Curriculum
Students can select one of three advanced clinical care tracks: Primary Care Management, Diabetes Care Management, and Rehabilitation Nursing.
Students who select one of two specialty tracks (Rehabilitation Nursing or Diabetes Care Management) will enroll in two Special Topic elective courses for a total of 8 units. For these specialty tracks, students will not be required to take the elective course Nurs 217, substituting the Special Topic course for this elective.
Full Time Plan of Study = 32 units total
Semester 1 (Fall 2020) = 9 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 201 | Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 217 | Epidemiology (Elective) | 3 |
| NURS 205 | Health Care Policy and Delivery | 3 |
Semester 2 (Spring 2021) = 9 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 207 |
|
3 | |
| NURS 203 | Interprofessional Health Care Theory, Ethics, and Quality Improvement | 3 | |
| NURS 219 | Population Health | 3 |
Semester 3 (Summer 2021) = 8 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 209 | Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 211 | Foundations of Specialty Practice II | 3 |
| NURS 287 1 | Practicum 1 (96 hours) | 2 |
| Elective |
Semester 4 (Fall 2021) = 6 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 215 | Synthesis Project 1 | 3 |
| NURS 287 1 | Practicum 1 (132 hours) | 3 |
1Continuing course.
Part Time Plan of Study = 32 units total
Semester 1 (Fall 2020) = 6 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 201 | Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 217 | Epidemiology (Elective) | 3 |
Semester 2 (Spring 2021) = 6 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 207 | Nursing Issues and Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 205 | Health Care Policy and Delivery | 3 |
Semester 3 (Summer 2021) = 6 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 203 | Interprofessional Health Care Theory, Ethics, and Quality Improvement | 3 |
| NURS 219 | Population Health | 3 |
Semester 4 (Fall 2021) = 6 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 209 | Foundations of Specialty Practice I | 3 |
| NURS 211 | Foundations of Specialty Practice II | 3 |
Semester 5 (Spring 2022) = 6 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 215 | Synthesis Project | 3 |
| NURS 287 1 | Practicum | 3 |
Semester 6 (Summer 2022) = 2 units
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 287 1 | Practicum | 3 |
1Continuing course.
Course Descriptions
Nurs 201 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 units)
The required course provides the foundational knowledge base for advanced nursing research and the core principles of evidence-based practice. Students gain knowledge and skills to critically appraise and analyze research findings to apply the best evidence to improve practice. This course prepares the student to find and use evidence to support individual clinical practice and appropriately apply evidence to different population-based settings. Dissemination of scholarly work serves as evidence via papers, reports, posters and presentations.
Nurs 203 Interprofessional Health Care Theory, Ethics, and Quality Improvement (3 units)
This course explores the theoretical and ethical basis of nursing practice and interdisciplinary perspectives in health sciences and the humanities. The role of the master's prepared nurse in theory development, theory-based practice and ethical decision-making within collaborative interprofessional teams is emphasized. Quality, safety, and collaborative practice are universal values used as a framework for leading change to improve healthcare systems and outcomes. Improving the quality and safety of health care services requires multiple knowledge disciplines, effective communication, collaboration and teamwork.
Nurs 205 Health Care Policy and Delivery (3 units)
This course covers current challenges faced by the U.S. health care delivery system and how policy, both historically and today, has sought to address these challenges. The system is compared with those of our nations to highlight relative strengths and weaknesses. The course will consider health care concern associated with population and public health, including how behavior of individuals and groups influences health. Risk factors associated with vulnerable populations are identified and discussed. We will also explore the logistics of the healthcare system, including how it is organized, who makes up the workforce, how health care is financed, the costs and value of health care, how it is managed, and the role of information technology in this sector. Finally, we will explore the future of health care delivery in the U.S. and health care policy.
Nurs 207 Nursing Issues and Leadership (3 units)
This course studies the current complex health care systems of today and the challenges nurse leaders face to champion improvement in healthcare delivery systems to improve patient and population health outcomes. Master's prepared nurses are needed to advance from expert clinician to transformational leaders to engage in innovation, positive change, and actively participate in evidence-based collaborative interdisciplinary solutions. Students will assess their leadership strengths and areas for improvement to develop an action plan to build leadership capacity. Students will acquire competencies in leadership skills, organizational systems assessments, and theories of change to design new practice models.
Nurs 209 Foundations of Specialty Practice I (3 units)
Advanced Pharmalogic Applications in Primary Care. This advanced pharmacology course is designed to prepare advanced practice primary care clinicians and managers with the knowledge of pharmacologic principles an action of the major drug classes. Pharmalogic treatments will be discussed in relation to physiologic systems, with emphasis on the application of these agents. This course further studies best practices for the medication management for Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, and Community Acquired Pneumonia. With increased knowledge the advanced practice nurse will assume a leadership role in overseeing medication safety in any setting to promote improved patient outcomes. Advanced knowledge will further enhance health promotion and guidance for patient teaching and self-care.
Nurs 211 Foundations in Specialty Practice II (3 units)
Advanced Health Assessment provides the graduate student with comprehensive and systematic assessment and physical examination skills to conduct health assessments for adults and older adults. Advance cognitive and psychomotor skills allow graduate nurses the opportunity to practice using a diagnostic reasoning process. Students will conduct health histories, health assessments, focused review of systems, and physical exam techniques to inform diagnostic reasoning for a differential diagnosis. Students will incorporate guidance and health promotion to establish a patient centered plan of care.
Nurs 217 Epidemiology (3 units)
Due to the changing landscape of health care reform the role of the healthcare manager is evolving. Principles and application of epidemiology with its population-health perspective will serve as the focal point for planning, organizing, and evaluation health care services. Communities disease inventory and consumption of health services are analyzed using epidemiological data. This course provides foundational knowledge for the advance practice nurse manager to understand how to utilize epidemiologic data to plan, organize, and evaluate quality improvement efforts to enhance patient outcomes.
Nurs 219 Population Health (3 units)
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, 2010) and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim (2008) provided the incentive to develop programs and initiatives aimed at improving the health of all Americans. This course provides the student with a comprehensive overview of population health. Population health is referred to the study of the distribution of health outcomes within a population, using health determinants of health of these populations, and the policies and interventions that impact these determinants. The collection of health care outcome data and its analysis serve as the framework for targeted program development, implementation, and evaluation of program effectiveness. Population health interventions can include health promotion, disease prevention, and caring for the sick.
Nurs 287 Practicum* (5 units)(3 units)
This course provides experiential learning opportunities related to the specialty practice area. Guided didactic content is integrated into the practicum. Students are assigned to qualified nurse preceptors and interdisciplinary experts (OT, PT, MD etc.) to advance both knowledge and skills. The nurse preceptor will serve as the primary preceptor for mentoring and evaluation. Practicum hours are based on three clinical hours: 1-unit ratio. The student will complete 228 hours throughout a fifteen-week semester. This course can be repeated if students require additional time to complete all clinical practicum hours. It is recommended that students complete at minimum 2 units in the first semester.
Nurs 215 Synthesis Project (3 units)
The student will complete an Evidence-Based Practice Improvement Project related to their specialty area of practice under the direction of a faculty advisor. Students may build on a clinical topic derived from earlier coursework. The project will be a culmination and integration of previous coursework and new knowledge. The project will include a systematic review of the literature, and implementation plan with timeline, data analysis, outcome measures and data to assess effectiveness and sustainability. The project will be summarized into a scholarly paper with the expectation of dissemination in the professional community of education and practice.
Nurs 213A Special Topics (3 units)
This course is required of all students enrolled in the Rehabilitation concentration. The core curriculum for the specialty practice of Rehabilitation Nursing (ARN) serves as the educational framework for this course.
Nurs 213B Special Topics (3 units)
This course is required of all students enrolled in the Diabetes Management concentration. Core curriculum from the American Association of Diabetes Educators guide the curriculum.