Pediatric 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 lifelong learning. 

Pediatric acute and primary care nurse practitioner student learning outcomes: 

• Demonstrate safe care of children and their families in primary and acute care settings. 
• Provide individualized, culturally sensitive management using quality improvement strategies where applicable. 
• Use effective communication skills and technologies to provide collaborative care. 
• Integrate professional leadership skills in delivery of care. 
• Synthesize and translate relevant, current and scientific knowledge and evidence-based research findings into practice. 
• Employ advocacy strategies to influence health care policy. 

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 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 517B: Advanced Health and Physical Assessment lab

1 credit. This course focuses on 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 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 health care 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 and 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.

PNP 740: The Science of Child Development

3 credits. This course introduces students to philosophical models, evolving science, and controversies that inform our understanding of and approach to children, spanning the pediatric spectrum from birth to young adulthood. 

PNP 741: Pediatric Assessment and Diagnostics I

3 credits. This course introduces students to the unique aspects of pediatric health assessment, physical diagnosis, and technological skills needed used in primary care pediatrics. Students are required to complete either PEARS or PALS certification by the end of the course. 

PNP 742: Evaluation and Management: Pediatric Primary Care

4 credits. This course introduces students to current evidence and emerging science underlying contemporary approaches to primary care for infants, children, and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on health promotion/ protection, disease prevention, screening, and early intervention.

PNP 743: Evaluation and Management: Common Pediatric Conditions

4 credits. This course introduces students to current evidence and emerging science underlying contemporary approaches to the assessment and management of common pediatric health conditions, injuries, and diseases. Emphasis is placed on episodic care and identification of the need for referrals/consultations.

PNP 744: PNP Selective Adolescent Health

3 credits. This course engages students in the critical analysis and application of current and emerging evidence relevant to the primary care management of the adolescent. Focus is primarily on the promotion of healthy behaviors and risk reduction, management of common health-related conditions, and transition to adult care.

PNP 745: Pediatric Pharmacology

2 credits. This course introduces students to the therapeutic principles that inform safe drug therapy in pediatrics across the health care continuum. Emphasis is placed on the unique aspects of pediatric pharmacology, including developmental pharmacology, the interaction and impact of development on pharmacokinetics and –dynamics, and emerging discoveries in pharmaco-genetics/genomics.

PNP 746: Evaluation and Management: Chronic/Specialty Care

3 credits. This course introduces advanced practice nursing students to current evidence and emerging science that support contemporary approaches to the assessment and management of common chronic pediatric health conditions and diseases, across the pediatric lifespan and across clinical practice settings.

PNP 747: Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Interventions

2 credits. This course provides essential knowledge on the assessment, management, and surveillance of common mental health disorders in pediatric settings for the advanced primary or acute care clinician. Students will analyze clinical assessment data and practice guidelines to guide treatment decisions. Pharmacologic and brief psychotherapeutic interventions will be addressed in the context of working within collaborative, inter-/intraprofessional, patient centered, health care teams. 

PNP 748: Evaluation and Management: Pediatric Acute/Complex Care

4 credits. This course introduces students to current evidence and emerging science underlying contemporary approaches to the assessment and management of the acutely ill, physiologically unstable, and/ or technologically dependent pediatric patient. Emphasis is placed on urgent, critical, and restorative care. 

PNP 749: Pediatric Assessment and Diagnostics II

3 credits. This course introduces students to advanced pediatric health assessment, pediatric physical diagnosis, and technological skills used in acute/ emergency/critical care pediatrics.

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.