Course Descriptions

Examines the theoretical principles and norms for practice for advanced practice nursing and advanced nursing practice. Content includes scope of practice, taking on the role of leader within the identified role, standards & competencies, public policy, legal issues, therapeutic use of self, and cultural competence.

The student is provided with frameworks for ethical decision-making based on theory and opportunities for the development of reflective moral thinking. The student learns to utilize critical thinking as a basis for ethical reasoning. The dynamics of the healthcare professionals’ roles are studied in view of pertinent ethical dilemmas. The student is challenged to examine personal and professional values in the context of growing health care disparities impacting the local and world community.

Understanding of normal system-focused advanced physiology is applied to pathologic disease process to form a firm foundation for clinical assessment, decision-making and clinical management. Includes in-depth study of cell structure and function as a foundation to understanding physiologic as well as pathophysiologic process. An in-depth examination of normal disease process including analysis of common disease, incidence, etiology, manifestation, and prognosis is included. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on the student’s ability to analyze and discuss changes in the normal physiologic function that occurs with the disease process.

Advanced pharmacology for nurses is the focus of this course. Therapeutic agents are compared and contrasted for therapeutic affects, adverse affects, indications for use, and drug interactions. This course provides students with a pharmacological basis for advanced practice as a nurse practitioner working with clients across the life span. This course is also required for CNL students as a basis for greater depth of knowledge in pharmacotherapeutics. This course meets Indiana State Board of Nursing’s requirements for application for prescriptive authority.

Builds on basic assessment skills. Attention is placed on the development of advanced assessment skills, collection of the data and documentation of the findings. The in-depth assessment is performed within the context of the family. Pre or coreqs: Nurs 520 & 522

The focus is on the primary care of infants, children and adolescents for the advanced practice nurse. For each developmental stage, the course examines health promotion, disease prevention psychosocial issues, sexuality, and treatment of select common diseases and problems. The student applies, synthesizes and evaluates content from nursing theory and sciences in the clinical practice setting. The course requires clinical experience of around 168 hours with an approved preceptor. Students may work with patients from across the lifespan, but the focus of the clinical is pediatric health. Prerequisites: Nurs 500, 520, 522, 524.

The focus is primary care of women throughout the lifespan (adolescence through aging adult). For each developmental stage, the course examines health promotion and disease prevention, psychosocial issues, sexuality, and treatment of select diseases. The student applies, synthesizes and evaluates content from nursing theory and science in the clinical practice setting. The course requires clinical experience of around 168 hours with an approved preceptor. Students may work with patients from across the lifespan, but the focus of the clinical is women’s health. Prerequisites: Nurs 500, 520, 522, 524.

The focus is primary care for adults from early adulthood to the aging adult. Students build on their skills in interviewing and assessment while developing decision making in the diagnosis of common adult health conditions, including discussion about the management of adults with chronic health conditions. The student applies, synthesizes and evaluates content from nursing theory and sciences in the clinical practice setting. The course requires clinical experience of around 168 hours with an approved preceptor. Students may work with patients from across the lifespan, but the focus of the clinical is adult health. Prerequisites: Nurs 500, 520, 522, 524.

Using evidence-based practice guidelines, students integrate screening, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions for patients across the lifespan. Management approaches are examined including pharmacologic treatment, collaboration, and referral.  There are no clinical hours connected with this course

Theories from nursing, family studies, and related disciplines are examined, critiqued, evaluated, and applied to practice. Attention will be given to the transformational potential of theoretical frameworks within the context of a comprehensive, holistic approach to health care.

The focus of this course is health in the community. Content germane to this course includes a process of community assessment, program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Knowledge of basic epidemiology, communicable disease surveillance, survey data and cultural assessment contribute to a thorough knowledge of the community. Attention will be given to issues of social justice for vulnerable populations.

Prepares practitioners for utilization of knowledge to provide high-quality health care, initiate change, and improve nursing practice. The focus is the understanding of scientific inquiry, knowledge generation, utilization and dissemination in nursing and healthcare. Scholarly literature review, ethical considerations, and research critique are emphasized.

The focus is on transition to practice. Issues include the professional role, legal issues, practice regulation, preparation for certification exam, negotiating practice agreements, financing healthcare, and fiscal stewardship and management. The student applies, synthesizes and evaluates content from nursing theory and sciences in the clinical practice setting. The course requires clinical experience of around 168 hours with an approved preceptor. Students may work with patients from across the lifespan. Content will include an overall review of the program as well as focused didactic based on student self-assessment of need and content indicated by the outcomes of the predictor exit exam. Prerequisites: NURS 500, 520, 522, 524, 540, 542, 544