Course Descriptions

GNUR 551 - (3) (SS)
Advanced Health Assessment
Prerequisites: GNUR 584, basic health assessment skills, permission of instructor
Provides the nurse practitioner student with advanced knowledge and health assessment skills used in the primary care setting. Focus is on acquisition, analysis and refinement of health assessment data as a basis for the development of an accurate data base and problem list. Common normal variations and abnormalities characteristic of different developmental, cultural, and ethnic groups are considered. The laboratory portion allows the student to practice advanced assessment skills in a physical assessment laboratory. The course culminates with the student performing a comprehensive history and physical examination.

GNUR 560 - (1-3) (IR)
Special Topics
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Selected areas of interest are studied under faculty guidance.

GNUR 564 - (2) (Y)
Nutrition in Health Promotion
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
A required course in the primary care nurse practitioner program which focuses on up-to-date information on nutrition. Provides nurse practitioners with essential knowledge for educating individuals and groups, of all ages, about sound nutritional practices.

GNUR 566 - (3) (SS)
Primary Care Seminar I
Prerequisites: GNUR 550, GNUR 551, GNUR 564, GNUR 580, GNUR 582, GNUR 584, GNUR 590, GNUR 702, GNUR 707
Focuses on (1) health promotion, health maintenance and disease prevention for infants, children, adolescents and their families, (2) nursing and medical management of common childhood illnesses, and (3) reproductive health and sexuality including common health concerns. Emphasis is also given to issues in primary care and advanced practice role development.

GNUR 567 - (3) (Y)
Primary Care Seminar II
Prerequisites: GNUR 566, GNUR 568
Prevention and management of common acute health problems in selected populations. The role of the nurse practitioner in primary health care is further explored. Models of collaboration, consultation and referral are critically analyzed.

GNUR 568 - (2) (SS)
Primary Care Preceptorship I
Prerequisites: GNUR 550, GNUR 551, GNUR 564, GNUR 580, GNUR 582, GNUR 590, GNUR 702, GNUR 707, and concurrent with GNUR 566
Emphasizes the application of didactic content covered in Primary Care Seminar I. Experiences are provided in health promotion, problem identification and nursing of medical management of common health problems as well as client/family counseling. Emphasizes culturally competent health care within a developmental framework. The clinical experiences foster identification and beginning development of the nurse practitioner role. Direct guidance and supervision is provided by nurse practitioner and/or physician preceptors under the overall direction of the faculty. A minimum of 112 clinical hours is required.

GNUR 569 - (4) (Y)
Primary Care Preceptorship II
Prerequisite: GNUR 566, GNUR 568, and concurrent with GNUR 567
Builds on the basic concepts, principles and skills used by nurse practitioners in the delivery of primary health care including health promotion and risk reduction, and the identification and management of a broader range of common acute health problems. Students continue to refine their assessment, management, and counseling skills in more complex situations. Role integration continues. Direct guidance and supervision is provided by the physicians and nurse practitioners at the clinical sites under the overall direction of the faculty. A minimum of 224 clincal hours is required.

GNUR 570 - (3) (Y)
Primary Care Seminar III
Prerequisites: GNUR 566, GNUR 567, GNUR 569, and concurrent with GNUR 571
The management of chronic illnesses as well as health maintenance and rehabilitation are emphasized.

GNUR 571 - (6) (Y)
Primary Care Preceptorship III
Prerequisites: GNUR 568, GNUR 569, and concurrent with GNUR 570
A culminating experience in which practitioner students continue to develop the knowledge and expertise required to provide primary health care to clients, families and communities. Students will continue to increase their levels of responsibility for independent client and family management. Role integration and issues affecting practice continue to be explored with emphasis on legal/ethical issues and establishing practice arrangements. Direct guidance and supervision is provided at the clinical sites by physician and nurse preceptors under the overall guidance of the faculty. A minimum of 336 clinical hours is required.

GNUR 572 - (1) (Y)
Collaborative Role Development/Multidisciplinary Practice
Prerequisites: Concurrent with preceptorships in nurse practitioner tracks or permission of instructor
Presents conceptual models of collaborative practice, facilitators of and barriers to effective collaboration, and positive outcomes of multidisciplinary practice. Nurse practitioners from the University and community discuss their role development within this framework

GNUR 580 - (3) (S)
Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
This core course is focused on advances in developing a specialized body of nursing knowledge and related theoretical constructs. Special emphasis is placed on identification of phenomena arising from the student's own professional practice in direct nursing care. The role of perspective, concept formation and phenomena identification in theory development is studied. Analysis and critique of nursing literature and selected theoretical works is conducted.

GNUR 582 - (3) (SS)
Research Processes for Health Care Practitioners
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Stastics course, Graduate standing or permission of instructor
A core course for master's degree students which provides an orientation and introduction to the methods of nursing and health care research. The course provides a foundation for informed reading and application of research findings, methods, and analytical tools. Major emphasis is placed on reading and critiquing the research literature.

GNUR 584 - (4) (Y)
Pathophysiology
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Selected physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms in health and disease.

GNUR 585 - (3) (S)
Epidemiology and Population-based Assessment
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Focuses on the distribution of health-related conditions in human populations and on factors influencing the distribution. Students are presented with epidemiologic methods used in investigating such conditions and factors in order to study, control and prevent disease. Emphasis is on community health applications of methods to improve health care service delivery and, ultimately, health.

GNUR 590 - (3) (Y-SS)
Health Policy and Issues
Provides an overview of policy decisions related to the organization, financing and delivery of health care. Social, ethical, political, economic, and ideological forces shaping American health policy and the delivery of health care are examined. The roles and influence of providers and consumers of health care services, as well as government, corporate, and entrepreneurial interests are examined. Emphasis is on informed participation in policy-making processes and the impact of health policy on professional practice and health service.

GNUR 700 - (3) (Y)
Community Assessment
Prerequisite or corequisite: GNUR 585 or permission of instructor
Focuses on the health of communities and the process of assessment. Analysis of theoretical frameworks, assessment models, health care delivery systems, and special population groups as they relate to current health issues are emphasized.

GNUR 702 - (3) (S)
Family Health Promotion
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Focuses on the assessment of families in health and illness across the lifespan. Selected theoretical models are used as a basis for developing an understanding of specific content and process of assessment of the family unit. Theoretical foundations of family health promotion are examined. Emphasis is on the use of existing knowledge to guide advanced nursing practice for the promotion of family health.

GNUR 707 - (2-3) (SS)
Introduction of Health Informatics
Prerequisites: Basic competence in word processing, electronic mail, spreadsheets, graphics, and library information systems
Explores the nature and functions of health informatics, the current state of the science, present and future applications, and major issues for research and development. Each student investigates a selected topic in health care delivery or management from the perspective of information science, describes the degree to which current information technology meets identified needs, and proposes directions for further development. Learning methods include readings, seminars, electronic communications, composition of a term paper, and oral and visual presentation. Students who enroll in the course for three credits receive more in-depth instruction on the topics.

GNUR 721 - (3) (Y)
Care Management in Community and Home Health
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Focuses on the knowledge and skills essential for care management for individuals, families and groups. Advanced clinical practice in community and home health is provided through selected experiences in care management as clients move through the health care system. This required course for Community and Home Health Care students may be taken as an elective by other graduate nursing students.

GNUR 722 - (3) (Y)
Community and Home Health Care Systems
Prerequisite: GNUR 700
Focuses on management and leadership strategies for community and home health care systems. The context and content of community and home health care systems are explored. Emphasis is on concepts and theories germane to planning, implementing, and evaluating programs to meet the health and care needs of communities. This required course for Community and Home Health Care students may be taken as an elective by other graduate nursing students.

GNUR 723 - (3) (Y)
Community and Home Health Practicum I
Prerequisites or corequisites: GNUR 585, GNUR 721, GNUR 722
Focuses on the application of specialized knowledge and the development of skills inherent in advanced community and home health nursing practice. Assessments and interventions targeted at the individual, family, group and/or community/organizational levels are stressed. Community and home health nursing interventions are designed in partnership to be consistent with the beliefs and values of the individual, family, group and community.

GNUR 724 - (3) (SS)
Community and Home Health Practicum II
Prerequisite: GNUR 723
Focuses on the continuing synthesis and application of knowledge from preceding courses. Emphasis is on further development of nursing care management and/or evaluation plans at the individual, family, group or community/organizational level.

GNUR 730 - (3) (Y)
Adult Health Nursing Seminar I
Prerequisite or concurrent: GNUR 580 and GNUR 584
A course which emphasizes analysis and refinement of decision-making skills for use in advanced practice nursing. Common client problems with chronic and selective acute illness in adults are examined with an emphasis on the caring process, advanced nurse diagnosis and prescription.

GNUR 731 - (3) (Y)
Adult Health Nursing Seminar II
Prerequisites or corequisites: GNUR 580, GNUR 582, GNUR 584, GNUR 730
Second of two seminars to develop knowledge and critical thinking for advanced practice roles. Focus is on critical analysis of literature relevant to nursing interventions and outcomes used with adults with acute and chronic illnesses.

GNUR 732 - (3) (Y)
Adult Health Nursing Practicum I
Prerequisites: GNUR 580, GNUR 584, GNUR 730 or permission of instructor
First of two practica with emphasis on performing in the advanced practice roles of clinician and researcher. Students work with preceptors in one or more clinical settings.

GNUR 733 - (3) (SS)
Adult Health Nursing Practicum II
Prerequisites: GNUR 730, GNUR 731, GNUR 732 or permission of instructor
Emphasis is on the advanced roles of clinical educator, consultant and manager/case manager. Faculty and clinical preceptors and faculty guide students in application of legal, organizational, educational and consultative principles.

GNUR 736 - (3) (Y)
Critical Care Practicum I
Prerequisites: GNUR 580, GNUR 584, GNUR 734 or permission of instructor
The first of two practicums emphasizing development of the advanced practice role in critical care including the five components of the role: expert clinician in critical care, consultant, researcher, teacher, and manager. Competence in the assessment, analysis and interpretation of critically ill patients' data, and management of nursing problems in selected critical care settings receive emphasis. Students will be expected to use rapid bedside assessment skills and their knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms in the diagnosis and management of patient problems.

GNUR 737 - (3) (SS)
Critical Care Practicum II
Prerequisite: GNUR 580, GNUR 584, GNUR 734, GNUR 735, GNUR 736, or permission of instructor
The practicum emphasizes continued development for the advanced practice role in a critical care setting by providing opportunity for relevant learning experiences appropriate to the five components of the role: expert clinician in critical care, manage, researcher, teacher, and consultant. Role implementation requires the application of knowledge gained in the three earlier specialty courses for the critical care focus.

GNUR 738 - (3) (SS)
Forensic Nursing
Emphasizes the nurse's role in a multidisciplinary approach to prevention of violence and the management of care for those injured through violent acts. Observational and investigational, interviewing, and documentation skills needed for clinical forensic evaluation are addressed.

GNUR 760 - (3) (Y)
Seminar I: Introduction to Clinical Decision Making in Bio-System Dysfunction
Prerequisite: GNUR 584
Through seminar discussions and lecture, students learn to systematically approach complex clinical situations. Content specific to the cardiac, pulmonary, renal, endocrine, neuro and gastrointestinal systems guide students in developing skills in diagnostic, planning and evaluation phases of addressing system failure problems. For each of the systems, emphasis is given to the most frequently occurring risk factors that contribute to the development of the problem/s; the physiologic and pathophysiologic, behavioral and experiential indicators of the problem; therapeutic approaches to problem management; and approaches to evaluate the success of the intervention.

GNUR 761 - (3) (Y)
Seminar II: Problem-Based Clinical Decision-Making in Complex Patients
Prerequisites: GNUR 550, GNUR 760
A case study approach to synthesize pathophysiology, assessment, clinical decision-making, pharmacology, and therapeutics in select complex situations experienced by acutely ill adults.

GNUR 762 - (3) (SS)
Immunocompetence in Vulnerable Populations
In-depth analysis of the immune system and phenomena of concern to nurses who work with immunocompromised individuals. Focus is on the critical thinking and clinical decision-making needed to work with individuals whose immune system is compromised (e.g., cancer, AIDS, transplant patients, septic patients).

GNUR 763 - (3) (Y, SS)
Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship I
Prerequisites: GNUR 760, GNUR 761
Focus is comprehensive management of a caseload of patients within a selected specialty (e.g., oncology, cardiology). Emphasis is on the identification of common patient problems, formulation of management protocols, generation of clinically-based research questions and assessment of outcomes based on specific interventions. Selected practice sites provide an opportunity to observe different care systems and develop clinical leadership strategies in care settings that serve vulnerable populations. Identification of setting-related different role demands and care goals are discussed through case presentations.

GNUR 764 - (3) (Y, SS)
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship II
Prerequisites: GNUR 760, GNUR 761, GNUR 762, GNUR 763
A preceptorship designed to prepare the student to provide acute care to adult vulnerable populations. Emphasis is on defining a model of advanced clinical practice nursing in acute care settings and provides longitudinal experience in acute care management of select adult clients in collaboration with other health care professionals. Clinical experiences include management of common problems and selected diseases of targeted vulnerable adult populations.

GNUR 765 - (3) (Y, SS)
Acute Care Nursing Practitioner Preceptorship III
Prerequisites: GNUR 763, GNUR 764
A culminating clinical experience in the role of ACNP with emphasis on clinical decision making in an interprofessional environment specific to the career goals and specialty interest of the student.

GNUR 770 - (3) (Y)
Biological Basis of Mental Health and Mental Illness
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Explores the biological correlates of psychiatric illnesses and to examine neurostructural, neurochemical, psychopharmacologic processes relevant to psychiatric illnesses.

GNUR 771 - (3) (Y)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Seminar
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Provides a foundation for advanced psychiatric nursing practice based on a biopsychosocial model of mental health and illness. Emphasis is on individuals who have moderate to severe impairments in emotional and/or behavioral functioning associated with major mental illness.

GNUR 773 - (3) (Y)
Theoretical Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Prerequisites: GNUR 580, GNUR 770, GNUR 771 or permission of instructor
Review of major theoretical approaches to psychotherapy and psychiatric nursing. The course begins with psychoanalysis and proceeds through current "self-help" and social system approaches.

GNUR 774 - (3) (Y)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practicum I
Prerequisites: GNUR 580, GNUR 770, GNUR 771 or permission of instructor
Develops clinical competence in assessment of psychiatric patients and in the establishment of therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients. The course treats utilization of tools assessing milieu, patient symptoms, progress in therapy, patient-nurse interaction, family structure and process, group process, and community placement feasibility. A minimum of 144 clinical hours is required.

GNUR 775 - (3) (SS)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Practicum II
Prerequisites: GNUR 773, GNUR 774 or permission of instructor
Develops advanced clinical competence in selected areas of mental health-psychiatric nursing. A minimum of 144 clinical hours is required.

GNUR 780 - (3) (Y)
Organization Theory and Administrative Practice
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
Employs selected theories and research findings from nursing, management, and other disciplines as a basis for understanding administrative practice within a variety of health care organizations. The influence of organizational structures, processes, and cultures on the design and management of service delivery is examined. Organizational designs that promote quality care and professional practice environments are emphasized.

GNUR 782/4 - (3/3) (Y-SS)
Administrative Practicum I/II
Prerequisite: GNUR 780, GNUR 781; admission to M.S.N./M.B.A. program or Health Systems Management track within the Master of Science in Nursing program
Students integrate and apply administrative and management theory during a 15 week practicum experience. Students participate in the planning, operation, and evaluation of a component of the health care system while working closely with a health care leader who serves as their preceptor. Field experiences are analyzed by the student with input and consultation with peers, health care leaders, and faculty.

GNUR 783 - (3) (Y)
Health Economics
Presents the fundamentals of health economic theory. Includes basic economic concepts such as theory of markets, production, and supply and demand as applied within the context of the current health care environment. Emphasis on identifying factors most influential in shaping the health care environment of the future. Specific issues examined include: supply and demand of nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals; determinants of trends in health care costs; indigent care; and reimbursement policies including Medicare, Medicaid, HMO's, PPO's, and National Health Insurance with implications for both organizational and individual providers. Emphasis on the use of cost-effective analysis within the health economic policy decision-making process.

GNUR 791 - (3) (Y-SS)
Resource Management I
Prerequisite: Graduate student or permission of instructor
Emphasizes the management of human and financial resources as a central focus of the nurse manager role. An overview of leadership and management theories and processes and their implications for nurse managers in a variety of settings is provided. Introductory cost accounting concepts and methods, including their application to budgeting are presented. Finally, nurse manager role responsibilities associated with information, quality/risk, and change management are discussed.

GNUR 793 - (1-3) (Y-SS)
Independent Master's Study
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Individually planned study in selected areas: nursing specialty, administration, education, or research.

GNUR 794 - (2-3) (Y-SS)
Independent Practicum
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Independent practicum to be established in selected areas.

GNUR 800 - (3) (O)
History of American Health Care Professions and Institutions 1850-1970
Prerequisite: Doctoral standing or permission of instructor
Broadens and then refines through historical analysis, the student's view and understanding of the forces that shaped the current health care system. To accomplish this task, three major subjects are explored including: (1) the role that historical inquiry and analysis play in understanding the evolution and status of the health care system; (2) the development of the health professions (nursing and medicine) and institutions (hospitals and public health services); (3) the interplay of the intellectual, social, economic, and political events that shaped the current health system.

GNUR 814 - (3) (E)
Scientific Progress in Nursing
Prerequisites: GNUR 582, or equivalent master's-level nursing research course
Through directed readings and seminars in selected topical areas, students develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the historical evolution of nursing's substantive research knowledge and the current state of the science in the selected areas. These topical areas are broadly defined as Individual Responses to Health and Illness, Family Responses to Health and Illness, Environmental Influences on Health, and Therapeutic Interventions. In addition, students become acquainted with exemplary research programs, analyze and synthesize relevant literature, and develop a plan of studies to prepare them for a research career in the selected area.

GNUR 815 - (3) (E)
Philosophy of Science and Development of Nursing Knowledge
Examines various philosophies of science as they have evolved over time and explores their ontological and epistemological implications for the development of nursing knowledge. Extant programs of research in nursing are critically analyzed to determine the philosophical traditions from which they arise and the consequences of those philosophical traditions for the kinds and the extent of the knowledge produced by those research programs.

GNUR 820 - (3) (E)
Research Methods
Prerequisite: GNUR 582 or equivalent master's-level nursing research course
Builds on master's-level competencies in research methods to provide an in-depth exploration of scientific methods of testing the effectiveness of nursing interventions. Students learn to design experiments and quasi-experiments suitable to the intervention to be tested, the population, and the clinical or other circumstances. They increase knowledge and skills regarding issues of design sensitivity and power, such as sampling, sample size, and measurement. Students integrate into all aspects of research consideration of ethical issues, including protection of human subjects, animal welfare, and scientific integrity.

GNUR 821 - (3) (E)
Statistical Methods for Health Care Research I
Prerequisites: GNUR 820, or permission of instructor
An introductory overview of data analysis for nursing research. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be treated with attention to the application and choice of particular statistical tests. Statistical problems and issues relevant to nursing research are emphasized.

GNUR 822 - (3) (E)
Statistical Methods for Health Care Research II
Prerequisites: GNUR 820, GNUR 821, or permission of instructor
An intermediate course on the application of statistical analysis models and procedures to nursing and health research. The focus is on simple and multiple regression, statistical power analysis, analysis of variance models, and quantitative research synthesis; with special attention to the application and choice of particular statistical models and procedures. Statistical problems and issues relevant to nursing research are emphasized.

GNUR 823 - (3) (O)
Statistical Methods for Health Care Research III
Prerequisites: GNUR 821, GNUR 822 or equivalent, and permission of instructor
Focuses upon advanced procedures for data analysis and statistical inference in nursing and health research. Includes the study of major multivariate procedures and their applicability to nursing and health research; and the study of special issues in measurement and statistics often encountered in and specific to nursing and health research. The use of the computer as a facilitative research instrument is emphasized.

GNUR 824 - (3) (O)
Naturalistic and Interpretive Approaches to Nursing Research
Prerequisites: GNUR 820 or permission of instructor
Introduces a variety of qualitative research methods. The epistemological principles that underline interpretive and naturalistic research are discussed as well as techniques for data collection, analysis and control of systematic bias.

GNUR 850 - (3) (SI-SS)
Selected Topics
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
This course allows for advanced level individual study of self-selected topic under the guidance and supervision of a faculty member.

GNUR 860 - (3) (O)
Vulnerability and Resilience Within the Nursing Context
Prerequisites: Doctoral standing or permission of instructor
Examines biological, psychological and social phenomena which contribute to heightened vulnerability, or resiliency in individuals, population subgroups or communities. Emphasis is on a systematic analysis of current research findings which evaluate specific nursing interventions and their outcomes with selected populations.

GNUR 861 - (3) (O)
Health Behavior and Health Promotion Research
Prerequisites: Doctoral standing, GNUR 820, 821, or equivalent
Focuses on conceptual and methodological issues related to health and illness behavior and health promotion research. Through critical analysis of theoretical foundations of health behavior and critique of relevant research, directions for nursing science are explored. Multidisciplinary perspectives and issues related to health and illness behavior are examined for the advancement of health promotion through nursing research.

GNUR 862 - (3) (Y)
Concepts and Methods in Health Services Research
Prerequisites: Doctoral standing and completion of GNUR 820, 821, and 822 or equivalent courses; recommended elective (to be taken previously or concurrently) master's-level health policy course
Builds on knowledge that is essential to conducting health services research including social, economic, ethical, and political uses that influence health policy. Students develop conceptual and methodological competencies related to research on health services organization, financing, and delivery. Evaluation research methods are used to examine the effects of interventions on outcomes such as quality and cost. The role of databases and health informatics in service research is articulated.

GNUR 875 - (3) (Y)
Mentored Study: Synthesis of Focal Knowledge
Prerequisites: GNUR 860, 861, 862 and permission of instructor
To be taken near the end of course work, this guided study gives students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member expert in the area of a student's research interest to synthesize knowledge relevant to the dissertation topic. Results in a scholarly paper that reviews the literature on the topic, identifies one or more research questions that emerge from the state of the science, and illuminates the importance of research on the identified question(s).

GNUR 990 - (2) (Y-SS)
Research Practicum I
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and advisor
Provides the student with opportunity, through an actual research study, to develop and refine research competency. Students must register for GNUR 990 one or more times for a total of four credits.

GNUR 991 - (1) (Y)
Professional Issues in Scholarship
Taken near the end of course work, this course provides logistical assistance with the preparation of a dissertation proposal. Discussion of professional issues and strategies of scholarship, including grant seeking and grant management, publication, scholarly ethics, and scientific integrity.

GNUR 997 - (3-12) (S-SS)
Non-Topical Research
Prerequisite: Permission of faculty advisor
Students register for GNUR 997 concurrently with course work until the dissertation proposal is successfully defended. Credits from non-topical research are not counted in the total program hours of credit.

GNUR 999 - (3-12) (S-SS)
Dissertation Research
Prerequisite: Permission of dissertation chair
A culminating experience which requires the student to plan and implement a research study of significance to nursing.

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