Online MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader 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 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.

This course prepares the learner to assess in depth the biopsychosocial health status of clients across the lifespan by obtaining a complete and accurate health history and by performing a systematic physical examination. Acquired data will be used to formulate a comprehensive problem list for the client and to refine documentation skills. Content will be designed to provide correlation of assessment strategies with an understanding of the mechanisms of illness and health problems of the main body systems. Health and wellness in the context of disability will be addressed. This course assists in the socialization of the learner into the role of the clinical nurse leader or nurse educator in the current healthcare delivery system. The simulation component enables the learner to develop comprehensive assessment and patient education skills and empathy.
Prerequisite: NU 602

This course will focus on the pharmacotherapeutic principles of drugs most commonly used and evaluated by Master’s prepared nurse across healthcare settings. Basic pharmacological concepts, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics, as well as the principle classifications of drugs in clinical use today are discussed in relation to physiologic and psychologic concepts. The role of the Master’s prepared nurse in teaching patients safe and effective medication administration and assessment of medication management and patients with chronic disease is emphasized. A variety of interactive and experiential activities will be utilized to enable the student to apply pharmacological theory to clinical situations and patient education.

This course examines the Clinical Nurse Leader’s (CNL’s) responsibility for the management of healthcare across the lifespan and continuum of care while remaining cognizant of the global environment in which healthcare is provided. It is designed to introduce the student to the evolution of the CNL role and responsibilities as well as how the CNL functions as a member of the profession. Theory and research based knowledge in the design, coordination, and evaluation of the delivery of client care will be reviewed with special attention to financial and resource management together with quality improvement. Communication skills and strategies necessary to interact and collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team in addition to developing a therapeutic alliance with the patient will be discussed.

This course is designed to introduce the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) to concepts directed towards maximizing patient outcomes through the management of illness and disease across the lifespan. The social, physical, psychological, and spiritual responses of the individual, family or caregiver to illness/ disease will be examined. Strategies for empowering patients and families to manage their chronic condition will be emphasized. Students will explore concepts of health promotion, illness prevention, and health maintenance of clients (individual, group, and/or community). Research on the outcomes of case and disease management is covered along with strategies for identifying and measuring outcomes of care. Understanding will aid the CNL in empowering the students, healthcare team, patients and families to manage chronic health conditions and to improve the design and delivery of health care services.

This is the first course in the nursing sequence for the role immersion experience for the Clinical Nurse Leader. Integration of prior coursework related to advanced assessment and pathophysiology, pharmacology, information systems, ethics, research, evidence-based practice and health care systems occurs through clinical role practice, with a preceptor. Through this experience the student will develop an evidence-based improvement project. The course provides the opportunity for in- depth analysis of the CNL role within various health care settings and specialties. The immersion experience focuses on the role of the clinical nurse leader as clinician, outcomes manager, client manager, client advocate, educator, information manager, systems analyst/risk anticipator, team member, member of the profession, and lifelong learner. The preceptor provides guidance and support as CNL students identify and confirm the role components of the CNL while analyzing the organizational context for this new role.
Prerequisites: NU 611, NU 612

This is the second and final course in the nursing sequence for the role immersion experience for the Clinical Nurse Leader. Integration of prior coursework related to advanced assessment and pathophysiology, pharmacology, information systems, ethics, research, evidence-based practice and health care systems occurs through clinical role practice, with a preceptor. Through this experience the student will develop an evidence-based improvement project. The course provides the opportunity for in- depth analysis of the CNL role within various health care settings and specialties. The immersion experience focuses on the role of the clinical nurse leader as clinician, outcomes manager, client manager, client advocate, educator, information manager, systems analyst/risk anticipator, team member, member of the profession, and lifelong learner. The preceptor provides guidance and support as CNL students identify and confirm the role components of the CNL while analyzing the organizational context for this new role.
Prerequisite: NU 680