D.N.P. Core Courses

NURS 6010 Clinical Scholarship (2) This seminar will provide the student with the fundamentals of scientific writing and critique and the process involved in the development of a D.N.P. project. The student will be able to gain practical tips to be successful in project management. Students will choose an identified practice area that will provide guidance for their plan of study as they progress through the program. Application of scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and strategic planning skills as related to project management is crucial.

NURS 6020 Management and Analyses of Health Data for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (3) Students manage a variety of data sets to answer quantitative, qualitative, and economic questions at the clinical and population levels. Approaches to data analysis that will be applied in this course include: descriptive and inferential statistics, theme and content analysis, cost effectiveness, and utility analysis. Students will learn how to use a statistical software package to organize and clean data, create and transform variables, and analyze quantitative and economic data using appropriate statistical tests. The interpretation and reporting of results will be emphasized. Prerequisite: NURS 6010. Corequisite: NURS 6060.

NURS 6030 D.N.P. Project Planning and Proposal Development (3) The project is an experiential project based upon selection and implementation of evidence-based interventions supported through informatics and technological advances and measurement of outcomes in a selected clinical site(s). The goal of the project is to change practice and develop health care policies that result in improvement in practice/systems outcomes and/or cost savings. Application of scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and strategic planning skills as related to project management is crucial. During this course, steps in the program planning process will be discussed and the actual project proposal will be written. Upon successful completion of the course, the proposal will be approved by the project committee and ready to move to the IRB as needed. This includes a mentored experience of a minimum of 500 hours dedicated to the project and completed throughout three courses (Project Planning and Proposal Development, Project Implementation I, and Project Implementation II) . Prerequisites: All core D.N.P. courses with faculty advisement for progression.

NURS 6040 Social Determinants of Health (3) The focus of this course is to analyze determinants of health and their effects on population and individual health outcomes through the complex interactions between the biological, physical, and social environments using the highest level of scientific evidence. Ethical implications as well as social and economic influences in key populations in geographically-diverse communities are also examined. Evidence-based knowledge will provide foundational content to optimize advanced nursing practice including leadership and service with diverse populations within global, national, state, and local contexts. The range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status are known as determinants of health.

NURS 6060 Clinical Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice (3) Students will critique scientific evidence within the health sciences. Emphasis is placed on utilizing evidence to either support current practice or gather evidence for transferring and translating evidence into practice. Students will critically evaluate scientific literature in relation to research design, methods, and analysis. Appraisal of research for the creation of systematic reviews will be highlighted.
Corequisite: NURS 6010.

NURS 6600 Health Care Financing, Budgeting, and Economics (3) This course will examine both health care economics and the business of practice. The relationship of economic issues, health policy, and clinical practice will be explored. Economic concepts and tools will be used to examine issues and solve problems/issues pertaining to health care and the delivery of health care services. Approaches to economic evaluations will be explored and students will use findings from economic evaluations to inform policymakers about the costs and effects of medical interventions to support their decisions on the allocation of health care resources. Evidence-based critique skills will be expanded to include critical appraisal of economic evaluation studies, and Actuari software will be used to conduct an economic systematic review. Relevant finance concepts will be explored to develop skills in assessing the practice/organizations' financial condition, budgeting, and profit analysis. Only post-master's D.N.P. students may register for this course.

NURS 6780 Health Care Economics and Business Practices for Advanced Practice Nurses (3) Presents the economics and business of health care. The impact of theories on health care will be examined on both a macro and micro level. Application of the advanced practice role will be highlighted, as students learn to apply economic theories and principles to current situations. Topics will include, but are not limited to, scope of practice, requirements for payment, employment options, and contracts, ethical dilemmas regarding business practices, risk management, and business planning techniques. Business practices will be evaluated based on the triple aim of access, quality, and cost.

NURS 6880 Leadership for Advanced Practice Nurses (3) The four leadership domains will be explored through the lens of leadership theories and concepts. These four domains include clinical, professional, systems, and health policy leadership. The benefits and risks of current health policies on D.N.P. practice will be analyzed. Mechanisms for asserting power, influence, and conflict resolution techniques appropriately will be emphasized.

NURS 6940 Evidence Translation and Implementation Science (3) The translation of evidence and the resulting implementation of that knowledge is a complex, multidimensional, and dynamic process. In this course, students will critique the theoretical development of knowledge translation and the science of evidence implementation. The integration of systems, innovation, and other relevant theories used to support the application of knowledge translation will be highlighted. Linear versus non-linear models and frameworks will be contrasted. Application of knowledge translation theory to real-world clinical problems will be emphasized. Prerequisites: NURS 6010, 6020, 6060, 6980.

NURS 6960 D.N.P. Project Implementation I (3) Using online discussion, seminars, and a project-focused practicum, this course will provide students with the support and direction needed to implement and evaluate an evidence-based project plan under the guidance of a clinical mentor and sponsoring faculty. Students will assess implementation issues, and utilize skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration to implement the project plan. This course includes 250 hours in a setting approved for the project, and is the first of two culminating courses. Prerequisites: Completion of all required D.N.P. courses including Project Planning and Proposal Development.

NURS 6980 Epidemiology and Population Health (3) Provides an introduction to the principles and methods of epidemiology including patterns of illness in populations and research designs for investigating the etiology of disease and their application in advanced nursing practice. Special attention is given to understanding the burden of disease as a global health problem, methods of control and prevention, ethical issues, and the development and evaluation of health programs and their relationship to policy, planning, practice, and leadership in advanced nursing practice. The course introduces quantitative measures to determine risk, association, and procedures for standardization of rates Prerequisites: NURS 6010, 6020, 6060.