Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Course Descriptions
700- Principles of Epidemiology
This course introduces students to the study of diseases and ill health through their patterns of occurrence in human populations. The approaches of epidemiology in estimating the burden of disease, in evaluating primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies, and causal inferences are analyzed. This course emphasizes analytical studies, quantitative measures of association and critical readings of current literature. This course integrates evidence-based health promotion and treatment strategies for common disorders/diseases identified in Health People 2010. In-depth sociocultural, ecological and systems of care delivery factors that contribute to health disparities will be explored. An emphasis will be placed on determining, designing and implementing innovative models which bridge prevention and illness treatment. 3 S.H.
710- Biostatistics
This course covers the advanced use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will learn about the role of sampling and probability in statistical decisions. Applications include confidence intervals and hypothesis testing about population means, proportions, variances, and selected parametric and non-parametric tests. The students will study a software package, such as SPSS, which can be used for analyses. 3 S.H.
720- Appraisal and Analysis within Evidence-Based Practice
This course introduces the concepts associated with evidence-based nursing practice. The steps in implementing evidence-based practice are explored in depth, including the following: selecting a clinical or knowledge question or problem, forming a team, retrieving the evidence from published literature, evaluating the strength of the evidence, critiquing research and practice guidelines, synthesizing the research, and examining patient preferences. Issues related to information management technology will be introduced. Strategies for creating a culture of evidence-based practice, both for individuals and systems, will be identified, and the barriers to evidence-based practice will also be identified. This course introduces the concepts associated with evidence-based nursing practice models. Issues related to information management technology will be introduced. Prerequisites: 700 & 720 or consent of instructor. 3 S.H.
730- Evidence-Based Practice: Translation and Evaluation
This course continues to evaluate and use concepts associated with evidence-based nursing practice models. The steps in translating evidence-based practice are explored in depth, including the following: making evidence-based practice recommendations, deciding to change practice, implementing the practice change, evaluating the outcomes, and diffusing the innovation. Issues related to information management technology will be continued from 720. The concept of translation science and tools for applying evidence to practice will be emphasized. The goal of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to assume a leadership role in transforming healthcare and educational environments. The steps in implementing evidence-based practice are explored in depth. Strategies for creating a culture of evidence-based practice both for individual and systems will be evaluated and barriers to evidence-based practice will also be identified with corresponding action plans. Prerequisites: 700, 710 & 720 or consent of instructor. 3 S.H.
740- Impact of Ethics & Law on the Role of the DNP
This course will explore the interrelationships between policy, ethics and the law and their impact on clinical practice and health care. Broader social issues common to vulnerable populations will be examined using ethical and legal frameworks. Recurring issues in clinical practice will be examined for how legislation and regulation impacts care. System issues relevant to health and healthcare delivery will be explored for its impact on care and policy implications. Practices/protocols/policies that are compliant with legal and ethical mandates will be explored. Organizational and social communicating and advocating for policy change will be developed. Exploration of current ethical issues, including relevant contextual factors within the health care disciplines and within the student's area of scholarship and clinical practice as it relates to the DNP. Prerequisites: 700 & 710 or consent of instructor. 3 S.H.
750- Cultural Competency for Advanced Practice
This course is an application of cultural competency to clinical practice, health care management, and health services research when working with culturally diverse populations. Methodological orientation is qualitative, historical, and ethnographic in the form of. interactive lectures, narratives, discussions, guest presentations and innovative strategies. Interdisciplinary perspectives will be a part of the course appropriate for graduate students in nursing, education, public health, health administration, , social work, and anthropology. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. 3 S.H.
760- Health Care Finance and Policy
This course focuses on understanding how health care is organized, financed, and delivered in the U.S. and examines key issues currently on the U.S. national policy agenda. This is an interprofessional course offering. This course will examine both healthcare economics and the business of practice. The relationship of economic issues, health policy & clinical practice will be explored. Economic concepts and tools will be used to examine issues and solve problems/issues pertaining to health care and the delivery of healthcare services. Approaches to economic evaluations will be explored and students will use findings from economic evaluations to inform policy makers about the costs and effects of medical interventions to support their decisions on the allocation of health care resources. Evidence-based critique skills will be expanded to include critical appraisal of economic evaluation studies and select software will be used to conduct an economic systematic review. Relevant finance concepts will be explored to develop skills in assessing the practice/organizations' financial condition, budgeting and profit analysis. Prerequisites: 700, 710, 720, 730, 740 & 750 or consent of instructor. 3 S.H.
770- Health Care Information Systems and Outcome Management
This course focuses on information systems technology and its application for the improvement and transformation of patient-centered health care. The course prepares the student to become proficient at selecting and using technology for organizing, analyzing, managing, and evaluating information in nursing administration, education, research, and clinical practice settings. Content will explore use of 1) information and information technology systems to support: research for evidence-based practice; quality improvement and outcomes evaluation; management; education; and practice; 2) standards/principles for selecting and evaluating information systems; and 3) analysis of legal, ethical, and regulatory issues related to information systems and technology. Students will execute an evaluation plan of existing information management systems in his/her work setting. Prerequisites: 548 Nursing Informatics or consent of instructor. 3 S.H.
800- Capstone Project - Practitioner
This capstone course provides the student with the opportunity to synthesize previous learning in the implementation and evaluation of a system level change designated to immediately improve healthcare outcomes. During the 128 hours associated with this course, the student will conduct a change project based on principles of science and evidence-based practice, healthcare quality, and systems leadership. Successful completion of this final practicum will require the student to present the results of the change project to his/her capstone project committee for their review and approval of the cumulative scholarly work. It is expected that this project will demonstrate the measurement and evaluation of outcomes resulting from the organizational changes. In the seminar portion of the course, discussions focus on the sophisticated leadership skills required of the nurse executive, including the highest level of analytic thinking and problem-solving skill. Prerequisites: Successful completion of the 33 doctoral credits prior to this capstone course and approval of the student's committee to implement the individually designed change project. Prerequisites: 700, 710, 720, 730, 750, 760 & 770. 6 S.H.
810- Organizational Management/Leadership
The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive exploration of leadership theories and principles, as well as innovative leadership techniques. Units of content will focus on systems thinking, values and ethics, human resource utilization, legal issues, decision-making, organizational culture and climate, communication skills, succession planning, theories of change and change leadership, creation of learning communities, professional accountability, and leadership within professional nursing organizations. Qualities and behaviors associated with exemplary leadership will be identified. The goal of this course is to develop and refine the leadership skills of the student as he/she works to transform practice and educational environments in order to enhance the quality of nursing and healthcare delivery systems. The student will be expected to use his/her own work environment as a learning laboratory to assess and develop existing leadership structures. Content includes forecasting, the processes of decision-making based on data and decision trees, making choices for location and physical layout design of healthcare services, the processes associated with reengineering and work redesign, the use of data in determining staffing and scheduling decisions, measurement of productivity, making resource allocation and inventory decisions, the use of date in quality initiatives, project management, and capacity planning. During the 128 practicum hours associated with this course, the student will develop a leadership project in his/her work setting. Using leadership theories and principles, the student will be expected to conduct a project that makes an immediate impact of the quality of healthcare and nursing. Sixteen hours of seminar are included in this course, to provide the student with the opportunity to participate in a learning community of colleagues and scholars who will serve as consultants on the projects. Prerequisites: All 700 courses. 3 S.H.
820- Residency
Under the guidance of their DNP faculty advisor, students will synthesize, integrate and translate newly acquired knowledge and skills in the implementation and evaluation of their selected project. Using scientific theory, systematic evidence appraisal, systems, organizational and policy analysis, and models of care delivery, students will complete the DNP project. Seminars will focus on guiding the student through all aspects of project design, implementation and evaluation. Clinical experiences will be individually designed within the context of the direct or indirect focus of the students program. This course is designed to integrate knowledge of nursing theory; evidence based nursing practice, physiologic and pathophysiologic foundations, ethical and legal principles and health care systems into clinical practice. In consultation with their DNP faculty advisor, students will elect an area of clinical practice and implement advanced clinical decision-making in the provision of culturally sensitive, patient centered, evidence based care. Case presentation form the student's clinical practicum experience will be used to explicate clinical trends, expert clinical judgment, and individual and population focused interventions. Expertise, knowledge and data gained from this course will be used in the development of the final project proposal. Prerequisites: All 700 courses & 810
