Master of Science in Nursing (RN to MSN)

This course includes experiences and instruction that promote professional communication. Content includes correct utilization of the American Psychological Association (APA) style, construction of professional papers and emails, and using common presentation software. This course is designed to be taken either concurrently or before the first nursing course in which the student is enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

An introduction to basic knowledge and skills necessary to obtain a detailed health assessment of individuals across the age continuum. The biological, sociological, and psychological aspects of human beings are addressed. Emphasis is placed on obtaining a systematic health history and physical exam using the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Supervised laboratory and clinical allow the student the opportunity to practice the assessment skills introduced in class. (2 credit hours theory; 1 credit hour clinical)

This introduction to the study of ethics uses primary sources for the analysis of present day ethical dilemmas in health care. The course examines some of the prominent moral principles and systems of the western tradition from Aristotle to the present and how those principles are applied to issues in health care ethics.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor.

This course provides an introduction to the research process and prepares students to be beginning consumers of nursing research. Emphasis is placed on critically evaluating nursing research studies and understanding the process of utilizing research for evidence-based practice. Various types of research and research methods as well as basic statistical methods will be discussed.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the B.S.N. program.

Pre or corequisite(s): Statistics course.

This course assumes the student possesses basic leadership and management skills, and further examines the role of the baccalaureate nurse as a manager in health care organizations. The roles of the nurse manager are analyzed for each of the management functions: planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. External factors influencing the nurse manager are also examined. Students are able to select their clinical experience in management from a variety of health care organizations and settings. (3 credit hours theory; 1 credit hour clinical)

Pre or corequisite(s): NURS 231 Nursing Theories.

This course focuses on the application of community health nursing concepts with individuals, families, and groups. Emphasis is placed on applying the nursing process to problems of persons from a variety of cultural groups and to those with developmental and situational crises.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 231 Nursing Theories, NURS 233 Health Assessment, and a lifespan development course.

This course focuses on the application of community health nursing concepts with selected individuals, families, groups and communities. Health concerns of the group/community are identified and addressed using health program planning skills. Research is evaluated for its use in community health settings.

Prerequisite(s): NURS-205, NURS 231 Nursing Theories, NURS 233 Health Assessment, NURS 234 Health Care Ethics, NURS 236 Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice, NURS 240 Management and Leadership in Health Care, and NURS 245 Nursing of Families and Groups in the Community.

This course examines selected concepts needed to develop sound judgment about data analysis and appropriate use of statistics. The course prepares students to interpret and critically analyze the results of health care research.

Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate statistics course or permission of the program director.

This course focuses on quantitative and qualitative research areas and methods used in health care. Analysis of the research process and application of research findings to health care will be emphasized. Students will design a best practice proposal related to an identified problem in nursing, health outcomes of a specific population or nursing education. At the end of the course students will have completed a literature review and methods section for a research project.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program.

Using Leininger's Cultural Care Diversity and Universality Theory, this course analyzes the social, political, economic, and cultural factors related to transcultural health care. Students will examine the interactions of consumers, providers, and health care systems in the provision of quality health care with an emphasis on persons of color and persons who are immigrants to the United States.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program.

This course examines selected concepts and theories that are derived from nursing and other disciplines for applicability to practice in a variety of health care settings. Strategies used in applying and evaluating nursing theories in relation to providing care will be discussed.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program.

This course examines multiple factors affecting the provision of care in an ever-changing health care system. The U.S. health policy-making system; ethical, legal, and political aspects of health care; and health care delivery systems will be explored, particularly in relation to their impact on nursing practice and nurses' ability to provide care. A historical perspective will facilitate a) identification of critical issues, b) understanding of how they developed to their current status, and c) examination of what options might exist for current and future resolution of these issues.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program.

This course introduces women's health with an emphasis on global issues. Women's health will be examined using the influences of social, political, economic, cultural, and geographical factors. Students will examine the basic health needs of all women and compare the availability of and types of services in different parts of the world.

Prerequisite(s): GEND 090 Introduction to Gender Studies or SOC-003 or a beginning level anthropology course or permission of the instructor.

An opportunity for individual students to engage in a special project, research, clinical experience, writing, or guided readings. Conducted under the supervision of a member of the nursing program. Special Projects may not duplicate courses described in the catalog.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the BSN program and approval of the program director.

The focus of this course is on educational theories and issues, and their implications for the teaching process. Teaching and learning distinctions, the domains of learning, and assessment of student learning outcomes are components of this course.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 505 Research and Evidence Based Practice in Nursing and Health Care, NURS 510 Transcultural Health Care, and NURS 515 Concepts and Theories in Nursing.

This course focuses on the analysis and application of curriculum theory in the development and evaluation of programs in nursing education. Development of programs for continuing education for professionals and/or the public also is a component of the course.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 550 Principles of Teaching and Learning.

This course assists the nurse educator in the development of innovative nursing education strategies in an area of practice of the student's choice. Emphasis is placed on research-based practice in education through the application of models and theories and the development of strategies for targeted populations. The majority of the course is web based; however, students meet face to face the first and last weeks of the term.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 552 Curriculum Development and Program Planning in Nursing.

Corequisite(s): NURS 556 Teaching Strategies and Evaluation.

This course focuses on teaching strategies to enhance the organization and the delivery of educational content. Assessment of student outcomes and of educational programs is also emphasized.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 552 Curriculum Development and Program Planning in Nursing.

This course focuses on the analysis and application of program planning and on planning the development and evaluation of programs for continuing education for professionals and/or the public.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 553 Innovative Nursing Education Strategies and NURS 556 Teaching Strategies and Evaluation, or permission of the program director.

Emphasis of this course is the implementation of the nursing education experience designed in Nursing 557. Students also evaluate existing online nursing education experiences ranging from continuing education credit to entire nursing education programs.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 557 Program Planning in Nursing or permission of the instructor.

This course examines the multiple roles of the nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations, including long term care, community based care, hospitals and larger integrated delivery systems. Students develop knowledge in the area of health care regulations and accreditation including the impact of technology in the health care environment.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 510 Transcultural Health Care.

This course provides basic knowledge of macro- and micro-economics and their relationship to the health care system in the United States. Concepts associated with supply and demand, normative and positive economics, utility, scarcity, choice, and marginality are explored in terms of the health care system. The concept of health as an investment opportunity and as a consumer good is also explored. In addition, the United States health care system is studied from an economic point of view. Economic decision making in light of professional ethics is emphasized.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 540 Nursing Leadership and Management I.

This course provides an overview of the concepts of financial analysis, financial and managerial accounting, and budgetary practices as they relate to the health care industry. Accounting concepts are understood with the assistance of electronic spreadsheet applications. Financial concepts are understood through the analysis of both for-profit and not-for-profit corporate accounting and public reporting.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 540 Nursing Leadership and Management I and NURS 541 Economic Policy in the Health Care System.

This course examines the leadership role of the nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations. Content includes leadership theories, motivation, conflict resolution, workforce planning, implementing planned change and effective administration of culturally diverse health care systems.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 540 Nursing Leadership and Management I and NURS 541 Economic Policy in the Health Care System.

This course provides the student with experience functioning within selected components of the role of the nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations, including long term care, community based care, hospitals, and larger integrated delivery systems. Students are paired with a nurse executive or case manager with a mutually agreed upon agency.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 540 Nursing Leadership and Management I, NURS 541 Economic Policy in the Health Care System, NURS 542 Finance and Accounting in the Health Care System, and NURS 546 Nursing Leadership and Management II.

This course prepares the student to develop the role of case manager in a variety of settings. The student will use the stages of managed care to determine current agency progress and project future organizational status and programs. Students will develop a set of indicators of effectiveness and quality of care as well as plan for their analyses.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 542 Finance and Accounting in the Health Care System and NURS 546 Nursing Leadership and Management II, or permission of the program director.

This course presents information needed by a nurse entrepreneur to develop innovative forms of nursing practice and care delivery. Emphasis is placed on acquiring skills to develop a nursing business plan, including financial and legal components. Implementation of risk management and total quality improvement plans within the role of the small business setting are also covered.

Prerequisite(s): NURS 541 Economic Policy in the Health Care System and NURS 542 Finance and Accounting in the Health Care System.

This course is a culmination of the graduate nursing courses in which the student will develop, implement, and evaluate a multi-faceted program related to the student's M.S.N. specialty area. The program will be research-based and incorporate theories, skills, and methodologies from prior course work. Emphasis will be placed on target populations and the compatibility of the project with the mission and culture of the organization in which the project is being conducted. NURS 599 Major Project in Nursing may not be repeated.

Prerequisite(s): All other courses in the designated MSN specialty area.

A survey of the mechanisms of diseases and fundamental disease processes of each organ system. Special topics related to the study of diseases will be assigned.

Prerequisite(s): BIO 009 Human Anatomy and Physiology, and BIO 010 Human Anatomy and Physiology, or BIO 246 Human and Comparative Anatomy and BIO 262 Human and Comparative Physiology, or permission of the instructor.

(Normally offered each semester.)

This class will provide a prospective on the changes that take place during an individual's life from infancy to old age/death. Participants will study and describe the developing person at different periods in the lifespan. The processes of growth and change taking place in early, middle, and late adulthood will be considered as well as the more traditional concern with development in childhood.