GRADUATE HANDBOOK

Appendix A: Graduate Nursing Courses

The following courses are offered in the graduate nursing program on a rotating basis.  Required courses are generally offered on a set schedule, while elective offerings may vary from year to year depending on student enrollment and faculty availability.  Always check the on-line Schedule of Classes, to confirm the availability of the class:  https://banwebf.calumet.purdue.edu/pls/proddad/WEBCLIST.P_InputQuery .  Room locations can also be accessed from the on-line schedule.  

NUR 500:   Theoretical Constructs in Nursing
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisite:  NUR 501
This course examines nursing theories from both theoretical and pragmatic points of view.  Content includes the historical significance of theory development, the relative scientific position of current nursing theories, and contemporary applications of theory in nursing research and practice.  Major focuses include analysis of concepts, systematic examination of theories and conceptual frameworks, and the initial development of a personal philosophical view of nursing as it relates to advanced nursing practice.

NUR 501:   Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing
Class 2, Lab 0, Credit 2
Explores the historical and contemporary context of advanced practice nursing.  Provides students with the content necessary for them to gain the most from their graduate school experiences, to make informed choices concerning career goals for advanced practice nursing, and to follow the educational paths that fit their individual goals.  Students apply skills in information mastery and acquisition, analysis, and utilization, as they examine models and role competencies of the Advanced Practice Nurse.

NUR 502:   Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3 
Prerequisite:  Graduate student standing or consent of advisor.
Course includes both pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacokinetics of broad categories of pharmacologic agents. Covers principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions, special populations considerations, in addition to the regulations relevant to prescriptive authority for advanced practice nurses. Provides the basis of more specific pharmacologic management in subsequent courses.

NUR 503:   Advanced Health Assessment
(Fall, Spring)  Class 2, Lab 1, Credit 3
Prerequisite:  NUR 501
The course builds on basic health assessment knowledge to develop advanced health assessment skills. Major concepts of the course include comprehensive and focused history taking and advanced physical assessment. History and physical assessment findings are related to underlying physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms. The course provides a basis for designing a culturally appropriate and effective plan of care within the context of the individual.

NUR 505:   Sociocultural Influences on Health
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Pre/Corequisite:  NUR 501
Analyzes various social, cultural and economic factors that impact the health and illness perceptions and behaviors of various ethnic and minority groups.  Content includes an examination of social, psychosocial, and cultural theories, a review of current research about health and illness beliefs and behaviors and the development of strategies that will improve the care provided by the advanced practice nurse.

NUR 507:   Physiologic Concepts for Advanced Practice Nursing
Class 3, Lab 1, Credit 4
Pre/Corequisite:  NUR 501
Students examine the principles of physiologic function at all levels of organization from cell to organ systems as they affect human function.  The course uses homeostasis as a model to account for regulatory and compensatory functions in health.  Students develop the necessary theoretical and empirical foundation for subsequent understanding of the diagnosis and management of human responses to disease and nondisease-based etiologies.

NUR 510:   Nursing Research
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisite:  NUR 501 and an introductory statistics course, such as PSY 500 or equivalent.
Provides an in-depth examination of the research process as it applies to nursing and health-related disciplines.  Students develop a systematic approach to developing a proposal for a clinical research project and to evaluating the scientific and clinical merit of published reports of research.  The role of advanced practice nurses as collaborative members of research teams and users of research is stressed.

NUR 511:  Concepts and Application of Health Promotion for Advanced Practice Nursing
Class 2, Lab 3, Credit 3
Prerequisites:  NUR 503 and NUR 510
Health promotion/disease prevention and health education frameworks and research are analyzed as a basis for strategies employed by advanced practice nurses.  The National Health Agenda is used to address risk assessment, screening, and education/counseling interventions for improving the health status of client populations.  Students apply these concepts and strategies to diverse populations in the clinical setting.

 NUR 525:   Informatics
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Integrates nursing science with computer technology and information science to identify, gather, process, and manage information.  Emphasis on technology based health applications which support clinical, administrative, research, and educational decision making enhancing the efficacy of nursing endeavors.

NUR 527:   Ethics for Advanced Practice Nursing
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Examines nursing ethics from both theoretical and pragmatic viewpoints.  Content includes the historical, theoretical, contextual and practical aspects of ethical nursing practice.  A major focus is the application of ethical frameworks, concepts, and principles to practice in the current health care system.

NUR 599:   Special Topics/Independent Study in Nursing
Variable Credit   1 to16
Prerequisite:  Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
Special topics in nursing are critically examined.  Staff determines hours, credit and subject matter.

NUR 600:   Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist I
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisite:  NUR 500 and NUR 511
Corequisite:  NUR 601
Students analyze theory and research related to the patient/client sphere of influence in order to design care for patients with adult health disorders.  Students use problem-solving and evidence-based practice methodologies to diagnose, plan, and evaluate interventions for select disease and nondisease-based phenomena.  The focus is on understanding etiologies of symptoms and functional problems, the need for intervention, and associated outcomes of practice.

NUR 601:   Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I
Credit 2 (150 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:   NUR 500 and NUR 511
Pre/Corequisite:  NUR 600
Students apply advanced knowledge of theory and research to care for patients/clients with adult health disorders who require the care of a clinical nurse specialist.  Students use problem-solving methodologies based on synthesis of theoretical and empirical evidence to advance nursing care of patients/clients.  Students participate in direct and indirect care activities that impact nurse-sensitive patient/client outcomes.

NUR 602:   Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist I
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisite:  NUR 500 and NUR 511
Corequisite:   NUR 603
Students analyze theory and research related to the patient/client sphere of influence in order to design care for patients with critical illness.  Students use problem-solving and evidence-based practice methodologies to diagnose, plan, and evaluate interventions for select disease and nondisease-based phenomena.  The focus is on understanding etiologies of symptoms and functional problems, the need for intervention, and associated outcomes of practice.

NUR 603:  Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I
Credit 2 (150 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:  NUR 500 and NUR 511
Pre/Corequisite:  NUR 602
Students apply advanced knowledge of theory and research to care for patients/clients with critical illness who require the care of a clinical nurse specialist.  Students use problem-solving methodologies based on synthesis of theoretical and empirical evidence to advance nursing care of patients/clients.  Students participate in direct and indirect care activities that impact nurse-sensitive patient/client outcomes.

NUR 611:  Primary Care of the Young Family
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3 
Prerequisite:   NUR 500 and NUR 511 
Corequisite:   NUR 613
This course prepares family nurse practitioner students to assume responsibility for the coordination and delivery of culturally appropriate health services to childbearing and childrearing families.  Students apply theory and research to the management of pregnancy, well-child care, stable chronic conditions and acute episodic illnesses commonly encountered in primary care settings.  The course emphasizes a sound conceptual basis for practice and an appreciation for evidence-based care.  Students continue to integrate health promotion and health maintenance into the primary care of young families.

NUR 613:   Primary Care of the Young Family Practicum
Credit 3 (180 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisites:   NUR 500 and NUR 511
Corequisite:  NUR 611
Students progress in their ability to master the competencies of the family nurse practitioner using critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills.  Students apply knowledge of clinical research, pharmacology, physiology and conceptual frameworks to the primary care of childbearing and childrearing clients and families.

NUR 618:  Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist II
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3 
Prerequisite:  NUR 600
Corequisite:  NUR 620
Students analyze theories and research related to adult health nursing personnel and organizational spheres of influence.  Clinical nurse specialist competencies focused toward nursing personnel and other healthcare providers and organizations are addressed.  The emphasis is on using problem-solving and evaluation methodologies that address nursing care and organizational issues.

NUR 620:  Adult Health Nursing Practicum II
Credit 2 (155 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:  NUR 601
Corequisite:  NUR 618
Students apply theories and research related to adult health nursing personnel and organizational spheres of influence.  Students begin to develop professional role competencies related to nursing personnel and the healthcare organization.  Students use systematic assessment and evaluation methodologies to identify problems and evaluate outcomes.

NUR 622:  Primary Care of the Aging Family
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3 
Prerequisite:  NUR 611, NUR 613
Corequisite:  NUR 623
This course prepares family nurse practitioner students to assume responsibility for the coordination and delivery of culturally appropriate health services to middle-aged and older families.  Students learn to manage stable chronic conditions and acute episodic illnesses commonly encountered in primary care settings.  The course emphasizes the conceptual basis for practice and an appreciation for evidence-based care.  Students continue to integrate health promotion and health maintenance into the primary care of older clients and their families.

NUR 623:   Primary Care of the Aging Family Practicum
Credit 3 (180 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:  NUR 613 
Corequisite:  NUR 622
Students progress in their ability to master the competencies of the family nurse practitioner using critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills.  Students apply knowledge of clinical research, pharmacology, physiology and conceptual frameworks to the primary care of childbearing and childrearing clients and families.

NUR 630:  Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist II
Class 3,  Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisite:  NUR 602
Students analyze theories and research related to critical care nursing personnel and organizational spheres of influence.  Clinical nurse specialist competencies focused toward nursing personnel and other healthcare providers and organizations are addressed.  The emphasis is on using problem-solving and evaluation methodologies that address nursing care and organizational issues.

NUR 635:  Critical Care Nursing Practicum II
Credit 2 (155 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:   NUR 603
Students apply theories and research related to critical care nursing personnel and organizational spheres of influence.  Students begin to develop professional role competencies related to nursing personnel and the healthcare organization.  Students use systematic assessment and evaluation methodologies to identify problems and evaluate outcomes.

NUR 650:    Nursing Administration I
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
This course examines the foundation constructs of health care administration.  Course content focuses on attaining a thorough understanding and ability to operationalize underpinning concepts such as General Systems Theory, philosophy and mission, problem solving, workforce controls, and leadership.  Critical thinking knowledge and skills are initiated in this course.

 NUR 651:   Nursing Administration II
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
This course examines the management aspect of nursing care delivery and the organization.  Course content focuses on critical thinking, program research and development, team-based health care, health care marketing and consumer behavior, and continuous quality assurance.

NUR 653 Nursing Administration-Financial Management
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
This course examines the financial management responsibilities of the nurse administrator. Course content focuses of understanding and operationalizing the processes associated with cost accounting, cost volume, profit analysis, healthcare budgets, productivity, and forecasting.

NUR 654 Human Resource Management
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
This course examines the concepts associated with managing the human resource segment of the organization. Course content focuses on (1) understanding and utilizing the concepts associated with employee values and behaviors and (2) appropriate managerial behaviors that foster the overall health and growth of the organization.

NUR 655:  Seminar in Advanced Practice Nursing
Class 1, Lab 0, Credit 1 
Prerequisites:   NUR 601, 603, 613
Students analyze movements and trends that influence advanced nursing practice.  Students dialogue with peers on topics related to study interests, clinical projects, nursing and advanced practice role issues.

NUR 656:  Health Care Organization, Policy and Economics
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisites: NUR 601, 603 and 613
Provides an introduction to healthcare policy and economics, as they impact the healthcare system.  Provides the theoretical background needed to understand the various models used to organize healthcare, influences on healthcare policy, and the impact of economics on health care.  Emphasis is on policy analysis, politics, and the processes relevant to health policy formation, with linkages to advanced practice nursing and reimbursement issues.

NUR 657:  FNP Practicum: Clinical Synthesis
Credit 2 (150 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisites:   NUR 622 and 623
Pre/Corequisites:   NUR 655 and 656
This is the final clinical capstone course in a sequence of clinical courses designed to prepare graduate nursing students for FNP practice.  Students synthesize and apply theoretical and empirical knowledge in primary-care settings with culturally diverse clients and families.  Emphasis is given to the clinical management of a wider spectrum of clients and to the more complex, co-morbid conditions seen in family practice.

NUR 658:  Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III:
Clinical Synthesis
Credit 2 (150 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:    NUR 620
Pre/Corequisites:   NUR 655 and 656
Students further develop skill in applying theories and research related to managing the care of adult health patients and influencing adult health nursing personnel and organizations.  Students continue to expand professional role competencies related to all of the spheres of influence.  Students identify problems and evaluate the outcomes of care with respect to patients, nursing personnel, and organizations, using systematic assessment and evaluation methodologies.

NUR 659:  Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III: Clinical Synthesis
Credit 2 (150 Clinical Contact Hours Arranged)
Prerequisite:    NUR 635
Pre/Corequisites:   NUR 655 and 656
Students further develop skill in applying theories and research related to managing the care of critical care patients and influencing critical care nursing personnel and organizations.  Students continue to expand professional role competencies related to all of the spheres of influence.  Students identify problems and evaluate the outcomes of care with respect to patients, nursing personnel and organizations using systematic assessment and evaluation methodologies.

 NUR 660:  Curriculum Development in Nursing
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Prerequisite:   NUR 500 or consent of instructor.
Theories of curriculum development, instructional design, and evaluation of educational programs are applied to the adult learner in nursing.  Educational needs are analyzed, and objectives and content are designed.

NUR 662:   Teaching Strategies for Nursing
Class 2, Lab 6, Credit 4 
Prerequisite:   NUR 660
Theories of learning, testing, and measurement are analyzed.  Theory-based teaching strategies are applied in a precepted clinical practice field or academic setting.  The effectiveness of teaching activities and instructional materials are evaluated.

NUR 666:  Practicum in Administration of a Health Care Unit
Class 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
Managerial functions and responsibilities are analyzed.  Emphasis is placed on planning, organizing, implementing and controlling health care services.  Interdisciplinary concerns are discussed and service outcomes evaluated.

NUR 668:  Practicum in Administration of a Health Care Unit
Class 0, Lab 9, Credit 3 
Prerequisite:   NUR 666
Theories of administration are applied to analyzing a health service in a select clinical setting with the guidance of a faculty member and an administrative preceptor.  Organizational problems are identified and plans are developed to improve the functional organization of the service.

NUR 670:  Practicum in Nursing Research
Variable credit 1-to-6 
Prerequisite:   NUR 510 or consent of instructor.
Students participate in nursing research projects under the guidance of the faculty.  This plan of individualized instruction may be used in any area of nursing specialization, education or administration.

NUR 671:  Administrative Practicum I
Prerequisite:  NUR 650 and NUR 651
Provides the graduate student with the opportunity to operationalize the concepts learned in the M.S. in nursing program.  Through mutual agreement, the student and advisor choose an area of concentration and clinical practice site appropriate for meeting both course and student goals.  The student has a master’s prepared preceptor at the practicum site.

NUR 672:  Administrative Practicum II
Prerequisite:  NUR 671
A continuation of NUR 671 that provides the graduate student with the opportunity to operationalize the concepts learned in the M.S. in nursing program.  Through mutual agreement, the student and advisor choose an area of concentration and clinical practice site appropriate for meeting both course and student goals.  The student has a master’s prepared preceptor at the practicum site.  This practicum may be a continuation of NUR 671 with the same preceptor at the same site, or it may be a new area of concentration that meets the same practicum criteria as NUR 671.

NUR 698:  Research:  Master’s Thesis
Variable credit 1-to-6
Prerequisite:   NUR 510 and consent of instructor.
Open to students who elect an optional functional track in research.  The student enrolls with the faculty member directing the thesis.

Appendix B:  Student Practicum Guidelines

Steps to be completed prior to beginning a practicum:

1. Select area of concentration based on personal and professional goals.
   Note:  Faculty are available for guidance in refining goals.  Types of practica may be limited by availability of faculties, resources and preceptors.

2. Write tentative behavioral objectives that are congruent with course objectives.  (Refer to section on writing behavioral objectives).

3. Select master's prepared preceptor (clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or nurse administrator, depending on area of specialization).

Points to consider:

1. Acceptance by preceptor of the concept of advanced practice in nursing.

2. Willingness to serve as preceptor

3. Size, type and quality of practice setting.

4. Initial meeting with preceptor

Points to consider:

1. Discuss goals and objectives of experience and provide a copy of your objectives.

2. Provide a current copy of your vita.

3. Arrange for orientation to the practice setting.

4. Determine a schedule most beneficial to both.

5. Submit completed "Initial Preceptorship Information" form approximately 6-10 weeks prior to the beginning of the practicum.
    

6. If precepting at the University of Chicago Hospitals complete "The University of Chicago Hospitals Graduate School Affiliation Pre-clinical Requirements" (available from Master's Program Secretary) and mail along with required documentation to Professional Practice Leader, University of Chicago.

General information regarding agency policies:

1. All agencies require a formal letter-requesting placement to initiate the clinical experience.
    

2. All agencies require that students be currently licensed in the state in which the agency is located.  Make available a copy of current licensure and proof of malpractice coverage to both the agency and the faculty member.
    

3. Other information may be requested by the agency (i.e. description of the graduate program, course objectives, etc.)  If so, inform the appropriate faculty member.
    

4. Most institutions require that the students wear appropriate identification.

Guide for writing behavioral objectives:

A behavioral objective is a goal stated in measurable terms, which gives direction to the learner's experience and becomes the basis for student evaluation.

Objectives may vary in several respects.  They may be general or specific, concrete or abstract, cognitive, affective, or psychomotor.  Cognitive objectives emphasize intellectual outcomes, such as knowledge, understanding, and thinking skills.  Affective objectives emphasize feeling and emotion, such as interests, values, attitudes, appreciation, and methods of adjustment.  Psychomotor objectives emphasize motor skills, such as physical assessment skills and administration of chemotherapy.

Point in writing behavioral objectives:

1. Begin each behavioral objective with a verb.  The critical aspect of any behavioral objective is the verb selected to indicate expected behavior from learning activities.
    

2. State each objective in terms of learner performance.  A behavioral objective is one that is considered to be observable and measurable.  Behavior is generally construed to be an action of an individual that can be seen, felt, or heard by another person.
    

3. State each objective so that it includes only one general learning outcome.

Examples of objectives

At the graduate level of nursing education, it is expected that learning objectives will be general, abstract, and cognitive or affective.  Examples of appropriate objectives for graduate students are as follows:

Cognitive:  Create an assessment tool based on a nursing theory for patients experiencing pain.

Cognitive:  Evaluate the usefullness of nursing research in clinical practice.

Affective:  Accept professional responsibility for change in problem clinical situations.

Illustrative verbs for stating specific learning objectives:

Many references are available concerning Behavioral Objectives.  The materials in this guide were taken from:

Gronlund, N. E. (1978). Stating Behavioral Objectives for Classroom Instruction (2nd ed.).  New York:  MacMillan.

Reilly, D. (1980).  Behavioral Objectives:  Evaluation in Nursing (2nd ed.).  New York:  Appleton-Century-Crofts.