Master of Science in Nursing: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Curriculum

This course provides a foundation of key concepts essential to population-focused healthcare professionals, the aggregate, community or population as the unit of care. The focus of the course is on health promotion/disease prevention with emphasis on the advanced role of healthcare professionals in clinical prevention of disease and care of populations. Applying concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary health promotion across the lifespan, the student relates the basic concepts of epidemiology to multiple domains of population health, using epidemiology to better understand, characterize and promote health at a population level. Disease prevention and health promotion of populations are examined through the study of the occurrence and distribution of health-related states or events, including the study of social determinants of health.

This course examines the healthcare system and guides students to assess and analyze the healthcare system in the context of advanced practice healthcare professional and the role of advanced practice healthcare professionals. The student explores organizational and system science, change theories and social change theories in its application to healthcare. Healthcare leadership including theory and styles as well as contemporary approaches, ethical practice and leadership strategies are examined. Inter/intra professional communication, teamwork, consultation, diversity and collaboration are discussed as cornerstones for patient safety, optimal health outcomes and accountability in health care. The student analyzes and evaluates the intersection of current and emerging healthcare system challenges and advanced practice role dimensions.

This course examines healthcare delivery in the United States, to include the role of public policy, advocacy, and industry regulation. Health policy perspectives and the analytical tools to understand the national policy-making environment are integrated throughout the course. Key policy issues and core constructs for analysis include national health expenditures and cost containment strategies, patient access and health disparities, health care quality and performance improvement, and workforce policy. Health care reform, future directions and trends, and policy innovations are examined for their impact on advanced nursing practice, service delivery, and health outcomes. Health systems of other developed and developing countries are examined to gain a global perspective and appreciation for a variety of health system attributes. 3 Lecture hours.

This course provides students with an overview of the fundamentals of quality improvement and a foundation in healthcare quality. Students are first introduced to the course content through a historical perspective on quality improvement and the current quality landscape. The methods and tools for quality improvement, measurement in healthcare quality and safety, culture of safety principles, and standards related to quality are then examined. As nurse leaders, it is important we understand culture and leadership, and how to create an environment conducive to healthcare quality and patient safety. In this part of the course, we examine human factors, high reliability organizations and principles of a just culture of safety. To complete the course content, we explore emerging trends and innovations to improve quality and patient safety.

This course reviews concepts important to implementing and sustaining effective use of technology in the clinical environment. Security and privacy for the protection of privileged information, effective policy development, testing and implementation are examined. Concepts of change management as well as informatics role in community/population health monitoring and management are explored. The student studies the use of technology to generate new evidence, the potential influence of emerging technologies on clinical practice and the importance of developing a caring practice in a high technology environment.

This course examines pathophysiological processes integral to the understanding of human health conditions and disorders across the lifespan. Objective and subjective manifestations of common health problems resulting from environmental, genetic, and stress-related maladaptation are assessed and analyzed. Assessment findings, diagnostic testing, and interventions for specific health problems are discussed. The etiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of disorders are reviewed within the context of age, gender, lifestyle and sociocultural determinants.

Builds the understanding of fundamental pharmacological principles, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism, and dose-response relationships and includes the study of major pharmacological classes related to common disease processes. The course explores the major pharmacological drug classes and their application to the principles of therapeutic decision-making, including legal and ethical implications.

This course focuses on the use of the research process in developing new healthcare professional knowledge and applying that to an evidence-based practice. The student examines and develops research questions, considers theoretical frameworks, methods of data collection and analysis, and the interpretation and use of study findings in providing evidence-based care of individuals, families, and communities. The importance of scientific integrity and ethical standards are emphasized and ethical issues in the conduct of research are explored. The student is prepared to critically appraise and utilize research and identify researchable problems within the context of his/her own practice.

This course builds upon basic health assessment and guides the student to obtain a complete and accurate health assessment, including history, physical examination, and commonly used screening tools, as a foundation for advanced nursing practice with clients across the lifespan. The course emphasizes critical analysis and synthesis of physical exam data, relevant health history data, critical risk appraisal of the physical and mental status, assessment of nutrition, and anticipatory guidance relevant to health promotion and disease prevention. At the conclusion of the course, the student will utilize distance learning technology to demonstrate a comprehensive physical health assessment. Prerequisites: NR 548, NR 552. Concurrently with NR 590 or NR 591 or NR 592.

This course builds on knowledge of the basic principles of pharmacology to establish a knowledge base for clinical judgments in the pharmacologic management and evaluation of adults and older adults as related to the role of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners. Major medication classifications and commonly encountered prototype(s) within specialty areas will serve as a framework for continued learning of new pharmacologic information as it relates to acute care of adults and older adults. Drug interactions, incompatibilities, side effects, contraindications and special considerations are discussed. Prerequisites: NR 548, NR 552. Corequisite: NR 553.

The first AGACNP didactic course engages students in the development of a theoretical, practical, and evidence-based foundation for advanced practice nursing in the diagnosis and management of common episodic and chronic dysfunctions/alterations. Through knowledge acquisition and integration, students advance the proficiency needed for comprehensive health evaluation in patient/family assessment and developing, implementing and evaluating an individualized management plan when caring for adult and older adult patients across the continuum of acute care services. The context of age-related considerations; family and community; and culture are emphasized. Prerequisites: NR 553, NR 591, Corequisite: NR 622.

The AGACNP clinical experience advances the student's proficiency in comprehensive health evaluation across the adult lifespan for patients with acute, critical, complex conditions within the context of family, community, and culture. A minimum of 165 clinical hours are required. Students will work with a variety of preceptors including adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioners and acute care physicians. Prerequisites: NR 553, NR 591, Corequisite: NR 621.

Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice the second of four didactic adult gerontology acute care courses develops the students’ clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing management of complex and comorbid health care problems common to adult and geriatric patients and builds upon the student’s proficiency in comprehensive health evaluation within the context of acute care disease management of the adult and geriatric population. Through knowledge acquisition and integration, students advance the proficiency needed for comprehensive health evaluation in patient/family assessment and developing, implementing and evaluating an individualized management plan when caring for adult and older adult patients across the continuum of acute care services. The context of age-related considerations; family and community; and culture are emphasized. Prerequisites: NR 621, NR 622, Corequisite: NR 624.

A clinical experience to advance proficiency in comprehensive health evaluation across the adult lifespan for patients with acute, critical, complex conditions within the context of family, community, and culture. The emphasis is on the integration of theory, assessment and advanced therapeutics for adults and frail elders in high acuity patient settings. A minimum of 165 clinical hours are required. Students will work with a variety of preceptors including acute gerontology nurse practitioners, and acute care physicians. This course fosters clinical competency and emphasizes evidence-based practice in adults. Prerequisites: NR 621, NR 622. Corequisite: NR 623.

This AGACNP third specialty track didactic course focuses on the high acuity medical and surgical issues of adults and older adults and examines the epidemiology, assessment, diagnosis, management, and evaluation of acutely or critically ill adults across the adult-older adult age spectrum. Using problem-based and self-directed learning strategies, acute and emergent disorders of the physiologic systems are presented and build on the information presented in the prior didactic courses. Emphasis is placed on using evidence-based practice to formulate individualized plans of care and developing collaborative partnerships with patients, their families, and inter-professional teams. Prerequisites: NR 623, NR 624, Corequisite: NR 626.

The AGACNP III clinical experience advances the student's proficiency in comprehensive health evaluation across the adult lifespan for patients with acute, critical, complex conditions within the context of family, community, and culture. The emphasis is on the integration of theory, assessment and advanced therapeutics for adults and frail elders in the highest acuity emergent patient settings. A minimum of 165 clinical hours are required. Students will work with a variety of preceptors including adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioners and acute care physicians. Prerequisites: NR 623, NR 624, Corequisite: NR 625.

This fourth didactic course serves as the final synthesis of evidence-based theory and research related to care of acute, complex and critically ill adult and older adult patients with a focus on integration of the critical thinking and psychomotor skills necessary to achieve advanced practice nursing core competencies for AGACNP practice, Students continue to build on prior knowledge and synthesize data from a variety of health resources related to the care of the acutely ill patient. Utilizing a systems framework, students further develop appropriate clinical judgment and decision-making skills regarding appropriate recommendations and treatments related to alterations in different systems with an emphasis on considering context while providing risk reduction. Emphasis is placed on using evidence-based practice to formulate individualized plans of care and developing collaborative partnerships with patients and their families. Prerequisites: NR 625, NR 626, Corequisite: NR 628. 

This fourth clinical course includes culmination and transition experiences to independent-interdependent practice and build upon the Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) expertise. The AGACNP IV advances the student's proficiency in comprehensive health evaluation across the adult lifespan within the context of family, community and culture. A minimum of 165 clinical hours in an adult acute/critical and/or chronic health care setting are required. Students will work with a variety of preceptors including: adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioners, and acute care physicians. Prerequisites: NR 625, NR 626, Corequisite: NR 627.