General Core Courses
NURS 502: Epidemiology and Bioinformatics
This is an epidemiology methods course designed with the broad perspective required for determination of the distribution and determinants of health and illness in diverse population groups. Students will focus on the information systems, data sets, and algorithms used in solving health problems and finding solutions needed for evidence-based practice. Students will perform a critical evaluation of research reports in professional literature. Students will design health promotion and disease prevention programs for important local, regional, and global health problems. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 502; DNP students register for NURS 802).
NURS 504: Policy, Quality, and Safety in Healthcare
This course provides an overview of how policies affect the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of health care. Students analyze the effects that values, special interests, and economics have on the delivery and financing of health care, which may or may not improve the health of the public and specific subsets of patients.Three graduate credits. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 504; DNP students register for NURS 804).
NURS 506: Nursing Role Theory & Evidence-Based Practice
This course provides students a framework to guide advanced clinical inquiry. Students learn how to formulate researchable and clinically relevant evidence-based practice (EBP) questions, perform advanced literature searches, and critique the strength of current evidence. Students identify and propose EBP projects that are relevant to their specialty areas. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 536: Law, Regulations, and Ethics in Healthcare
This course provides an overview of legal issues associated with healthcare. Ethical issues associated with the practice of medicine, decision-making, and policy in the healthcare environment are also examined. The course begins by describing the basics of policymaking and the legal processes that influence healthcare and health systems and includes an exploration of fundamental problems, opportunities, and contemporary issues in health policy and law. Students learn to think systematically about these issues and the various methods available to public and private policymakers to address them. The course describes the methods of writing a policy analysis and engaging in health advocacy, allowing students to apply analytic writing and advocacy skills to policy and legal problems in healthcare and population health. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 536).
Direct Care Core
NURS 530 Advanced Pathophysiology
This course introduces advanced models of mechanisms that result in disease, with an emphasis on dysfunction at the genetic, cellular, tissue, and organ levels. Students are provided foundational concepts in pathophysiological processes that may be applied to advanced specialty areas. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 532 Advanced Pharmacology
This course provides students an overview of advanced pharmacological concepts including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and prototype drugs. Students learn major drug categories and concepts important to assure the safe prescription and use of drugs. Students learn major drug categories and concepts important to assure the safe prescription and use of drugs. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 534: Advanced Health and Physical Assessment
This course prepares students for performing the components of a comprehensive health history and physical examination on patients across the lifespan with a variety of health concerns. It builds upon prior assessment knowledge. Students learn advanced techniques and apply findings that may lead to the formulation of differential diagnoses. Includes 30 laboratory practice hours. Prerequisites: Completion of a baccalaureate course in health assessment with a C grade or higher or equivalent course content; NURS 530: Advanced Pathophysiology. Three graduate credits.
Nurse Practitioner Specialty Courses
NURS 507: Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities
NURS 507 is a required course for all NP students and is completed prior to the start of their clinical year.
This course introduces students to the multiple roles and responsibilities of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in a hybrid model. Students apply prior knowledge and experience of professional nursing in appraising advanced practice nursing roles. Students develop personal philosophies of practice that are consistent with nurse practitioner competency standards as set forth by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN). Students will review the licensure and scope of practice requirements as set forth by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Prerequisites: General and Direct Care Core; Co-requisite: NURS 532: Advanced Pharmacology. Two graduate credits.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
NURS 710: Care of Younger Adults, Acute Care Theory and Practicum
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as acute care providers for younger adults. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of younger adult clients in acute care settings. Clinical seminars held weekly focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of managing and coordinating acute care of younger adults. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the acute care nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite: NURS 507: Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities. Seven graduate credits.
NURS 711: Care of Older Adults, Acute Care Theory and Practicum
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as acute care providers for adults. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of younger adult clients in acute care settings. Clinical seminars held weekly focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of managing and coordinating acute care of adults. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the acute care nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite: NURS 710: Care of Younger Adults, Acute Care Theory and Practicum. Seven graduate credits.
NURS 712: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Seminar and Internship
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as acute care providers for adults from adolescents to end of life. Students apply and evaluate essential assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of adult clients in acute care settings. The practicum requires a minimum of 250 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the acute-gerontology acute care NP role. In addition to clinical there will be 30 hours of didactic work during the semester.
Prerequisite: NURS 711: Care of Older Adults, Acute Care Theory and Practicum; *The professional portfolio will be completed during this semester. Note: Must be taken in the last semester of study. Seven graduate credits.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
NURS 720: Care of Younger Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as primary care providers for younger adults. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of younger adult clients in primary care settings. Clinical seminars held weekly focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of managing and coordinating primary care of younger adults. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the primary care nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite for AGPC NP students: NURS 507: Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities; Prerequisite for FNP students: NURS 737: Care of Women and Children in Primary Care Theory (formerly NURS 735) Seven graduate credits.
NURS 721: Care of Older Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as primary care providers for younger adults. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of younger adult clients in primary care settings. Clinical seminars held weekly focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of managing and coordinating primary care of younger adults. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the primary care nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite: NURS 720: Care of Younger Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum. Seven graduate credits.
NURS 722: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Seminar and Internship
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as primary care providers for adults from adolescents to end of life. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of adult clients in primary care settings. The practicum requires a minimum of 250 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner role. In addition to clinical practice there will be 30 hours of didactic work during the semester. Prerequisite: NURS 721: Care of Older Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum; *The professional portfolio will be completed during this semester. Note: Must be taken in the last semester of study. Seven graduate credits.
Family Nurse Practitioner
NURS 720: Care of Younger Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as primary care providers for younger adults. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of younger adult clients in primary care settings. Clinical seminars held weekly focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of managing and coordinating primary care of younger adults. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the primary care nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite for AGPC NP students: NURS 507: Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities; Prerequisite for FNP students: NURS 737: Care of Women and Children in Primary Care Theory (formerly NURS 735) Seven graduate credits.
NURS 721: Care of Older Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum
This course is designed to provide students with theory, seminar, and precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate their development as primary care providers for younger adults. Students apply and evaluate assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing care of younger adult clients in primary care settings. Clinical seminars held weekly focus on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of managing and coordinating primary care of younger adults. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the primary care nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite: NURS 720: Care of Younger Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum. Seven graduate credits. and Practicum. Seven graduate credits..
NURS 735: Care of Women and Children in Primary Care Theory
This theory course will describe and analyze primary health care women and children, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. Primary prevention, family theory, acute and chronic conditions, wellness, developmental stages, and cultural considerations will be examined during this course. In addition, managing primary care of women’s reproductive health will include essential aspects of sexual health and maternal care, as well as perimenopausal and postmenopausal concerns. Prerequisite: NURS 507: Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities. Two graduate credits.
NURS 736: Care of Women and Children in Primary Care Practicum
This practicum course will provide the opportunity to describe, implement, and analyze primary health care for women and children, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. Primary prevention, family theory, acute and chronic conditions, wellness, developmental stages, and cultural considerations will be examined during this course. In addition, managing primary care of women’s reproductive health will include essential aspects of sexual health and maternal care, as well as perimenopausal and postmenopausal concerns. Prerequisite: NURS 721: Care of Older Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum. Three graduate credits.
NURS 733: Family Nurse Practitioner Seminar and Internship
This course is designed to provide students with precepted practicum opportunities to facilitate development as family nurse practitioners in primary care. Students apply and evaluate essential assessment, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic concepts that are essential in managing the care of patients across the lifespan in primary care. The practicum requires a minimum of 100 supervised clinical practice hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the family nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite: NURS 721: Care of Older Adults, Primary Care Theory and Practicum; Corequisite: NURS 736: Care of Women and Children Practicum. Four graduate credits.
Clinical Nurse Leader
Note: The CNL track is no longer accepting new students. Information regarding the track is included for any student currently completing the program.
NURS 610: CNL Roles and Responsibilities
This course introduces students to the multiple roles and responsibilities of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), which include advocate, member of the profession, team manager, information manager, systems analyst/risk anticipator, clinician, outcomes manager, and educator. Exemplars and case studies of role integration will provide a basis for student learning. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 750: CNL Capstone Seminar and Internship I
This course is the first of two CNL Capstone courses that provide students with seminar and precepted clinical opportunities to engage in self and peer review to facilitate successful implementation of a beginning clinical nurse leader (CNL) role, synthesizing advanced concepts learned during the program of study. Students set professional development goals and present weekly case studies for individual and group analysis and evaluation. The practicum provides 250 hours of clinical immersion for students to develop clinical competencies for the clinical nurse leader role. Prerequisites: General and Direct Care Core Courses and NURS 610: Clinical Nurse Leader Roles and Responsibilities. Includes 250 internship hours. Five graduate credits.
NURS 755: CNL Capstone Seminar and Internship II
This course is the second of two CNL courses that provide students with seminar and precepted clinical opportunities to engage in self and peer review to facilitate successful implementation of a beginning clinical nurse leader (CNL) role, synthesizing advanced concepts learned during the program of study. Students set professional development goals and present weekly case studies for individual and group analysis and evaluation. Students identify and select evidence-based practices that are relevant to their specialty areas and present project findings upon completion. The practicum provides 250 clinical immersion hours for the student to meet the clinical competencies of the clinical nurse leader role. The Professional Portfolio will be completed during this semester. Prerequisites: General and Direct Care Courses; NURS 610: CNL Roles and Responsibilities; NURS 750: CNL Seminar and Internship I. Six graduate credits.
Nurse Administrator
BMGT 508: Developing Leadership Expertise and Leading Teams
This course develops leadership skills using Kouzes and Posner’s Five Practices and the Everything DiSC Agile EQ framework. Students engage in self-assessments, experiential learning, and reflection to explore emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness. By the end, students will articulate a personal leadership philosophy and gain practical strategies to lead with authenticity, inspire teams, and foster collaboration. Combining theory and practice, this course empowers students to lead with purpose and emotional intelligence.Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 520: Financial Management in Healthcare
This course focuses on the synthesis of theoretical and practical principles of financial management and investment decision-making in healthcare organizations. Students use accounting and financial data to execute evidence-based, ethical decisions that improve organizational performance, patient outcomes, and fiscal responsibility. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 520.)
NURS 522: Project Management in Healthcare
This course focuses on applying project management principles within healthcare organizations to promote quality and system improvement. Students learn to define project process groups, develop goals, and propose implementation using process management methodologies. Emphasis is placed on creating work breakdown structure to promote performance improvement. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 522).
NURS 524: Strategic Planning in Healthcare
This course examines models of change within healthcare organizations and identifies strategic and leadership decisions necessary to effect positive organizational outcomes. Factors that assure short-term and long-term success in a competitive healthcare environment, including developing partnerships and cultivating human and other resources, are analyzed. Students utilize case studies to critique the strategic decision-making process and make recommendations for effective strategic change. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 524).
NURS 536: Managing Healthcare Organizations
This course examines the unique environment of healthcare and the challenges confronting managers in that environment. Topics examined include marketing healthcare services, recruiting and retaining staff necessary for meeting mission, the strategy of healthcare services delivery, healthcare informatics, and decision-making in the healthcare marketplace. A strong focus is maintained on priorities and trends within the current healthcare milieu. Leadership concepts and management theories will be incorporated throughout the course. Content will be presented through collaborative discussions, business presentations, and a review of healthcare literature. Peer review will be incorporated into the classroom and online learning sessions. Prerequisites: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 532).
NURS 535: Health Economics
This course examines the unique environment of healthcare and the challenges confronting managers in that environment. Topics examined include marketing healthcare services, recruiting and retaining staff necessary for meeting mission, the strategy of healthcare services delivery, healthcare informatics, and decision-making in the healthcare marketplace. A strong focus is maintained on priorities and trends within the current healthcare milieu. Leadership concepts and management theories will be incorporated throughout the course. Content will be presented through collaborative discussions, business presentations, and a review of healthcare literature. Peer review will be incorporated into the classroom and online learning sessions. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits. (Graduate Business students register for MGMT 534).
NURS 760: Nurse Administrator Seminar and Internship
This course provides students seminar opportunities to engage in self and peer review to facilitate successful implementation of the nurse administrator role, synthesizing advanced concepts learned during the program of study. Students set professional development goals and present case studies for individual and group analysis and evaluation. Students explore opportunities for collaborative health projects that enhance nursing engagement and leadership in the global community. A 150-hour practicum with an experienced nurse administrator provides hands-on leadership experience in healthcare administration and systems management. The Professional Portfolio will be completed during this semester. Requisite: Must be taken in the last semester of study. Six graduate credits.
Nurse Educator
NURS 613: Assessment and Evaluation Methods
This course provides a framework for assessing and evaluating learning in academic and clinical settings, preparing the student for the role of the novice educator. Students will learn to prepare and evaluate educational programs and student, staff, and patient learning. Various assessment and measurement instruments will be identified and utilized in relation to projects geared toward their target population. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits
NURS 614: Theory and Practice for Nurse Educators
This course critiques existing models and theories of nursing science and their application to healthcare, nursing, and nursing education. Students analyze multiple roles of the nurse educator, including responsibilities of teaching, scholarship, community service, and learner engagement. Students have opportunities to explore foundational concepts essential for role integration in academic and staff development settings. Exemplars and case studies of role integration will provide a basis for student learning. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 615: Innovations in Nursing Education
Teaching and learning are lifelong skills that can be used by all audiences. This course will explore factors and teaching strategies that influence learning. The concept of differentiated instruction will guide students to examine and develop effective learning opportunities for learning communities of interest. Teaching and learning theories, such as Heutagogy and Universal Design Learning, will assist students in developing meaningful educational experiences using multimodal teaching strategies in order to meet the diverse needs of their learning communities. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 616: Curriculum Design for Nurse Educators
This course equips participants to design effective, evidence-based nursing education practices that align with current guidelines and standards to meet the needs of learners in both academic and healthcare settings. Nurse educators will evaluate curriculum components, instructional methods, and assessment strategies. Students will critically examine curriculum ideologies and explore current methods in program design, development, and evaluation, applying their knowledge through guided individual and group projects. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 765: Nurse Educator Seminar and Internship
This course provides students opportunities to engage in self and peer review to facilitate successful implementation of the nurse educator role, synthesizing advanced concepts learned during the program of study. Students engage in precepted direct care and education practicum experiences based on professional development goals. A 100-hour practicum with an experienced nurse educator provides hands-on experience in teaching, curriculum development, learner evaluation, and educational leadership. The Professional Portfolio will be completed during this semester. Requisite: Must be taken in the last semester of study. Four graduate credits.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
NURS 800: Scholarly Writing
This course develops effective written communication skills necessary for knowledge dissemination related to healthcare delivery and leadership. Students will incorporate information technology to support their scholarship, select appropriate sources, critically appraise existing literature, and create original scholarly works on a topic of interest, using appropriate citations and references, which may be expressed in a variety of formats. Prerequisite: None. Three graduate credits.
NURS 805: Information Technology and Biostatistics
This course focuses on the interrelationships of information systems, data management, and biostatistics in answering practice questions to improve population health. Students will evaluate informatics as it relates to communication, complex decision-making, patient safety, security, quality improvement, outcomes measurement, and ethical issues in the context of industry-specific requirements. Data collection, management, and statistical analysis techniques typically employed in process and quality improvement initiatives, including survey design, spreadsheets, Pivot tables, and data visualization, will be covered. Prerequisite: NURS 800: Scholarly Writing or permission of instructor. Two graduate credits.
NURS 810: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice
This course develops advanced skills in clinical inquiry and critical appraisal of literature with an emphasis on application of research evidence in clinical decision-making and healthcare leadership. Students will build upon prior learning and develop an approach to clinical questions related to an advanced practice role utilizing implementation science. Students will evaluate both evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. Prerequisites: NURS 800: Scholarly Writing; NURS 802: Epidemiology and Bioinformatics; NURS 504: Policy, Quality, and Safety in Healthcare; NURS 805: Information Technology and Bioinformatics. Three graduate credits.
NURS 811: Evidence-Based Practice: Methods
This course will help the DNP student develop the skills to use implementation science in translating evidence into practice. Students will use evidence-based practice (EBP) appraisal frameworks to promote understanding of scientific information and support critical decision-making in healthcare delivery and policy in a healthcare setting. Different approaches to data management, including descriptive and inferential statistics, theme and content analysis, and cost effectiveness will be explored. Students will use information technology to organize and clean data, analyze quantitative and economic data using appropriate statistical tests. Emphasis will be placed on interpretation of data and the reporting of results. Prerequisite: NURS 810: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice. Three graduate credits.
NURS 820: Population Health, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
This course examines the ethical implications, social, economic, and environmental influences on diverse populations, and the capacity of the health system to accommodate the health needs of the population. Students will consider risk factors, primary and secondary prevention strategies, and social drivers of health and health equity from the local to the global levels. Evaluation of appropriate communication methods of health promotion and prevention strategies will be completed for a variety of stakeholders, taking into account the age, literacy, and prioritized needs of the population. Prerequisite: NURS 800: Scholarly Writing. Three graduate credits.
NURS 901: Evidence-Based Project: Systems Thinking 1
This course is the first of three systems thinking courses and provides the tools for the doctorally-prepared nurse to evaluate, translate, and integrate published research findings into clinical practice. Students will be introduced to the concepts and competencies related to translational research and systems thinking aiding their ability to transform clinical issues into answerable questions. Students will identify factors that contribute to outcomes and search the literature for evidence-based strategies and best practices to address system-based problems and improve outcomes. Students will identify an issue and plan an evidence-informed project which will be implemented in the second systems thinking course. Hours spent in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the DNP project will be applied to the hours necessary for degree completion. Project work is completed with the support of and feedback from a DNP Project Team. Prerequisites: NURS 800: Scholarly Writing; NURS 802: Epidemiology and Bioinformatics; NURS 804: Policy, Quality, and Safety in Healthcare; NURS 805: Information Technology and Biostatistics; NURS 810: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice; and NURS 811: Evidence-Based Practice Methods. Three graduate credits.
NURS 902: Evidence-Based Project: Systems Thinking 2
This is the second of three systems thinking courses and builds upon the skills developed in prior courses. Students will obtain all necessary approvals for their projects and complete an IRB application. Application will be submitted for IRB review(s) as indicated for the individual project. After appropriate approvals of the project have been obtained, students will implement their quality or process improvement project. Students will incorporate information technology in the collection, analysis and management of data, ensuring that ethical practice standards are met. Prerequisite: NURS 901: Evidence-Based Project: Systems Thinking 1. Three graduate credits.
NURS 903: Evidence-Based Project: Systems Thinking 3
This is the third and final systems thinking course. Students will evaluate and disseminate the results of their process or quality improvement project. As part of the evaluation, students will analyze the project findings and include recommendations for system impact, including economic, financial, and policy implications at the local, state, and/or national levels. Through completion of the project, students will develop the skills to translate and disseminate evidence-based practices for the purpose of improving system-level care and the leadership to promote evidence-based change. Prerequisite: NURS 902: Evidence-Based Project: Systems Thinking 2. Three graduate credits.
NURS 904: EBP Project Continuation
This course is not part of the required curriculum for the DNP program. This course is required for any students who have not finalized their DNP project within the allocated 3 terms (courses NURS 901, 902 and 903) to allow for faculty support until project and program completion. Students will enroll in this course if they cannot progress in their DNP project and need additional faculty support. This course may be repeated if and as needed until project completion. One graduate credit.