Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner

• Current United States Registered Nurse licensure in the state where clinical practice will occur.
• A Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution. If a student does not possess a BSN, refer to RN to MSN Bridge requirements.
• A preferred undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
• An undergraduate course in statistics.
• An undergraduate health assessment course.
• An interview with the Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator.
• Two years of relevant clinical experience in nursing.
• A curriculum vitae or resume highlighting relevant nursing accomplishments and experience.

• Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
• A preferred graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
• An interview with the Nurse Practitioner Program Director or designee and members of the Nurse Practitioner faculty.
• Two years of relevant clinical experience in nursing.
• A curriculum vitae or resume highlighting relevant nursing accomplishments and experience.

An RN who holds a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing may be granted conditional acceptance into a graduate program. This RN must be a graduate from a regionally accredited pre-licensure program. In order to fulfill admissions requirements, the applicant must complete the following three required courses: IPC 401 Research in Health Care, NUR 420 Nursing Leadership and Management and NUR 430 Nursing in a Global Society.

• The applicant must complete the three required courses with a grade of “B” or higher within 12 months of conditional acceptance. Upon satisfactory completion of these courses, the applicant’s status will be changed from conditional to full acceptance, and the applicant will be permitted to begin graduate coursework.
• If a student does not achieve a minimum grade of “B” for a course, the student may repeat the course one time. If the student is unsuccessful on the second attempt, the student will lose conditional acceptance to the MSN program.
• Applicants may appeal to the appropriate Program Director or designee for additional time to complete the required courses.
• Applicants may be exempted from one or more of these required courses upon submission of a transcript that verifies satisfactory (“B” or higher) completion of an equivalent course at a regionally accredited institution.
• After successfully completing all requirements and admission to the MSN program, the student may progress directly into graduate-level courses.
• The BSN is not awarded in the RN to MSN Bridge Program.

IPC 511 Graduate Research

This course provides an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methods commonly used for systematic inquiry in health care. Current research literature is evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative techniques of data analysis are also examined.

IPC 512 Health Policy and Finance

This course provides a framework to analyze policy issues and processes relating to current economic, financial, and political issues affecting health care.  It introduces and integrates concepts of public policy formation, economics, and financial management to enable the learner to better interpret trends and innovations in national healthcare to their own organization.

IPC 601 Leadership in Healthcare

This course emphasizes effective leadership competencies for working within interprofessional healthcare teams. Theoretical leadership concepts are synthesized in relation to personal and professional values with emphasis placed on leading diverse teams for healthcare improvement.

NUR 700 Epidemiology Population Health

Advanced concepts and methods of epidemiology and other topics as they relate to population-based practice are emphasized. Social determinants of health and illness are examined within the context of care delivery for individuals and aggregates/populations.

NUR 500 NP Role Development

Students are introduced to the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) role and the population-focused nurse practitioner competencies.  The historical and theoretical foundations for the evolution of advanced nursing practice are explored.

NUR 640 Advanced Pathophysiology

Pathophysiologic processes of diseases across the lifespan are explored within the context of health promotion, disease prevention and evidence-based practice.

NUR 641 Advanced Pharmacology

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse drug effects, precautions and drug interactions of broad categories of drugs are examined. Safe prescribing of therapeutic agents are addressed within the context of specific populations.

NUR 642 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning

This course focuses on developing advanced health assessment skills needed to formulate differential diagnoses in the care of individuals across the lifespan.

NUR 643 Health Promotion in an Integrated Care Model

The focus of this course is on the theoretical and scientific basis for health promotion of diverse populations across the lifespan.

NUR 652 Advanced Pharmacology for Critical Care

This course addresses the pharmacological management of acute physiologic dysfunction and/or failure of young adults through older adults. Emphasis is on strategies for physiologic system stabilization and achievement of optimal outcomes.

NUR 740 Adult-Gero Acute Care NP I

This diagnosis and management course introduces the student to the critical thinking needed for assessing and managing the care of acute and complex chronically ill young adults through older adults with medical illnesses.

NUR 741 Adult-Gero Acute Care NP Practicum I

Students begin integrating the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner competencies in the clinical setting. Emphasis is on the refinement of skills needed for accurate diagnosis and initial management of acute and/or complex chronic medical illness in young adults through older adults.

NUR 742 Adult-Gero Acute Care NP II

This second diagnosis and management course focuses on increasing competence in the care of acute and complex chronically ill young adults through older adults with emphasis on selected illnesses related to medical and surgical sub-specialties.  System influences on health outcomes are emphasized.

NUR 743 Adult-Gero Acute Care NP Practicum II

In this second clinical practicum, students demonstrate increased competency in the diagnosis and management of acute and/or complex chronic illness in young adults through older adults in medical and surgical sub-specialties. Improved accuracy in data collection, depth of knowledge and efficiency of performance are emphasized.

NUR 744 Adult-Gero Acute Care NP III

This final diagnosis and management course in acute care focuses on increasing competence in the analytic skills used for clinical decision-making in assessment and management of the critical and/or unstable, complex chronically ill young adults through older adults.

NUR 745 Adult-Gero Acute Care NP Practicum III

In this final clinical practicum students demonstrate proficiency in managing complex adult and older adult patients in critical care settings with conditions that may result in rapid physiologic deterioration or life-threatening instability.  Improved accuracy in data collection, depth of knowledge and efficiency of performance are emphasized.

NUR 644 Application of Integrated Care Concepts

This course focuses on practical application of concepts of integrated care. Emphasis is on evidence-based brief therapeutic interventions that can be used to influence positive behavioral change and promote a healthy lifestyle.

NUR 651 Advanced Psychopharmacology

This course provides an in-depth study of the pharmacologic management of mental health disorders for safe prescribing.

NUR 720 Family NP Across Lifespan I

This diagnosis and management course introduces the student to strategies for health promotion, disease prevention, assessment and management of selected episodic and chronic diseases commonly encountered in the primary care setting.

NUR 721 Family NP Practicum I

Students begin integrating the Family Nurse Practitioner competencies in the clinical setting. Emphasis is on the refinement of skills needed for accurate diagnosis and management of common conditions encountered throughout the lifespan

NUR 722 Family NP Across Lifespan II

This second diagnosis and management course in primary care focuses on increasing competence in the analytic skills used for clinical decision-making in assessment and management of individuals and families presenting with selected episodic and chronic diseases.

NUR 723 Family NP Practicum II

In this second clinical practicum students demonstrate increased competency in the diagnosis and management of episodic and chronic medical conditions in individuals.  Improved accuracy in data collection, depth of knowledge and efficiency of performance are emphasized.

NUR 724 Family NP Across Lifespan III

This final diagnosis and management course in primary care focuses on refinement of analytic skills used for clinical decision-making in assessment and management of individuals and families presenting with selected episodic and chronic diseases commonly encountered in the primary care setting.

NUR 725 Family NP Practicum III

In this final practicum course, students demonstrate proficiency and flexibility of thinking in the analytical skills required for clinical decision making in the primary care setting. Emphasis is on skills needed for smooth transition to practice as an independent nurse practitioner.

NUR 650 Neuroscience of Mental Health Disorders

This course focuses on the neuroscientific concepts underlying common mental health disorders. The relationships between neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry to neuropsychiatric symptoms and behaviors are emphasized.

NUR 651 Advanced Psychopharmacology

This course provides an in-depth study of the pharmacologic management of mental health disorders for safe prescribing.

NUR 644 Application of Integrated Care Concepts

This course focuses on practical application of concepts of integrated care.  Emphasis is on evidence-based brief therapeutic interventions that can be used to influence positive behavioral change and promote a healthy lifestyle.

NUR 730 Psych/Mental Health NP I

This diagnosis and management course introduces strategies for health promotion, disease prevention and management of selected mental health conditions commonly encountered in mental health settings.  The theoretical basis for the application of individual psychotherapeutic approaches is emphasized.

NUR 731 Psych/Mental Health NP Practicum I

Students begin integrating the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner competencies in the clinical setting.  Emphasis is on the performance of the comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and the application of psychotherapeutic modalities needed for accurate diagnosis and management of mental health disorders across the lifespan.

NUR 732 Psych/Mental Health NP II

This second diagnosis and management course in psychiatric/mental health care focuses on increasing competence in the analytic skills used for clinical decision-making in assessment and management of individuals and families presenting with selected mental health conditions.  Emphasis is on the theoretical basis for family-centered psychotherapeutic modalities.

NUR 733 Psych/Mental Health NP Practicum II

In this second clinical practicum, students demonstrate increased competency in the diagnosis and management of mental disorders. Emphasis is on improved accuracy in data collection, depth of knowledge and efficiency of performance.

NUR 734 Psych/Mental Health NP III

This final diagnosis and management course in psychiatric/mental health care focuses on refinement of analytic skills used for clinical decision-making in assessment and management of individuals and families presenting with selected mental health conditions.  Emphasis is on the theoretical basis for group psychotherapeutic modalities.

NUR 735 Psych/Mental Health NP Practicum III

In this final clinical practicum, students demonstrate proficiency in the diagnosis and management of mental disorders. Emphasis is on skills needed for smooth transition to practice as an independent nurse practitioner.