NURN - Nursing

Course Descriptions

NURN 5005 Collaboration and Communication (3)

This course focuses on the effective communication and collaboration skills of the master's prepared nurse as a member and leader of interprofessional teams. A variety of communication modes including oral, written and emerging technologies are practiced. May be repeated once for credit.

NURN 5050 Policy and Politics in Nursing (3)

This course examines policy within the health care arena focusing on the policymaking process; the organization, delivery, and financing of healthcare; and the nurse’s role in advocacy. Conceptual models clarify aspects of policy problems suggesting explanations for decisions and consequences. Political advocacy and the health policy change process will be explored at the local, state, national, and global level. This course reviews principles of health care economics affecting health policy.

NURN 5210 Strategies to Facilitate Learning (3)

This course is designed to explore a variety of teaching methods used by nurse educators/leaders to facilitate learning. Learning theories and principles of learning to achieve outcomes are examined. Use of technology to facilitate learning is integrated throughout the course. Students develop, implement and evaluate a plan for teaching a defined target audience.

NURN 5220 Curriculum and Program Design (3)

Curriculum and program design, development, and evaluation are explored. The influence of nursing and health care trends and community/societal needs on curricula and programs are discussed. Students design sample curriculum and program components including program evaluation and outcome criteria. 

NURN 5230 Practicum in the Nurse Educator Role I (3)

This practicum course explores the role of the nurse educator in healthcare and educational settings. Students synthesize knowledge attained in the MSN program courses in collaboration with faculty and preceptors. Prerequisites: NURN 5210 and NURN 5220, or permission of the instructor.

NURN 5240 Practicum in the Nurse Educator Role II (3)

This practicum course builds on practicum I and further explores the multifaceted role of the nurse educator in healthcare and educational settings. Students design, implement and evaluate teaching experiences at a practicum site. Prerequisites: NURN 5210 and NURN 5230.

NURN 5340 Population Health (3)

This course summarizes the theoretical basis of health promotion and disease prevention. Emerging global health issues are explored. Principles of program planning, implementation and evaluation are discussed. Students develop culturally relevant health promotion plan for a selected population, which includes an extensive windshield survey and stakeholder interviews. The role of the MSN nurse in population health is examined.

NURN 5360 Organization and Systems Leadership (3)

This course provides the student with a theoretical foundation of organization and systems leadership within complex health care settings. Leadership skills necessary for promoting high quality care, safe patient care, improving outcomes, and leading change are explored. Communication and collaboration and critical decision making will be examined across organizations and systems and as a part of interprofessional teams.

NURN 5370 Quality and Safety in Health Care (3)

This course integrates knowledge of quality care, safety measures and standards to examine processes to minimize risk to patients, employees, organizations and systems. Competencies related to quality and safety are studied. Strategies to build a just culture of safety and quality are explored. 

NURN 5380 Pathophysiology and Application 1 (3)

In this course, students explore the assessment, pathophysiology and interventions, including pharmacological, for common disorders of the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and musculoskeletal systems; as well as genetic diseases and cancer. Variations in disease occurrence, onset, signs/symptoms and interventions due to age, gender, race, genetics and other variables are examined. Application of clinical reasoning skills, current evidence based practice, treatment and prevention is emphasized. Students develop and implement a lesson plan for teaching assessment, pathophysiology and interventions of a specific disease/disorder.

NURN 5390 Pathophysiology and Application 2 (3)

In this course, students explore the assessment, pathophysiology and interventions, including pharmacological, for common disorders of the nervous, immune, endocrine and reproductive systems. Variations in disease occurrence, onset, signs/symptoms and interventions due to age, gender, race, genetics and other variables are examined. Application of clinical reasoning skills, current evidence based practice, treatment and prevention is emphasized. Students develop and implement a lesson plan for teaching assessment, pathophysiology and interventions of a specific disease/disorder.

NURN 5420 Financial Issues for Nurse Leaders (3)

This course focuses on financial and strategic management important to nurse leaders. Emphasis is on the interpretation and application of financial information from a departmental or organizational strategic plan. Basic financial decision-making principles, the role of money and financial markets in the economy, financial statement analysis, and the budget process are examined. Criteria for allocating resources that optimize quality, cost-effective care are explored. 

NURN 5440 Practicum in Nurse Leader Role I (3)

This practicum course is designed to explore the role of nurse leader in health care organizations. Students synthesize knowledge attained in the MSN program courses to assess a practice gap and strategically plan a practice improvement project in collaboration with faculty and preceptors. Prerequisites: NURN 5360 and NURN 5420, or permission of the MSN coordinator.

NURN 5450 Practicum in the Nurse Leader Role II (3)

This practicum course builds on NURN 5440, Practicum in the Nurse Leader Role I, and further explores the role of nurse leader in health care organizations. Students implement and evaluate their practice improvement project in collaboration with faculty, preceptors and key stakeholders in the practicum environment. Students present their project and outcomes in a final poster presentation. Prerequisite: NURN 5440 or permission of the MSN coordinator.

NURN 5500 Professional Seminars (1-3)

Students participate in seminars designed to examine contemporary issues in nursing. The professional seminar supplements the core or focus area courses by focusing on issues of current and special interest. Course may be repeated for credit if content differs. Graduate students may apply a maximum of 3 credit hours of these seminars to meet the credit-hour requirements for graduation.

NURN 5550 Translating Evidence to Practice (3)

The over-arching goal of this course is for students to gain core knowledge to apply evidence to practice. Students systematically explore and evaluate current nursing knowledge for scientific and clinical merit. Nursing practice issues are identified. Evidence is evaluated and synthesized. Models and strategies for implementation of evidence based practice are explored.

NURN 5990 Advanced Studies in Nursing (1-3)

Students with special interests or needs not met by existing curricula may request that a faculty member supervise a directed study. Content of the study and evaluation criteria are mutually decided upon by the student and faculty. This course may be repeated for credit if content differs. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chairperson.