2023-2024 Graduate Catalog


NURS - Nursing

NURS 5110 Advanced Pathophysiology

This course focuses on advanced pathophysiologic processes in the adult patient. General and system specific concepts related to causation and clinical presentation of disease will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on the application of pathophysiologic concepts in clinical situations. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute and chronic health problems, to understand the aims of clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. Additionally, the influence of genetics on different disease processes and organ systems will be examined.

Credits

3

NURS 5115 Theoretical and Ethical Foundations

This course focuses on the theoretical and ethical foundations in nursing and other relevant theories that are the basis for advanced nursing practice and a holistic approach to care for diverse populations. Students will explore and consider theories from nursing and related disciplines in a conceptual context. Emphasis is placed on the role of theory and ethics in relation to clinical practice and research. Ethical principles will be examined in relation to decision making for patients and at the systems level.

Credits

3

NURS 5120 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics

This course focuses on developing the core knowledge needed to understand the therapeutic use of drugs in evidence-based treatment regimens for acute and chronic disease management in adult patients. Emphasis is placed on principles of pharmacology, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of major drug classes in relation to physiology, pathophysiology, and genomics. Students will also examine related factors that influence medication effectiveness including safety, cost, complementary regimens, environmental influences, and patient behavior. Current research data and evidence-based treatment guidelines including the legal, ethical, and financial considerations related to prescriptive authority will be examined.

Credits

3

NURS 5125 Advancing Scholarship Through Evidence Based Practice and Research

This course prepares students for clinical or education leadership roles in healthcare by equipping them to translate evidence into nursing practice. Students will utilize the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model to apply the requisite critical skills and knowledge to independently search for, review, appraise, and synthesize research and non-research evidence. The course will emphasize rapid critical appraisal of evidence and translation to practice based on the strength of the evidence to promote practice changes at the individual and system-level of health care.

Credits

3

NURS 5130 Health Care Quality and Informatics

This course focuses on quality improvement models and methods which will use patient outcome measures across a broad range of healthcare settings. Emphasis will be placed on strategies that contribute to building a culture of safety and assuring accountability and reliability in care processes. Students will deepen their understanding of applied informatics practices that drive quality improvement initiatives in healthcare organizations. Safe and effective integration of informatics within a variety of healthcare settings will also be addressed.

Credits

2

NURS 5135 Advanced Health Assessment

This course focuses on building the professional nurses comprehensive holistic assessment knowledge and skills. Emphasis is placed on advanced health assessment techniques and data collection that promote diagnostic reasoning and comprehensive decision making to improve patient care. Core content includes normal versus abnormal findings, symptom/health problem assessment, disease prevention, genetics influence, and differential diagnosis to develop a management plan in adult patients with common and acute health problems. This course will include a clinical component.

Credits

4

NURS 5140 Leadership and Health Policy

This course provides knowledge and skills for nurse leaders to holistically manage change, empower others, and influence organization processes in health care environments. Focus is on nurse leadership in diverse healthcare delivery, health policy, and complex healthcare systems. The advanced practice nurse is prepared to lead collaborative teams to enhance patient and population outcomes across diverse health care settings.

Credits

3

NURS 5145 Health Promotion for Individuals and Clinical Populations

This course is focused on holistic health promotion and primary, secondary, and tertiary disease prevention for diverse individuals and populations. Selected models, tools, and evidence-based guidelines are utilized to address concepts of holistic health, health promotion, disease detection/prevention, risk factors/reduction, and gender related well-being. Various coaching/teaching strategies to enhance health outcomes will be analyzed and applied for individuals and population groups.

Credits

2

NURS 6211 Diagnosis and Management of Adult-Geriatric Patients I

This course focuses on common diagnosis and management plans in the adult and geriatric patient. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in primary care. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute and chronic health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. Additionally, the influence of genetics on different disease processes and organ systems will be examined.

Credits

3

NURS 6212 Diagnosis and Management of Adult-Geriatric Patients II

This course focuses on common acute care diagnosis and management plans in the adult and geriatric patient. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in the acute care setting. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. Additionally, the influence of genetics on different disease processes and organ systems will be examined.

Credits

3

NURS 6213 Diagnosis and Management of Adult-Geriatric Patients III

This course focuses on common acute and critical care diagnosis and management plans in the adult and geriatric patient. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in acute and critical care settings. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. Additionally, the influence of genetics on different disease processes and organ systems will be examined.

Credits

3

NURS 6261 Capstone Project I

This course builds upon the concepts and knowledge gained from previous advanced nursing courses to develop a capstone project that reflects integration of theory, research and practice. The capstone project is evidence-based and consists of education/practice innovations that will impact clinical/educational environments and the health of individuals and populations. The student will collaborate with project stakeholders, their faculty advisor and project committee. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of the proposed project to advanced practice nursing/nursing education, congruence of the proposed project with student’s chosen specialty track of the program and population foci, and appropriateness of the project scope and timeline. This course covers the beginning phases of the project including project proposal and institutional approval processes.

Credits

1

NURS 6262 Capstone Project II

This course builds upon the concepts and knowledge gained from previous advanced nursing courses to implement a capstone project that reflects integration of theory, research and practice. The capstone project is evidence-based and consists of education/practice innovations that will impact clinical/educational environments and the health of individuals and populations. The student will collaborate with project stakeholders, their faculty advisor and project committee. Emphasis will be placed on communication and leadership skills in the process of project implementation. This course covers the implementation phase of the project including project implementation, data collection and data analysis.

Credits

2

NURS 6291 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I

This course focuses on integration of holistic care in the adult and geriatric patient in clinical practice. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be applied. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in the acute care setting. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute and chronic health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. This course requires an on-campus immersion for competency validation.

Credits

2

NURS 6292 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II

This course focuses on integration of holistic care in the adult and geriatric patient in clinical practice. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be applied. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in the acute care setting. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute and chronic health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. This course requires an on-campus immersion for competency validation.

Credits

4

NURS 6293 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III

This course focuses on integration of holistic care in the adult and geriatric patient in clinical practice. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be applied. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in the acute and critical care settings. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess critical, acute, and chronic health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health.

Credits

5

NURS 6295 ACNP Practicum

This course focuses on integration of holistic care in the adult and geriatric patient in clinical practice. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be applied. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis and management of disease in the acute care setting. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute and chronic health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. This course is for students to add additional clinical hours or to allow for a change in the plan of study. This course is taken only with approval of the academic advisor. Permission required. 60-180 clinical hours

Credits

1-3

NURS 6391 Clinical Nurse Specialist I: Patient Direct Care

This course focuses on the core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) related to holistic care of the adult and geriatric patient. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be applied. Emphasis is placed on the role of the CNS in patient direct care. Students will gain the knowledge needed to assess acute and chronic health problems, to implement clinical and pharmacological interventions, and to support decision-making for restoring and maintaining health. This course requires an on-campus immersion for competency validation.

Credits

2

NURS 6392 Clinical Nurse Specialist II: Patient Direct Care

This course focuses on the core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) related to holistic care of the adult and geriatric patient. General and system specific concepts related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of disease will be applied. Integration of the three spheres of impact will be emphasized with particular focus on the direct patient care sphere. Students will build on knowledge from prerequisite courses to practice in the three spheres of impact: patient direct care, nursing practice, and systems and organizations.

Credits

3

NURS 6393 Clinical Nurse Specialist III: Systems, Organization and Nursing Practice

This course focuses on the core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). The practicum experience is individualized with emphasis placed on the role of the CNS in the nurses and nursing practice sphere. Concepts related to consultation, education, work environment and best practice models will be applied. Evaluation and advancement of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes will be discussed.

Credits

4

NURS 6394 Clinical Nurse Specialist IV: Systems

This course focuses on the core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). The practicum experience is individualized with emphasis on the role of the CNS in the organization and systems sphere of practice. Concepts related to achieving healthcare outcomes at the organizational level, advocating for professional nursing, facilitating projects and policy changes and leading patient care programs across the continuum of care will be applied. Change management at the system level, leadership principles, and using expert patient care knowledge and outcome data to achieve quality, cost-effective patient care and outcomes will be discussed. This course requires an on-campus immersion for competency validation.

Credits

4

NURS 6395 Essential of CNS Practice I

This course focuses on the core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) related to holistic care of the adult and geriatric patient. This course will focus on the CNS spheres of impact which are direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and system and organization. Emphasis is placed on the role of the CNS as a leader in the healthcare system. This course is for students to add additional clinical hours or to allow for a change in the plan of study. This course is taken only with approval of the academic advisor. Permission required. 60-180 clinical hours

Credits

1

NURS 6396 Essential of CNS Practice II

This course focuses on the role and functions of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role following standards established by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Emphasis is placed on professional role development and transition to the CNS role and the delivery of advanced nursing care within complex organizations and systems of care.

Credits

1