Nursing (NU)

This online orientation is designed to provide a framework for delivery of essential information to promote the academic success of the newly enrolled graduate student and to provide consistent introduction to online services at the university. Grades: Pass/Fail.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course examines theories foundational to the knowledge and practice of nursing, mechanisms for theory development and critique, as well as analysis of essential concepts unique to nursing. Offered fall term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course presents advanced theoretical concepts of health assessment including interviewing and health history processes, physical examination, documentation of findings and clinical diagnostic judgments regarding the health care needs of vulnerable populations, communities and patients across the lifespan. Offered fall term only. This course may only be taken at the undergraduate level upon approval for participation in the Faster Master's program.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. This course provides an advanced, systems-based exploration of normal human physiological function in relation to physiological changes that occur as a result of disease. This includes advances in genetics, immunology, and molecular biology. Offered spring term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course provides opportunities to review, examine, and analyze individual, family, and population-based care from a community health perspective as well as synthesize selected issues that affect the role responsibilities of the advanced population health nurse within systems and organizations. Offered fall term only. This course may only be taken at the undergraduate level upon approval for participation in the Faster Master's program.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course is designed to augment and support the practice of the Advanced Population Nurse. It encompasses patient and family education regarding medications and their safe usage as well as providing students with evidence-based guidelines regarding medications, pharmacology concerns for special populations, and drugs commonly associated with public/population health nursing. Offered fall term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course is designed for the study of various factors as they relate to the occurrence, frequency, and distribution of disease across the lifespan. This includes origin, transmission, host/environmental factors that influence the development of disease, as well as issues related to health planning, policy, and evaluation. Offered spring term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course is designed to foster an exploration of the theoretical foundations for cultural diversity in health and illness. A focus is placed on increasing self-awareness related to health traditions and the cultural phenomena that affect these traditions. Various issues related to the nurse's role in the delivery of healthcare and the patient's acceptance of healthcare are explored. Assessment and analysis of selected cultures as related to nursing and healthcare practices will be emphasized. Offered summer term only. This course may only be taken at the undergraduate level upon approval for participation in the Faster Master's program.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course facilitates the synthesis of the research process, appraisal of research, and implementation of research for an evidence-based practice. Offered summer term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. This course provides an overview for the graduate nursing student in understanding sources of data, data management, analysis of data, evaluation of research findings, and an introduction to model building. Offered spring term only.

(1 to 6). The course is offered as professional development option for students who are graduates of the Master's programs in nursing with less than 500 clinical practicum hours. This course is designed to address deficiencies in the number of practicum hours at the Master's level and may be used to validate Master's level competencies in clinical practice (individual patients and populations of interest). Practicum hours may also be completed with organizational leaders to fulfill practicum hours focused on nursing leadership. This course also provides clinical opportunity to analyze, synthesize, and implement integrated nursing knowledge and skills in achieving patient and health system outcomes, systems assessment, and needs analysis within the healthcare environment. A minimum of 100 to 500 clinical hours are required for successful completion of this course. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Grades: Pass/Fail.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The course is designed to assist the MSN student in understanding the development of curricular components for nursing instructional programs. The course examines the relationships among philosophy, goals, and outcomes for various learning environments. Offered fall term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. This course focuses on teaching-learning theories, processes, strategies, and styles. Evaluation principles in the classroom and clinical setting are examined. Offered summer term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. This course fosters exploration of issues and trends influencing the role of the nursing educator. This includes analysis of technological, legal, economic, political, cultural, ethical, and professional dynamics. Offered spring term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. This course is designed to provide the graduate nursing student with the opportunity to explore principles and best practices in online course design and teaching. Students are encouraged to examine quality standards and course exemplars. Emphasis is placed on instructional design, content organization and scaffolding of content to enhance student learning. The concept of continual engagement is introduced as a method to promote a community of engaged learners. Students will learn how to effectively prepare their online teaching through a systematic instructional planning process and to integrate effective technology to promote learning. Offered spring term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of “B” or better. This course is designed to facilitate the application of advanced specialized knowledge relevant to health promotion/disease prevention issues in select populations. Clinical experiences will be designed to meet individual learning needs of the MSN student in implementing the multifaceted role of the advanced population health nurse (APHN). Offered summer term only. 254 practicum hours required.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The course facilitates the application of teaching-learning theories and strategies, assessment and measurement methods, curricular frameworks, and nursing knowledge in an educational context. Includes 100 hour practicum.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. This course is designed to promote application of advanced specialized knowledge relevant to health promotion/disease prevention programs in select populations. Clinical experiences will be designed to meet the individual learning needs of the MSN student in implementing the multifaceted role of the advanced population health nurse (APHN). Offered fall term only. 254 practicum hours required.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course is to provide the knowledge necessary to perform comprehensive history, physical, and psychological assessments of signs and symptoms, pathophysiologic changes, and psychosocial variations of the patient across the lifespan. The focus of the course is to provide foundational materials for specialized areas of advanced nursing practice. The emphasis is on systematic data collection, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical problem-solving. Offered fall term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to provide an analysis of pathophysiology in frequently encountered conditions across the lifespan and in special populations. The focus is to introduce pathophysiological theories and research as a basis for advanced nursing practice. The emphasis is on applied physiology and pathophysiology to enable advance practice nurses to understand how and why the clinical manifestations of disease occur so that appropriate therapies can be selected. Offered spring term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course is to prepare advanced practice nurses with knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics of common drug categories used to prevent illness, and to restore and maintain health for client systems across the life span. The focus is on mechanisms of action, pharmacologic response, usual doses, adverse effects, indications, interactions, compatibilities, contraindications, and routes of administration are emphasized in acute and chronic conditions. The unique characteristics of special populations related to therapeutic needs, as well as drug absorption, metabolism and excretion are defined. The emphasis of this course is to serve as the basis for development of further knowledge and principles to be applied to select specialty option populations within subsequent courses. Offered summer term only.

The purpose of the course is to introduce the new doctoral nursing student to expectations and responsibilities for successful progress across the DNP curriculum and integration into the JSU Nursing community of learners. Topics covered will include content such as introduction to faculty and staff, technology requirements, scholarly writing attributes, learning management system, professional behaviors in online environment, immersions, document tracking, etc.

The purpose of the course is to introduce the new doctoral nursing student to expectations and responsibilities for successful progress across the DNP curriculum and integration into the JSU Nursing community of learners. Topics covered will include content such as introduction to faculty and staff, technology requirements, scholarly writing attributes, learning management system, professional behaviors in online environment, immersions, document tracking, etc.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to explore the scientific underpinnings that define the nature of health and healthcare delivery and to provide the basis for practice at the highest level of nursing from a theoretical perspective. Conceptual models and theories reflecting synthesis of knowledge from nursing and other disciplines are evaluated. The structure and nature of current theoretical knowledge as a guide for advanced nursing practice at the patient, population or system level of care is explored. Offered fall term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course is to provide the DNP student with the foundational components required for effective utilization of evidence-based practice within the scope of advanced nursing practice. The course focuses on the acquisition of evidence-based practice methods to critically appraise existing literature, synthesize and implement the best evidence for practice. The course emphasis is on the application of quantitative, qualitative, and quality improvement methodologies to promote safe, effective care within healthcare systems. Offered fall and spring terms.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to develop advanced nursing leaders who have the knowledge and skills to design, analyze, influence, and implement policies that frame health care financing practice regulation, access, safety, quality, and efficacy. The course focuses on major contextual factors and policy triggers that influence health policy making at various levels. Principles of finance, business and health care economics will be presented. The course emphasis is on developing essential competencies in health care policy advocacy and health care financing. Offered spring and summer terms only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to provide the methodological basis for translating evidence into practice systems and to provide an overview of sources of data, data collection, data management, analysis, and evaluation of research findings, with a focus on biostatistical analysis as a base for evidence-based practice in nursing. Course concepts will include a variety of biostatistical analyses with the primary focus on correct interpretation and use of quantitative methods in advanced nursing practice. Offered fall and spring terms only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to explore the complex issues surrounding population health at the local, regional, national and global level. Students focus on current health issues and trends by utilizing foundation knowledge and theoretical approaches to identifying strategies to eliminate health disparities in diverse organizational cultures and select populations of interest. Students develop and evaluate approaches to health care delivery that address and support the needs of diverse populations while focusing on health promotion, illness prevention, quality/safety and diversity. Leading Health Indicators from Healthy People 2020/2030 serve as a guide for the identification of at-risk groups and are incorporated into the completion of projects geared toward improving the health of individuals, aggregates and populations. Offered fall term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to explore the use of innovative leadership initiatives to build an organizational culture that will support the future of healthcare. Desirable attributes and traits of effective leaders in complex, ever-changing healthcare organizations are discussed. The ideas of organizational and systems thinking are appraised. Content assists students in identifying the knowledge, skills and abilities for successful transition as leaders in high reliability organizations. The importance of self-awareness and self-reflection are highlighted. Effective communication techniques, successful conflict resolution and effective problem solving practices within high reliability organizations are explored. Emphasis is placed on shared governance, maximizing teamwork and inspiring team members to share in organizational visions and goals. Strategic planning is discussed as an avenue to measure leadership and organizational success. Offered spring term only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course for the DNP student is to explore key concepts of innovative leadership as students develop an appreciation for the knowledge, skills, and attributes required to engage teams in creative, evidence based initiatives. In-depth exploration of the leader's primary role in successful organizational change is emphasized. Students cultivate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to apply to authentic, innovative leadership to an identified practice issue. The ideas of collaborative partnerships and teamwork are explored as effective strategies to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals and aggregates. Organizational culture and the influence of values are closely examined as factors influencing successful change. Students discover the importance of effective communication, successful collaboration, and team building to the process of change. Models of quality improvement and project planning, implementation, and evaluation are also examined. Offered spring and summer terms only.

To progress to this course, all previous coursework counting towards the graduate or doctoral nursing degree must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. The purpose of this course is to prepare the DNP student to be proficient in the evaluation and use of technology and information systems appropriate to specialized areas of advanced nursing practice. The course focuses on information systems and current technology in the management of healthcare outcomes. Within the course, emphasis is placed on the use of information systems and technology based resources to support clinical and administrative decision making. Offered summer term only.