Semester 1

NURS 8301 Healthcare Project Design, Methods and Analysis

Critically examines the science of healthcare research and models and methods for translation of research into practice. Students will explore the research continuum from basic scientific discovery to adoption of relevant research into clinical practice.

NURS 8302 Advanced Practice Finance and Economics

Evaluates impact of organizational structure, financial and marketing decisions and their impact on the cost, quality and accessibility of healthcare. Develops advanced skills in analyzing financial statements, managing financial decisions, developing budgets and business plans.

Semester 2

NURS 8207 Writing for Publication

Provides opportunities to identify a population of interest, review the literature, and develop a proposal for a clinical problem that has potential for national impact. Human Subjects Protection/IRB will be explored. Students will be required to seek an appropriate funding agency and submit a grant to support development of an evidence-based project. An overview of the concepts of scholarly and professional writing as well as the processes involved in developing professional publications will be explored.

NURS 8208 DNP Seminar I

Postulates knowledge and skills to facilitate integration and synthesis of the essential specialty competencies necessary to plan and design a DNP Project. Provides opportunity for synthesis of evidence for a 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 Project in seminar.

Semester 3

NURS 8336 Advanced Synthesis Practicum

Clinical specialty immersion experiences to facilitate the integration and synthesis of the essential specialty competencies necessary to plan and design a DNP Project.

Semester 4

NURS 8215 Advanced Leadership and Management Seminar

Focuses on knowing oneself as a leader, forecasting future needs, understanding the healthcare team, coaching others, balancing data-driven decisions with innovation, and a thorough understanding of the complexity of the evolving healthcare environment.

NURS 8316 Advanced Leadership Practicum

Focuses on individual development of leadership skills for the transformation of healthcare and nursing practice with emphasis on innovation and change in a healthcare setting. Prepares nurses to assume leadership in complex healthcare systems through advanced communication, team building, conflict and board management, decision making, and collaborative skills.

NURS 8225 Complex Health Deviations

Focuses on the integration of theoretical and evidence-based knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, management, and evaluation of patients with increasingly complex acute and chronic health problems across the lifespan. Analysis of competencies including interprofessional patient-centered care, safety, quality, cost-effectiveness, legal/ethical/culturally appropriate evidence-based care will be incorporated throughout the course.

NURS 8326 Complex Health Deviations Practicum

Emphasis is on increasing independence of practice and comprehensiveness of care. Expected achievement includes integration of the DNP Essentials to a selected population while assuming increasing responsibility and independence.

Semester 5

NURS 8205 Interdisciplinary Care Seminar

Explore models, approaches, and ideas from more than one discipline to address a healthcare problem or issue. Work toward conscious integration of insights from the participating disciplines.

NURS 8306 Interdisciplinary Focus Clinical

Focuses on optimizing patient outcomes and reducing cost through enhanced management by an interdisciplinary team of students.

Semester 6

NURS 8304 Systems Management Vulnerable Populations

Focuses on health and well-being as a population phenomenon through the study of the role of social determinants of health and interprofessional systems science to support quality health status and safety of vulnerable populations. The determinants of health and innovative models for impacting health systems will be analyzed and synthesized.

Semester 7

NURS 8303 Complex Systems and Leadership

Focuses on the complexity in the healthcare system that requires complex responses from leadership. Using complexity science, interprofessional solutions to complex system issues will be designed within the context of relevant ethical, political, economic, and cultural factors.

NURS 8356 Scholarly Project Development/Implementation

Relates evidence-based strategies for development and implementation of a healthcare improvement plan in a select system or a population. Examples include a significant pilot study, a program evaluation project, a quality improvement project, or a practice change initiative derived from translational science and the DNP role. This project serves as a foundation for future scholarly practice and is reviewed and evaluated by an academic community.

Semester 8

NURS 8209 DNP Seminar II

Students share issues in a seminar format as the DNP project nears completion. The role of the DNP as leader and innovator in complex organizational systems will be discussed as it relates to implementation and evaluation. Implications of the DNP project as it could influence social justice, professional responsibility, disparity that may affect current healthcare delivery.

NURS 8357 Scholarly Project Dissemination

Completion of the manuscript, presentation, and poster presentation for the DNP Project. Faculty, practice leaders, and experts will facilitate the implementation and evaluation of the DNP Project.

Electives: Post-Master’s in Education

NURS 6312 Measurement and Evaluation of Curriculum

Examines theoretical aspects of measurement and evaluation as they pertain to the role of nurse educator. Students use critical thinking and evidence-based practice to evaluate educational outcomes.

NURS 6313 Theories/Methods of Teaching and Learning

Presents an overview of educational theories and instructional methods related to nursing education.

NURS 6314 Curriculum Design and Development

Focuses on curriculum design and development for the nurse educator. Students develop curriculum elements.