Gannon University

Director: Dr. Sharon Thompson, Ph.D., R.N., M.P.H.

INTRODUCTION
Upon completion of program requirements, students are awarded the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The program integrates nursing education, research, and clinical practice. Graduates are able to respond to challenges facing nursing and the health care system through advanced clinical practice and scientific inquiry.
The MSN degree is awarded to graduates who complete requirements for a specific advanced practice option in an identified area of nursing practice. Currently, students may select from Family Nurse Practitioner, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia or Nursing Administration.
Registered nurses who graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or with a Diploma in Nursing from a National League of Nursing (NLN) accredited nursing program and who demonstrate leadership potential are eligible for RN to MSN study. Students in the RN to MSN option complete undergraduate nursing requirements prior to selecting a concentration of study in the graduate nursing program.

OUTCOMES
At the conclusion of the program of study leading to the degree of Master of Science in Nursing, the graduate:

• Synthesizes theory and research from nursing, the biopsychosocial sciences, and the humanities in their advanced practice role to care for members of diverse populations.
• Is able to conduct research, collaborate with other researchers from various disciplines, and implement research findings in practice or educational settings.
• Is able to assume the advanced practice role of educator, administrator, researcher, or practitioner.
• Is prepared to assume a leadership role to influence change in health care practice at local, regional, and national levels.
• Articulates and differentiates the various advanced practice roles within nursing.
• Has developed an understanding of the importance of maintaining professional development in their advanced practice role.
• Actively engages in collaborative relationships as an advanced practice nurse with professionals from various disciplines and members of diverse populations to improve health care.
• Has acquired an educational foundation for doctoral study.

PART-TIME OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAM
Opportunities for part-time study are available to students in three of the four program options. Courses are scheduled three semesters per year (fall, spring, and summer) and are offered in the evening to accommodate students who are working full-time.

NOTE: Course offerings in any graduate nursing option are contingent on sufficient enrollment.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Registered nurses who have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited program are eligible to apply for admission to graduate study. Applicants must:

• Submit an application for admission.
• Provide transcripts of all academic work.
• Complete an introductory statistics course and an undergraduate research course with a grade of at least a B in both courses.
• Submit competitive scores from the Graduate Record Examination.
• Provide three letters of recommendation.
• Give evidence of the fulfillment of legal requirements for the practice of nursing in the United States.

NOTE: Specific MSN program options require additional admission criteria.

RESEARCH REQUIREMENT
Each graduate student in nursing is required to conduct a research study and submit a formal research report—a thesis—prior to graduation. This requirement includes nine credits of study—three credits of GNURS 650 Research Methods, three credits of GNURS 651 Research Seminar, and three credits of GNURS 721 Thesis Guidance. Students are guided through the process by a doctorally-prepared nursing faculty member. A student may need more than the 3 credits required for Thesis Guidance to complete their thesis. If additional credits are needed, the student will be directed to take GNURS 684 or GNURS 685 Independent Study credits.

THE CURRICULUM PLAN
The graduate nursing program requires students to complete from 42 to 48 credits. Credit requirements are specific to the advanced practice nursing option selected by the student. Regardless of the area of concentration, all students are required to complete six credits of core nursing knowledge courses—three credits of GNURS 525 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing and three credits of GNURS 526 Role Theory and Professional Issues in Nursing.

Master of Science in Nursing Options

 
  COURSE OF STUDY FOR FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER
The Family Nurse Practitioner option offers students a focus on development and implementation of the nurse practitioner role with families in a rural setting. Ethical dilemmas and legal issues resulting from the expanded role are addressed. Primary care provider and leadership roles in community practice are learned from a theoretical knowledge base in the classroom and a clinical practice base in a variety of settings. Students learn needs assessment approaches for a community-wide system of health care services.

Curriculum Requirements
The planned course sequence that follows is for part-time study:

First Year
Fall Semester
3      GNURS 525 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing    
3      GNURS 590 Advanced Physical Assessment *    
6 Credits

Spring Semester
3      GNURS 526 Role Theory and Professional Issues in Nursing    
3      GNURS 587 Advanced Pathophysiology 1 *       
6 Credits

Second Year
Fall Semester
3      GNURS 650 Research Methods    
3      GNURS 588 Advanced Pathophysiology 2 *    
6 Credits

Spring Semester
3      GNURS 651 Research Seminar    
3      GNURS 589 Pharmacotherapeutics *       
6 Credits

Summer Session
3      GNURS 660 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory 1 *    
3      GNURS 663 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 1 *
1      GNURS 721 Thesis Guidance     
7 Credits

Third Year
Fall Semester
3      GNURS 661 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory 2 *    
4      GNURS 664 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 2 *
1      GNURS 721 Thesis Guidance       
8 Credits

Spring Semester
3      GNURS 662 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory 3 *    
5      GNURS 665 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 3 *
1      GNURS 721 Thesis Guidance      
9 Credits

Total Credits 48     

* indicates courses required for a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

 
Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
For students with an earned MSN, a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate may be earned by taking the 33 didactic and clinical course credits indicated with an asterisk. If the student has not completed a thesis, the research component will be required. Certificate students are admitted on a space-available basis.

 
COURSE OF STUDY FOR MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
The Medical-Surgical Nursing Option offers students a focus on development of an advanced practice nursing role meeting the needs of individuals, families, and populations in a variety of practice settings. Students choose relevant concepts to explore in depth with distinct populations of clients and use current research findings, theory, and advanced practice skills to provide comprehensive nursing care. A variety of clinical sites are available to students to ensure they are able to meet the restoration and rehabilitative needs of clients. The role course and practica in this option allow students to develop expertise as: (1) a clinical nurse specialist, (2) an educator, or (3) an administrator. Regardless of the specific role identified, an integral focus for students in the Medical-Surgical Nursing option is leadership in the investigation of factors that enhance health and quality of life for individuals, families, and populations.

Curriculum Requirements
The planned course sequence that follows is for part-time study:

First Year
Fall Semester
3      GNURS 525 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing     
3      GNURS 590 Advanced Physical Assessment
3      GNURS 641 Advanced Nursing Concepts   
9 Credits

Spring Semester
3      GNURS 526 Role Theory and Professional Issues in Nursing    
3      GNURS 587* Advanced Pathophysiology 1
3      GNURS 642   Advanced Nursing Strategies   
9 Credits

Second Year
Fall Semester
3      GNURS 650  Research Methods   
3      GNURS 588  Advanced Pathophysiology II
3      GNURS 643  Practicum in Medical-Surgical Nursing 1
9 Credits

Spring Semester
3      GNURS 651  Research Seminar
3      GNURS 644  Practicum in Medical-Surgical Nursing 2
3      GNURS 634  Role Options in Medical-Surgical Nursing
9 Credits

Summer Session
1      GNURS 721  Thesis Guidance
Choose ONE of the following three Role Practicum Options:
3      GNURS 635  Role of the Nurse as Clinical Nurse Specialist
3      GNURS 636  Role of the Nurse as Educator
3      GNURS 637  Role of the Nurse as Administrator
4 Credits

Third Year
Fall Semester
1    GNURS 721  Thesis Guidance
1 Credits

Spring Semester
1    GNURS 721  Thesis Guidance
1 Credits

Total Credits 42

 
  COURSE OF STUDY FOR NURSE ANESTHESIA
The Nurse Anesthesia option is designed to provide the professional nurse with an in-depth concentration in clinical anesthesia and prepare graduates of the program to assume the specialized role of nurse anesthetist. Students have the opportunity to use research, collaborate, and contribute effectively to the health care team’s efforts to provide optimal patient care. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the examination of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. This graduate nursing option is a cooperative program between Gannon University and Hamot Medical Center. Students must attend full-time in this option.
 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Professional nurses who have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited program are eligible to apply for admission. NOTE: The Nurse Anesthesia program of study begins only in January.  The application deadline is August 1 of each calendar year. Applicants seeking admission to the Nurse Anesthesia option must:
 

• Submit an application for admission—deadline for submission is August 1 for classes beginning the following January.
• Provide transcripts of all academic work.
• Give evidence of the fulfillment of legal requirements for the practice of nursing in the United States.
• Provide evidence of having completed an introductory statistics course and an undergraduate research course with a grade of at least a B in both courses.
• Provide evidence of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate math and science courses.
• Provide evidence of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for at least 60 hours of undergraduate nursing studies
• Submit competitive scores from the Graduate Record Examination. A combined minimum GRE score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative portions with a score of 3 on the analytical writing portion is required.
• Provide four letters of recommendation from former professors and employers who are in a position to comment on the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue graduate study in the nurse anesthesia option.
• Have at least one year of clinical experience in which critical judgments are made, i.e., critical care, emergency room, etc.
• Be interviewed and selected for admission by the Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing and Hamot Medical Center School of Anesthesia Admission Committee.

Curriculum Requirements
This program of study can only be completed on a full-time basis.

FIRST YEAR
Spring Semester
3	GNURS 525	Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
3	GNURS 561	Chemistry and Physics of Anesthesia *
4	GNURS 627	Physiology for Anesthesia 1
3	GNURS 630	Foundations of Anesthesia Nursing 1*
13 Credits

 

Summer Session
0	GNURS 617	Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 1 *
3	GNURS 625	Pharmacology for Anesthesia 1 *
3	GNURS 628	Physiology for Anesthesia 2 *
3	GNURS 632	Foundations of Anesthesia Nursing 2 *
9 Credits

Fall Semester
0	GNURS 618	Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 2 *
3	GNURS 626	Pharmacology for Anesthesia 2 *
2	GNURS 629	Physiology for Anesthesia 3 *
3	GNURS 650	Research Methods
3	GNURS 725	Advanced Anesthesia Nursing 1 *
11 Credits

 

SECOND YEAR
Spring Semester
3	GNURS 526	Role Theory and Professional Issues in Nursing
0	GNURS 619	Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 3 *
3	GNURS 651	Research Seminar
3	GNURS 726	Advanced Anesthesia Nursing 2 *
9 Credits

Summer Session
0	GNURS 717	Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 4 *
1	GNURS 721	Thesis Guidance 1
1 Credits

Fall Semester
0	GNURS 718	Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 5 *
3	GNURS 731	Integrated Role Seminar *
1	GNURS 721	Thesis Guidance
4 Credits

 

THIRD YEAR
Spring Semester
0	GNURS 719	Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 6 *
1	GNURS 721	Thesis Guidance
1 Total

Total Credits 48

* indicates courses required for a Nurse Anesthesia Certificate

 
The Nurse Anesthesia program and Certificate options are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

Nurse Anesthesia Certificate
For students with an earned MSN, a Nurse Anesthesia Certificate may be earned by taking the didactic and clinical courses indicated with an asterisk. If the student has not previously completed a thesis, the research component will be required. Certificate students must meet all admission eligibility requirements and are admitted on a space-available basis only.

 
COURSE OF STUDY FOR NURSING ADMINISTRATION
Specialization in Nursing Administration focuses on the role the nurse executive must assume to administer resources for the provision of nursing care delivery. Emphasis is placed on the analysis and synthesis of advanced concepts from both nursing and business—as well as systematic investigation of the concepts underlying nursing and leadership roles in changing environments and complex health care organizations.  

The curriculum provides up-to-date information on today’s health care environment and explores the implications of that environment for health care organizations, individual nursing departments, and patient populations. The curriculum prepares nurse executives to work effectively in leadership roles within today’s health care practice arena.
 

Curriculum Requirements
The planned course sequence that follows is for part-time study:

FIRST YEAR
Fall Semester
3	GMBA 773	Labor Management
3	GNURS 510	Financial Dimensions of Health Care
3	GNURS 525	Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
9 Credits

Spring Semester
3	GNURS 526	Role Theory and Professional Issues in Nursing
3	GNURS 675	Nursing Administration Theory 1
3	GNURS 677	Nursing Administration Practicum 1
9 Credits

Summer Session
3		Elective
3 Credits

* Students are to identify a course within the University that will help them develop expertise in a specific
area. Elective credits can be from the School of Nursing, but may also be taken from other Graduate
Programs within the University.

SECOND YEAR
Fall Semester
3	GNURS 676	Nursing Administration Theory 2
3	GNURS 678	Nursing Administration Practicum 2
3	GNURS 650	Research Methods
9 Credits

Spring Semester
3	GNURS 651	Research Seminar
3	GNURS 512	Legal/Ethical Concerns in Health Care
3	GNURS 513	Organizational Analysis of Health Care Administration
9 Credits

Summer Session
1	GNURS 721	Thesis Guidance
1 Credits

THIRD YEAR
Fall Semester
1	GNURS 721	Thesis Guidance
1 Credits

Spring Semester
1	GNURS 721	Thesis Guidance
1 Credits

Total Credits 42

  COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

GNURS 510 Financial Dimensions of Health Care
3 credits
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of the program director. This course is open to all graduate students.
This course examines the financial implications of health care. Content provides an overview of health care business practices—including accounting, finance, marketing, health policy, and reimbursement. This course prepares advanced practice nurse managers and administrators to operate effectively in the fiscally responsible environment required in the current health care practice arena.


GNURS 512 Legal/Ethical Concerns in Health Care
3 credits
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
Health care practitioners—including nurses—are facing increased legal, moral, and ethical dilemmas in daily professional practice. This course provides a systematic examination of the legal basis for professional practice and examines the practical application of the principles of law and ethics to health care situations.


GNURS 513 Organizational Analysis of Health Care Administration
3 credits
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
This course provides a systematic examination of a specific conceptual model of organizational management that is applicable to any organization in which health care administrators function. This model was identified for examination because it fosters analytic thinking, is applicable to any organization, and facilitates integration of knowledge from many disciplines.


GNURS 515 Native American Peoples: State of the Nation’s Health
3 credits
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the program director. This course is open to all graduate students.
This course provides an opportunity to explore the state of Native American health. Students explore historical, legal, socioeconomic, and cultural factors that impact the current status of Native Americans. Students also explore their own attitudes and beliefs regarding the Native American culture. Students are guided to an understanding of these concepts through exposure to Native American art, music, and literature, as well as interactions with Native Americans. The issue of sovereignty and Native healing practices are central.
 

GNURS 525 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
3 credits
Core course.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
This course provides an overview of nursing theories and models. Course work provides the student an opportunity to examine the development of concepts applicable to nursing, as well as the explication and utilization of specific theories in the delivery of nursing care. Emphasis is on theory construction and the role that theory plays in providing the scientific basis for the practice of nursing. Offered fall and spring semesters.

GNURS 526 Role Theory and Professional Issues in Nursing
3 credits
Core course.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
GNURS 525 is Prerequisite or Corequisite to GNURS 526
This course deals with the examination of theories underlying the construction and definition of roles in society, with emphasis on the acquisition and meaning of advanced practice nursing roles. Professional issues and advanced practice roles are examined for their interrelatedness within the health care system. Emphasis is on role development, leadership, and research, and how these provide the basis for planned change within the health care system and the nursing profession. Offered spring semester.

GNURS 535 Fundamentals of Forensic Nursing
3 credits
Elective: Graduate standing or permission of the program director. This course is open to all graduate students.
This course provides introductory knowledge and nursing strategies to better meet the needs of individuals affected by forensic-related health care situations. The ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes. Course content explores the history and development of forensic nursing as a scientific subspecialty of nursing, the forensic nursing process, and application of the forensic nursing role. Forensic topics include sexual assault management; death investigation; child death review; abuse and neglect recognition and investigation; emergency department procedures; violence and victimology; and injury identification and interpretation. The recognition, collection, preservation, and documentation of forensic evidence is presented in depth. How forensic nursing interfaces with the law and legal issues are presented.

GNURS 561 Chemistry and Physics of Anesthesia
3 credits
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Nurse Anesthesia option.
Corequisites: GNURS 627 & GNURS 630
This course investigates the basic principles of chemistry and physics as they relate to the clinical practice of anesthesia. Course content includes mechanics, fluids, gases, electricity, electronics, and instruments as they relate to the practice of anesthesia.

GNURS 583 Special Topics in Nursing
1 to 3 credits
Special topics enables faculty in the School of Nursing to offer seminars, courses, or workshops in a specialized area of nursing. Requests for special topic courses can be initiated by graduate nursing students to complete program requirements.

GNURS 587 Advanced Pathophysiology 1
GNURS 588 Advanced Pathophysiology 2
3 credits each
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
GNURS 587 is prerequisite to GNURS 588.
This two-course series is designed to provide didactic learning experiences that enable students to incorporate advanced knowledge specific to normal aging processes, physiology, and pathology of all major body systems into their advanced practice nursing role. GNURS 587 offered spring semester; GNURS 588 offered fall semester.

GNURS 589 Pharmacotherapeutics
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 587
This course provides an in-depth analysis of the principles of pharmacology for registered nurses in an advanced practice role. Course content identifies the clinical judgment necessary for identifying the appropriate drug, dose, route, frequency, duration of treatment, and nursing interventions necessary when presented with patients experiencing particular symptoms or disease states. In this decision-making process, patient factors such as age, renal function, hepatic function, concurrent disease states, and current medications as well as pharmacologic factors such as pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and toxicity are identified.
 

GNURS 590 Advanced Physical Assessment
3 credits
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
This course expands nursing physical assessment skills to the level of advanced practice. Skills addressed include taking a health history, and physical, psychological, cognitive, and social assessments. Physical assessment skills span all age groups, but the focus in this course is on the adult. Advanced inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation skills are taught and practiced. Emphasis is on the application of knowledge specific to human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology to physical assessment.

GNURS 617 Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 1
0 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 630 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
The clinical Nurse Anesthesia curriculum is designed to allow the nurse anesthetist student integrate didactic learning into the clinical practice of anesthesia. Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 1 provides the foundation for clinical practice. An appropriate orientation to clinical practice precedes the initial clinical experience where basic anesthesia skills are learned and practiced.

GNURS 618 Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 2
0 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 617 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 2 builds on the basic skills learned in Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 1. It provides the nurse anesthetist student the opportunity to improve their basic anesthesia skills. Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 2 builds on the student’s basic anesthesia knowledge and comprehension. The student demonstrates the use of didactic knowledge learned in the classroom and skills learned in the clinical setting to meet the perioperative needs of patients.

GNURS 619 Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 3
0 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 618 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 3 builds on the advanced skills learned in Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 2. It provides the nurse anesthetist student the opportunity to improve their basic anesthesia skills. Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 3 builds on the student’s anesthesia knowledge and comprehension. The student demonstrates the use of didactic knowledge learned in the classroom and skills learned in the clinical setting to meet the perioperative needs of a variety of patients. Students begin to take a more active role in the decision-making process specific to the anesthesia needs of their patients.


GNURS 625 Pharmacology for Anesthesia 1
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 561 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
This course is the first in a two-course series. It provides in-depth knowledge specific to anesthesia pharmacology to nurse anesthetist students. Course content includes the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anesthetic agents, muscle relaxants, and local agents. Emphasis is on knowledge specific to the uptake and distribution of anesthetics, as well as the metabolism, excretion, and elimination of anesthetic drugs.

GNURS 626 Pharmacology for Anesthesia 2
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 625 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
This course is the second in a two-course series for nurse anesthetist students specific to anesthesia pharmacology. Course content includes the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the accessory drugs used in anesthesia practice. Emphasis is on drugs affecting the autonomic system, the central nervous system, and the cardiovascular system. The information presented in this course is requisite knowledge for the effective clinical practice of anesthesia.

GNURS 627 Physiology for Anesthesia 1
4 credits
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Nurse Anesthesia option.
Corequisites: GNURS 561 & GNURS 630
This course is the first in a three-course series for nurse anesthetist students. Course content presents a detailed, systematic investigation of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the cardiopulmonary system. Emphasis is on the integration of this knowledge into planning, implementation, and evaluation of care strategies for patients requiring anesthesia.

GNURS 628 Physiology for Anesthesia 2
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 627
This course is the second in a three-course series for nurse anesthetist students. Course content presents a detailed, systematic investigation of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the endocrine and renal systems, including fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base physiology. Emphasis is on the integration of this knowledge into planning, implementation, and evaluation of care strategies for patients requiring anesthesia.

GNURS 629 Physiology for Anesthesia 3
2 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 628
This course is the third in a three-course series for nurse anesthetist students. Course content presents a detailed, systematic investigation of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the neuromuscular system. Emphasis is on the integration of this knowledge into planning, implementation, and evaluation of care strategies for patients requiring anesthesia.

GNURS 630 Foundations of Anesthesia Nursing 1
3 credits
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Nurse Anesthesia option.
Corequisites: GNURS 561 & GNURS 627
This course is the first in a two-course series. It provides nurse anesthesia students with an introduction to the art and science of anesthesia. Course content identifies basic concepts of anesthesia and introduces the student to techniques and procedures specific to the practice of anesthesia. Reinforcement of didactic principles is accomplished by practice sessions in a structured laboratory setting.

GNURS 632 Foundations of Anesthesia Nursing 2
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 630
This course is the second in a two-course series for nurse anesthesia students. Course content includes progressive, guided instruction in the clinical anesthesia management of patients undergoing obstetrical, pediatric, orthopedic, and urologic surgery. Inpatient, outpatient, and trauma settings are included. Legal aspects of the practice of anesthesia are addressed. Reinforcement of didactic principles continues.

GNURS 634 Role Options in Medical-Surgical Nursing
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 525 & GNURS 526 or permission of the program director.
This course provides didactic content specific to the three major role options available to graduate nursing students enrolled in the medical-surgical nursing option. Course content presents concepts specific to the required knowledge and focus necessary to be an effective (1) clinical nurse specialist, (2) educator, or (3) administrator. Students self-identify which role they wish to pursue and use their decision to focus on a clinical practica option to meet their professional goals.

GNURS 635 Role of the Nurse as Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 634
Alternative: GNURS 636 or GNURS 637
This is one of three practicum options for the medical-surgical nursing student [only one practicum in the series is required]. The focus is on incorporating the educator role into the provision of patient care. With input from the faculty facilitator, the student self-identifies all components of the practicum experience-including setting, population being served, outcomes, and specific strategies to meet outcomes

GNURS 636 Role of the Nurse as Educator Practicum
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 634
Alternative: GNURS 635 or GNURS 637
This is one of three practicum options for the medical-surgical nursing student [only one practicum in the series is required]. The focus is on incorporating the educator role into the provision of patient care. With input from the faculty facilitator, the student self-identifies all components of the practicum experience-including setting, population being served, outcomes, and specific strategies to meet outcomes.

GNURS 637 Role of the Nurse as Administrator Practicum
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 634
Alternative: GNURS 635 or GNURS 636
This is one of three practicum options for the medical-surgical nursing student [only one practicum in the series is required]. The focus is on incorporating the educator role into the provision of patient care. With input from the faculty facilitator, the student self-identifies all components of the practicum experience-including setting, population being served, outcomes, and specific strategies to meet outcomes.

GNURS 641 Advanced Nursing Concepts
3 credits
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the program director.
This course provides in-depth analysis of advanced nursing concepts specific to the physiological, psychosocial, cognitive, and spiritual health of the adult client. Emphasis is on exploring the meaning and critical attributes of these concepts. This exploration is necessary, as it enables the nurse to describe the human responses that occur during the process of caring for, with, and about clients.

GNURS 642 Advanced Nursing Strategies
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 641 or permission of the program director.
This course builds on the knowledge learned from GNURS 641. In this course, the student designs nursing strategies based on an in-depth analysis of a student-identified concept. Emphasis is on the exploration of creative and innovative strategies which are supported by the nursing literature. In addition, consideration is given to strategies for creating an environment in which advanced nursing practice can flourish. The theory/practice gap is examined and methods for eliminating that gap are explored.

GNURS 643 Practicum in Medical-Surgical Nursing 1
GNURS 644 Practicum in Medical-Surgical Nursing 2
3 credits each
Prerequisites: GNURS 641 & GNURS 642 or permission of the program director.
These practica are designed to permit medical-surgical nursing students to develop specific therapeutic strategies, demonstrate advanced clinical competencies, and accomplish individually-developed goals. The student self-identifies all components of the experience—including setting, patient population. objectives, and specific strategies to meet objectives—with input from the faculty facilitator.

 GNURS 650 Research Methods
3 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 525
This course involves the systematic examination of the research process and the various quantitative and qualitative methodologies available to researchers, including nurse researchers. Focus is on the methods and processes of systematic investigation, including critical analysis of studies, and analysis of the dynamic relationships among the various design, implementation, and evaluation components of research. This course provides graduate nursing students with the fundamental knowledge necessary to design and conduct a research study. Offered fall semester.

GNURS 651 Research Seminar
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 650 or permission of the program director.
This seminar provides peer and faculty support to students developing their graduate research proposals. The major emphasis includes refining an area of research, identifying a researchable question, exploring the literature and critiquing literature relevant to the research area, determining the appropriate method to answer the research question, and identifying a thesis chairperson for GNURS 721 Thesis Guidance. The majority of seminar sessions are devoted to student presentations of their research plans with group feedback to strengthen the proposal. Offered spring semester.

GNURS 660 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory 1
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 587, GNURS 588, GNURS 589 & GNURS 590  and graduate standing in the Family Nurse Practitioner option.
Corequisite: GNURS 663
This course presents theoretical knowledge and skills necessary for the nurse practitioner student to develop effective strategies to analyze, manage, and prevent episodic problems common to a specific population of patients—women, from adolescence through post-menopause, residing in rural areas.

GNURS 661 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory 2
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 660 & GNURS 663  and graduate standing in the Family Nurse Practitioner option.
Corequisite: GNURS 664
This course presents theoretical knowledge and skills necessary for the nurse practitioner student to develop nursing competency in rural pediatric primary care practice. Course content includes health care strategies to assist clients and families in coping with health problems affecting infants through adolescents. Emphasis is on health promotion and disease prevention and intervention into the health needs and problems of this patient population in rural areas.


GNURS 662 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory 3
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 661 & GNURS 664  and graduate standing in the Family Nurse Practitioner option.
Corequisite: GNURS 665
This course focuses on being a Family Nurse Practitioner in rural settings—settings that meet the health care needs of an adult population. This focus includes health promotion, episodic illness care, stable chronic illness care, and awareness of dealing with emergency situations that can present at rural health care sites. Ethical dilemmas and legal issues resulting from expectations of nurses in this advanced practice role will be addressed. Leadership roles in community practice will be discussed from a theoretical knowledge base. Content will be presented specific to conducting a needs assessment in rural communities to ensure organization of health services that provide for stabilization and continuity of health care.

GNURS 663 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 1
3 credits
Corequisite: GNURS 660  and graduate standing in the Family Nurse Practitioner option.
This clinical practicum focuses on clinical application of theoretical knowledge and skills for the development of nurse practitioner strategies for health promotion and management of problems common to female clients and their families in rural communities.

GNURS 664 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 2
4 credits
Corequisite: GNURS 661 and graduate standing in the Family Nurse Practitioner option.
This clinical practicum focuses on clinical application of theoretical knowledge and skills for the development of nurse practitioner strategies for health promotion and management of problems common to pediatric and adolescent clients in rural communities.

GNURS 665 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 3
5 credits
Corequisite: GNURS 662
This clinical practicum focuses on synthesis and evaluation of nurse practitioner clinical experiences. The development and implementation of the role as family nurse practitioner in providing for the health care needs of clients in rural communities is evaluated. Emphasis is on the ability of the student to integrate theoretical and clinical components in an ambulatory care setting within a rural, community-wide system.

GNURS 675 Nursing Administration Theory 1
GNURS 676 Nursing Administration Theory 2
3 credits each
Prerequisites: GNURS 525, GNURS 650, GNURS 510, GNURS 513, & GNURS 512 or permission of the program director.
These two courses provide knowledge specific to being effective in nursing administration. Course content focuses on the management process—including planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. The process is viewed as a series of actions or operations leading toward a goal. The first course looks at a beginning-level management position. The second course explores the role of a nurse executive.

GNURS 677 Nursing Administration Practicum 1
GNURS 678 Nursing Administration Practicum 2
3 credits each
Prerequisites: GNURS 675 &, GNURS 676 or permission of the program director.
These clinical practica provide the nursing administration student experience in appropriate agencies with selected preceptors. Practicum experiences are individualized to meet student needs. The student
self-identifies all components of the experience—including setting, objectives, and specific strategies to meet objectives—with input from the faculty facilitator.


GNURS 684 or GNURS 685 Independent Study
1 to 3 credits
This course is designed to provide graduate students with learning experiences that enable them to independently explore a specific area of nursing. Exploration can focus on issues related to education, administration, practice, legislation or scientific inquiry. The student self-identifies all components of the experience—including objectives, and specific strategies to meet objectives—with input from the faculty facilitator.

GNURS 717 Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 4
0 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 619 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 4 builds on the advanced skills learned in Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 3. The nurse anesthetist student will be given the opportunity to experience more difficult cases and apply new learning. The student will be required to begin demonstrating higher levels of application and comprehension in clinical practice.

GNURS 718 Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 5
0 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 717 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 5 builds on the advanced skills learned in Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 4. It provides the nurse anesthetist student the opportunity to be more independent in meeting the anesthesia needs of their patients.

GNURS 719 Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 6
0 credits
Prerequisite: GNURS 718 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
Anesthesia Clinical Practicum 6 builds on the advanced skills learned across the anesthesia curriculum. Nurse anesthesia students are now expected to be as independent as possible in the practice of anesthesia.

GNURS 721 Thesis Guidance
1 to 3 credits (total of 3 credits required)
Prerequisites: GNURS 650 & GNURS 651 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
This course is designed to provide graduate nursing students individualized guidance as they complete the research requirement of their program of study. The focus is on enabling the student to effectively use the research process in systematic inquiry aimed at discovery. The student may use either quantitative or qualitative methods in answering identified researchable questions within their optional course of study. Offered each semester.

GNURS 725 Advanced Anesthesia Nursing 1
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 632 and graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
This course provides content specific to the application of didactic information to clinical situations. Nurse anesthetist students are introduced to anesthesia specialties in a seminar format. Specialties include: pediatric, cardiovascular, otolaryngolic, and anesthesia for uncommon disease.

GNURS 726 Advanced Anesthesia Nursing 2
3 credits
Prerequisites: GNURS 725
This course provides detailed instruction into the art and science of regional anesthesia and pain management. Reinforcement of didactic principles will be gained throughout the course by video, computer, and mannequin simulation.

GNURS 731 Integrated Role Seminar
3 credits
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the Nurse Anesthesia option.
This course introduces the nurse anesthetist student to areas of professional responsibility. A wide range of topics are discussed. This course is designed to assist the student in analysis and evaluation of their professional role.
 

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