Nurse Educator

The Nurse Educator track provides students with skills and competencies in advanced nursing theory and practical experience as a nursing educator. Skills are mastered to develop strategies for curricular design and for the use of technology in various academic and clinical settings within the changing health care environment.
The Educator concentration is a 38-unit program that can be completed in as few as 6 terms or 2 years with a Fall term start.*
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NUR 200: Advanced Health Assessment (3)+-
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This advanced health assessment course focuses on the adult population spanning from young to older adults. It is designed to offer a comprehensive review of obtaining a complete health history and the physical assessment skills required for this patient population. An emphasis is placed on the relationship between physical assessment and health behaviors in conjunction with epidemiological, cultural, psychosocial and spiritual needs of clients. Upon this foundation the graduate student will develop the necessary skills to assess and identify patient problems and formulate appropriate & comprehensive plans of care. Carries a Nursing Lab fee.
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NUR 201: Theoretical & Conceptual Foundations of Nursing (3)+-
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The course will offer an opportunity for graduate nursing students to explore the relationships between nursing theory, research, education, practice and the philosophical dimensions of nursing. There is a scholarly exploration of the theoretical and conceptual models that influence the discipline of nursing. A historical view of the nursing profession will be presented and analyzed. The student will choose a theoretical framework upon which to design the graduate project.
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NUR 202: Current Trends & Issues in Professional Nursing (3)+-
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This course utilizes an ethical decision-making framework to explore and analyze current issues that impact the nursing profession and communities of interest. The seminar discussion focuses on professional issues and current topics that affect the nursing profession and healthcare, including population health which reflects cultural and diversity needs.
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NUR 203: Introduction to Graduate Studies (1)+-
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This is an introduction for incoming graduate students in nursing. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the content and relational knowledge expected as a graduate student. Contents for this course include an orientation to program standards and objectives, expectations of graduate-level oral and written communication, practice locating, evaluating, and citing scholarly resources. Prerequisite for ALL courses. This course can be taken concurrently during the student's first term.
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NUR 206: Educational Theories, Principles, and Methods in Nursing (2)+-
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This course is designed to prepare students for the advanced professional role as nurse educators. The focus of this course is on the use of various teaching techniques and strategies to assist the education of staff, students, healthcare professionals, clients, and communities of interest. In the role of nursing educator, students will learn how to influence changes in how the client perceives health and his/her ability to seek information to reach optimal health. Assignments successfully completed in this course will serve as a foundation for additional coursework in subsequent Nurse Educator track courses particularly NUR 208 and NUR 294.
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NUR 207A: Healthcare Informatics & Technology (1.5)+-
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This first course in healthcare informatics provides an overview of the broad areas which encompass informatics and healthcare technologies. The focus is on developing an understanding of relevant concepts to enable the master's-prepared nurse to utilize healthcare informatics and technologies in direct patient care, leadership and administration, research and educational experiences. Current trends and issues in using, designing, and managing healthcare information systems will be examined. Equivalent to NUR 107A, NUR 144A, NUR 244A.
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NUR 207B: Healthcare Informatics & Technology (1.5)+-
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This second course in healthcare informatics and technologies will provide the master's-prepared nurse the knowledge and skills to utilize current informatics and healthcare technologies in their roles as clinical nurse specialists, nursing leaders/administrators, and nurse educators. In depth examination of specific technologies utilized in patient care delivery, data analysis, education, professional development, and collaboration will be discussed. The goal of technology use to improve outcomes in quality, safety, and cost will be explored and emphasized. Equivalent to NUR 107B, NUR 144B, and NUR 244B.
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NUR 208: Curriculum Development (2)+-
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This course is designed so that the graduate student can explore curriculum development in both the academic and practice settings. The course is geared toward an examination of philosophical basis for the development of curriculum. Students design and critique a model curriculum and include outcome criteria to evaluate educational goal attainment.
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NUR 246: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (3)+-
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This graduate level course covers advanced principles of physiology and pathophysiology that are applicable across the lifespan. In-depth examination of pathophysiologic mechanisms that are responsible for human illness and disease will be utilized as a framework for discussing common complex health problems encountered within major body systems. Alterations will be examined beginning at the cellular level with analysis of human responses to disease processes. Discussion of assessment, diagnosis and evidence-based management utilized in treatment of these health problems will be included.
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NUR 248: Advanced Pharmacology (3)+-
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This course is designed to prepare nurses for expert clinical practice using advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge of pharmacology that can be applied in the clinical setting. The focus is on pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacokinetics including a discussion at the cellular response level. Content will provide the advanced practice nurse the competencies necessary to work with patients, health care professionals and communities to improve clinical care in a safe and cost-effective manner.
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NUR 290: Nursing Research & Methodologies (3)+-
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This course constitutes an in-depth exploration of the research process and strategies. Discussion will surround both quantitative as well as qualitative designs with emphasis on human subjects' protection. Students will prepare the first three chapters of their thesis project proposal. The project will be aimed at solving a practical or clinical problem, or meeting an educational or administrative need in a service or academic setting. The project may include a nursing intervention program, a change project or an educational program that is designed in the form of a class, instructional module, computer program, videotape, or nursing education evaluation tool. Students must obtain written facility approval prior to implementation of the thesis project. This seminar will provide the student with the opportunity to meet with the faculty throughout the term to discuss the progress of the thesis project and to obtain guidance from the course faculty member.
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NUR 294: Evaluation & Testing (2)+-
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This course will present concepts of assessment, measurement, testing, and evaluation in nursing education. The students will be prepared to utilize this knowledge in the role of the nurse educator. The course is designed to include strategies used to develop test items, clinical evaluation, evaluation of clinical performance as well as social/legal/ethical issues associated with assessment and testing.
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NUR 295: Educator Practicum (Agency setting) (3)+-
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This course is designed to prepare students to assume the role of a professional nursing development specialist within an agency. In this practicum, the student will gain experience in staff development. Competencies identified by the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) are emphasized.
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NUR 296: Thesis Project Seminar (3)+-
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The focus of this seminar is implementation and evaluation of the project proposal developed in NUR 290 (Nursing Research and Methodologies) once written facility approval has been obtained. Findings of project implementation and evaluation will be presented and discussed in Chapters 4 and 5. Completion of this course requires submission of an approved final thesis project which includes revised Chapters 1, 2, and 3. This seminar will provide the student with the opportunity to meet with the faculty throughout the term to discuss the progress of the thesis project and to obtain guidance from the course faculty member.
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NUR 297: Educator Practicum (College setting) (3)+-
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This course will provide students with experiences to prepare them as academic educators of pre-licensure RN students in a college-level nursing program. The student will be assigned a college setting in which to prepare the coursework and assist with the evaluation process while being supervised by a BRN approved faculty member. Students will function in the role of an academic educator through participation in the varied aspects of a college environment.
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NUR 298: Nurse Educator Role (1)+-
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This course will introduce the student to the Nurse Educator role in a variety of settings. This will include academic setting, staff development, nurse counselor, and clinical nurse educator. Understanding the nurse educator role using the NLN and ANPD educator competencies as well as the ANA standards will be a primary focus of the course.
* Track requirements (courses and units) subject to change.