Please note that all of the courses described below are delivered online with the exception of N6703, N6704, and N690X which include an in-person residency session.

Nursing 6011: Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 credit hours)

This course presents ideas associated with concept-formation, theory structure and development. Theories in nursing are explored, critically analyzed and evaluated. Each theory is examined for its practical application to improve nursing practice, nursing curricula, and nursing administration.

Pre-requisite: N6250

Nursing 6012: Statistics for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credit hours)

This course provides students with an understanding of foundational concepts in statistics and advanced statistical analysis methods commonly used in quantitative healthcare research. Students will learn how to critically appraise statistical methods utilized in published research/reports, and to identify issues with planning and conducting analysis in research. Links between research design and appropriateness of statistical analyses will be emphasized. In addition, students will utilize IBM SPSS Statistics to conduct and interpret statistical tests.

Pre-requisitie: N6250

N6013: Research Methods in Nursing (3 credit hours)

In this course, students will review the elements of the research process, including developing researchable questions for nursing problems, use of conceptual frameworks, operationalization of concepts, ethical conduct, sampling, data collection, data analysis and proposal writing. Methods, assumptions, and issues associated with common research designs will be discussed. The emphasis is on critical appraisal of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research studies and of a body of evidence.

Pre-requisite: N6250 

Nursing 6221: Population-Based Nursing (3 credits)

This course involves an examination of theoretical and research knowledge related to the key domains of the population health framework: influencing personal health practices, creating supportive environments and building community capacity, reorienting health services, and healthy public policy. Core concepts explored include risk, generating and interpreting rates from population health data to identify priority problems, and determinants of health. Emphasis is placed on the critical appraisal of population-based interventions, including screening programs, for selected high-priority population health problems, assessing their strengths, limitations, applicability to different problems, and effectiveness. The roles of nurses, advanced nursing practice and nursing leadership in population health will be explored.

Pre-requisites: N6250, N6011 

Nursing 6240: Nursing Individuals and Families Through Life Transitions (3 credit hours)

This course involves an examination of theoretical and research knowledge needed by advanced practice nurses for the provision of care to individuals and families experiencing life transitions. The core concepts addressed are life transitions (developmental, situational, and illness-related) and stress, coping, and health outcomes. Evidence-based interventions that advanced practice nurses use to assist individuals and families who are experiencing life transitions are explored.

Pre-requisites: N6250, N6011 

Nursing 6250: Writing for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credit hours)

This course will help students develop professional and academic skills required for success in graduate studies and for evidence-informed decision making in advanced nursing practice. One area of emphasis will be on developing writing competencies for scholarly work. Topics will include mechanics of writing, building and defending arguments, locating information, critical reading, evaluating various forms of knowledge, writing integrative literature reviews, and presenting the results of these in different formats. The second area of emphasis will be on in-depth exploration of the different competencies associated with, and their application to, advanced nursing practice.

Note: This course is a pre-requisite to all other courses for MScN students, although students may take this course as a co-requisite with others in the first term of the program.

Nursing 6260: Knowledge Translation in Nursing (3 credit hours)

This course focuses on building students’ capacity for undertaking knowledge translation activities relevant to nursing and health care. Building on concepts and frameworks that define knowledge translation, students will discuss identifying knowledge gaps, strategies for knowledge translation and evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on application of concepts to practice.

Pre-requisites: N6250, N6013 

Nursing 6270: Leading Change in Nursing (3 credit hours)

Using the Conceptual Model of Leading Change (Nelson-Brantly & Ford, 2016) as the course framework, students will take a critical, integrated view of the change phenomenon through the analysis and application of theories related to change, leadership, culture, reflection and others. Students will be guided through a learning process that will enable them to develop a deeper understanding of the values, beliefs and competencies they hold in relation to themselves as nurse leaders and change agents in the health system. Through participation in a combination of cognitive and affective teaching/learning opportunities, students will strengthen their leadership skills and abilities to affect positive change.

Pre-requisites: N6250, N6011 

Nursing 6660: Practicum 1 (3 credit hours)

In the first practicum course, students propose a practicum project that will provide them with the opportunity for integration and synthesis of philosophical perspectives, theories, research and skills that have been acquired in the previous course work. The project also provides students with the opportunity for application of skills and material learned in previous course work and for development of further knowledge in a selected area of interest, as well as for demonstration of advanced nursing practicum competencies. Practicum projects will vary from student to student and are negotiated with the course professor.

In the first practicum course, students develop a written proposal for the project and conduct a comprehensive review of the literature. Depending on their project, they may consult with colleagues or assess available resources if they are developing educational materials or policies. If their project involves implementation of existing educational materials or policies, they may develop an implementation or evaluation plan.

An interim practicum report is expected at the end of the first practicum course which includes an outline of activities for the second course and a reflection of progress to date in terms of advanced nursing practice competencies. Students are expected to revise all documents (e.g., proposal, literature review, reports) during the term based on feedback.  Activities cannot be carried out until plans are approved by the course professor.

Pre-requisites: all required courses

Nursing 6661: Practicum 2 (3 credit hours)

In the second practicum course, students continue to implement their project, following the original proposal and the plans outlined in the interim report at the end of the first practicum course. For example, students will develop educational materials or policies based on their literature review and consultations with colleagues, or they will evaluate existing educational materials or policies based on their implementation and evaluation plan. They will share what they have done and accomplished in presentations to their colleagues, and they will write a final practicum report that includes all materials generated during the two courses, e.g., literature review, reports of consultations or evaluation, developed educational materials or policies, or evaluation report. The final report includes a summary of advanced nursing practice competencies demonstrated by the student, illustrated with examples.

Pre-requisite: N6660 

Specific Nurse Practitioner and Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Diploma Courses

N6703: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Practicum 1 (4 credit hours)

This course focuses on the role of the advanced practice nurse in performing comprehensive health assessments on clients across the lifespan. Analyses and critique of various frameworks essential to advanced health assessment will be discussed. Emphasis will be on comprehensive health assessments including history taking, physical examination, synthesis, critical analysis and interpretation of health data. For their clinical component, students will be preceptored in a healthcare setting by either a nurse practitioner or physician. Please note students will be required to come on campus for one week as part of this course. (36 hours lecture, 104 hours clinical and 24-36 hours residency).

N6704: Applied Pathophysiology and Clinical Practicum 2 (4 credit hours)

In this course students use an evidence-based conceptual approach to critically examine pathophysiological phenomena relevant to advanced nursing practice. The pathophysiology of common diseases and their impact on health in specific populations across the lifespan will be examined. Students will be preceptored in a healthcare setting by either a nurse practitioner or physician in completing focused health assessments. Please note students will be required to come on campus for one week as part of this course. (36 hours lecture, 104 hours clinical and 24-36 hours residency).

Pre-requisite: N6703 

N6705: Pharmacotherapy and Therapeutics (3 credit hours)

In this course students will critically appraise and interpret concepts integral to pharmacotherapy across the lifespan. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of selected classes of medications will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the application of knowledge required to prescribe and monitor medication use within the scope of practice for nurse practitioners. Integration of knowledge from pharmacology will be used in teaching and counseling patients in nutrition and complementary therapies for common disease conditions. 

Pre-requisites: N6704 

N6706: Nurse Practitioner Roles and Practice Issues (3 credit hours)

The focus of this course is on the role of the advanced practice nurse in the context of current and future health care realities. The examination and critique of various advanced nursing practice models, and their implementation will be discussed. Models and methods for program development and evaluation will be explored.

N6802: Family/All Ages Clinical Decision Making 3 (4 credit hours)

The course will focus on the advanced practice nurse's role in the diagnosis and clinical management of health problems in individuals and families across the lifespan. Emphasis will be on the development of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making skills within the scope of practice of a primary care nurse practitioner. A systematic approach to patient assessment and management of health problems will be discussed. The course integrates knowledge acquired in previous courses. Content will also revolve around discussion and promotion of healthy lifestyle practices and coping strategies. Dialogue will occur around establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with the client and healthcare professionals in practice. Students will be preceptored in a healthcare setting by a physician or NP for the clinical component. (36 hours lecture, 104 hours clinical).

Pre-requisites: N6704 

N690X: Advanced Clinical Practicum 4 (12 credit hours) 

This course provides the student with the opportunity to integrate, synthesize and analyze previously learned knowledge and skills in an intensive clinical experience. Students will choose their own client population and will work closely with a clinical preceptor negotiated by the student and professor. The advanced practice role will be developed as students gain expertise in health assessment, diagnostic testing and treatment planning while collaborating with clients, families and other health professionals. Please note students will be required to come on campus for one week as part of this course. (416 hours clinical, 24-36 hours residency). 

Pre-requisities: N6802