Course Descriptions

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Course Description

NURS 700: Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Practice (4 semester credits)

This course focuses on theoretical perspectives and foundations for inquiry in the discipline. The structure of nursing knowledge (phenomena, concepts, and theories) will be evaluated for its relationship to practice. The interrelationship of theory, research, and practice will be analyzed. Prerequisites: Admission to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Collaborative DNP Program

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Analyze nursing knowledge for practice transformation.
2. Analyze the interrelationships among theory, research and practice for the impact on knowledge development in nursing.
3. Evaluate personal theoretical perspective for its implications in transforming one's own practice.

NURS 701: Applied Biostatistics (4 semester credits)

The goals of this course are to develop statistical skills necessary to evaluate critically biomedical research using advanced quantitative methods, to identify appropriate techniques for interpretation of results of independent research, and for presentation of results to improve clinical practice. Prerequisites: Graduate level statistics course; Corequisite: None

Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Apply advanced biostatistics methodology to clinical scholarship.
2. Use analytical methods to critically appraise research as reported in the literature and other sources relevant to practice.
3. Design applied research projects to establish benchmarks and to guide quality improvement in clinical practice.
4. Transform practice problems into testable research questions.
5. Develop reports, using practice data, which can be used by managers to improve clinical outcomes.

NURS 702: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Advanced Nursing 4 semester credits)

This course focuses on the conduct of clinical scholarship. Content includes transformational research approaches and evidence-based practice processes, including epidemiological methods. Evaluation methods of clinical practice change outcomes on individuals, groups, populations, and systems are addressed. Prerequisites: NURS 700 and 701; Corequisite: NURS 740

Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Integrate biostatistical and epidemiological methods for application to clinical scholarship.
2. Use analytical methods to critically appraise existing literature and other evidence relevant to practice.
3. Assimilate methods of transformational science and evidence based practice processes to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of changes in clinical practice enhancing quality of care.
4. Evaluate outcomes of clinical scholarship using quality indicators, benchmark data, population based data, and system data.
5. Analyze the design and use of information systems and technology in the development and implementation of programs to identify clinical practice problems and related outcomes
6. Appraise the change process for enhancing the outcomes of clinical scholarship.
7. Recognize responsibility and accountability of the advanced practice nurse in the dissemination of clinical scholarship for the discipline with an emphasis on ethical implications.

NURS 704: Clinical Prevention and Population Health (4 semester credits)

The conceptual foundations of culturally sensitive clinical prevention and population health in advanced nursing practice will be evaluated. A global perspective to clinical prevention and population health that bridges illness and preventive care models will be investigated and designed. Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 740; Corequisite: NURS 750

Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Review historical events and public policies that have shaped global perspectives of population health and health care delivery systems.
2. Analyze the cultural, ethical, economic, environmental, and social factors that influence population-based health care policy and health care delivery.
3. Integrate epidemiologic, biostatistic, and other evidence-based methods into population-based health care.
4. Analyze population level data to inform clinical decision-making and practice.
5. Design theoretically based and culturally sensitive approaches to improve health status/access patterns and/or address gaps in the care of populations within a community of focus whether locally, regionally, nationally, or globally.

NURS 706: Organizational and Systems Leadership

Organizational and systems leadership skills critical for culturally sensitive nursing practice to improve healthcare and outcomes are enhanced. Focus is on transformational leadership, measurement of outcomes, data driven decision-making, and the business realities of leading within healthcare. Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 704, 740, 750; Corequisite: NURS 760

Upon completion of this course, the doctoral student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Integrate transformational leadership theory and culturally sensitive approaches to lead a diverse workforce in the 21st Century.
2. Integrate consultative and leadership skills with intra-professional and inter-professional teams to create change in health care and complex health care delivery systems for the delivery of quality health care and to ensure patient safety.
3. Analyze emerging clinical patterns within a practice setting, health care organization, or community.
4. Develop effective strategies for managing health care delivery and organizational/systems research.
5. Evaluate principles of health care finance and cost-effectiveness as they relate to quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
6. Utilize comparative data, benchmarks, best practices, and continuing improvement methods to measure variations in practice quality and to improve healthcare.
7. Demonstrate leadership in organizational policy analysis and development that incorporates clinical improvement models and change theory.

NURS 740: Clinical Scholarship I (3 semester credits)(1 credit seminar, 25 hrs; 2 credits clinical, 100 hrs.)

This clinical seminar focuses on collaboration of interprofessional teams and the roles of advanced practice nurses within this collaboration. Development of a framework for identifying, implementing, and evaluating a collaborative effort is emphasized. Prerequisite: NURS 700; Corequisite: NURS 702

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Analyze emerging clinical patterns and problems within a practice setting, health care organization or community.
2. Integrate knowledge that reflects the perspective of the nursing discipline to determine the nature and significance of health and health care phenomena.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to use information systems and technology- based resources supportive of clinical and administrative decision-making; care systems, nurse-sensitive outcomes, and quality improvement.
4. Identify clinical practice problem and review relevant literature.

NURS 750: Clinical Scholarship II (3 semester credits) (1 credit seminar, 25 hrs; 2 credits clinical 100 hrs.)

Develop, implement, and evaluate culturally-sensitive approaches to improve health status/access patterns and/or address gaps in care of populations within a community of focus whether locally, nationally, or globally. Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 740; Corequisite: NURS 704

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Use databases to inform alternative policy strategies or solutions to improve health status.
2. Propose strategies and solutions that reflect an analysis of the health care delivery system and its cost-effectiveness.
3. Address effective strategies for managing the ethical issues inherent in patient care, health care organizations, and health care research.
4. Develop a practice guideline(s) or project to address an advanced practice problem, considering the clinical context.

NURS 760: Clinical Scholarship III (3 semester credits) (1 credit seminar, 25 hrs; 2 credits clinical, 100 hrs.)

This course focuses on development of consultative and leadership strategies for use in implementing a clinical practice approach to a clinical nursing practice problem. The inter-professional context along with various information technologies and information systems will be considered. Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 704, 740, 750; Corequisite: NURS 706

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Employ high level consultative and leadership skills with intraprofessional and interprofessional teams to create change in health care and complex health care delivery systems.
2. Demonstrate leadership in implementation of clinical practice guidelines and evaluation of outcomes.
3. Implement standards/principles for selecting and evaluating information systems relevant to nursing practice.
4. Implement a context-sensitive clinical practice guideline or project to address a clinical nursing practice problem.

NURS 770: Clinical Scholarship IV: Capstone (3 semester credits)(1 credit seminar, 25 hrs; 2 credits clinical, 100 hrs.)

This seminar and practicum focuses on accountability for advancing the nursing profession and contributing to the developing body of nursing practice knowledge. Addresses advocacy at all levels of policy implementation. Culminates in a successful oral defense of the capstone project. Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 704, 706, 740, 750, 760; Corequisite: None

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Facilitate and mentor professional development in self and others
2. Demonstrate leadership and accountability in implementation of a new policy or procedure at multiple levels with multiple considerations and constituencies.
3. Advocate for the nursing profession within the policy and healthcare communities.
4. Educate others, including policy makers at all levels, regarding nursing, health policy implications and patient care outcomes.
5. Disseminate clinical scholarship knowledge.