This is a summary of the courses offered in the Clinical Nurse Leader (Nursing) Track. For official course descriptions, see the Graduate Studies Catalog.
NUGR 540 Advanced Clinical Practice: Theoretical Context for Care
This course will examine the nursing theoretical foundation for care and the implications for leadership in advanced clinical practice.
NUGR 545 Advanced Assessment of Well-being
This course will expand on undergraduate skill in systematic health assessment across the life span. The student will learn application of advanced health assessment skills in the clinical nurse leader practice setting including integration of skills and techniques in conducting assessment to support caring responses in select populations.
(Prerequisite: Evidence of successful completion of a comprehensive health assessment continuing education course within the last 18 months.)
NUGR 550 Advanced Pathophysiology
This course will build on the basic pathophysiology foundation and address current concepts and theories related to pathological processes occurring across the adult life span. The focus on advanced knowledge in pathophysiology will be to support clinical decision-making in the clinical nurse leader role including health promotion, health maintenance and care issues.
( Prerequisite: undergraduate pathophysiology course)
NUGR 555 Advanced Pharmacology
This course will build on the basic pharmacology foundation to provide the student with knowledge of physiologic responses and pharmacokinetic principles of pharmacologic agents. Topics include the advanced pharmacokinetic principles, pharmacotherapeutics of single and multiple drug regimens, client education needs, and special population needs. The student will apply advanced knowledge in pharmacology to support clinical decision-making in the clinical nurse leader role.
(Prerequisite: Undergraduate pharmacology course)
NUGR 560 Advanced Nursing Situation: Clinical Prevention and Population Focused Practice
This course develops a population-based framework for health promotion and disease prevention. Concepts related to health and illness, burden of illness, vulnerable populations, and cultural diversity are addressed. Population-based data for use in clinical prevention and practice across the continuum of care are emphasized. Application of evidence based clinical decision-making with select population is examined. Health literacy and the use of teaching/learning principles related to health education and counseling is discussed. Interdisciplinary practice and ethical considerations in resource allocation and other critical decisions in health care is explored. This course includes a practicum of 45 clinical hours with a population consistent with the student’s practice interest.
NUGR 565 Advanced Nursing Situation: Management of Clinical Outcomes This course focuses on management of outcomes for individuals and populations. Nursing situations are analyzed at the point of care to assess client risk, identify patterns of problem occurrence, target areas in need of intervention and examination of cost. Skills are developed in the use of information systems and technology to manage data, document performance and monitor outcome efficiency and effectiveness. Outcomes related to quality, risk and cost are reviewed in relation to local and national benchmarks. Evidence-based possibilities for changes in practice for optimal outcomes are explored. This course includes a practicum of 45 clinical hours with a population consistent with the student’s practice interest.
NUGR 570 Advanced Nursing Situation: Management of the Care Environment
This course focuses on clinical leadership in providing lateral integration of the care environment at the point of care to promote optimal outcomes. The health care experience for individuals and populations is examined in the context of the larger organizational system. Evaluation of care delivery is outcomes- based, with discrimination between provider and process issues in the care delivery environment. Models for leadership and management are discussed with respect to nursing and the interdisciplinary health care team. Skills in delegation, negotiation, coordination and utilization of resources, and the change process are addressed. This course includes a practicum of 45 clinical hours with a population consistent with the student’s practice interest.
NUGR 590 Leading for Change III: Innovative Leadership Capstone
Designed as a clinical immersion experience, this course will provide opportunity for synthesis of the major concepts of the program. This experience is mentored with designated preceptors in the practice setting consistent with the student’s practice interest and which support full implementation of a clinical nurse leader role. The clinical nurse leader role includes client advocate, team manager, information manager, systems analyst/risk anticipator, clinician, outcomes manager, educator, and member of a profession. The practice capstone consists of at least 300 clinical hours of engagement in the multiple dimensions of the CNL role. The culmination of this experience will result in the design and implementation of a scholarly project relevant to the student’s practice setting, applying the elements of the clinical nurse leader role, and specifically tailored to the student’s career goals.