Nursing

College of Allied Health & Nursing
   School of Nursing
   360 Wissink Hall
   507-389-6826
   or 800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY)
   Fax: 507-389-6516
   Web site: Nursing

Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) offers a 49- 50 semester credit graduate program designed to prepare professional nurses for advanced practice leading to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The program emphasizes Family Nursing with curricula options for the advanced practice nursing roles of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Students choosing the CNS role option may elect to incorporate clinical teaching experiences with the clinical coursework. A post master's FNP curriculum is also available. The School of Nursing works collaboratively with several Minnesota initiatives.

The MSN program is designed to 1) provide advanced nursing education that is accessible and flexible; 2) respond to the ever changing health care needs of individuals, families, and populations across the continuum of life; 3) contribute to advancement of nursing practice and the discipline of nursing; and 4) collaborate for expanded clinical practice and research partnerships between education and service settings.

Admission

The potential applicant requests an application packet from the administrative assistant for the MSN Program. Completed applications are due in to the MSN Program by January 15. Applicants submit materials simultaneously to both the College of Graduate Studies and Research and to the School of Nursing.

To the College of Graduate Studies and Research:

1. Completed application form to Minnesota State University, Mankato.
2. Application fee (fee applies to MSU students, graduates, faculty and staff).
3. Verification of baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university (official transcript).
4. Verification of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is required for applicants with cumulative GPA less than 3.0.
5. Information required of international students, if appropriate.

To the School of Nursing:

1. Completed MSN Program, SON application form
2. Copy of current registration of RN licensure
3. Verification of references requested

Completed applications are reviewed by the MSN Program Admission Committee using the following criteria:

1. BS/BA degree from an NLNAC/CCNE accredited school of nursing preferred (as verified by official transcripts). Baccalaureate degree in another field is acceptable with equivalency demonstrated in leadership/management, research, and public health nursing theory and clinical
2. Current RN licensure in at least one state with eligibility for licensure in Minnesota;
3. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale. If cumulative GPA is less then 3.0, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. The GRE results must be submitted along with the application. The GRE must have been taken within five years prior to application.

   An on-campus written essay may be substituted for the GRE. The written essay in an applicant's response to a topic related to nursing and is evaluated for composition and fluency. This essay is written prior to January 15 and is scored by a member of the graduate faculty. The faculty essay score is submitted along with the application. Students choosing this option should contact the Graduate Program Director for on-campus essay writing dates. Upon successful completion of this essay and fulfillment of other admission requirements, the applicant might be provisionally admitted to enroll in nursing science core courses. When the student has completed 8 credits from the nursing science core courses with a minimum grade of B in each course, the student is fully admitted to the MSN program.

4. Minimum of one year of nursing practice experience as an RN;
5. Submission of a completed MSN Program Application, including goal statement and professional history/activities (addressing all categories as requested on the form);
6. References from three persons, including current employer, and two other persons of the applicant's choice (three reference forms are included in the MSN Program Application Packet);
7. Validation of computer competence (or plan to accomplish prior to enrollment).

Applicants are notified by March 15 of application outcome. An interview may be required.

Curriculum

The MSN curriculum is designed to build upon and extend the body of knowledge and competencies of baccalaureate education in nursing. The overall purpose of the master's program is to provide high quality graduate education for advanced practice nursing. The curriculum focuses on the systematic integration of knowledge, theory, and skills for advanced practice nursing with families and for leadership in health care systems and the nursing profession.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Synthesize theories and concepts from nursing and other disciplines for application in advanced practice nursing.
2. Use a process of scholarly inquiry in advanced practice nursing.
3. Apply the principles of ethical decision making in advanced practice nursing.
4. Demonstrate competence in advanced practice nursing with selected community-based client populations.
5. Assume responsibility for contributing to improvement of the delivery of health care and influencing health policy.
6. Provide leadership for ongoing development of the nursing profession.

Curriculum Components

The Master of Science in Nursing Program includes four required components:

1. Nursing science core courses;
2. Family nursing theory courses;
3. Advance practice (CNS or FNP) clinical courses;
4. A culminating experience thesis.

The curriculum reflects collaboration with other master's programs in nursing in Minnesota. Students access courses and learning experiences using a variety of distance education strategies including synchronous and asynchronous on-line web based courses. Students select specific clinical populations and create various combinations of advanced practice role focused learning experiences.

Progression

All students must complete the program within six years of taking the first course which they apply to their graduate degree program. Students may progress either full time (9-11 credits per semester) or part time (4-10 credits per semester). Full time students may complete the CNS or FNP options in four semesters and one or two summers. The part time plan includes a minimum of six semesters and one or two summer sessions.

Nondegree status

Nursing science core courses are open to nondegree seeking students on a space available basis by permission of the professor and the director of the graduate program. Interested students apply for nondegree status through the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Accreditation

For further information about accreditation, contact: NLNAC, 61 Broadway, New York, NY, 212-363-5555

Financial Assistance

Minnesota State University, Mankato offers numerous sources of financial assistance. Graduate assistantships provide part-time, academically-related employment to eligible graduate students. These carry stipends up to $8,000, with maximum of nine credits per semester of resident graduate tuition, and resident rates for nonresident students. Federal Nurse Education Traineeships are available to students who commit to completing at least 6 credits each semester of the academic year. The award amount is determined by the amount of funding received annually. Other funding is available through national, state and local public and private sources.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of ten semester hours of graduate credit, all of which must be related to the program (with a grade of "B" or better), may be transferred from other appropriately accredited colleges or universities. With adequate pre-planning, a maximum of 16 semester hours of appropriate graduate credit may be transferred from other Minnesota State Universities (Bemidji, Metropolitan, Moorhead, Southwest, St. Cloud, Winona) and applied to a program at MSU.

Nursing, MSN

Curriculum Components

The Graduate Programs model is comprised of three areas: 1) the nursing science component; 2) the advanced practice component; and 3) supportive fields. Full time and part time plans of study are available for all programs.

I. Nursing Science Component Courses
NURS 601(3)^ Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
NURS 602 (2)^ Ethical Dimensions of Nursing
NURS 604(3)^ Knowledge Development and Utilization
NURS 640(2) Family Nursing
NURS 620(3) Processes Influencing the Human Health Experience
NURS 621(3) Human Health Experiences
NURS 622(3) Nursing Actions
NURS 699 (3-4) Thesis

II. Advanced Practice Component Courses
NURS 603(3)^ Advanced Practice Roles
NURS 606(2)^ Social Space of Nursing
NURS 636(3) Teaching in a Practice Discipline I
NURS 637(3) Practicum in Didactic Teaching
NURS 638(3) Teaching in a Practice Discipline II
NURS 639(3) Practicum in Clinical Teaching
NURS 641(2) Adult Health
NURS 642(2) Child and Adolescent Health
NURS 643(2) Reproductive Health
NURS 644(2) Older Adult Health
NURS 645(4) Advanced Practice I FNP
NURS 646(4) Advanced Practice II FNP
NURS 647(4) Advanced Practice III FNP
NURS 660(3) Organizational and Systems Leadership
NURS 661(3) Advanced Practice I CNS
NURS 648(3) Advanced Practice II CNS
NURS 649(3) Advanced Practice III CNS

III. Supportive Fields Courses
HLTH 575(3) Biostatistics (or equivalent)
KSP 676(3) Adult Development and Learning
KSP 678(3) Curriculum Design, Assessment and Evaluation
NURS 552(3) Advanced Health Assessment
NURS 553(3)^ Advanced Pharmacology
NURS 554(3)^ Advanced Pathophysiology

^Courses which are available to non-degree seeking students.

Capstone Experience:
All students complete the graduate thesis (NURS 699: Thesis) and a final clinical practicum as the capstone experience in all programs as measures of Curriculum Outcome achievement.

MS: Nurse Educator

The nurse educator (NE) program and post-master’s certificate program is dedicated to developing nurse educators who advance nursing clinical practice, education and research in academic and practice settings. Graduates are eligible for national certification as academic nurse educators through the National League for Nursing. The MS is the minimum degree of preparation appropriate for the clinical nursing faculty member in academic and practice settings. The NE MS Program consists of:

Nursing Science Component: NURS 601(3), NURS 602(2), NURS 604(3), NURS 620(3), NURS 621(3), NURS 622(3), NURS 640(2) NURS 699(4)
Advanced Practice Component: NURS 603(3), NURS 606(3), NURS 636*(3), NURS 637*(3), NURS 638*(3), NURS 639*(3)
Supportive Fields Component: HLTH 575(3) or equivalent, KSP 676*(4), KSP 678*(4)
Total Credits: 52 (360 clinical hours)

Courses marked with an asterisk are included in the Post-Nursing Master's Certificate Program: Nurse Educator. Students completing this certificate option will have completed the following graduate courses in their original nursing master's program or the equivalent prior to admission or during the course of stud at Minnesota State Mankato:

NURS 601 (3) Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
NURS 602 (2) Ethical Dimensions of Nursing
NURS 603 (3) Advanced Practice Roles
NURS 604 (3) Knowledge Development in Nursing
NURS 620 (3) Processes Influencing the Human Health Experience
NURS 621 (3) Human Health Experiences
NURS 622 (3) Nursing Actions
NURS 640 (2) Family Nursing
NURS 699 (4) Thesis

Master of Science in Nursing: Clinical Nurse Specialist

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) program and post-master’s certificate program is dedicated to developing CNSs who advance nursing clinical practice, education and research in practice settings. Graduates are eligible for national certification as clinical nurse specialists to practice with a specialty population. CNSs possess advanced knowledge of the science of nursing with a specialty focus and apply that knowledge to nursing assessments, diagnoses, and interventions and the design of innovation (American Nurses Association, 2004). The CNS program consists of:

Nursing Science Component: NURS 601(3), NURS 602(2), NURS 604(3), NURS 620*(3), NURS 640*(2), NURS 699(3)
Advanced Practice Component: NURS 603(3), NURS 606(2), NURS 660*(3), NURS 661*(3), NURS 648*(3), NURS 649*(3), and choice of either NURS 641*(2), NURS 642*(2), NURS 643*(2), or NURS 644* (2)
Supportive Fields Component: HLTH 575(3) or equivalent, NURS 552*(3), NURS 553*(3), NURS 554*(3)
Total Credits: 47 (500 clinical hours)

The Post-Master's Nursing Certificate: Clinical Nurse Specialist certificate program provides nurses that already have a master's degree preparation an another area of nursing the opportunity to complete courses necessary to seek national certification and practice as a clinical nurse specialist. Courses marked with an asterisk above are included in the post-master's certificate program. Students successfully completing the Post-Nursing Master's CNS Certificate are expected to have completed the following graduate courses in their original nursing master's program or the equivalent prior to admission or during their course of study at Minnesota State Mankato:

A graduate level statistics course plus
NURS 601 (3) Theoretical Foundations for Nursing
NURS 602 (3) Ethical Dimensions of Nursing
NURS 603 (3) Advanced Practice Roles
NURS 604 (3) Knowledge Development and Utilization
NURS 606 (3) Social Space of Nursing
NURS 699 (4) Thesis

Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) program and post-master’s certificate program is dedicated to developing FNPs who advance nursing clinical practice, education and research in practice settings. Graduates are eligible for national certification as family nurse practitioners and are prepared to practice in acute care and community settings with a focus on primary care of individuals across the life span and their families. The FNP Program consists of:

Nursing Science Component: NURS 601(3), NURS 602(2), NURS 604(3), NURS 620(3), NURS 640*(2), NURS 699(3)
Advanced Practice Component: NURS 603(3), NURS 606(2), NURS 641*(2), NURS 642*(2), NURS 643*(2), NURS 644*(2), NURS 645*(4), NURS 646*(4), NURS 647*(4)
Supportive Fields Component: HLTH 575(3) or equivalent, NURS 552*(3), NURS 553*(3), NURS 554*(3)
Total Credits: 53 (600 clinical hours)

The Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program provides nurses that already have a master's degree preparation in another area of nursing the opportunity to complete courses necessary to seek national certification and practice as a family nurse practitioner. Courses marked with an asterisk above are included in the certificate program. Students completing the Post-Nursing Master's FNP Certificate program are also expected to have completed the following graduate courses in their original nursing master's program or the equivalent prior to admission or during their course of study at Minnesota State Mankato:

A graduate level statistics course plus
NURS 601 (3) Theoretical Foundations for Nursing
NURS 602 (3) Ethical Dimensions of Nursing
NURS 603 (3) Advanced Practice Roles
NURS 604 (3) Knowledge Development and Utilization
NURS 606 (3) Social Space of Nursing
NURS 620 (3) Processes Influencing the Health Experience
NURS 699 (4) Thesis

The DNP Program

The DNP is offered as a collaborative program through a Consortium of four universities: Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Winona State University; and Metropolitan State University. This new degree program is for nurses with a master’s degree in nursing who wish to gain the advanced clinical, organizational, economic, and leadership competencies necessary in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.

Graduates Minnesota State University, Mankato’s DNP program will be able to influence health care in many ways by:
• Providing leadership on the front lines of their profession.
• Evaluating clinical outcomes more effectively through the use of evidence-based practice tools.
• Identifying and managing the health care needs of special populations.
• Using technology and information to transform health care systems.

Applicants

Candidates for the new DNP program hold a master’s degree in nursing. They may currently serve in advanced nursing positions including those of nurse executive, nurse informatician, nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist and nurse practitioner

Admissions

Applicants will indicate their preference for one of the four Consortium universities to be their “home institution.” Efforts will be made to place students at their first choice university. Students from all four universities will progress together as a cohort.

Curriculum
The DNP program curriculum is structured around the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education. Course content builds upon the master’s degree and consists of a minimum of 36 credits. Five semesters of doctoral didactic and clinical coursework culminates in completion of an evidence-based clinical capstone project. Throughout the course sequence, students will work with clinical experts and graduate faculty with expertise in applied research. A variety of teaching and learning approaches, primarily distance learning modalities, will be used.

 

Course Descriptions

NURS 552 (3) Advanced Health Assessment

This course offers theoretical and simulated clinical practice to develop advanced skills in health and physical assessment throughout the life span. Students complete a client data base and identify nursing problems necessary in making clinical judgments and planning and caring for the health care needs of individual clients.

NURS 553 (3) Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing

Course content begins with legal and ethical considerations for nurse prescribers, proceeds with presentation and analysis of core decision-making processes and advanced practices nurses use to select drugs, and finally explores clinical case management concepts involved in monitoring persons as they use prescribed drugs.

NURS 554 (3) Advanced Pathophysiology

This course provides a foundation in advanced physiology and pathophysiology at the cellular, organic and systemic level. This foundation serves as a basis for clinical assessment and management by advanced practice nurses. Key concepts and integration of function among systems will be emphasized. The impact of psychosocial variables on physiologic function will be explored.

NURS 590 (1-3) Workshop

Workshop(s) with various topics and titles.

NURS 601 (3) Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

Theoretical formulations that inform nursing practice are examined and evaluated. Paradigmatic perspectives and their relationships with models of practice are explored. Selected concepts and middle-range theories are analyzed and their implications for practice are discussed.

(Prerequisite or co-requisite: upper division undergraduate Statistics or graduate level Statistics/Biostatistics)

NURS 602 (2) Ethical Dimensions of Nursing

The ethics of caring, social justice, and advocacy within the nurse-client relationship are evaluated. Emphasis is on inquiry into ethical ways of knowing and practicing in nursing. Ethical issues in contemporary nursing are analyzed.

NURS 603 (3) Advanced Practice Roles

Core aspects of advanced practice nursing are investigated. Emphasis is on analyzing the competencies, roles and issues facing advanced practice nurses. Students explore negotiation of advanced practice roles within practice and academic milieus.

(Prerequisite: core courses or permission of faculty)

NURS 604 (3) Knowledge Development in Nursing

The role of research and its application, utilization and integration in nursing practice is examined. Research approaches, designs and methods are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on development of analytic skills for reading and applying research in advanced practice roles.

NURS 605 (2) Health Policy & Nursing

The purpose of this course is for students to appreciate the impact of public policy and legislation on health care systems and the leadership role of advanced practice nurses in shaping health policy and legislation supportive of health in the United States of America.

NURS 606 (2) Social Space of Nursing

The influences of social, economic, political, cultural, organizational and interpersonal milieus on nursing are examined.

NURS 610 (2) Foundation & Philosophy of Holism & Healing

NURS 611 (2) Integrative Health I: Mind, Body, Spirit

NURS 612 (2) Integrative Health II: Mind, Body, Spirit

NURS 613 (2) Integrative Health Domain: Mind

NURS 614 (2) Integrative Health Domain: Body

NURS 615 (2) Integrative Health Domain: Spirit

NURS 620 (3) Processes Influencing the Human Health Experience

Middle-range theories that describe and explain the development of health-related behaviors are analyzed. Focus is on how multiple environments influence the development of health-related perceptions and behaviors of individuals, families and groups.

NURS 621 (3) Human Health Experiences

Affective, cognitive, physical, and social experiences of persons, families, and groups are explored. Focus is on middle-range theories that describe and explain common phenomena of concern to nursing.

NURS 622 (3) Nursing Actions

Middle-range theories that prescribe nursing actions to facilitate health throughout the life span are analyzed. Emphasis is on intervention models and modalities used with persons, families, and groups.

NURS 728 (4) Gender Specific Health Care: Theory, Research, and Practice

This course allows continuing enrollment in the Consortium DNP program to complete the capstone project. It continues registration after completion of all other course requirements and may not be used to meet any other program or graduation requirement.

NURS 631 (2-5) Advanced Practice: Clinical Teaching

Provides a focus on educational needs of nursing students as well as family clients. Classroom and clinical teaching experiences provide mentored practice in development and application of learning assessments, teaching strategies, and evaluation measures. Prerequisite: core courses, NURS 603, or permission of faculty

NURS 632 (2-5) Advanced Practice: Clinical Management

Students have the opportunity to focus on leadership/management issues and strategies related to clinical practice, as well as cost-effective delivery of client care in today's and tomorrow's health care system. Students will establish a mentor relationship with an experienced nurse manager or administrator.

Prerequisite: one or two leadership/management courses of the student's choice, NURS 603, permission of faculty

NURS 636 (3) Teaching in a Practice Discipline I

The practice of teaching in the context of nursing education is analyzed, with a focus on teaching-learning pedagogies, curriculum development and evaluation.

NURS 637 (3) Practicum in Didactic Teaching

Guided experience in the practice of teaching nursing in structured settings. Focus is on implementation of effective, innovative, learner-centered pedagogies and on cultivation of the educator role in field experiences and seminars. (180 hours: 15 hours seminar + 120 clinical hours) Pre or Co-requisite: NURS 636

NURS 638 (3) Teaching in a Practice Discipline II

Course emphasis is on approaches to teaching and learning, assessment, and evaluation of students in the clinical setting. Roles and responsibilities of nurse educators within a clinical setting are examined.

NURS 639 (3) Practicum in Clinical Teaching

Guided experience in the practice of teaching nursing in clinical settings. Teaching strategies appropriate to clinical content, teacher attributes and desired learner outcomes are emphasized in field experiences and seminars.

NURS 640 (2) Family Nursing

Family nursing models and middle-range theories are analyzed and their implications for practice models are discussed. Approaches to assessment of family as context and family as a unit of care are analyzed. Family-nurse interpersonal processes are explored.

NURS 641 (2) Adult and Older Adult Health I

Focuses on health promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health for adults and older adults. Emphasizes development of diagnostic, prescriptive, and management skills related to selected health problems to facilitate clinical decision making and delivery of advanced practice nursing.

NURS 642 (2) Older Adult Health Adult and Older Adult Health II

Focuses on health promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health for adults and older adults. Emphasizes development of diagnostic, prescriptive, and management skills related to selected health problems to facilitate clinical decision making and delivery of advanced practice nursing.

NURS 643 (2) Reproductive Health

Theoretical concepts, assessments and intervention strategies related to women's health critiqued; health promotion/protection and management of selected acute and chronic reproductive health issues of culturally diverse person addressed; reproductive health care delivery system, ethics, health policy, and research issues explored. Pre or co-requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 603, 606, 620, 641, 642 or professor consent.

NURS 644 (2) Older Adult Health

Focuses on promoting, maintaining, and restoring the health of older adults across various health care settings. Emphasizes development of clinical expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and management of pathophysiologic and family alterations common to the older adult population. Pre or co-requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 603, 606, or professor consent

NURS 645 (4) Advanced Practice I

Students contract with a master's prepared certified family or specialty nurse practitioner or family practice physician, who serves as a mentor/preceptor during the clinical experience. Pre or co-requisite: 641 and current CPR certification or professor consent.

NURS 646 (4) Advanced Practice II

Students contract with a master's prepared certified family or specialty nurse practitioner or family practice or specialty physician, who serves as a mentor/preceptor during the clinical experience. Pre or co-requisite: 641, 642, and 643 or professor consent.

NURS 647 (4) Advanced Practice III

Students contract with a master's prepared certified family nurse practitioner or family practice physician, who serves as a mentor/preceptor during the clinical experience. Pre or co-requisite: 641, 645, and 646 or professor consent.

NURS 648 (3) Advanced Practice II CNS

Competencies expected of the clinical nurse specialist are presented. Professional attributes, leadership, collaboration, and consultation within the nursing personnel sphere of influences are addressed and experiences using these skills are included in the 200 hour clinical accompanying this course. Pre or co-requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 603, 606, 640, and current CPR certification or professor consent.

NURS 649 (3) Advanced Practice III CNS

Development of CNS competencies continues in this course with particular focus on the skills necessary for advanced nursing practice within the organization/network sphere of influence. The 200-hour clinical is designed to use these skills in facilitation of system change. Pre or co-requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 603, 606, 640, and current CPR certification or professor consent.

NURS 650 (1) The Reflective Clinician

NURS 651 (2) Health Promotion and Illness Prevention: Nursing

The course is designed for post-baccalaureate nurses seeking a health promotion-disease prevention emphasis in their nursing practice. Concept of health is explored. Theories and models of disease prevention and health promotion are described, analyzed and applied to research and nursing practice. Elective.

NURS 654 (2) Chronic Illness: Nursing Interventions

This course is designed of post-baccalaureate nurses in all settings who desire advanced nursing care knowledge in order to work with individuals and families with chronic illness. Topics explored are chronic illness, inherent stressors, current research, nursing management, program, organizations, policy, and care delivery issues. Elective.

NURS 660 (3) Organizational and Systems Leadership

Organizational and systems leadership skills critical for improvement of clinical care and health care outcomes are evaluated. The focus is on legal and business realities of leading health care systems, including individual organizations and large systems.

NURS 661 (3) Advanced Practice CNS I

Clinical experience contracted with a clinical nurse specialist who serves as a mentor/preceptor. The focus of the 100-hour clinical is the client/patient sphere of influence. Pre or co-requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 553, 554, 603, 620, 640, and current CPR certification or professor consent 3

NURS 677 (1-5) Individual Study

Course provides students with opportunity to investigate a problem or question related to an area of nursing practice. Students work with a nursing faculty advisor in writing the project and preparing to disseminate results of the project.

NURS 699 (1-4) Thesis

Course provides students with the opportunity to focus on a research problem that is related to their area of nursing practice. Students work with a nursing faculty advisor (committee chairperson) in developing the thesis proposal, writing the thesis, and preparing to disseminate the results of the study. With the advisor's approval*, the thesis is submitted for oral defense as part of the requirements for the MSN degree. (*This option is for students admitted to the MSN program prior to fall 2001.)

NURS 700 (4) Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Practice

This course focuses on theoretical perspectives and foundations for inquiry in the discipline. The structure of nursing knowledge (phenomena, concepts, and theories) will be evaluated for its relationship to practice. The interrelationship of theory, research, and practice will be analyzed.

NURS 701 (4) Applied Biostatistics

The goals of this course are to develop statistical skills necessary to evaluate critically biomedical research using advanced quantitative methods, to identify appropriate techniques for interpretation of results of independent research, and for presentation of results to improve clinical practice.

NURS 702 (4) Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Advanced Nursing

This course focuses on the conduct of clinical scholarship. Content includes transformational research approaches and evidence-based practice processes, including epidemiological methods. Evaluation methods of clinical practice change outcomes on individuals, groups, populations, and systems are addressed.

NURS 704 (4) Clinical Prevention and Population Health

The conceptual foundations of culturally sensitive clinical prevention and population health in advanced nursing practice will be evaluated. A global perspective to clinical prevention and population health that bridges illness and preventive care models will be investigated and designed.

NURS 706 (4) Organizational and Systems Leadership

Organizational and systems leadership skills critical for culturally sensitive nursing practice to improve health care and outcomes are enhanced. Focus is on transformational leadership, measurement of outcomes, data driven decision-making, and the business realities of leading within health care.

NURS 728 (4) Gender Specific Health Care: Theory, Research, and Practice

This course focuses on the theoretical and research based differences between men and women’s physiological function and experience of the same diseases within the context of culturally defined gender roles. Examination of large databases will build on existing knowledge.

NURS 740 (3) Clinical Scholarship I

This clinical seminar focuses on collaboration of interprofessional teams and the roles of advanced practice nurses within this collaboration. Development of a framework for identifying, implementing, and evaluating a collaborative effort is emphasized. Prereq: NURS 700 and 702, HLTH 702

NURS 750 (3) Clinical Scholarship II

Develop, implement, and evaluate culturally-sensitive approaches to improve health status/access patterns and/or address gaps in care of populations within a community of focus whether locally, nationally, or globally. Prereq: NURS 700, 702, , 704, 740, HLTH 702

NURS 760 (3) Clinical Scholarship III

This course focuses on development of consultative and leadership strategies for use in implementing a clinical practice approach to a clinical nursing practice problem. The inter-professional context along with various information technologies and information systems will be considered. Prereq: NURS 700, 702, 704, 740, 750, HLTH 702

NURS 770 (3) Clinical Scholarship IV: Capstone

This seminar and practicum focuses on accountability for advancing the nursing profession and contributing to the developing body of nursing practice knowledge. Addresses advocacy at all levels of policy implementation. Culminates in a successful oral defense of the capstone project. Prereq: NURS 700, 702, 704, 706, 740, 750, 760.

NURS 798 1 Continuing Registration

This course allows continuing enrollment in the Consortium DNP program to complete the capstone project. It continues registration after completion of all other course requirements and may not be used to meet any other program or graduation requirement.