Master of Science in Nursing Degree (MSNC)

MSNC 503 | NURSING PRACTICE WITH DIVERSE FAMILIES IN COMMUNITIES

Units: 2 Repeatability: No

Corequisites: MSNE 546

Examines philosophical, theoretical, and conceptual bases for care of diverse families and groups in community settings. Analysis of community perspectives provides a foundation for general and advanced practice and research with families across the lifespan. The national health objectives provide a framework for family and community health promotion and risk reduction. Issues that affect family, aggregate, and community health and wellness are examined using an ecological perspective that includes social, political, cultural, and economic aspects of the environment. Addresses intervention strategies with families to achieve desired health outcomes in their community.

MSNC 503P | NURSING PRACTICE WITH DIVERSE FAMILIES IN COMMUNITIES PRACTICUM

Units: 2 Repeatability: No

Corequisites: MSNC 503

Focus is on the family within the community and access to the health care system. Frameworks used to assess families include developmental, systems, and structural-functional. Interventions with families emphasize promotion and maintenance of health as well as resolution of existing health problems. Students have clinical opportunities in official and voluntary agencies to integrate selected theories and concepts using the nursing process as they interact with clients and families in their homes and community settings.

MSNC 507 | STATISTICS

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Provides students with necessary skills to perform statistical analysis of data in order to present information in a meaningful way. Emphasizes basic understanding of probability concepts, common probability distributions, and inferential statistical methods. Includes identification of data requirements and statistical method to answer specific research questions. Incorporates SPSS statistical software as well as statistical calculations. Explores methods to display data and findings. Assists students to interpret SPSS output, and effectively present findings. Also focuses on critical review of scientific manuscripts and interpretation of findings.

MSNC 510 | CLINICAL NURSE LEADERSHIP: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Units: 6 Repeatability: No

Corequisites: MSNC 534P

Explores and integrates concepts of leadership that are central to the practice of the clinical nurse leader (CNL) including: horizontal leadership, effective use of self, reflective practice, advocacy, lateral integration of care, change theory, and role analysis and implementation. Oversees patient care provided by staff, in collaboration with RN preceptor or mentor, to improve patient outcomes. Serves as a role model for staff in anticipating risks and providing comprehensive care to individuals and clinical cohorts. Reviews and modifies, if necessary, standards of care for specific patient populations. Designs and proposes an implementation and evaluation plan for an evidence-based project designed to effect change in patient/staff outcomes.

MSNC 510P | CLINICAL NURSE LEADER PRACTICUM

Units: 0 Repeatability: No

This is the practicum section of course MSNC 510.

MSNC 511 | EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE: ROLE OF THEORY AND RESEARCH

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Focuses on the critical links between nursing theory, research and evidence based practice. Examines the theoretical foundations of nursing science including how theory has influenced the history and current practice of nursing. Emphasizes the importance of research for building an evidence base for nursing practice. Reviews the components of evidence-based practice, with emphasis placed on knowledgeable appraisal of theory and research to evaluate the evidence base for clinical practice.

MSNC 512 | INFLUENCING THE HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT: POLICY AND SYSTEMS

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Provides an understanding of nursing’s leadership role in the analysis and evaluation of policy, organization, and financing of health care. Focuses on the organization of health care systems, the political and economic forces that influence health care delivery, and the formulation of policies affecting health care.

MSNC 518 | PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS FOR RNS

Units: 4 Repeatability: No

Prerequisites: APNC 520 with a minimum grade of B-

Corequisites: MSNC 518L

Focuses on theoretical and clinical skill development in physical assessment and diagnosis, across the life span. Designed to prepare the advanced generalist registered nurses with the knowledge and skills to make appropriate focused assessments and draw accurate conclusions about physiological/psychosocial instability/complications/sequelae of disease processes and/or therapeutic interventions.

MSNC 518L | PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS FOR RNS LAB

Units: 0 Repeatability: No

Corequisites: MSNC 518

This is the lab section for MSNC 518.

MSNC 534 | CLINICAL NURSE LEADERSHIP: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Units: 6 Repeatability: No

Corequisites: MSNC 534P

MSNC 534P | CLINICAL NURSE LEADER PRACTICUM II

Units: 0 Repeatability: No

This is the practicum section of course MSNC 534.

MSNC 540 | INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CARE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course provides the learner with necessary skills to understand the basis for health care informatics. This course emphasizes basic understanding of computer hardware, network architecture, clinical application of electronic health records, and health care software applications. It also addresses relevant regulatory, patient privacy, security, and reimbursement issues and examines current trends in meaningful use and electronic health record (EHR) certification as a foundation for understanding emerging issues in health care informatics.

MSNC 590 | ESSENTIALS OF CRITICAL CARE NURSING

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Focuses on the concepts and frameworks that impact and support critical care nursing of the adult patient. Explores the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and collaborative management of disorders commonly seen in critically ill patients. Emphasizes evidence-based therapeutic interventions to manage complex patient problems and prevent complications.

MSNC 599 | INDEPENDENT STUDY

Units: 6

MSNC 610 | SPECIALTY ROLE AND PRACTICE FOUNDATIONS

Units: 4 Repeatability: No

The course introduces the foundational underpinnings of advanced professional nursing practice. The acquisition and use of nursing knowledge are discussed. An overview of person-centered care, population health, quality improvement, safety, and informatics is presented. The concepts of clinical judgment, compassionate care, ethics, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and social determinants of health are emphasized.

MSNC 611 | KNOWLEDGE FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on the generation, translation, synthesis, application, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. The theoretical foundations of nursing and other sciences are discussed including how theory has influenced the practice of nursing and clinical decision-making. An evidence based practice approach is used to answer a clinical question. The concepts of clinical judgment, ethics, and evidence-based practice are emphasized.

MSNC 612 | POPULATION HEALTH

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on population health from disease prevention to disease management. Collaborative partnerships, advocacy strategies, and health policies for improved population health outcomes are also discussed. Emergency preparedness for public health emergencies is explored. The concepts of health policy, social determinants of health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, are emphasized.

MSNC 613 | HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP I

Units: 2 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on leadership and the acquisition of leadership skills. The theoretical and practical perspectives of the role are discussed. An introduction to interprofessional partnerships and systems-based practice is presented. A more detailed discussion of the nurse leader’s role with population health is examined. The concepts of ethics, communication, health policy, and diversity, equity and inclusion are emphasized.

MSNC 614 | HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP II

Units: 1 Repeatability: No

Prerequisites: MSNC 613 with a minimum grade of C-

This course expands on the concepts of leadership and the acquisition of leadership skills with an emphasis on the application of systems work and cost-efficiency. A more detailed discussion of the nurse leader’s role with informatics is examined. The concepts of ethics, communication, health policy, diversity, equity and inclusion are emphasized.

MSNC 615 | ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT, AND PHARMACOLOGY IN PATIENTS AND POPULATIONS

Units: 4 Repeatability: No

This course applies an evidence-based approach to understanding common pathophysiological processes across the lifespan, employing physical examination techniques to distinguish abnormal and normal disease presentation, and applying pharmacotherapeutics for monitoring treatment plans in patients and populations. Emphasis is on an integrated approach to mastery of advanced scientific knowledge, vital to clinical judgment and practicing in an advanced specialty role. Concepts of compassionate care, clinical judgement, and ethics of health are emphasized.

MSNC 640 | HEALTH CARE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on using information and communication technologies to improve patient care, enhance healthcare outcomes, and optimize healthcare processes. The technologies, the users interacting with the technologies, and the work product are discussed, along with the impact of the data collected, information formed, decisions made, and the knowledge generated. It also addresses regulatory, patient privacy, information security, and reimbursement issues. The concepts of clinical judgment, communication, social determinants of health, and ethics are emphasized.

MSNC 655 | SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on managing complex healthcare systems to optimize system effectiveness. The theoretical underpinnings of systems theory and its application to healthcare are explored. Strategic planning, healthcare policy, and healthcare economics are discussed. Interprofessional partnerships and professional development are examined. The concepts of evidence-based practice, ethics, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and health policy are emphasized.

MSNC 655P | SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT PRACTICUM

Units: 3-4 Repeatability: No

Prerequisites: MSNC 655 with a minimum grade of C- (Can be taken Concurrently)

This practicum focuses on managing complex healthcare systems to optimize system effectiveness. The practical aspects of leading an interprofessional team, implementing and evaluating a system-wide initiative, and developing a policy are experienced. Leadership and advocacy skills in a complex environment is mastered. The concepts of evidence-based practice, ethics, and health policy are emphasized.

MSNC 656 | MANAGEMENT OF QUALITY AND SAFETY

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on the evaluation and management of quality and safety issues from individual and systems perspectives. The theoretical and methodological foundations for understanding, identifying, and managing quality and safety concerns are explored. The application of quality improvement initiatives and the development of a culture of safety for patients and healthcare personnel are discussed. The concepts of communication, evidence-based practice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are emphasized.

MSNC 656P | MANAGEMENT OF QUALITY AND SAFETY PRACTICUM

Units: 3-4 Repeatability: No

Prerequisites: MSNC 656 with a minimum grade of C- (Can be taken Concurrently)

This practicum focuses on the evaluation and management of quality and safety issues from an individual and systems perspective. The practical aspects of identifying and managing quality and safety concerns in the clinical setting are experienced. The application of quality improvement initiatives and the development of a culture of safety for patients and healthcare personnel are mastered. The concepts of communication, evidence-based practice, and ethics are emphasized.