Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-MSN to DNP)

NURS 6315. Informatics & Health Care Technologies. 3 Credit Hours.

This course equips students with advanced clinical leadership skills to appraise and optimize information systems and patient care technology. Students will learn to generate knowledge through information and communication technology (ICT) and design system improvement strategies based on quality metrics and performance indicators, ensuring safe and effective care for diverse populations across various settings. The course emphasizes the usability of ICT for accurate and efficient documentation of care, optimal stakeholder engagement, continuous monitoring of outcomes, and seamless communication among healthcare providers, patients, and system levels. Key focus areas include the application of ethical, legal, professional, IT, regulatory, engagement, and usability standards, as well as national and workplace policies. National strategic roadmaps for digital health ecosystems and their influence on shaping the national digital health landscape will also be explored and evaluated. Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 6380. Epidemiology & Statistical Methods in Population Health. 3 Credit Hours.

In this course, students learn and apply statistical and epidemiological methods to health-related data. They assess quantitative data, interpret public health statistics, and use these insights to inform clinical practice and enhance population health outcomes. Students explore key topics including surveillance principles, statistical inference, study design, data collection techniques, and the practical application of statistical methods to address real-world health issues. Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 7111. Advanced Nursing Seminar. 1 Credit Hour.

This seminar course provides the student with knowledge to facilitate integration and synthesis of the essential specialty competencies necessary to plan and design their DNP Practice Inquiry Project. This seminar may include a variety of activities, identification of the opportunity for improvement, literature synthesis and evidence for their theory based organizational intervention at multiple system levels. The activities will be specific to the student's identified area of specialty. Students will share issues related to the plan and design of the DNP Practice Inquiry Project in seminar. Prerequisite: NURS 7304. Corequisite: NURS 7511.

NURS 7222. Leadership In Complex Healthcare Systems. 2 Credit Hours.

The focus of this course is on leadership skills preparing nurses for intra/interprofessional leadership in complex healthcare systems including collaborative and consultative models, conflict and board management, and advanced communication and team-building skills with emphasis on innovation and change. Clock hours: 2 clock hours class (30 hours class) Prerequisite: NURS 5339 Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 7303. Knowledge Translation: Searching, Appraising and Synthesizing Evidence. 3 Credit Hours.

In this course, students build a foundation for clinical scholarship in advanced nursing practice. Students will analyze various models of evidence-based practice (EBP) and knowledge translation. They will critically appraise and synthesize primary research, systematic reviews, and best practice guidelines to address a clinical issue related to a knowledge-practice gap. Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 7304. Knowledge Translation: Designing and Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions. 3 Credit Hours.

In this course, students learn how to translate knowledge into practice using research and other forms of evidence to enhance quality and safety in healthcare. They will apply knowledge translation models, implementation designs, evaluation models, and analytical approaches to improve practice, patient, population, and system-level outcomes. Additionally, students will select context-specific implementation and change strategies that facilitate and sustain evidence-based interventions in complex healthcare delivery systems, aiming for safe, timely, effective, efficient, and patient-centered care. Students will address ethical issues related to knowledge translation and implementation. Prerequisites: NURS 7303 Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 7311. Theories and Research in Leadership, Quality, Safety, and Evidence Base. 3 Credit Hours.

This course focuses on leadership, chaos, system, improved and transitional science theories and patient safety, healthcare quality and evidence-based research and models to frame improvement, implementation, and translational research studies. Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 7312. DNP Project: Seminar. 3 Credit Hours.

This course requires the student to engage faculty and community leaders in the implementation and reporting of the process and outcomes of their theory and evidence based organizational intervention at multiple system levels. The student explores specific issues related to the specific practice topic that leads to an evidence-based improvement project. The role of the DNP as leader and innovator in complex organizational systems will be discussed as it relates to the proposal and implementation. Faculty, practice leaders and experts will assist with development of a plan that is relevant and feasible. Successful completion of PH 1690 as an alternate to NURS 7321. Prerequisites: NURS 7320, NURS 7303, and NURS 7304. Corequisites: NURS 7313.

NURS 7313. DNP Practice Inquiry: Clinical Application. 3 Credit Hours.

This course requires the student to engage faculty and community leaders in the implementation and reporting of the process and outcomes of their theory and evidence based organizational intervention at multiple system levels. The role of the DNP as leader and innovator in complex organizational systems will be discussed as it relates to implementation and evaluation. Faculty, practice leaders and experts will assist with the implementation and evaluation of a practice inquiry project. Successful completion of PH 1690 as an alternate to NURS 7321. Prerequisites: NURS 7320, NURS 7303, NURS 7304. Corequisite: NURS 7312.

NURS 7314. Nursing and Health Systems Administration. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is designed to prepare the professional chief nurse executive to provide strategic direction for all aspects of nursing care and care delivery operations for multiple clinical departments, hospitals and service lines across the continuum in regional and/or national healthcare systems to provide value. Successful completion of PH 1690 as an alternate to NURS 7321. Prerequisites: NURS 7320, NURS 7303, NURS 7304.

NURS 7320. Statistical Process Control and Quality Improvement Methods. 3 Credit Hours.

Students will use data analytical and visualization methods for knowledge translation and implementation to evaluate processes that impact system, practice, and patient-level outcomes. They will develop skills to analyze patient, practice, and outcome data using descriptive statistics and quality improvement analytics and visualization tools. Students will explore appropriate models, methods, measures, data sources, and analyses to evaluate healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Students will interpret, visualize and present data to advance practice and patient outcomes. Prerequisites: NURS 6380 and NURS 7302. Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.

NURS 7322. Healthcare Policy Analysis and Advocacy. 3 Credit Hours.

This course prepares the nurse leader to advance the agenda of the rapidly changing care environment by examination of health policy research and analysis. Students will focus on policy process and develop and implement policy agendas. They will participate in collective decision-making, identifying roles and key stakeholders. The course will address how to identify gaps in policy knowledge and provide opportunity for nurse leaders to engage in processes that influence policy decisions at the institutional, local, state, regional, national and/ or international levels. The course will prepare the nurse leader to analyze the policy process and engage in politically competent care. There are no prerequisites for Post-MSN to PhD students. However, DNP students do have a prerequisite. Prerequisites: NURS 7302.

NURS 7324. Healthcare Economics And Policy. 3 Credit Hours.

This course prepares the student to lead improvements in health care and shape health policy through an understanding of macroeconomic principles in the health care market. Students will be given the opportunity to apply theoretical and empirical economic analysis to business and public policy issues in health care. Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis. Prerequisites: NURS 6320.

NURS 7511. Advanced Nursing: Clinical Application. 5 Credit Hours.

This course provides the student with clinical specialty immersion experiences to facilitate integration and synthesis of the essential competencies necessary for implementation of the DNP Practice Inquiry Project. Students will engage faculty and practice leaders in the plan and design of the project. The practice immersion experience may include a variety of activities related to the identification of the opportunity for improvement, analyzing the organizational context and strategies for design with appropriate clinicians in the clinical practice immersion. The setting and activities will be specific to the student's identified area of specialty. Corequisites: NURS 7111.