Online MSN: FNP Program

This course, the first within the Family, Primary Care, and Community sequence, addresses selected family, primary care, and community theories within the context of advanced practice nursing and clinical leadership roles. The family system is viewed as both unique and dynamic, existing interdependently with the community and the environment and requiring advanced nursing expertise and caring at various times across the life cycle. Particular emphasis is placed on family and community assessment strategies, the impact of culture upon the family and community systems, and the impact of various primary care-oriented health problems on family roles and functions. In addition, relevant concepts and principles of epidemiology are applied to the current and emerging health status of families and communities. Faculty collaborate with students as they apply advanced clinical knowledge to the family system in a community setting. Students function interdependently with other health team members in the care of families and evaluate a plan of care using standards for advanced clinical practice.

This class focuses on the pharmacotherapeutic principles of drugs most commonly used in the primary care setting. Topics include the pharmacologic effects and clinical uses of various drug groups and classifications. Emphasis is placed on rational drug therapy for agent selection, monitoring drug therapies, identification and avoidance of adverse drug reactions and interactions, and extensive patient education and counseling.

Students learn to assess in the biopsychosocial health status of clients across the life span in depth by obtaining a complete and accurate health history and by performing a thorough physical examination, then using the acquired data to formulate a working medical diagnosis. Content is designed to provide correlation of assessment strategies with an understanding of the mechanisms of illness and health problems of the main body systems, as well as to address the integration of common medical testing. Students explore role of the advanced practice nurse in the current health care delivery system. The laboratory component enables students to develop advanced assessment skills.

This is the first of four clinical courses in this online nurse practitioner program designed to enable students to learn problem-solving skills and clinical strategies necessary to socialize into the role of the Family Nurse Practitioner. Coursework introduces students to a systematic approach to understanding the delivery of primary health care to the well adult. Various principles of illness prevention and health maintenance are introduced, as well as methodologies used to diagnose and treat common primary care problems. Emphasis is on the consultation role component of the nurse practitioner as well as on the direct provision of primary care and health promotion.

This course further prepares each student to assess in-depth the pathophysiology of common disease states. Clinical pathology content addresses alterations in major body systems that are commonly found in the primary care settings, as well as common testing used in the diagnostic process. This course assists the student in the role of advanced practice nurse with the preparation to assess clients across the lifespan.

Primary Care of Children applies knowledge of wellness and prevention to children, focusing on birth through adolescence. Topics include health promotion/maintenance, growth and development, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common acute and chronic illnesses in diverse infant, child, and adolescent populations. Emphasis is placed on a primary, collaborative, community approach with interprofessional teams as a foundation for clinical practice. In addition to didactic, students participate in clinical experiences.

Primary Women’s Healthcare introduces the Family Nurse Practitioner student to well woman care and care of the antepartum woman. The course will enable students to participate in clinical decision making in the primary care of women, from adolescents through the menopause transition. Gynecologic and antepartum management including cervical and breast cancer screenings, contraceptive care, acute and chronic gynecologic pathologies, and healthy prenatal examinations will be covered. In addition to didactic, students participate in clinical experiences.

Primary Care II: Advanced Primary Care of Families in Complex Systems
The fourth of four clinical courses designed to enable graduate FNP students to learn problem-solving skills and clinical strategies necessary to diagnose and treat common and complex primary care problems found in complex adult families and their members. Emphasis is on the leadership role component of the nurse practitioner as well as on the direct provision of primary care. In addition to classes, students participate in clinical experiences.
Prerequisites: NU 566, NU 551, NU 552, NU 561, NU 606, and NU 607