Master of Science in Nursing Course Descriptions
Indirect and Direct Core Courses: MSN Core Program

GN 500 Theoretical Concepts and Trends in Advanced Practice Nursing (5 credit units)
The course will explore nursing theoretical and conceptual foundations for nursing practice to encourage students to critique, evaluate, and utilize appropriate theory within their own practice. Theory development and utilization in nursing is examined to exemplify the importance of these theories in professional nursing practice. Current scientific trends in professional nursing will also be examined to demonstrate the use of research to improve quality health care in the current healthcare delivery system.

GN 501 Advanced Pathophysiology (5 credit units)
Direct Care Core Course
This course describes the disordered physiology and clinical consequences resulting from common disease processes. Seminar discussions focus on alterations in normal functions of major organ systems. Through problem-solving exercises and case studies, students are encouraged to recognize the pathophysiologic basis of clinical findings associated with disease processes. This course serves as an essential link between the basic sciences and clinical management.

GN 502 Advanced Pharmacology (5 credit units)
Direct Care Core Course
This course focuses on the application of critical thinking and clinical reasoning in the ordering and administration of medications based on patient’s pathophysiology. The emphasis of the course is on understanding the actions and side effects of medications that are both anticipated and unanticipated applied to the pathophysiology of the disease being treated. Topics to be covered include the pathophysiology and actions of medications that affect various conditions and how lifestyle, age and culture affect medication use and the disease process. Students will develop an understanding and ability to apply these concepts to patients with various pathophysiology and the need for various medications for their conditions.

GN 503 Leadership, Ethics, and Interprofessional Collaboration for Advanced Practice (5 credit units)
The course is intended to facilitate the development of collaborative and leadership behaviors for nurses to lead and improve outcomes and facilitate the design of high-performing clinical systems. Theories of leadership, organizational behavior, motivation and interpersonal behavior, conflict resolution, negotiation, patient safety, and quality improvement are applied to health care settings. Emphasis is on collaboration with inter-professional teams to improve patient and systems outcomes.

GN 504 Advanced Physical Assessment (5 credit units) Direct Care Core Course
This course will examine systematic history taking, interviewing, and other core assessment skills, as well as correct performance of the physical examination while moving into a more advanced practice nursing role. A holistic approach will be used that includes the assessment of the physical, developmental, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual dimensions and includes health promotion and disease prevention. There will be a review of relevant anatomy and physiology along with examples of examination techniques and corresponding written documentation of the assessment. Students will be able to practice history and exam techniques with virtual patients and will show mastery of skills at the end of the course.

GN 505 Information Technology and Tools for Healthcare Improvement (5 credit units)
This course focuses on the evaluation and use of information systems and technology to support and improve patient and healthcare systems, provide leadership in academic or healthcare settings, explore telemedicine and telehealth, and influence quality improvement at the micro and macro system levels. Students will evaluate the use of information systems and technology resources to implement quality improvement initiatives, support practice and administrative decision- making, and apply budgetary and productivity tools to improve patient outcomes. Discussion of legal, ethical, and cultural issues will be interwoven with the examination of technologies throughout the course.

GN 506 Global Health, Culture and Health Policy for the Advanced Practice Nurse (5 credit units)
This course explores the sociocultural, environmental, spiritual, and economic health needs of various populations, including assessment of epidemiology, worldview, and health literacy. Various aspects of health and health promotion are analyzed including the impact of infectious disease, nutrition, reproductive issues, communication, unintentional injury, disease, and aging. A review of planning and managing health promotion programs and health systems that meet global population and cultural needs will be examined. Students will also examine health policy, including its effect on population and the formulation of policy that affects healthcare and healthcare decisions in advanced practice nursing.

GN 507 Research and Evidence Based Practice in Advanced Practice (5 credit units)
The course is intended to facilitate the development of collaborative and leadership behaviors for nurses to lead and improve outcomes and facilitate the design of high-performing clinical systems. Theories of leadership, organizational behavior, motivation and interpersonal behavior, conflict resolution, negotiation, patient safety, and quality improvement are applied to health care settings. Emphasis is on collaboration with inter-professional teams to improve patient and systems outcomes.

Functional Courses: Nursing Administration, Leadership, and Management Nurse Administration, Leadership and Management

The MSN Nurse Administration, Leadership, and Management (MSN-NALM) track requires 65 quarter credits (25 functional courses + 40 Core courses). The MSN-NALM track prepares students for a variety of nurse executive positions in both hospital healthcare systems and community- based systems. Students are prepared to analyze and implement change in policies and procedures that are designed to improve health care outcomes in safety and quality patient care. Students analyze financial forecasting and system functions, develop, and interpret policies, and prepare programs designed to produce system change. Health policy, human resources, information technologies, legal and ethical issues in system management are examined on how these are developed and implemented at the local, state, and national level. The nursing skills competencies in the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nurse Executive (NE) and Nurse Executive Advance (NEA) certification program and eligibility; and the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL) competencies and Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011) are used to develop this concentration for the MSN- NALM. The students of Master’s in NALM Graduates will be prepared to take the Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CNP) and Certified Nurse Manager and Leader. The ANCC offers nurse executive board certification examination upon completion of the ANCC eligibility requirements to take this board certification examination. The following credentials are awarded upon passing the ANCC board certification examination: Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC) or Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified (NEA-BC).

GN 520 Advanced Nursing Leadership (5 credit units)
The course is intended to facilitate the development of collaborative and leadership behaviors for nurses to lead and improve outcomes and facilitate the design of high-performing clinical systems. Theories of leadership, organizational behavior, motivation and interpersonal behavior, conflict resolution, negotiation, patient safety, and quality improvement are applied to health care settings. Emphasis is on collaboration with interprofessional teams to improve patient and systems outcomes.

GN 521 Organizational Behavior in Healthcare (5 credit units)
Complexity Science Approaches in Leading Healthcare
Organizations. Focuses on the application of organizational behavior and theories of leadership to the management of interdisciplinary teams and decision-making in healthcare organizations. This course has practicum combining both virtual and real-world experiences in the application of theories, working with interdisciplinary teams and decision-making processes.

GN 522 Healthcare Financial Management and Economics (5 credit units)
Focuses on examination and understanding of healthcare financing and reimbursement concepts preparing an advanced nurse leader to function in a variety of healthcare delivery systems. Course content focuses on concepts of budget and management, developing skills sets and competencies for managing with scarce resources and variables affecting reimbursement.

GN 523 Analysis and Application of Administrative Strategies in Leadership (5 credit units)
Explores the roles and functions of the nurse leader/manager and the application of evidence-based strategies within healthcare organizations. Further explores the application of evidence-based practice, quality and safety principles, and administrative strategies to the nurse leader role in healthcare organizations.

GN 600 Nursing Administration, Leadership, and Management Field Experience (5 credit units)
In this field placement the students will have the opportunity to experience the role of the nurse administration/manager/leader by engaging in supervised practice experience which includes management decisions, working with interprofessional team members, assessing budgets, problem-solving and decision-making in the clinical setting. Students will work with their preceptors and other members of the health care team to develop an innovative organizational change project. Students will spend a total of 150 hours in a clinical setting once they have successfully completed the nurse administration, leadership, and management courses.

Functional Courses: Nursing Education

The MSN Nurse Education (NE) track requires 65 quarter credits (25 functional courses + 40 Core courses). The MSN Nurse Educator curriculum prepares graduates to teach in schools of nursing, health systems-based patient, and family education, as well as continuing education. Course work focuses on the professional role of the nurse educator, as well as on the provision of instruction in an area of specialization teaching and evaluation strategies, curriculum design, and evaluation and the use of information technologies enabling graduates to acquire skills necessary for the education of current and future nurses. The competencies in the Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011), and National League for Nursing Core Competencies (NLN, 2010), and Outcomes and Competencies for Graduate Academic Nurse Educator Preparation (NLN, 2018) were used to develop the curriculum content for the MSN-NE track. Graduates of this program will be prepared to take both or one of the examinations for Certification for Nurse Educator (CNE) and Certification.

GN 530 Foundations of Professional Roles and Responsibilities of Nurse Educators (5 credit units)
Focuses on the diverse roles and practice environments experienced by the nurse educator. The course will provide students with guidelines for practice in the classroom, clinical, staff development and various other educational settings. Academic, clinical, and institutional policies, protocols and legal aspects of education will be presented. Advanced Teaching and Role Development. Focus on integration of the role of the Nurse Educator and appraisal of one’s performance in the role.

GN 531 Curriculum Design in Nursing Education (5 credit units)
This course explores how the nurse educator fosters authentic learning experiences across various environments to meet the unique needs of nursing students. Students will create innovative, transformational, and context-based teaching learning strategies. The emphasis is on the processes of curriculum design by drawing upon learning theory and style, teaching methodology, diverse student learning environments, accessibility, inclusivity, and the influence of technology on the classroom. Students will spend 30 hours in this course to engage in developing a curriculum utilizing the concepts of curriculum design in nursing education.

GN 532 Innovative Strategies in Nursing Education (5 credit units)
Focuses on strategies to develop knowledge and skill sets in pedagogy, teaching–learning theories, and selected educational technologies.
This course provides students with the opportunity to use and evaluate various technologies and strategies in the academic or clinical environment. The emphasis is placed on developing curriculum, building nursing courses and accessibility considerations. Students will spend 30 hours in this course to engage in developing a curriculum utilizing the concepts of innovative teaching strategies in nursing education.

GN 533 Evaluation Strategies and Methods for Nursing Education (5 credit units)
Designed to provide nurse educators with valid and reliable tools to assess students learning effectively and systematically in different educational settings, this course outlines and explores the following processes: (a) evaluation process including test construction, didactic strategies for student engagement, clinical performance assessment within the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains, considering diversity in student learning; (b) strategies and issues in the evaluation process; (c) development of evaluation strategies and methods instruments that are effective and systematic for learning and application in practice, and (d) program evaluation and accreditation processes. Students will spend 30 hours in this course to engage in developing a curriculum evaluations strategies and methods for nursing education.

GN 610 Nursing Education-Clinical Field Practicum (5 credit units)
This clinical field practicum is an integrative experience in critical analysis designed to broaden the student’s perspectives and provide an opportunity to integrate advanced knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. Students will have the opportunity to apply and experience the advanced role of the nurse educator through the lens of direct patient care in clinical setting. Students will work with their clinical course instructor to develop an innovative clinical project focused on their area of clinical interest. Students will spend a total of 150 hours in an advanced practice role in a direct patient care clinical setting.

Functional Courses: Family Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track requires the completion of 85 quarter credit (41 functional courses + 40 Core courses). This program’s curriculum is based on the 2017 Core Competencies with curriculum content of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Students are prepared in both theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge essential to comprehensive primary care in a variety of settings to clients across the lifespan. The Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (2016) along with the Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (AACN 2011) are used as the bases for developing this concentration of the program. Graduates from this program will be prepared and eligible to take the following certification board examinations for Family Nurse Practitioner: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANPCB) to earn the NP-C or FNP-C credential, Almerical Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification Program (FNP- BC). Graduates are prepared in both theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge consisting of the graduate core, advanced practice registered nursing core, and nurse practitioner role and population-focused courses, essentials to comprehensive primary care in a variety of settings to family / individual across the lifespan.

GN 540 Primary Care of the Pediatric Patient in Advanced Practice (5 credit units)
The focus of this course is the development of foundational knowledge to build clinical decision-making skills needed by the primary care provider. The concepts of growth and development from a theoretical perspective are examined for children from birth through adolescences. Emphasis is placed on developmental screening tests, anticipatory guidance, and developmental milestones to promote health and wellness. Additionally, focus is also placed on clinical management of common illnesses, including behavioral problems, experienced by infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents. Theories related to culture and health beliefs are examined from the perspective of caring for the child and family. Through assigned readings, lectures, class discussion, and case studies, the student will begin to develop principles of sound clinical judgement to care for pediatric patients. Students will have the opportunity to apply these concepts in a concurrently offered clinical practicum in multicultural practice settings.

GN 540L Primary Care of the Pediatric Patient in Advanced Practice-Clinical (5 credit units)
To be enrolled in this course students must be currently taking GN 541: Primary Care of Women in Advanced Practice. Students will spend a total of 75 hours their assigned clinical practice setting to care for women from adolescents to post-menopausal years. The focus is on addressing health care issues across the wellness-illness continuum. They will learn to collect subjective and objective data from which to make appropriate diagnoses and plan care that considers the bio-psycho-social, economic, cultural, and developmental factors with the goal of maximizing patients’ wellbeing.

GN 541 Primary Care of Women in Advanced Practice (2.5 credit units)
This course focuses on advanced nursing care to women in diverse populations. It is designed to provide students the opportunity to function in the role as the family nurse practitioner provider of women’s health in primary care settings. Students focus on the physical, emotional, socio- cultural, and educational need of the gynecological primary health care of women from adolescence through post-menopausal years. Students will combine broad foundational knowledge with specialty knowledge essential for the unique health needs of women. Students can apply their knowledge in a concurrent clinical practicum in a culturally diverse primary care women’s health setting.

GN 541L Primary Care of Women in Advanced Practice- Clinical (2.5 credit units)
To be enrolled in this course students must be currently taking GN 541: Primary Care of Women in Advanced Practice. Students will spend a total of 75 hours their assigned clinical practice setting to care for women from adolescents to post-menopausal years. The focus is on addressing health care issues across the wellness-illness continuum. They will learn to collect subjective and objective data from which to make appropriate diagnoses and plan care that considers the bio-psycho-social, economic, cultural, and developmental factors with the goal of maximizing patients’ wellbeing.

GN 542 Primary Care of the Adult/Older Adult Patient in Advanced Practice (7.5 credit units)
The focus of this course is the development of clinical decision- making skills needed to care for adults. As primary care providers delivering comprehensive health care, the student will focus on caring for adults along the wellness-illness continuum focused on health promotion, health maintenance, management of acute and chronic illnesses. Strategies such as assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, case studies and simulations the student will begin the process of developing sound clinical judgement as primary care providers. The concept of interprofessional collaboration will be emphasized for the care of patients with chronic illnesses. This course is taken concurrently with GN 542L, their supervised clinical practicum, which allow them to apply the therapeutic concepts in multicultural practice settings.

GN 542L Primary Care of the Adult/Older Patient in Advanced Practice-Clinical (7.5 credit units)
To be enrolled in this course students must be currently taking GN 542, Primary Care of the Adult/Older Adult Patient in Advanced Practice. Students will spend a total of 225 hours in their assigned clinical practice setting to care for adult/older adult patients across the wellness-illness continuum. They will learn to collect subjective and objective data from which to make appropriate diagnoses and plan care that considers the bio-psycho-social, economic, cultural factors with the goal of maximizing patients’ wellbeing.

GN 543 Primary Care of the Family in Advanced Practice- Putting It Together (5 credit units)
This course utilizes knowledge obtained in previous FNP courses such that this course builds on the previous didactic content. In this course students are expected to apply previous content to provide thoughtful, comprehensive, holistic, quality, safe care to patients and families that is evidence-based. The emphasis is on operationalizing the role of the family nurse practitioner in caring for patients, understanding their families are dynamic systems with specific needs as they move through the various stages of development. The use of scenario-based learning activities and simulation will illustrate the concepts covered in this course. Students will have an opportunity to reflect on their approach to patients care that is cognizant of the physical, psychological, social, cultural, and economic status of families while also considering organizational factors, legal, ethical, and geopolitical factors that influence health of patients.

GN 543L Primary Care of the Family in Advanced Practice-Clinical (5 credit units)
To be enrolled in this course students must be currently taking GN 543, Primary Care of Families in Advanced Practice. In this final practicum students will have the opportunity to investigate the inter- relationships among various socioeconomic, legal, and political factors which impact the structure and function of healthcare delivery systems. Students will be assisted to perform the advanced practice roles of manager, clinician, educator, researcher, and consultant in the provision of primary care services across the lifespan to underserved populations. Students will participate in the development of joint protocols, scientific research and development, community service activities and professional endeavors. The purpose of this course is to enable the student to operationalize the role of the family nurse practitioner in the care of individual member of the family across the life span and the community. Student will complete total of 150 hours in this clinical rotation.

GN 696: Capstone: FNP (5 Units)
This capstone is the culminating project that demonstrates mastery of all major concepts learned in this program. Students are expected to work with approved preceptors to identify and complete a project according to specialty track. This capstone project prepares students to function in their new roles as advanced practice nurses in the ever evolving complex health care environment. Working with an approved preceptor the student will identify patients with complex health conditions as the focal point for this scholarly capstone project within this complex health care setting. The paper will address quality, evidence-based approaches to change and or improve the health of the identified patient.

GN 970: Capstone: Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program (1 unit)
Students are expected to work with approved preceptors to identify and complete a case study that demonstrates students’ preparedness to function in their new roles as advanced practice registered nurses in the ever-evolving complex healthcare environment. Working with an approved preceptor the student will identify a patient with a complex health condition as the focal point for this case study within their assigned health care setting. The case study will address quality, evidence- based approaches to improve the health of the identified patient (1 credit