Family Nurse Practitioner D.N.P. student learning outcomes 

D.N.P. student learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate readiness to enter clinical practice via specialty competencies with the appropriate scientific knowledge, and considerations for its application to practice.
• Apply ethical principles along with the standards of professional conduct to clinical care, research, and education.
• Evaluate emerging health care systems and policy that influence delivery of cost-effective patient care.
• Generate entry level practice scholarship through the completion of a clinical practice improvement project based on the principles of improvement science.
• Model interprofessional communication and collaboration to improve individual and/or population health outcomes.
• Identify and address gaps in professional knowledge through ongoing reflection to support the principle of life-long learning.

Family nurse practitioner student learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate critical thinking with diagnostic, management and reasoning skills in the process of clinical decision-making within the scope of FNP practice.
• Demonstrate professional behaviors in oral and written forms and establish collaborative relationships.
• Assess and intervene to promote wellness and prevent disease.
• Integrate contextual variables in assessment and provision of care.

NURS 515A: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology I

3 credits. This course provides in-depth knowledge of physiologic concepts essential for advanced practice nursing. Physiologic processes related to the central and peripheral (including autonomic) nervous systems; cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems; hematopoiesis, innate and adaptive immunity, microcirculation, neural control of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle, and acid-base balance are discussed at biochemical, cellular, organ, system, and organism levels. Exemplar pathologies will be utilized throughout the course to demonstrate disruption of normal physiology in disease. Emphasis is on integration of concepts as a basis for understanding interrelationships among complex physiologic and pathophysiologic processes, throughout the lifespan. This course prepares students for more detailed exploration of pathophysiology in future clinical management courses. 

NURS 515B: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology II

3 credits. This sequel to NURS 515A continues to emphasize in-depth knowledge of physiologic concepts essential for advanced practice nursing. Physiologic processes related to the central and peripheral (including autonomic) nervous systems; cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems; hematopoiesis, innate and adaptive immunity, microcirculation, neural control of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle, and acid base balance are discussed at biochemical, cellular, organ, system, and organism levels. Exemplar pathologies will be utilized throughout the course to demonstrate disruption of normal physiology in disease. Emphasis is on integration of concepts as a basis for understanding interrelationships among complex physiologic and pathophysiologic processes, throughout the lifespan. This course prepares students for more detailed exploration of pathophysiology in future clinical management courses. 

NURS 517A: Advanced Health and Physical Assessment

3 credits. This course focuses on the development of clinical decision-making skills in the process of health assessment across the lifespan. The course provides advanced theory in the assessment of an individual within the context of the family, psycho-social-cultural considerations, functional ability, presence of health risk factors and developmental stage. The concepts of diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis will be introduced. The lab component includes hands-on advanced practice health assessment skills. 

NURS 519: Principles of Pharmacology & Prescribing for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

4 credits. This course applies the principles of pharmacology, including pharmacogenomics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, by analysis of common drug classes prescribed by advanced practice nurses across the life span. Factors influencing successful therapy such as effectiveness, safety, acceptability, cost, genetic/environmental influences, alternative regimens and patient behaviors will be integrated into patient decision-making exercises and discussion. 

NURS 720 Roles, Responsibilities and Concepts for APN

3 credits. The purpose of this course is to explore key components that are essential to advanced practice nursing roles. Ethical and legal responsibilities are emphasized related to patient outcomes and safety. Professionalism, scope of practice, leadership and policy are explored within advanced practice work environments. 

NURS 721: Ethics for APN

3 credits. The purpose of this course is to explore ethical theories and principles and how they influence various dimensions of health care. Professional responsibilities of advanced practice registered nurses in clinical care, research, and healthcare organizations will be explored. Ethical principles are applied to delivery of care, scholarly inquiry and leadership.

NURS 722: Informatics & Technology for Health Care

3 credits. The purpose of this course is to explore the organization, collection, analysis and dissemination of information in health care. This course will serve as an introduction to clinical informatics with a focus on the electronic health record, telemedicine, and technological approaches to quality and safety. Ethical and legal dimensions of health care technology are examined. Students learn the basics of database design for the collection and analysis of patient outcomes data. 

NURS 723 Critical Appraisal of Evidence 

3 credits. This course is the first in a series to prepare students to deliver patient-centered care that emphasizes evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI). The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the different types of evidence and the critical appraisal process. The philosophical underpinnings and methods of knowledge development are introduced. Descriptive and inferential statistics are reviewed. The key steps in the EBP process and its importance to advanced nursing practice are highlighted.  

NURS 724: Application of Evidence to Clinical Practice 

3 credits. This course is the second in a series to prepare students to deliver patient-centered care that emphasizes evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI). The purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to evaluate evidence in the context of practice-based decision making. Students will identify a clinical problem and apply the clinical inquiry process. The focus is on critiquing evidence for practical application. Implementation science, models and change theories used in translating knowledge into action are highlighted.

NURS 725: Improvement Science

3 credits. This course is the third in a series to prepare students to deliver patient-centered care that emphasizes evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI) focusing on improvement science (IS) methodologies. The purpose of this course is to utilize improvement science to eliminate discrepancies between identified standards of care and clinical practice. Students will build core competencies in improvement science, including appraising the IS literature, differentiating IS methodologies, testing and measuring change, displaying findings and participating in continuous improvement activities.

NURS 726: Health Care Economics and Finance 

3 credits. This course will provide the foundation for assessing the financial impact of practice policies, procedures, and initiatives when meeting the health needs of the practice populations. The course will emphasize principles of economics and finance, the analysis of practice quality, and cost effectiveness of care. Strategies to design effective and realistic care delivery or practice initiatives are examined.

NURS 727: Leadership & Health Systems 

3 credits. This course is designed for the practical and integrated application of leadership and system theories to real-world problems in health care. Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to understand and engage in health care leadership at the entry level.

NURS 728: Health Policy and Population Health 

3 credits. This course will provide an overview of health care policy at the state and national level and provide a foundation for evaluating its impact on health outcomes. Basic principles of population health will be explored within the context of epidemiology, determinants of health, health equity, and health disparities. Social, political, legal, and economic factors are used to understand the relationship between health policy and population health.

FNP 714: Health Promotion and Health Protection

3 credits. This course emphasizes assessment and management of health promotion and protection of individuals, families, and communities throughout the lifespan. Students will examine evidence-based strategies and theoretical frameworks for optimal health outcomes. Students will also practice techniques for addressing these concepts in a clinical setting.

FNP 730: Professional Development for the Family Nurse Practitioner

2 credits. The purpose of this course is to explore various aspects of professional development related to beginning a career as a family nurse practitioner, providing students with necessary resources. Prerequisites: none. FNP 740 Applied Clinical Reasoning 3 credits This course focuses on diagnostic reasoning for family nurse practitioners in the context of assessment and management of acute primary care health problems across the lifespan. Application of the process for clinical decision-making (i.e., hypothesis formulation and hypothesis testing) is done using common primary care health problems. 

FNP 740 Applied Clinical Reasoning

3 credits. This course focuses on diagnostic reasoning for family nurse practitioners in the context of assessment and management of acute primary care health problems across the lifespan. Application of the process for clinical decision-making (i.e., hypothesis formulation and hypothesis testing) is done using common primary care health problems. 

FNP 741: Family Primary Care Management I

4 credits. This course is the first of a four-course series which focuses on management of acute and common chronic health problems of children, adults (including the elderly), and families encountered in primary care settings. An evidence-based approach, guided by theoretical considerations, current research, national guidelines, and clinical expertise will provide the framework for the course.

FNP 742: Family Primary Care Management II

3 credits. This is the second in a series of four sequential courses that focus on the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic health problems commonly encountered in the primary care settings. The framework for this course is an evidence-based approach of patient care across the lifespan focusing on the role of the advanced practice nurse.

FNP 743: Family Primary Care Management III

3 credits. This is the third in a four-course series which focuses on management of acute and common chronic health problems of children, adults (including the elderly), and families encountered in primary care settings. An evidence-based approach, guided by theoretical considerations, current research, national guidelines, and clinical expertise will provide the framework for the course.

FNP 744 Family Primary Care Management IV

3 credits. This is the fourth in a series of four sequential courses that focus on the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic health problems commonly encountered in primary care settings. The framework for this course is an evidence-based approach of patient care across the lifespan focusing on the role of the advanced practice nurse.

FNP 781 Diagnostic and Procedures I

3 credits. The first of a two-quarter series introducing students to a range of diagnostic skills and procedures commonly used in a primary care setting. Utilizing a mixture of didactic and lab sessions, students will practice procedural and decision-making skills required for management of urgent and emergent patient illnesses and injuries.

FNP 782 Diagnostic and Procedures II

3 credits. The second of a two-quarter series introducing students to a range of diagnostic skills and procedures commonly used in a primary care setting. Utilizing a mixture of didactic and lab sessions, students will practice procedural and decision-making skills required for management of urgent and emergent patient illnesses and injuries.

NURS 703A: DNP Project Planning

2 credits. The purpose of this course is to plan an improvement science project for the terminal DNP benchmark. Students will work with course faculty and the specialty chairperson to design a project to meet program expectations. Students will write a project proposal and plan for Institutional review board (IRB) submission. At the end of this course students will submit the project proposal for faculty approval. Students move to the implementation and evaluation of the project in 703B. Alternate projects in program development/evaluation or centered on policy may be developed with specialty program faculty approval.

NURS 703B: DNP Project 

5 credits. The purpose of this course is to implement, evaluate and disseminate an approved DNP Project within the advanced nursing practice specialty. The project takes place within the context of the student’s practicum experience. It provides an experience that can be the foundation for future clinical scholarship.