients with common acute and chronic illness. The students will fulfill 720 total practicum hours. This course is taken concurrently with NRSG 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, and 672.

This elective course is organized to offer a hands-on experience for FNP students to acquire new knowledge on medically managing chief complaints and practice advanced nursing skills commonly encountered among patients across the life span in primary-care health care settings. The purpose is to create a safe environment that introduces the FNP student to their approaching practicum experience while engaging with their classmates. The immersion week will focus on evidenced-based experiential learning that will ensure high-quality patient outcomes under the supervision of the NP faculty members. There will be an emphasis on the transition into the FNP role as an ethical leader and the impact that the student has on the organization as a whole. The immersion experience should take place during, or as close as possible to, the first didactic and congruent practicum course. FNP students will receive credit up to 45-direct practicum hours applied toward their 120-practicum hours in the first practicum course (or the one closest to when the elective is taken). Prerequisite(s): NRSG 627 and NRSG 677. Corequisite(s): NRSG 678