Nursing
Courses
NR200: Introduction to Holistic Health
Credits 3This course introduces the student to holistic health which is an approach to life that seeks harmony between mind, body, spirit, and environment. Student will have the opportunity to perform a self-assessment and identify measures to improve their overall health. The student will explore practices such as exercise, nutrition, and mind body connection and their impact on health. Complementary and alternative therapies will also be discussed. This course supports the Franklin Pierce University Human Resources Wellness Mission Statement.
NR300: Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing
Credits 3This course introduces the baccalaureate nursing student to the issues and trends fundamental to nursing practice today, including social, political, economic, and professional implications of practice. Topics that will be discussed include an overview of professional nursing roles, socialization into professional practice, theoretical bases for nursing practice, health policy, health promotion, holistic care, cultural competency, health care disparities, and issues related to the practice environment.
NR320: Evidence Based Practice in Nursing
Credits 3This is an introductory course on nursing research methods intended to provide the baccalaureate nursing student with a foundation for critiquing and utilizing research findings in practice. The course emphasis is on reading research reports, critically analyzing research findings, and applying the best evidence in clinical practice. Both qualitative and quantitative research models are discussed. Course content includes overview of problem statement/question, purpose, theoretical framework, research methods, sample selection, data collection, data analysis and interpretation of findings. At the conclusion of the course, students are prepared to critique research related to health care, to use research findings to develop an evidence-based nursing practice, and work with expert researchers in the conduct of research.
NR330: Clinical Decision Making
Credits 3This course explores strategies to assess the human experience and the response to health and illness. Through self-reflection, critical thinking, comprehensive case reviews, and holistic assessment, students enhance their clinical decision-making skills. Focus is on developing strategies to gather appropriate data, understanding client’s responses, and developing a health diagnosis. Nurses formulate an evidence-based approach to clinical decision-making and individualized client interventions. Assessment data is related to the environment of the client, including both internal and external variables. Students integrate Jean Watson’s theory to identify the degree of harmony within the body, mind and spirit. Specific areas of concentration include spiritual assessment, pain assessment, nutrition assessment, changes across the life span, cultural implications, health promotion and relationship-based care with a scientific, caring practice.
NR400: Hlth Policy Professional Nurse
Credits 3This course examines the structure and function of healthcare delivery systems, and provides a framework for analysis of health care system quality, access, and cost from the perspective of professional nursing. Health and social policy at the community, state, federal, and international perspectives are discussed. The role of the professional nurse as advocate for health care policy change is emphasized. Students are provided with opportunities to participate in influencing health care policy.
NR420: Health Promotion Across Lifespan
Credits 3The course is an in-depth study of health teaching, health promotion, and disease prevention in diverse populations across the life span. It builds on the goals of Healthy People initiative and is predicated on a working knowledge of growth and development, cultural awareness, socioeconomic forces, and health assessment. Course content includes diversity of health beliefs, health promotion and belief models, assessing individuals, families, and communities, barriers to healthy behaviors, at risk populations, and health care education program development, implementation, and evaluation. The course is based on the creation by the nurse of a helping relationship characterized by presence, respect, mindfulness, and therapeutic use of self.
NR445: Comm Hlth Nurs:Ind & Family Client
Credits 3This course introduces the concept of community-based nursing practice, nursing roles focusing on individuals and families. Students learn to located and use relevant data and apply common tools of levels of prevention, and health promotion and disease prevention strategies. Nursing as a caring and evidence-based science is applied to disease prevention and community health.
NR446: Comm Hlth Nur: Groups Population
Credits 3This course introduces the concept of community or group as client. Methods of assessing a population, identifying trends and health related needs will be examined with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. Health disparities and vulnerable populations will be explored and their impact on communities. The role of the nurse in community disaster preparedness and response will be discussed.
NR490: Leadership in Professional Nursing
Credits 6This course examines leadership concepts within the discipline of nursing, and provides a forum for the student to develop and enhance leadership skills while exploring leadership in the context of a caring nursing environment. In this capstone course of the RN-BS nursing program, learning is synthesized from the humanities, natural sciences, behavioral sciences, and the nursing domain, through seminar discussions and project development. Students will be required to register for and complete NR001-Nursing Document Collection in the term prior to taking NR490. Prerequisite: NR300, NR320, NR330, NR400, NR420, NR445, NR446, or Senior status with permission from the Academic Director.
NR501: Bachelor’s to MSN Bridge Course
Credits 3This graduate-level course is designed for students with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree. It will incorporate baccalaureate nursing concepts essential to graduate nursing practice, including professionalism, nursing theory, leadership, evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, and community health.
NR510: Nursing Science in Practice
Credits 3This graduate-level course explores the theoretical and scientific foundations of nursing with a focus on advancing quality and safety in healthcare. Grounded in patient-centered care, students will examine how nursing science informs evidence-based practice, clinical inquiry, and innovation. Emphasis is placed on the integration of interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership theory, and systems thinking to address complex healthcare challenges. Students will critically analyze current research, quality improvement models, and data-driven strategies to lead transformative change in healthcare delivery. Through a quality-focused lens, learners will develop skills to champion high-value, equitable care across diverse settings.
NR520: Health Policy and Population Health
Credits 3This course explores global health issues from a nursing perspective. The role of the nurse as a change agent to affect local and global health policies, and as an advocate to promote global health and reduce the risk of disease is explored. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are analyzed for application and evaluation of a “global” community assessment.
NR530: Inferential Statistics
Credits 3This course introduces graduate level statistics for health care professionals. The course encourages students to think critically about data analysis and research design in relationship to evidence- based practice. Students are expected to critically examine research reports, calculate statistics, and complete a research design.
NR540: Evidence Based Practice
Credits 3This course focuses on the clinical application of evidence-based research to inform clinical decision making. Evidence from systematic reviews of quantitative and qualitative research, expert opinion, and evidence-based practice guidelines will be critiqued for their application to a current nursing issue or problem. Students will evaluate the use of evidence-based research to initiate change and improve health care outcomes.
NR545: Clinical & Classroom Strategies
Credits 3This course is designed to introduce the learner to theories and evidence-based practice related to teaching strategies in the classroom and clinical setting. It emphasizes student teacher relationships and explores learning styles. Topics include the influences of regulatory and patient safety requirements as well as ethical and legal issues affecting all aspects of nursing education.
NR547: Evidence Based Curriculum Design
Credits 3This graduate-level course explores the principles of curriculum development in nursing education. Emphasis is placed on the integration of evidence-based practices including clinical judgment in curriculum design. Students will analyze current educational trends and external influences on curriculum development in nursing programs. Successful completion of this course will help prepare the student for the NLN Certified Nurse Educator examination.
NR549: Eval Learn & Assess Compet Nurs Edu
Credits 3This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to evaluate student learning in both classroom and clinical settings. The course will cover various evidence-based strategies for evaluating clinical judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making processes, with a focus on how these competencies influence patient care outcomes. Additionally, the utilization of data obtained from program assessment and accreditation to inform curriculum design and enhance teaching practices is included. Successful completion of this course will help prepare the student for the NLN Certified Nurse Educator examination.
NR565: Strtgc Plan Prjct Mgmt Nurses I
Credits 3This course examines the nurse leader’s role as a change agent in today’s complex, business-based health care arena. The dynamics of strategic planning will be discussed as they relate to those challenges facing nursing and the nursing profession. This course will lay the foundation for the development of a strategic plan in part II of the course.
NR570: Strtgc Plan Prjct Mgmt Nurses II
Credits 3NR570 expands on NR565 through the application of the strategic planning process as a nursing management and leadership tool to improve health care outcomes. Utilizing the strategic planning tools discussed in NR565, students will develop a comprehensive strategic plan after analysis of a specific organization within the context of its internal and external environment. Prerequisite: NR565 Strategic Planning and Project Management for Nurses I.
NR575: Advanced Pharmacology
Credits 3This course will explore pharmacologic principles that professional nurses routinely utilize in clinical practice. This course is designed to provide opportunities to expand the M.S.N. student’s knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacokinetics of in broad categories of pharmacologic agents. The purpose of the content is to provide the graduate the knowledge and skills to assess, utilize clinical reasoning, and manage a client’s common health problems in a safe, high quality, and cost-effective manner.
NR580: Advanced Pathophysiology
Credits 3This course focuses on pathologic mechanisms of disease that serve as the foundation for advanced clinical assessment, decision-making, and management across the life span etiology, pathogenesis, developmental, environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems disease will be explored. No prerequisites needed beyond those required in the General Education Core Credits.
NR585: Advanced Health Assessment
Credits 3This course is designed to prepare nurse educators with advanced knowledge and skills in comprehensive health assessment across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on developing proficiency in physical, psychosocial, cultural, and developmental assessments. Students will explore strategies for teaching and evaluating health assessment in academic and clinical learning environments. The course focuses on cultivating critical thinking, clinical judgment, and evidence-based assessment practices while preparing educators to guide nursing students in developing foundational health assessment competencies.
NR690: Nursing Capstone Seminar Project
Credits 6This online course is the culmination of the MSN program and includes an online component and a precepted quality improvement project in a clinical or community setting. Students will apply concepts learned throughout the program, with an emphasis on evidence-based leadership, interprofessional collaboration and communication, and quality and safety, in both the online portion and the project. The course culminates in a formal project presentation and a comprehensive scholarly paper suitable for professional dissemination. Students will be required to register for and complete NR009-Nursing Document Collection in the term prior to taking NR690
NR700: Found Concepts Prof Nursing Lec
Credits 3This fundamentals course is designed to teach the didactic components of a comprehensive, holistic health history and physical examination of individuals/ families across the lifespan. The course provides an opportunity for students to develop competencies necessary to provide care to individuals using the nursing process framework and critical thinking. Students learn theories and concepts intrinsic to the art and science of nursing practice. Co-requisite NR701: Foundations Practicum
NR701: Fnd Cncpt-Hlth Asess Lab & Pract
Credits 3This fundamentals course is designed to teach the didactic components of a comprehensive, holistic health history and physical examination of individuals/ families across the lifespan. The course provides an opportunity for students to develop competencies necessary to provide care to individuals using the nursing process framework and critical thinking. Students learn theories and concepts intrinsic to the art and science of nursing practice. Co-requisite NR700
NR710: Nrsng Mgmt Common Hlth Alt
Credits 3This course focuses on the common acute or chronic health alterations of individuals across the lifespan. Cultural, psychosocial and ethical considerations for these physiological conditions will be explored. Evidence based interventions will be introduced, and concepts of health promotion and prevention emphasized. Co-requisite: NR711 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Lifespan Practicum (clinical). Pre-requisite: NR700 & NR701.
NR711: Nrsng Mgmt Common Hlth Alt Pract
Credits 3This course focuses on the common acute or chronic health alterations of individuals across the lifespan. Cultural, psychosocial and ethical considerations for these physiological conditions will be explored. Evidence based interventions will be introduced, and concepts of health promotion and prevention emphasized. Co-requisite: NR710 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Lifespan Practicum (clinical).
NR720: Nrsng Mgmt Complex Hlth Alt
Credits 3This course prepares the student to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for the individual with complex health alterations. Building on previous MEPN courses, theory will focus on concepts associated with complex illness and injury, and interventions that are grounded in evidence, and take into consideration cultural, psychosocial and ethical considerations. Pre-requisite: NR711 Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Lifespan Practicum (clinical/lab). Co-requisite: NR721 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Lifespan Practicum (clinical/lab). Pre-requisite: NR710 & NR711
NR721: Nrsng Mgmt Complex Hlth Alt Pract
Credits 3This course prepares the student to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for the individual with complex health alterations. Building on previous MEPN courses, theory will focus on concepts associated with complex illness and injury, and interventions that are grounded in evidence, and take into consideration cultural, psychosocial and ethical considerations. Pre-requisite: NR710 and NR711
NR730: Mental Health Nursing
Credits 3This course promotes exploration of factors that affect psychological wellness and illness of individuals. Students will explore the unique needs of individuals with mental-health issues across the lifespan, examining their responses to life stressors while considering cultural, psychosocial and ethical factors. Co-requisite: NR731 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Practicum (clinical).
NR731: Mental Health Nursing Practicum
Credits 1This course promotes exploration of factors that affect psychological wellness and illness of individuals. Students will explore the unique needs of individuals with mental-health issues across the lifespan, examining their responses to life stressors while considering cultural, psychosocial and ethical factors. Co-requisite: NR730 Mental Health Nursing
NR740: Comm Health Promotion Practicum
Credits 1This clinical practicum introduces the student to concepts relevant to community-based nursing practice including informatics, communicable diseases, epidemiology, and disasters. Students will identify factors influencing community health including the determinants of health and its impact on vulnerable populations in diverse practice settings. There is a clinical rotation included in this course.
NR750: Maternal/Child Nursing (Lecture)
Credits 3The focus of this course is exploring the needs of the individual as they relate to childbearing and children. Health issues involving ante-partum, intra-partum, and post-partum as well as growth and development are explored. The student is introduced to content within a theoretical context of individuals as part of a family unit, and larger culturally diverse society. Co-requisite: NR751 Women’s Health Practicum & Pediatric Health Practicum (clinicals).
NR751: Women’s Health Practicum (OB/Gyn)
Credits 1The focus of this course is exploring the needs of the individual as they relate to childbearing and children. Health issues involving ante-partum, intra-partum, and post-partum as well as growth and development are explored. The student is introduced to content within a theoretical context of individuals as part of a family unit, and larger culturally diverse society.
NR752: Pediatrics Practicum
Credits 1The focus of this course is exploring the needs of the individual as they relate to childbearing and children. Health issues involving ante-partum, intra-partum, and post-partum as well as growth and development are explored. The student is introduced to content within a theoretical context of individuals as part of a family unit, and larger culturally diverse society. Co-requisite: NR751 Women’s Health Practicum & Pediatric Health Practicum (clinicals).
NR760: Immersion Adv Generalist Practicum
Credits 4This course is a clinical immersion experience designed to provide comprehensive learning opportunities in a variety of hospital settings. The clinical immersive platform allows students to apply main theories, professional leadership, critical thinking, health promotion and risk reduction, illness and disease management, ethical practices, evidence-based practices and global cultural competencies in clinical practice. The application of these theories and principles will occur during students’ mentored clinical experiences and during clinical seminar activities.
NR790: Capstone
Credits 4The capstone course focuses on the integration and application of major concepts covered throughout the MEPN program. Emphasis will be on quality improvement incorporating concepts such as quality and safety, patient engagement, change, teamwork and communication, and leadership. The course consists of seminar discussions and the application of knowledge and clinical experiences in the development and presentation of a quality improvement project. The quality improvement project can serve as a bridge to future employment.