Advanced Statistics and Research Methods

Advanced statistics and research methods extends the use of statistical data-analytic tools, and broadens and elaborates on methodological issues in research in health sciences.

Theoretical and Scientific Foundations for Nursing

In this course, students focus on the integration of scientific, philosophical, and theoretical concepts as the basis for the highest level of nursing practice. They examine the scientific underpinnings for nursing practice, including bio-behavioral, pathophysiological, psychosocial, and environmental sciences, and they explore the interrelationship among knowledge, research, and practice. Students also explore and discuss clinical inquiry, ethical issues, and models of evidence-based practice. Considering various philosophies, students describe their own philosophy of nursing. They also apply course concepts to a variety of practical assignments, including a literature review, concept map, and evaluation of current clinical practice problems, among others. 

Methods for Evidence-Based Practice

Students in this course focus on the integration of scientific, philosophical, and theoretical concepts as the basis for the highest level of nursing practice. The scientific underpinnings for nursing practice including bio-behavioral, pathophysiological, psychosocial, and environmental sciences are examined. The interrelationship among knowledge, research, and practice is explored. Clinical inquiry, ethical issues, and models of evidence-based practice are presented. 

Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology

When used effectively, information technology can support generation of new knowledge and emerging information technologies. In this course, students examine the critical appraisal and use of information technology in advanced nursing practice. Students work toward gaining the skills and knowledge to process and manage information systems/technology resources in consumer, clinical, and public health settings. Students engage in a variety of discussions and assignments designed to provide practical application of content on topics including retrieval and critical analysis of digital data to support healthcare quality improvement; electronic health records integration and evaluation; and Web-based learning and intervention tools to support and improve patient care. They also explore ethical, regulatory, and legal issues as well as the healthcare standards and principles for selecting and evaluating information systems and patient care technology. 

Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement

The focus of this course is on the development of leadership strategies and competencies to support healthcare and organizational quality delivery of care. Emphasis is placed on a systems approach exploring the organizational structures, which impact healthcare quality performance and, ultimately, patient outcomes. Using macro (enterprise-wide) and micro (individual and team performance) perspectives, students examine the leadership roles, which define, develop, and support decisions effecting quality strategies. In this course, students address how key organizational theories, principles, and concepts relate to achieving the effective and efficient delivery of safe healthcare services. Through the development of a quality program initiative, students demonstrate an understanding of the impact an initiative has on organizational structure, its environment, and the system’s leadership.

 Best Practices in Nursing Specialties

A scholarly inquiry of key concepts in nursing is presented in this course. Students analyze best practices and evolving issues in their nursing areas of practice. They explore advanced specialty practice problems through a guided initial review of literature. Students develop a program or project to address clinical/practice questions under the guidance of an approved clinical mentor. Students generate an evidence-based practice question and develop and implement an intervention within the practicum setting. Students disseminate the project plan and results at the practicum site.

Epidemiology and Population Health

Students in this course are provided with an overview of epidemiologic methodology in the study of the distribution and etiology of disease and health-related conditions in human populations. Students examine important study designs and discuss the strengths and weaknesses inherent in each. They explore and discuss select global problems, such as infectious diseases, bioterrorism attacks, and effects of disasters and emergencies, and they apply epidemiologic and bio-statistical methods to study factors related to aggregate, population, and individual health. Additionally, students work toward gaining cultural sensitivity and an inter-professional approach to caring for diverse populations at risk to ensure access to care.

 Evidence-Based Practice I: Assessment and Design

In this course, students focus on the competencies required of the healthcare professional in planning for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. They explore and discuss strategic approaches to planning, implementation, and evaluation, including cost-benefit analysis

Healthcare Policy and Advocacy

Many economic, financial, and political factors influence the delivery of healthcare, making healthcare reform a challenging task. In this course, students examine these factors and challenges, and they consider policy reform through legal, regulatory, ethical, societal, and organizational contexts. They examine the political and policy process, including agenda setting, stakeholder analysis, and application of policy analysis frameworks. Students also explore the importance of inter-professional collaboration in improving health outcomes through the policy process and advocacy for development and implementation of nursing and healthcare policies in organizations at the local, state, national, and international levels. Students engage in written analyses through which they develop new policies and critically evaluate existing policies though policy analysis frameworks.

Evidence-Based Practice II: Planning and Implementation

In this practicum course, students focus on planning and implementing an evidence-based practice program/project designed to address their clinical/practice questions; students complete work under the guidance of an approved practicum mentor. Students generate practicum journals and discussion content that drill down to the evidence-based change project related to their clinical/practice question and resulting findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

 Evidence-Based Practice III: Implementation, Evaluation, and Dissemination

The focus of this practicum course is on the evaluation of an evidence-based health project relevant to aggregate, systems, or organizational levels of healthcare. In addition, students develop and plan for the dissemination of a scholarly product generated by that project to a wider community of scholar-practitioners. Students work with an approved practicum mentor to generate practicum evidence and complete practicum journal requirements, and the evidence-based project, demonstrating the use of leadership skills and advanced nursing practice knowledge to promote quality improvement, improve health outcomes, and inform healthcare policy. Students in the practicum course are provided with the opportunity to reflect on self-evaluation, professional growth, and post-graduation plans.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to complete additional practicum hours to fulfill the 1,000-hour requirement of the program. Students generate practicum portfolio evidence. In this practicum course, there is a 1:6 ratio of credit to practicum hours, resulting in 72 practicum hours.

Students take this course for a minimum of four trimesters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their doctoral project with final academic officer approval. To complete a doctoral project, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee and the University Research Reviewer; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their doctoral project on before their degree is conferred.

Dissertation Writing

This course is an overview of writing and organizational skills necessary for completion of a dissertation and submission of articles for publication. It includes components of research design.