MS in Nursing Online Courses
The core courses of the online MSN at Sacred Heart University are designed to provide you with the advanced clinical, managerial, and communication skills you will need to create, lead, and evaluate emergency plans.
The program consists of 36 or 39 graduate semester credit hours divided between core courses and specialization courses.
Core Courses
NU 501 Health Care Policy & Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice This course examines health care policy issues such as financing, quality, and safety as well as the application of ethics to the field. Students will consider past and current nursing and health care practices and analyze policies and their implications for the future.
NU 530 Theory and Professional Roles for Contemporary Nursing Practice The class provides the foundation for advanced practice nursing by introducing theories from nursing and the natural, social, biological, and organizational sciences to frame their future practice. Students will also consider issues of cultural diversity to assure the delivery of effective care and minimize health disparities.
NU 601 Principles of Health Care Research for Contemporary Nursing Practice This course studies the field of research and its application to solving problems in nursing and health care. Each step of the research process is explored in-depth to develop the skills to apply research to practice. Students apply critical analysis to relevant research literature to determine its usefulness and application. Statistical methods and concepts are reviewed and integrated throughout the course to promote an understanding of those concepts within the context of health care research.
NU 602 Evidence-Based Practice for Quality Care This course builds on NU 601 by reviewing the principles inherent to a sound data collection and analysis, including differences between qualitative and quantitative research. Students will critique research articles according to criteria studied in the course and develop a project related to evidence-based practice.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Specialization Courses
NU 550 Family and Community Context for Health Care This course examines the family and the community as unique and dynamic systems that require advanced nursing expertise and care 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. Students learn to function interdependently with other health team members to evaluate a plan of care using standards for advanced clinical practice.
NU 553 Advanced Pathophysiology Students will learn methods of assessing the pathophysiology of common disease states, including areas of clinical pathology that address alterations in major body systems commonly found in the primary care settings across the life span. Student will also study common diagnostic tests used in advanced nursing practice.
NU 554 Application of Comprehensive Health Assessment Methods Students will learn how to assess patients' physical and mental health status via a complete and accurate health history and a thorough physical exam, and then use that data to formulate a working diagnosis. Integration of common medical testing is also addressed.
NU 575 Health Care Information Systems The class is an introduction to health information systems as tools for decision making and communication. Emphasis is on the ability to take advantage of information systems to deliver patient care and an exploration of the variety of tools available to assist in analyzing its quality.
NU 611 Care Management and Resources Across the Continuum Reviews the basic approaches to care or case management and how they are used in different health care settings. The role of practice guidelines and key relationships among health care professionals is explored, along with the contributions of technology and financial considerations.
NU 612 Disease Management and Outcomes Assessment This course explores the benefits of a comprehensive case and disease management program in selected settings. Health priorities, models of chronic illness, and important concepts related to health status (including quality of life and functional status) are discussed. Research on the outcomes of case and disease management and strategies for identifying and measuring outcomes of care are also discussed.
NU 680 CNL Role Immersion Practicum This 3-credit course provides the opportunity for in-depth analysis of the CNL role within various health care settings and specialties through a guided role immersion experience. Students will demonstrate their understanding of prior coursework through clinical role practice, case studies, and student presentations. Instructors will provide guidance and support.
NU 681 CNL Capstone This 3-credit course provides the opportunity for in-depth analysis of the CNL role within various health care settings and specialties through a guided role immersion experience. Students will demonstrate their understanding of prior coursework through clinical role practice, case studies, and student presentations. Instructors will provide guidance and support.
Patient Care Services Administration Specialization Courses
NU 510 Strategic Leadership for Patient Care Services This class covers five functions of the patient care services administrator: strategic planning and vision, meeting customer needs and expectations, marketing services, care delivery systems, and managing quality. Students will learn to assess and design care delivery services that meet or exceed patient expectations, with an emphasis on how strategic planning affects the development of successful organizational and patient outcomes.
NU 520 Management of Human Resources Emphasis The class focuses on the administration of patient care services in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. Students will study human resources issues such as work analysis, staffing, recruitment and selection, staff development, retention, rewards, and disciplinary action. Conflict management, teams, communication, managing a diverse workforce, and legal and regulatory requirements are also covered.
NU 575 Health Care Information Systems The class is an introduction to health information systems as tools for decision making and communication. Emphasis is on the ability to take advantage of information systems to deliver patient care and on exploring the tools available to assist in analyzing its quality.
NU 576 Management of Financial Resources An overview of the budgeting process in the health care setting, this course explores the building blocks used to develop sound financial projections for effective care. The course also reviews and explores the financial and payment structure of the health care system and its impact on the financial health of health care organizations. The ability to use information systems in the development and analysis of financial data is emphasized.
BU 601 Organizational Management This class examines and analyzes principles of planning and ethical decision making, organizing large and small groups, and systems for maintaining control in business and other organizations in a global environment. Students will develop the competencies required to be an effective manager, including self-awareness, trust-building, mentoring, empowering, delegating, and communicating. Students also develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, and research through interdisciplinary cases/projects.
NU 670 Patient Care Services Administration Practicum Students apply and analyze the theories, competencies, and concepts of previous courses in a designated role practicum experience. Current issues and trends in health care and patient care services are integrated within each topical area. Students will also complete a capstone project that represents ability to formulate and apply a combination of conceptual and technical knowledge.
NU 671 Patient Care Services Administration Capstone Students apply and analyze the theories, competencies, and concepts of previous courses in a designated role practicum experience. Current issues and trends in health care and patient care services are integrated within each topical area. Students will also complete a capstone project that represents ability to formulate and apply a combination of conceptual and technical knowledge.
Nursing Education Specialization Courses
NU 553 Advanced Pathophysiology Students will learn methods of assessing the pathophysiology of common disease states, including areas of clinical pathology that address alterations in major body systems commonly found in the primary care settings across the life span. Student will also study common diagnostic tests used in advanced nursing practice.
NU 554 Application of Comprehensive Health Assessment Methods This course prepares the learner to assess in depth the biopsychosocial health status of clients across the life span 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 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 health care delivery system.
NU 555 Pharmacology for the Nurse Educator This course will focus on the pharmacotherpeutic principles of drugs most commonly used across health care settings. Basic pharmacological concepts, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics, as well as the principal classifications of drugs in clinical use today are discussed in relation to physiologic and psychologic concepts. The role of the nurse educator in teaching students safe and effective medication administration 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.
NU 588 Theoretical Basis of Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education This course examines theories of education, teaching, and learning and explores their applications in a variety of settings, levels of education, and in the adult-learning context. Emphasis is on adapting strategies to specific types of learners. Issues and trends affecting nursing education are explored.
NU 589 Curriculum Development and Evaluation in Nursing Education This course prepares students to design and implement effective class teachings and coursework. Focus is on the process of curriculum development for an individual course, including course objectives, content, learning activities, delivery of the content, and student evaluation. The faculty's role in program evaluation of the curriculum is also explored.
NU 611 Care Management and Resources Across the Continuum Reviews the basic approaches to care or case management and how they are used in different health care settings. The role of practice guidelines and key relationships among health care professionals is explored, along with the contributions of technology and financial considerations.
NU 612 Disease Management and Outcomes Assessment This course explores the benefits of a comprehensive case and disease management program in selected settings. Health priorities, models of chronic illness, and important concepts related to health status (including quality of life and functional status) are discussed. Research and strategies for identifying and measuring outcomes of care are also discussed.
NU 690 Nursing Education Role Practicum In this last course in the nursing sequence for the Nursing Education, students apply and analyze the theories, competencies, and concepts of the two previous courses in a designated role practicum experience using a preceptor. Students are required to spend time with a preceptor in a college or staff development site (120 hours total). The student will develop objectives to enhance their clinical expertise in area in which the student intends to teach as a nurse educator. Further, students apply theory to practice in seminar discussion and readings. Current issues and trends in health care and nursing are integrated within each topical area.
NU 691 Nursing Education Role Capstone In this last course in the nursing sequence for the Nursing Education, students apply and analyze the theories, competencies, and concepts of the two previous courses in a designated role practicum experience using a preceptor. Students are required to spend time with a preceptor in a college or staff development site (120 hours total). The student will develop objectives to enhance their clinical expertise in area in which the student intends to teach as a nurse educator. Further, students apply theory to practice in seminar discussion and readings. Current issues and trends in health care and nursing are integrated within each topical area.
Find out more about the curriculum of Sacred Heart's online RN to MSN program. Call us today at 877-791-7181 or request more information online.
