Courses
Nursing integration is the capstone immersion experience designed to provide the student with an opportunity to synthesize the knowledge and skills acquired during previous coursework. The student will build clinical reasoning and develop beginning proficiency in patient management and evaluation through assignments in increasingly complex patient care settings. Working closely with staff and faculty, the student will gain the confidence and skill needed to function as a novice nurse who is a designer, manager and coordinator of care.
This course is designed as a review of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of a candidate for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam for registered professional nurse. Students will learn how to utilize resources to build proficiency in the clinical judgement assessments of the exam and will implement professional and personal practices to enhance potential to be a successful candidate.
Pelvic Assessment of the Adult Woman develops the required technical knowledge base and clinical skills for adequate gynecologic assessment of women from adolescence, through the perimenopause and into the postmenopausal years. This comprehensive knowledge base regarding the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic and reproductive organs, including normal variations, prepares the student for the acquisition of practical skills for assessment and intervention. Respect for women and cultural sensitivity for this vulnerable exam will be emphasized.
This course explores potential complications requiring physician referral among childbearing women.
The Professional Issues in Nurse-Midwifery course is designed to concentrate on the transition from student to beginning nurse-midwife practitioner. It examines the history of the profession and the role of its leadership organizations including the ACNM. Students will submit articles for publication to the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. The course curriculum also examines current critical issues that impact on the profession, both national and international, and addresses organizational and legislative means of effecting change.
This seminar course examines the development of human behavior across the life span. Within a developmental context, students will explore the dynamics of human behavior as they are determined by intrapersonal systems, interpersonal connections, societal patterns, and cultural influences and as they are altered by significant life events.
In this seminar course, students examine the development of human behavior across the life span from a risk/vulnerability perspective. Within a developmental context, students explore the dynamics of human behavior as they are determined by intrapersonal systems, interpersonal connections, societal patterns, cultural influences and as they are altered by significant life events.
In this seminar course, students examine the development of human behavior across the life span from a risk/vulnerability perspective. Within a developmental context, students explore the dynamics of human behavior as they are determined by intrapersonal systems, interpersonal connections, societal patterns, cultural influences, and as they are altered by significant life events.
This course explores the diagnosis and management of psychiatric and mental health issues commonly seen in community based primary care practices.
Pathophysiology examines alterations in the biologic processes that maintain homeostasis. Each class will focus on a specific physiologic process or organ system. Diseases that commonly occur in adults will be discussed to illustrate the pathophysiologic process. This course is designed specifically for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner students.
This course is designed to present major theoretical systems of psychotherapy, with a special emphasis on how clients in therapy change and how to conceptualize clients' presenting concerns from theoretical points of view. Issues related to application of theory in practice, especially those related to individual/cultural diversity will be addressed and emphasized.
Through weekly reading assignments, lecture and discussion, the student is taught concepts central to the diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology.
Physical and Psychological Assessment of the Child is designed to prepare the student to take a complete health and developmental history of a normal child, perform a systematic physical examination, recognize physical and psychological health and developmental problems and record findings using the problem oriented method.
Physical Assessment across the lifespan for PNP students is designed to prepare the student to take a complete health and developmental history of a person across the lifespan, and perform a systematic physical examination. The student should recognize physical, psychological, and developmental problems, and begin to develop differential diagnosis. Emphasis will be placed on recording key history points, physical examination findings, and developmental assessment as well as the use of screening tools.
Pediatric Physical Assessment and Differential Diagnosis is designed to increase the knowledge of specific physical assessment techniques to be used with pediatric patients. Using a case based approach, the student will recognize physical, psychological, and developmental problems, and begin to develop differential diagnoses. Emphasis will be placed on developmental assessment, screening tools, documentation of key history points and physical exam findings. The student will identify patterns of key history and physical points in different presentation of pediatric patients.
This course is designed to help the student develop pediatric specific history and physical assessment skills within a simulation setting. Each week, the student will have an opportunity to do hands on training regarding the subject covered in pediatric physical assessment and diagnosis using case-based simulation exercises and learning of physical assessment techniques. The weekly lab classes are designed to refine the skills of the PNP student.
This is the first clinical experience with pediatric patients for the PNP student. The student will be responsible for developing objectives and sharing them with the preceptor. The skills needed to obtain a good history and physical will be honed and further developed. When possible, the student will proactively seek opportunities to practice clinical skills of vision screening, hearing screening and venous access. The student will develop their skills in developmental and mental health screening.
Pediatric Primary Care Nursing I is designed to prepare the student to provide primary care to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers so that children may meet their optimal physical, intellectual, and emotional growth and development. The content focuses on health promotion, illness prevention, and the treatment of episodic problems from infancy through preschool.
Pediatric Primary Care Nursing Clinical I is designed to develop skills in history taking, developmental evaluations and physical assessment for the pediatric client and to prepare the student to provide primary care to children. It focuses upon the promotion of health and the prevention of illness to promote optimal physical, intellectual and emotional growth and development. The clinical experience involves performing complete assessments on newborns, preschoolers, school-aged children and early adolescents and well childcare in a pediatric setting.
This course will introduce the DNP student to clinical decision making and evidence-based practice for the provision of primary care to individuals across the lifespan. Utilizing the case narrative format and DNP Competencies in Comprehensive care as a framework, the student will analyze clinical decisions, appraise and apply evidence for best practice. Case studies derived from complimentary practicum, that reflect the critical thinking skills needed to diagnosis and manage acute and chronic illness will be presented and critiqued.
Seminar in Pediatric Primary Care Nursing I is designed to provide PNP students an academic environment in which to share their practicum experience and present case studies in an organized format for discussion with their peers and faculty. Students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references.
Seminar in Pediatric Primary Care Nursing II is designed to provide the PNP student an academic environment in which the students share their practicum experience present case studies for discussion with their peers and faculty. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases from their practicum in an organized format. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references.
Seminar in Pediatric Primary Care Nursing III is designed to provide the PNP student an academic environment in which the students share their practicum experience and present case studies for discussion with their peers and faculty. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases from their practicum in an organized format. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references.
This seminar course is designed to further develop the role of the DNP student in the provision of care to pediatric patients in various clinical settings. Using the DNP Competencies in Comprehensive Care as the framework, students will analyze clinical decision-making and utilize evidence for best clinical practices. Through case presentations, the student will discuss multiple expressions of chronic physical and mental illness commonly seen in community settings. The focus will be placed on populations seen routinely in the community who are at risk for various complications that may lead to impairment and disability.
Pediatric Primary Care Nursing II focuses on the delivery of primary health care to school-age children and adolescents. This includes health promotion, the prevention of illness, and the management of common episodic problems. Using the school for clinical experience, the student will assess the status, teach individuals and groups of children, and will work with teachers and parents. Students will utilize knowledge of growth and development to develop age appropriate teaching plans, and assess children and families to assume an active role as health consumers. Current courses in pediatric pathophysiology and child development contribute to the student's knowledge base. Students continue to provide primary care to their caseload of well children in their pediatric primary care sites.
The student will gain knowledge and skill in assessing and evaluating the health status of children and adolescents to determine and maintain an optimum level of health.
This course focuses on the assessment and management of urgent and emergent care for the pediatric client. Assessment, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and management of the pediatric client will be discussed. Strategies for management of these clients will require a synthesis of knowledge from the bio-pyscho-social, behavioral, and nursing sciences. Emphasis will be placed on integrating and educating the family regarding the acute care needs of the child. The student will understand the need to maintain continuity of care with the primary care provider.
The seminar in the care of the high-risk neonate is designed to provide the NNP student the opportunity to discuss clinical case presentations in an academic environment. The student will utilize knowledge and skills in discussion of case studies with their peers. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases and review the management. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and to promote management of patients using evidence based practice.
During the final seminar, the students will be encouraged to integrate knowledge of pathophysiology, evidence based practice, and ethical decision making to develop differential diagnoses, interventions, and coordinated patient management. The discussion will promote a rationale for clinical decision making.
Supervised clinical experience in which students integrate theory within the clinical setting. Emphasis is placed on refinement and perfection of decision-making and technical skills in patient care management, including performance of selected invasive diagnostic/therapeutic procedures. The student will continue to develop her role of the neonatal nurse practitioner in education and collaboration.
This course is an in-depth practicum which allows the NNP student to utilize all previous learning in his/her management of infants at risk. The practicum in neonatal care is designed to provide the student with practice experience to develop skills of assessment, diagnosis, and management of the high risk neonate. The student has the opportunity to integrate and synthesize theory, clinical research, advanced therapeutics and decision making in this closely supervised precepted experience. It will be an intensive experience in which the student will analyze all available data utilizing evidence-based research, synthesize his/her thinking, implement a plan of care, and evaluate the results The role of the nurse practitioner is applied in clinical care areas. The student will begin to develop a database of her patients to evaluate her own clinical practice and refine her collaborative skills working with the interdisciplinary team throughout the course.
During this supervised clinical experience, the students will integrate theory within the clinical setting. Emphasis is placed on refinement and perfection of decision-making and technical skills in patient care management, including performance of selected invasive diagnostic/therapeutic procedures. The student will continue to develop her role as neonatal nurse practitioner.
Supervised clinical experience in which students integrate theory within the clinical setting. Emphasis is placed on refinement and perfection of decision-making and technical skills in patient care management, including performance of selected invasive diagnostic/therapeutic procedures. The student will continue to develop her role of the neonatal nurse practitioner in education and collaboration.
Throughout the course, there will be an emphasis placed on understanding the pathophysiology of various neonatal conditions, including: neurological, respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular, and metabolic and its impact on the plan of care. Discussion will focus on the use of evidence based research in the use of clinical monitoring of vital signs, developing differential diagnoses, and designing plans of care for the high risk neonate. The advanced practice nurse will be involved in the discharge planning, educational needs of the care providers, and follow-up for the high risk neonate.
This didactic course focuses on the advances within antepartum and intrapartum care of the maternal child unit. During the course there will be a focus on optimizing maternal-fetal health. This course will give an in-depth understanding of intrauterine surveillance. The course will focus on growth, developmental and teratogenic agents and the fetus. Genetic screening, ultrasound evaluation, and fetal well-being studies will be examined as they relate to the role of the NNP. Discussion will focus on how disorders of pregnancy can affect the fetus and the latest diagnostic modalities for monitoringand treating the fetus. There will be an emphasis on the identification of the high risk fetus and variations in embryonal and fetal growth and development.
This foundational course provides an understanding of addictive behaviors. Current theories regarding the development of addiction will be identified. Evaluation and assessment skills will be taught based on these theoretical models. Physiological, behavioral, emotional, and societal responses to addiction will be explored. Implications for nursing research are considered.
This course provides a seminar in which students explore issues of prevention and treatment of addictive behaviors. The role of the advanced practice nurse in primary care or private practice will be addressed. Problems specific to selective populations will be discussed as well as issues for the impaired professional. Social costs, the medicalization and/or decriminalization of drug usage, stigma, and pain management will be explored.
This clinical practice course is designed for students who have completed the first subspecialty course. It consists of instruction and practice in the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the treatment of persons struggling with addictions.
This course presents an overview of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Content includes the epidemiology of the epidemic at the state, national, and international level, the Center for Disease Control's definition of AIDS/HIV, counseling and testing, primary and secondary prevention of HIV/AIDS, social and cultural issues, and the problems related to antiretroviral therapy adherence and resistance.
This course will focus on pathology of HIV infection, diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections and HIV-related malignancies, management of HIV infection through the use of HAART, and symptom management.
This course will focus on the epidemiology of HIV, transmission, HIV testing and prevention. This course will also focus on pathophysiology of HIV infection, management of HIV infection through the use of antiretroviral therapy, diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections, malignancies, and comorbidities. There will be an emphasis throughout the course on adherence and prevention.
The practicum in HIV/AIDS care is a clinical field experience designed to strengthen and broaden the student's clinical experiences in assessment, decision-making, and management of care for individuals with HIV infection and those at-risk for HIV infection. Specific program objectives and clinical experiences are individually identified.
Promoting an optimum level of wellness and decreasing disease/injury are significant contributions professional nursing can make to individuals and society. In addition, this is a collaborative effort between the consumer and the health care provider. Recognizing that wellness and health can be achieved even in the presence of certain conditions (birth defects, chronic conditions) is an important philosophical starting point for the advanced practice nurse. It is the goal of nursing to promote health and optimal functioning. This course identifies and explores the influence of biologic, environmental, and social factors on health and wellness of individuals. Strategies of health promotion and disease prevention for individuals, families, communities, and systems are explored.
This course is designed to provide the student with a systematic approach to understanding the delivery of primary health care to individuals, communities, and populations. The role of the nurse in the community working with aggregate populations will be the focus. Nursing science and epidemiology will provide the basis for examining the spectrum of community health issues.
This course provides a systematic approach to understanding the delivery of primary health care to the well adult. In addition, various principles of illness prevention and health maintenance are introduced.
This course is designed to provide the ANP student an academic environment in which the students share their practicum experience and present case studies for discussion with their peers. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases from their practicum in an organized format. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references. Incorporated into the seminar is ongoing discussion, review, and assessment of the final project.
This course is designed to provide the ANP student an academic environment in which the students share their practicum experience and present case studies for discussion with their peers. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases from their practicum in an organized format. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references.
This course is designed to provide the ANP student an academic environment in which the students share their practicum experience and present case studies for discussion with their peers. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases from their practicum in an organized format. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references. Incorporated into the seminar is ongoing discussion, review, and assessment of the final project.
This course is designed to provide the GNP student an academic environment in which the students share their practicum experience and present case studies for discussion with their peers. In this scholarly forum, the students are expected to present selected cases from their practicum in an organized format. The students are expected to facilitate a class dialogue and offer appropriate references. Incorporated into the seminar is ongoing discussion, review, and assessment of the final project.