College of Nursing

MSN Course Descriptions

 


MSN Program Courses

Nurse 6106 Policy, Organization, and Financing of Health Care
Prerequisites: Admission to the MSN Program or consent of instructor.
Credits: 3
Course Description:
Presents an overview of health care policy, organization, and financing with emphasis on current health care trends. The focus is to educate the masters prepared nurse to collaborate with members of the health care community in the design and implementation of a variety of health care systems with the goal of providing quality, cost-effective care. Emphasis is placed on the development of a leadership role in managing human, fiscal, and physical health care resources. The format includes pertinent information concerning primary health care and public health issues. Attention is given to the relationship between these issues and improving nursing health care delivery and outcomes of client care. Core concepts include basic policy development and policy analysis, health care finance systems, government structure related to health care, primary health care, core public health functions, and patient safety and quality.

Nurse 6111 Theoretical Foundations of Research and Practice
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN
Course Description:
This course provides an overview of selected theories and frameworks that can be used to guide advanced practice nurses in facilitating their learning and use of evidence-based practice. It is centered on the explication of major theories that will be used in practice. Nursing middle-range and practice theories, theories related to cultural aspects of care, population-based theories, change theories, and informatics theories such as bioinformatics and genetics will form the foundation for advanced practice.

Nurse 6120 Population-based Foundations of Health
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN
Course description:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an advanced nursing practice perspective on providing population-based nursing care. This course includes an evaluation of human and cultural diversity in the health-illness continuum. Core concepts include ethics; theories of health and health promotion, protection, restoration, and maintenance; and the support needed for a peaceful death. Coursework will focus on community/population-based data on epidemiology, disease and injury prevention, health education, growth and development, and family systems.

Nurse 6130 Research for Evidence-Based Practice
Prerequisite: Admission to MSN
Credits: 3
Course Description:
This course provides students with skills required to systematically explore and evaluate current nursing knowledge for scientific and clinical merit to promote evidence-based nursing practice. Students select a researchable problem, review and critique relevant literature, consider ethical and cultural issues, examine methodological procedures associated with scientific investigation, and explore potential barriers to evidence-based practice. Students critically analyze differing research paradigms and current issues surrounding research and evidencebased practice.

Nurse 6309 Role of the Nurse Educator
Prerequisites: Admission to MSN Program or consent of instructor.
Credits: 3
Course Description:
This course will explore the roles, responsibilities, and functions of the nurse educator. Emphasis will be placed on the development and evaluation of the interactive nature of teaching and learning in a variety of settings.

Nurse 6321 Instructional Strategies in Nursing Education
Credits: 3
Course Description:
This course focuses on the development and analysis of teaching and learning strategies in nursing education. Adult learning principles of teaching and learning will be incorporated into the innovative strategies developed within this course. Integration of new technology in instructional design and delivery will be highlighted. Evaluation methods of both teacher and learner will be explored.

Nurse 6320 Curriculum Development in Nursing
Credit: 3 credit hours
Course Description:
Examines theoretical foundations, principles, and issues in curriculum design. Explores systematic evaluation of curriculum at all levels.

Nurse 6322 Evaluation Strategies in Nursing
Credits: 3
Pre- or co-requisite: Nurse 6309
Course Description:
This course provides students the opportunity to learn evaluation concepts, including testing and measurement in nursing education at the didactic, clinical and programmatic levels. Content includes strategies to assess and evaluate learning in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. Quality improvements, as well as legal and ethical considerations are explored. Key concepts include classical test theory; criterion and norm referenced theory and technique; reliability, validity, and the associated descriptive statistics; preparation of instrumental objectives for use in developing classroom tests and clinical nursing performance evaluations.

Nurse 6509 Role of the Nurse Practitioner
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Admission to the MSN program or consent of the instructor
Course Description:
This course will focus on issues affecting the merging roles of the nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist. It is designed to facilitate the role development of nurses who desire to function as primary care providers and/or as specialists within a specific clinical area of advanced nursing practice. Emphasis includes sub-roles of advanced practice (leader, consultant, expert, researcher, educator), legal and professional issues, change theories and standards of practice.

Nurse 6518 Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
Course Description:
This course focuses on implications for advanced nursing practice through examination of selected pathophysiological phenomena which occur frequently in the diverse populations to whom advanced nurses provide care.

Nurse 6519 Advanced Pediatric Pathophysiology
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course focuses on embryology of the major organs systems, as well as specific physiologic and pathophysiologic processes related to the child from birth through age 18. Implications for advanced nursing practice which result from alterations of normal physiologic functioning in cellular, tissue and organ systems are examined. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between pathophysiology, decision making, and standards of advanced nursing practice.

Nurse 6520 Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Prerequisites: Nurse 6518 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
Credit: 3 credit hours
Course Description:
This is a course in clinical pharmacotherapeutics that builds on prior knowledge of drug classifications, actions, interactions and adverse drug reactions. The major focus of the course is the pharmacotherapeutic use of medications for primary health care management by advanced practice nurses. Emphasis is placed on clinical critical thinking process used to prescribe drugs in the management of specific illnesses. The Missouri laws for advanced practice nurse prescriptive authority will be addressed. Emphasis includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapeutics, health-related information, medication compliance and issues that pertain to the prescribing of medications in advanced nursing practice.

Nurse 6524 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 3 (2 credits theory, 1 credit clinical lab)
Pre/Co-requisite(s): Nurse 6518 (may be taken concurrently).
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide a systematic approach to the advanced physical assessment of psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual assessment of individuals across the lifespan. This course builds upon basic health assessment knowledge and skills, laboratory work interpretation, validation, documentation and analysis of assessment findings.

Nurse 6526 - Advanced Pediatric Health Assessment Prerequisites: Advanced Pediatric Pathophysiology
Credits: 3
Course Description:
Comprehensive assessment of children through adolescence, including those with significant health and/or developmental deviations, using advanced diagnostic reasoning process. Emphasis on health history, cultural diversity, differentiation, interpretation, and documentation of findings.

Nurse 6529 Advanced Pharmacology for Pediatric Nursing Practice
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Nurse 6518 or Nurse 6519
Course Description:
This is a course in clinical pharmacotherapeutics that builds on prior knowledge of drug classifications, actions, interactions, and adverse drug reactions. The major focus of the course is the pharmacotherapeutic use of medications for primary health care management of children from birth to young adulthood by advanced practice nurses. Emphasis is placed on the clinical critical thinking process used to prescribe drugs in the management of specific illnesses. The Missouri laws for advanced practice nurse prescriptive authority will be addressed. Core concepts include pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapeutics, health-related information, medication compliance, and issues that pertain to the prescribing of medications in advanced nursing practice.

Nurse 6530 Clinical Diagnostics for Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 2 (1 lecture and 1 lab)
Pre/co-req: Nurse 6518 or Nurse 6519
Course Description:
This course provides an introduction to the interpretation and appropriate use of diagnostic measures for advanced practice nurses in primary care settings. Special attention is paid to laboratory, radiographic and diagnostic testing. In addition, clinical opportunities will be provided to gain clinical interventional skills for advanced practice nursing.

Nurse 6739 Adult Primary Care 1: Diagnosis & Management in Advanced Nursing Practice
Prerequisites: Nurse 6106, 6111, 6112, 6144, 6518, 6524, 6520. Nurse 6509 & 6530 may be taken concurrently or instructor consent.
Credits: 4-5 (4 didactic, 1 clinical)
Course Description:
Clinical course is designed to provide a theoretical and practical base for advanced practice nursing students to diagnose and manage health problems of adults. Emphasis is placed on clinical assessment and decision making in the provision of direct patient care within a defined scope of practice. The student is expected to clinically apply the concepts and theories discussed in class in the advanced nursing care of adults who are experiencing problems related to the upper and lower respiratory system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, skin, and infectious diseases. Clinical experiences are designed to enhance assessment and technical skills needed in diagnosing common health problems.

Nurse 6740 Adult Primary Care 2: Diagnosis & Management in Advanced Nursing Practice
Prerequisites: Nurse 6739
Credits: 5
Course Description:
Clinical course is designed to provide a theoretical and practical base for advanced practice nursing students to diagnose and manage health problems of adults. Emphasis is placed on clinical assessment and decision making in the provision of direct patient care within a defined scope of practice. The student is expected to clinically apply the concepts and theories discussed in class in the advanced nursing care of adults experiencing problems related to the musculoskeletal, neurological, endocrine/metabolic, genitourinary, reproductive systems, the eye, and mental health. Clinical experiences are designed to enhance assessment and technical skills needed in diagnosing common health problems.

Nurse 6741 Family Health 1: Diagnosis and Management in Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 5 (4 theory, 1 clinical = 500 clock hours)
Prerequisite(s): Nurse 6106, 6111, 6112, 6144, 6518, 6524, 6520. Nurse 6509 & 6530 may be taken concurrently.
Course Description:
This clinical course is designed to proved students with the opportunity to gain the concepts and skills essential to advanced practice nursing care of families experiencing acute and chronic health problems, with particular focus on Womens and Childrens health issues. Emphasis is given to those health needs most commonly encountered by the Family Nurse Practitioner. A research and theory-based approach to nursing interventions is used. Emphasis includes family adaptation to acute and chronic conditions, health promotion, clinical decision-making and ethical decision-making.

Nurse 6742 Family Health 2: Diagnosis and Management in Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 5 (4 theory, 1 clinical = 500 clock hours)
Pre-requisite(s): Nurse 6741
Course Description:
This clinical course is designed to provide students will the opportunity to gain the concepts and skills essential to advanced practice nursing care of families experiencing acute and chronic health problems, with particular focus on adult clients. Emphasis is given to those health problems most commonly encountered by the Family Nurse Practitioner. A research and theory-based approach to nursing interventions is used. Emphasis includes family adaptation to acute and chronic conditions, health promotion, clinical decision making and ethical decision-making.

Nurse 6743 Child Health Management 1
Credits: 4-5 (4 theory, 1 clinical practicum)
Pre/Co Requisites: Nurse 6106, 6111, 6112, 6144, 6518 or 6519, 6520 or 6529, 6526. Nurse 6509 and 6530 may be taken concurrently or instructor consent.
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply skills from advanced nursing theory, pathophysiology, to the advanced nursing care of child and family. Emphasis is placed on child and family developmental issues for advanced practice pediatric nurses. Normal cognitive, motor, social/emotional and language development for the child along with the usual developmental challenges of each age group will be addressed. The implications of the development stage of the child and family, level of developmental skill and developmental problems for the maintenance of health and the management of illness in advanced nursing practice will be discussed. Emphasis includes information about management of: cultural and ethnic variations of growth and developmental problems; health maintenance; common pediatric behavioral problems; and recognition of circumstances that require interdisciplinary collaboration and referral. Advanced nursing practice role development is emphasized throughout the course in case management discussions and supervised clinical practice. Clinical practice opportunities are arranged in collaboration with the course instructor and planned in a variety of pediatric settings.

Nurse 6744 Child Health Management 2
Credits: 5 (4 theory, 1 clinical)
Pre-requisites: Nurse 6743
Course Description:
This course is designed to proved students with the opportunity to apply skills from advanced physical assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and theory to advanced nursing care of the child and family. Emphasis is placed on using models and theories that guide advanced practice and planning evidence research-based care. The focus is on assessing, diagnosing, and planning care for clients with common pediatric health problems. The implications of the developmental stage of the child and family, level of developmental skill and developmental problems for the maintenance of health and the management of illness by the advanced practice nurse are discussed. Documentation includes pertinent history, physical examination, laboratory findings and differential diagnoses relevant to the individual client. Focus in on developing a plan of care that encompasses the various treatments modalities used in managing common pediatric health problems including specific pharmaceutical and symptomatic treatment. Clinical practice opportunities are arranged in collaboration with the instructor and planned in a variety of pediatric settings.

N6746 Womens Health 1: Diagnosis and Management for Advanced Practice Nurses
Credits: 5 (4 theory, 1 clinical)
Prerequisites/Co requisites: Nurse 6106, 6111, 6112, 6144, 6518, 6524, 6520. Nurse 5309 & 6530 may be taken concurrently.
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply advanced practice nursing knowledge and skills from advanced pathophysiology and nursing theory to advanced nursing care of women and families throughout the childbearing continuum. Emphasis is placed on using models and theories that guide advanced nursing practice and research based care. The focus is to collaboration with women and their families to promote health and prevent disease. Within this context, the focus is to educate the advanced practice nurse to assess, diagnose, plan, and manage treatment and care for women and families experiencing an uncomplicated childbearing continuum, as well as acute and/or chronic health care problems during preconception, pregnancy and the postpartum period, within a health promotion framework. Core concepts are adaptation of women through developmental stages, health risk assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, health education, primary care of women throughout the childbearing continuum, reproductive options, ethical decision-making, and grief and loss.

Nurse 6747 Women's Health Management 2: Diagnosis and Management for Advanced Practice Nurses
Credits: 5 (4 theory, 1 clinical)
Pre/Co-Requisites: Nurse 6746.
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills to advanced practice nursing care of women and families throughout the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on using models and theories that guide advanced nursing practice and research based care. The focus is to educate the advanced practice nurse to collaborate with women and their families to promote health and prevent disease. Within this context, the focus is to educate the advanced practice nurse to assess, diagnose, plan and manage treatment and care for well women, as well as women experiencing common women's health problems, within a health promotion framework. The format includes pertinent history, physical examination, laboratory findings, differential diagnoses, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment and management relevant to the individual client. Core concepts are adaptation of women through developmental stages, health risk assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, health education, primary care of well women, ethical decision making, and grief and loss. Focus is on the development of a plan of care that encompasses the various treatment modalities used in managing common women's health problems, including specific pharmacologic and non pharmacologic therapies.

Nurse 6950 Advanced Nursing Practice
Credits: 4 (2 theory, 2 clinical)
Prerequisites: Nurse 6739 or Nurse 6743 or Nurse 6746
Course Description:
Advanced nursing practice examines different nursing and interdisciplinary models of case management of acute and chronic problems across the lifespan. The intensive clinical experience focuses on the students specialty care area: adults, pediatric or womens health.

Nurse 6952 Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: All required nursing courses
Course Description:
This clinical course is a concentrated opportunity to function in an advanced nursing role as a nurse educator or nurse administrator, integrating clinical and functional role activities within a chose setting. Emphasis includes educator or administrator nursing practice, functional role responsibilities, and activities with emphasis on their relationship to client outcomes.

Nurse 6954 Advanced Practice Nursing: Internship 1
Credits: 2
Pre/Co-requisites: All required graduate courses in the Advanced Practice Nurse option or consent of instructor.
Course Description:
This clinical course provides opportunity for the initiation of the nurse practitioner role with selected populations. Students participate in precepted experiences with certified nurse practitioners and/or primary care physicians for a minimum of 250 hours. Frequent clinical seminars included.

Nurse 6955 Advanced Practice Nursing: Internship 2
Credit: 2 credits
Pre/Co-requisites: Nurse 6954
Course Description:
This clinical course is a continuation of precepted clinical experiences with selected populations initiated in Nurse 6954. Students satisfy a minimum of 250 precepted hours with a certified nurse practitioner and/or primary care physician and participate in frequent clinical