Courses

NURS 5033. Scientific Foundations and Role Development in Advanced Practice Nursing. 3 Hours.

Examines development of the advanced practice nursing role and evolution of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Concepts include scientific foundations of practice, role development, interdisciplinary collaborative strategies, advanced scope of practice, patient advocacy, and legal/ethical principles in the advanced practice role. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5043. Concepts of Health Promotion Within Diverse Populations. 3 Hours.

Provides a theoretical base for health promotion, risk reduction and disease prevention at the individual, family and community levels. A cross-disciplinary approach to achieve or preserve health is identified. Focuses on holistic plans and interventions that address the behavioral and social factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality in diverse populations. Provides opportunity to develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion interventions for selected clients. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5053. Evidence-Based Practice and Innovation in Nursing. 3 Hours.

Examines models and strategies for leadership in evidence-based practice and innovation, outcomes management, and translational scholarship. The emphasis of this course is on problem identification, information retrieval, critical appraisal, and synthesis of a body of evidence. It provides the student with the foundation for MSN and DNP evidence-based projects. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5063. Health Care Policy. 3 Hours.

Provides knowledge and understanding needed to participate in policy development analysis and implementation. Provides an overview of the political process, health care policy, advocacy, leadership roles, legislative and regulatory issues, health care financing, and evaluating outcomes. Access, cost, and quality of health care are major foci in this course. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5073. Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education. 3 Hours.

This course provides the essential elements that define and operationalize the process of curriculum design and development. Students will examine curriculum theories, models, and concepts from the perspective of nursing education. They will analyze factors that influence program and curriculum development. Historical and philosophical foundations of nursing practice and educational principles are examined. The application and synthesis of curriculum theory and their application to nursing is emphasized. The role of the educator in the dynamic relationship between the practice setting, research, and curriculum is examined. Students will participate in the design of curriculum which reflects professional nursing practice, standards, theory, and research. Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Program or departmental consent. Completion of all general and research core classes or approval of the MSN Education Program Coordinator. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

NURS 5083. Methods of Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education. 3 Hours.

This course is one of four offered in the nursing education concentration in preparation for the role of educator in academic and clinical settings. Students explore theories, models, and evidence for best practice in assessing learning - including constructing exam items and creating tools for assessing writing assignments. Students discuss grading and other concepts related to assessment and evaluation as it relates to nursing education. Pre- or Corequisite: Completion of NURS 5073 or NURS 5093. Prerequisite: Admission to the Masters of Science in Nursing or the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. (Typically offered: Summer)

NURS 5093. Instructional Design and Delivery in Nursing Education. 3 Hours.

This course is one of four offered in the nursing education concentration in preparation for the role of educator in academic and clinical settings. Students explore teaching and learning theories and other evidence to guide practice in the advanced role of the educator. Students gain competencies in the knowledge and skills necessary for delivering evidence-based teaching and learning strategies in a variety of learning environments. Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Program or departmental consent. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5101. Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning. 1 Hour.

Applies health assessment, physical examination techniques, clinical decision making, and diagnostic reasoning to formulate a culturally-sensitive, individualized plan of care, which includes health promotion and disease prevention. Corequisite: NURS 5112. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5112. Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Clinical Practicum. 2 Hours.

Focus is on the application of clinical decision making, diagnostic reasoning, and advanced physical examination techniques to develop differential diagnoses, problem list, and a plan of care for individual clients. Corequisite: NURS 5101. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5123. Advanced Pharmacology. 3 Hours.

Provides advanced concepts and application of pharmacology for broad categories of agents used in disease management. Establishes the relationship between pharmacologic agents and physiologic/pathologic responses. It assists students with the development of knowledge and skills to prescribe and manage a client's health in a safe, high quality, and cost-effective manner. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5143. Advanced Pathophysiology. 3 Hours.

Provides a comprehensive understanding of normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease that serves as a foundation for clinical assessment, decision making, and management of individuals. Includes mechanisms of disease, genetic susceptibility, and immune responses in selected disorders. This course includes concepts of pathophysiology across the lifespan. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5332. Common Problems in Acute Care in Adult and Gerontology Populations Clinical Practicum. 2 Hours.

Focuses on the management of adult-gerontology patients with common acute illnesses. Emphasizes the application of principles of pathologic mechanisms of disease, history taking, physical examination, and clinical decision making. Corequisite: NURS 5434. Prerequisite: NURS 5101 and NURS 5112. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5343. Specialty Development I. 3 Hours.

This course will include two foci. There will be readings focused on current topics in a specialty area. A focused field experience will allow student to integrate knowledge and skills in a specialty area of nursing in preparation for the nurse educator role. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5434. Common Problems in Acute Care in Adult and Gerontology Populations. 4 Hours.

Examine principles of pathologic mechanisms of disease, refine skills for history taking, physical examination, and clinical decision making for adult and geriatric individuals with common acute illnesses. Corequisite: NURS 5443. Prerequisite: NURS 5101 and NURS 5112. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5443. Chronic Health Problems in Adult and Gerontology Populations. 3 Hours.

Explores evidence-based models for the management of selected chronic conditions, focusing on assessment and treatment of individuals and families. Utilizes advanced theories, concepts, knowledge, and skill in the care of diverse adult and geriatric populations with complex chronic health problems. Corequisite: NURS 5454. Prerequisite: Completion of NURS 5434 and NURS 5332. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5454. Chronic Health Problems in Adult and Gerontology Populations Clinical Practicum. 4 Hours.

Focuses on the management of adult-gerontology populations with complex, chronic health problems. Emphasis is on the application of theoretical concepts, assessment skills, clinical decision making, and evidence-based standards to formulate diagnoses, clinical impressions, treatment, and evaluation plans in the acute or out-patient setting. Corequisite: NURS 5443. Prerequisite: NURS 5434 and NURS 5332. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5463. Acute and Critical Illness in Adult and Gerontology Populations. 3 Hours.

Provides an in-depth knowledge of management of acutely and critically ill adults. Emphasis is on the use of evidence-based knowledge to formulate diagnoses, treatment, evaluation plans, and referral for adults who have complex acute or critical health problems, or are at high risk for developing complications. Corequisite: NURS 5475. Prerequisite: NURS 5443 and NURS 5454. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5475. Acute and Critical Illness in Adult and Gerontology Populations Clinical Practicum. 5 Hours.

Experiences allow the student to apply safe, scientifically sound, cost effective, legal and ethical management strategies to the care of adults with complex acute and critical illness. Emphasis is on the development of advanced clinical skills in acute and critical care settings. Corequisite: NURS 5463. Prerequisite: NURS 5443 and NURS 5454. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5483. Common Problems in Primary Care. 3 Hours.

Examines principles of pathological mechanisms of disease, refines knowledge for thorough history taking, physical examination, and clinical decision-making for men, women, and families with common illnesses treated in primary care. Includes anticipatory guidance, health promotion, disease prevention, and reproductive health. Corequisite: NURS 5495. Prerequisite: NURS 5101 and NURS 5112. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5495. Common Problems in Primary Care Clinical Practicum. 5 Hours.

Clinical component to NURS 5483 Common Problems Primary Care. Refines skills for thorough history taking, physical examination, and clinical decision-making for men, women, and families with common illnesses treated in primary care as well as health promotion, disease prevention, and reproductive health needs. Corequisite: NURS 5483. Prerequisite: NURS 5101 and NURS 5112. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5523. Healthcare Informatics. 3 Hours.

Prepares graduate students to serve as leaders in the utilization of information systems and technology to support and improve education, patient care, and healthcare systems. Assists students in evaluating and integrating qualified technologies into various practice settings. Students will explore current and emerging trends in Healthcare Informatics and their legal, ethical, and political implications. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Summer)

NURS 5543. Primary Care of Children. 3 Hours.

Focuses on evidence-based models for the management of children from diverse cultures with common conditions in primary care. Includes anticipatory guidance, health promotion, and disease prevention. Emphasis on application of theoretical concepts, assessment skills, clinical decision-making, and evidence-based standards to formulate differential diagnoses, clinical impressions, treatment, and evaluation plans in primary care. Corequisite: NURS 5683. Prerequisite: NURS 5873 and NURS 5884. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5683. Primary Care of Children Clinical Practicum. 3 Hours.

Focuses on the management of children in the clinical setting with emphasis on holistic assessment and treatment of this population and their families. Students will engage in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of conditions common to primary practice in pediatric clinics. This course will consist of 135 contact hours. Corequisite: NURS 5543. Prerequisite: NURS 5873 and NURS 5884. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 5703. Nurse Educator Scholarly Project. 3 Hours.

The Nurse Educator Scholarly Project identifies and addresses practice issues in nursing education and includes a thorough search, analysis, synthesis and a plan for dissemination of the best available evidence. Students build upon knowledge and skills from previous coursework to complete the project over one or two semesters. Prerequisite: NURS 5093 and NURS 5083. Pre- or Corequisite: NURS 5343. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

NURS 579V. Independent Study. 1-3 Hour.

Independent study designed by student with faculty advisor. May be completed as alternative to thesis. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

NURS 5873. Complex Problems in Primary Care. 3 Hours.

Focuses on application of health promotion and chronic disease management in complex adult patients. Students will utilize evidence-based approaches to health promotion, assessment, differential diagnosis and disease management. Emphasizes clinical decision making, chronic care models, coordination of care, poly-drug therapy and information systems. Corequisite: NURS 5884. Prerequisite: NURS 5483 and NURS 5495. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 5884. Complex Problems in Primary Care Clinical Practicum. 4 Hours.

Clinical component to NURS 5873 Complex Problems in Primary Care. Offers the student an opportunity to exercise critical judgment and implement theoretical knowledge in the management of care of adults experiencing complex health problems. Corequisite: NURS 5873. Prerequisite: NURS 5495 and NURS 5483. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 598V. Nursing Special Topics. 1-6 Hour.

Special Topics course. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

NURS 600V. Master's Thesis. 1-3 Hour.

Student research to fulfill degree requirement for the MSN. Prerequisite: NURS 5053. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for degree credit.

NURS 6123. Evaluation Methods and Translational Research for Evidence-based Practice. 3 Hours.

The translation of evidence into practice, including theoretical and practical challenges, is analyzed through the use of case studies and proposals. Uses methods of inquiry for systematic appraisal of nursing practice or healthcare programs to identify practice outcomes and create an environment to support and sustain changes. Prerequisite: NURS 6343 or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 6224. DNP Clinical Practicum I. 4 Hours.

Provides an opportunity to synthesize advanced knowledge and role behaviors within a specialty concentration. Designed to apply nursing theory, translational research, epidemiologic principles, ethical/legal principles, outcome evaluations, healthcare systems thinking, and economics into a specialized clinical practice role and setting. Depending upon specialty and experience, may require travel to campus. Prerequisite: NURS 5443, NURS 5454, NURS 5463, and NURS 5475. (Typically offered: Summer)

NURS 6233. Healthcare Economics and Finance. 3 Hours.

This course provides economic, financial, and business knowledge and skills required for a leadership role in financial planning and decision making within healthcare delivery systems. DNP educated nurses in leadership roles must understand how budgeting, healthcare insurance /reimbursement, and managed care influence the clinical decision-making process. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Summer)

NURS 6244. DNP Clinical Practicum II. 4 Hours.

Provides an opportunity to synthesize advanced knowledge and role behaviors within a specialty concentration. Designed to apply nursing theory, translational research, epidemiologic principles, ethical/legal principles, outcome evaluations, healthcare systems thinking, and economics into a specialized clinical practice role and setting. Depending upon specialty and experience, may require travel to campus. Corequisite: NURS 7122. Prerequisite: NURS 6224. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 6263. Organization Management and Systems Leadership. 3 Hours.

Facilitates understanding of how to lead, advocate, and manage innovative responses to organizational needs and challenges. Emphasizes development and evaluation of care delivery models that meet the needs of targeted patient populations by enhancing accountability for effective and efficient healthcare, quality improvement, and patient safety. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program or by permission of the instructor. (Typically offered: Summer)

NURS 628V. DNP Clinical Practicum III. 1-8 Hour.

Allows for the continuation of specialty role development and a more refined and advanced approach to care delivery, systems thinking, and leadership. Allows for the total number of practice hours required for certification and/or degree. (Typically offered: Spring) May be repeated for up to 8 hours of degree credit.

NURS 6343. Analytic Methods and Epidemiology for Health Care. 3 Hours.

This course will examine the role of epidemiology and statistics in advanced nursing practice. The student will learn how the concepts of epidemiology are used to measure and describe the health of individuals and populations and apply statistical concepts and analytical methods to data encountered in practice. Major topics to be covered include sources of data, study designs, analytical strategies and interpretation of data related to disease causality, risk, and prevalence. Prerequisite: ESRM 5393. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

NURS 6663. Emergency Preparedness in Rural United States. 3 Hours.

Emergency preparedness in Rural United States is an elective course for graduate nursing students. This course will prepare them for the role of nurse practitioner in rural clinical settings during times when National Incident Management Systems are necessary to manage national disasters, tragedies, or contagion in rural areas of the US. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

NURS 6862. Rural Primary Care in Arkansas. 2 Hours.

This is a rural health course elective for graduate nursing students. The purpose of this course is to prepare them for the role of nurse practitioner educator in the academic setting by providing additional knowledge and exposure to topics and diseases seen in rural primary care in Arkansas. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

NURS 6882. Opioid Use in Rural Arkansas. 2 Hours.

This course prepares graduate nursing students for the nurse practitioner role in rural settings by providing knowledge, exposure to risk factors, treatment strategies for opioid abuse and misuse, policies and regulations related to prescribing opioids, and gaps in community responses addressing this epidemic in rural primary care in Arkansas. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

NURS 6993. Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Residency: A Service-Learning Course. 3 Hours.

The service-learning APRN residency provides students skills to identify potential rural and underserved employment environments, prepare for interviews, and complete pre-employment documents necessary to evolve from graduate DNP students to fully employable, practice-ready APRNs for communities in Arkansas and surrounding states through reflective journaling, discussions, and completion of activities. Corequisite: NURS 628V or special permission of instructor teaching the course. Prerequisite: NURS 6244, admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School, and the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Graduate Program or permission of faculty teaching the course. (Typically offered: Spring)

NURS 7122. DNP Project Implementation I. 2 Hours.

Provides necessary support and elements for students to begin execution of the DNP Project in collaboration with the sponsoring site. (Typically offered: Fall)

NURS 7142. DNP Project Implementation II. 2 Hours.

Provides an avenue for students to complete and disseminate the DNP project. Allows students the opportunity to synthesize and demonstrate the ability to employ effective communication and collaboration skills, leadership roles, influence healthcare quality and safety, evaluate practice, and successfully negotiate change in healthcare delivery for individuals, families, populations, or systems. Prerequisite: NURS 7122. (Typically offered: Spring)