Doctor of Nursing Course Descriptions

NURS 703 Systems Leadership, Health Economics & Policy (3 credits)

This course will focus on providing students with the skills to navigate the challenges and opportunities that confront nursing leaders in complex healthcare environments. Techniques to develop successful leadership behaviors and strategies will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on the responsibilities of the nurse leader to understand the influence of economic and legal factors on the delivery of advanced nursing care.

NURS 704 Advanced Pharmacology for Prescribers 1(3 credits)

This course designed for students who have successfully completed NURS 611 and NURS 706. It builds on the student’s understanding of advanced pharmacology principles to include advanced skills in prescribing practices that incorporate cultural beliefs, costs, adherence, response to therapy, teaching, and health promotion.

NURS 706 Advanced Pharmacology for Prescribers II (3 credits)

This course is only for students with current valid prescribing privileges in the State of Pennsylvania. Approval from Program Director is necessary. Replaces NURS 704 for those approved. This course builds upon the students’ existing knowledge and pharmacological experience to manage a client’s common health problems in a safe, high quality, cost-effective manner. Emphasis is on the development of therapeutic decision-making in drug selection for the client based on health problems, individual variations, and economic considerations. The focus is on prescriptive practices, client education, and monitoring of the therapeutic response to pharmacological agents in diverse clients across the lifespan.

NURS 707 Biostatistics and Evidence Based Practice for the DNP (4 credits)

Research designs that support evidence based nursing practice are examined and critiqued. Ethical, socio-political, cultural, and legal issues in research are discussed. Scholarly literature focused on students’ area of interest will be reviewed. Students will develop the idea for the DNP clinical scholarly project and identify potential tools for data collection. A review of basic statistical concepts and data analysis is provided, and more advanced statistical concepts commonly used in health care are introduced. Examples of statistical application in allied health research are provided. Emphasis is also placed on interpreting and critiquing data analysis in published research for application to evidence-based practice.

NURS 708 Advanced Physical and Health Assessment Lab (1 credit)

Prerequisite: NURS 612 or equivalent This course provides hands-on, interactive opportunities to establish competency in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed by APRNs. Emphasis is placed on the underlying pathophysiologic processes that dictate procedural need, decision making for referral, and follow up management.

NURS 717 Informatics (3 credits)

The specialty of Nursing Informatics is explored. Emphasis is placed on evidenced-based technological initiatives intended to improve patient safety and clinical decision making. Selected topics in the application and evaluation of technologic initiatives, ethical, and legal issues will be investigated.

NURS 801 Advanced Practice Role for the DNP (3 credits)

This course provides knowledge and skill to effectively manage change, empower others, and influence political processes. Advanced nursing practice leadership occurs in clinical practice with clients and staff, within health-care institutions and professional organizations, and in health-care policymaking arenas. To develop the leadership role, the student implements strategies for creating organizational change to provide high quality services at reasonable costs. Focus is on organizational process, including the associated management of conflict, change, and control of risk within a political context.

NURS 802 DNP Scholarly Project I (1 credit)

This is the first in a series of four seminars which focuses on development of the DNP Scholarly Project. Students develop a substantial and meaningful scholarly DNP Project Proposal that is innovative and evidence-based, reflects the application of credible research findings, financially sound, feasible, sustainable and demonstrates value to the organization and population(s) served.

NURS 803 DNP Scholarly Project II (1 credit)

Prerequisite: NURS 802 This is the second in a series of four seminars which focuses on development of the DNP Scholarly Project. This course focuses on the planning and development of the concept to focus the scholarship aspects of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

NURS 804 Advanced Nursing Practice I: Common Acute Illness (3 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 612; NURS 704 This course concentrates on the levels of prevention and primary care management of common healthcare problems. Patients across the life span are managed within a culturally, and spiritually diverse environments using the clinical decision-making process. Concepts related to critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, diagnostic testing, prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies are explored.

NURS 805 Common Acute Illness Practicum I (1.5 credits)

This is the first in a series of six courses of 112 hours precepted clinical practice time will afford the student clinical decision-making opportunities in the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adults with common healthcare problems. This course is the first Common Acute Illness Practicum in a series two of clinical courses for the advanced practice role of the primary provider of individuals and families across the lifespan. At the completion of the series the student will be expected to demonstrate beginning proficiency in assessment and management of common health/illness conditions throughout the lifespan.

NURS 806 Common Acute Illness Practicum II (1.5 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 804; NURS 805 This is the second in a series of six courses of 112 hours precepted clinical practice time will afford the student clinical decision-making opportunities in the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adults with common healthcare problems. This course is the first Common Acute Illness Practicum in a series two of clinical courses for the advanced practice role of the primary provider of individuals and families across the lifespan. At the completion of the series the student will be expected to demonstrate progressive proficiency in assessment and management of common health/illness conditions throughout the lifespan.

NURS 807 Advanced Nursing Practice II: Acute/Chronic Illness (3 credits)

This course for advanced practice nursing students concentrates on the levels of prevention and primary care management of complex acute and common chronic healthcare problems of individuals and their families. Patients across the spectrum are managed within a culturally, and spiritually diverse environment using the clinical decision making process. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost effective, minimally invasive, quality healthcare for these healthcare problems. These guidelines include health promotion counseling, screening, and client education to optimize the client’s health. Standardized procedures will be discussed and reviewed throughout the class. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, implementing appropriate diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic integrative healing therapies, professional interpersonal relationships, the caring professional role and teaching/coaching techniques

NURS 808 Acute/Chronic Illness Practicum I (1.5 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 806 This is the third in a series of six courses of 112 hours precepted clinical practice time will afford the student clinical decision-making opportunities in the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adults with common healthcare problems. This course is the second Common Acute/Chronic Common Practicum in a series two of clinical courses for the advanced practice role of the primary provider of individuals and families across the lifespan. The course provides the graduate student with advanced theoretical knowledge in the continued assessment and management of selected common acute and chronic health conditions across the lifespan.

NURS 809 Acute/Chronic Illness Practicum II (1.5 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 807; NURS 808 This is the fourth in a series of six courses of 112 hours precepted clinical practice time will afford the student clinical decision-making opportunities in the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adults with common healthcare problems. This course is the second Common Acute/Chronic Common Practicum in a series two of clinical courses for the advanced practice role of the primary provider of individuals and families across the lifespan. The course provides the graduate student with advanced theoretical knowledge in the continued assessment and management of selected common acute and chronic health conditions across the lifespan. At the completion of the series the student will be expected to demonstrate progressive proficiency in assessment and management of common health/illness conditions throughout the lifespan.

NURS 810 Advanced Nursing Practice III: Complex Chronic Illness (3 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 804; NURS 807 This course concentrates on the levels of prevention and primary care management of individuals with complex chronic healthcare problems. Patients are managed within a culturally, and spiritually diverse environments using the clinical decision-making process. Concepts related to critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, diagnostic testing, prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies are explored.

NURS 811 Complex Chronic Illness Practicum I (1.5 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 809 This is the fifth in a series of six courses of 112 hours precepted clinical practice time

will afford the student clinical decision-making opportunities in the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adults with common healthcare problems. This course is the first complex chronic practicum in a series two of clinical courses for the advanced practice role of the primary provider of individuals and families across the lifespan. This course provides the student with clinical experiences in the primary care management of infants, children, and adults experiencing developmental changes in function and complex health comorbidities, and/or women experiencing pregnancy. Emphasis is on the utilization of critical thinking, relevant theories, and evidence-based practice to assess, diagnose, treat and evaluate complex, unstable and chronic health care problems in infants, children, and adults. At the completion of the series the student will be expected to demonstrate progressive proficiency in assessment and management of common health/illness conditions throughout the lifespan.

NURS 812 Complex Chronic Illness Practicum II (1.5 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 810; NURS 811 This is the final in a series of six courses of 112 hours precepted clinical practice time will afford the student clinical decision-making opportunities in the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adults with common healthcare problems. This course is the second complex chronic practicum in a series two of clinical courses for the advanced practice role of the primary provider of individuals and families across the lifespan. At the completion of the series the student will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in assessment and management of common health/illness conditions throughout the lifespan.

NURS 820 Leadership: Setting the Example (3 credits)

This course enables students to prepare themselves to become leaders of organizations and to embark on paths of personal leadership development. Examination of leadership development to maximize innovation and positive organizational impact with an exploration of own leadership development. Focus on leadership in a dynamic healthcare environment with exploration of communication and collaboration. Students explore leadership concepts in the context of their own leadership styles, taking into account organizational culture, current health policies and governance complexities.

NURS 830 Population Focused System Evaluation and Implementation (3 credits)

This course focuses on interpreting data analysis findings combined with the principles of epidemiology to plan, manage and evaluate health care for populations. Emphasized are data management, collection, analysis, critical assessment and synthesis of practice assessment, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes. Students will engage in critical appraisal of research findings and other types of evidence to develop and support datadriven decisions to evaluate and improve delivery systems.

NURS 901 DNP Clinical Residency I (2.0 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 802 This is the first in a series of three courses is designed to provide students with a comprehensive clinical experience to individually demonstrate outcomes congruent with the AACN DNP Essentials and the DNP Scholarly Project. This course has a clinical hour requirement. This course may be repeated to achieve residency hour requirements (Please see DNP Program Handbook)

NURS 902 DNP Clinical Residency II (1.5 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 901 This second in a series of three courses focuses on clinical immersion with outcomes intended to demonstrate student accomplishment of the AACN DNP Essentials and the DNP Scholarly Project. This course has a clinical hour requirement. This course may be repeated to achieve residency hour requirements (Please see DNP Program Handbook)

NURS 903 DNP Scholarly Project III (1 credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 803 This is the third in a series of four seminars which focuses on development of the DNP Scholarly Project. This course emphasizes the data analysis specific to the DNP Scholarly Project. The clinical scholarship required in the DNP Scholarly Project reflects mastery and competency in the student’s area of expertise.

NURS 904 Scholarly DNP Project IV (1 credit)

Prerequisite: NURS 903 This seminar is designed to be the hallmark and culmination of the student’s successful completion of a scholarly project demonstrating the synthesis of the student’s experiences, the pinnacle of the practice doctorate. The scholarly project embraces the synthesis of both coursework and practice application. The final outcome is a deliverable product reviewed, evaluated and approved by a faculty committee chair/advisor and scholarly project committee. Dissemination modes include the final scholarly paper presentation to a public forum of colleagues at HFU, a poster presentation and submission to a scholarly journal, or journal article and a scholarly poster or slide presentation. Projects are related to advanced practice in each student’s specialty, and the project must demonstrate potential benefit for a group, population, or community rather than an individual patient. Projects most often evolve from practice and may be done in partnership with another entity, such as a clinical agency, health department, government agency, or community group.

NURS 905 DNP Residency III (1.5 Credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 902 Co-requisite: NURS 904 This is the final in a series courses (for the APRN Leadership Track) which focuses on clinical immersion with outcomes intended to demonstrate student achievement of the AACN DNP Essentials and the dissemination the DNP Scholarly Project. This course has a clinical hour requirement. This course may be repeated to achieve residency hour requirements (Please see DNP Program Handbook)

NURS 906 DNP Clinical Residency IV (1.5 Credits)

Prerequisite: NURS 905 Co-requisite: NURS 904 This course focuses on clinical immersion with outcomes intended to demonstrate student achievement of the AACN DNP Essentials and the DNP Scholarly Project. This course requires 125 residency hours.