Course Descriptions

Courses numbered 1000-1999 are open to freshmen; 2000-2999 to sophomores; 3000-3999 to juniors; 4000-4999 to seniors. It is recommended that students elect courses in the years for which they are listed. Freshmen will be admitted to courses above the 2000 level only with the consent of the instructor and the student’s advisor. Juniors and seniors taking freshman courses may be expected to do additional work. Any course above 4999 is a graduate course.

NOTE:
The number in parentheses following the course title indicates the semester hours of credit assigned to the course.
An H following the course number indicates an honors level course.

GNSG 5050
Lean Six Sigma Methodology for Healthcare Quality Improvement [Course] (1)
This course is designed to give the learner an overview of Lean Six Sigma methodology; with an emphasis on healthcare quality applications and initiatives. It is intended to give the learner a basic understanding of Lean Six Sigma principles and tools to prepare them for participation in Quality Initiatives in their organization. Upon successful completion of the course the learner will earn a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate. Prerequisites: GNSG 5010, 5200, 5350 or MS in Nursing

GNSG 5100
Nursing Science and Theory for Master's Prepared Nurse [Course] (5)
This course focuses on critical analyses of theory and its use for advanced nursing practice. Nursing's scientific body of knowledge is examined through consideration of selected nursing models, theories, and constructs. Selected theories, models, and concepts from social and behavioral sciences, which enhance nursing as a scientific discipline, are also considered. The inter‐relationship between theory, practice and research is examined and various methods for developing scientific knowledge for practice are explored. Application of theoretical frameworks to nursing practice is emphasized as the student's chosen theoretical base for the identification and development of nurse-led evidence-based changes in a chosen healthcare setting. Pre-requisite: GNSG 5300.

GNSG 5300
Research and Evidence-based Practice for Advanced Practice Nursing [Course] (5)
The course will focus on evidence-based practice as a framework for advanced nursing practice. The use of research and evidence-based nursing processes to improve clinical practice and decision making in the health care setting will be explored in depth. This course will include an emphasis on developing clinical questions, acquiring evidence, appraising evidence and synthesis of findings and measurement of outcomes.

GNSG 5530
Advanced Clinical Foundations for Nurse Educators [Course] (5)
This graduate level course will integrate principles of advanced pathophysiology, holistic health history, physical assessment, clinical experience, and pharmacology as a foundation to support the role of the nurse educator in clinical practice. The focus will be on the development of advanced knowledge of human pathophysiological functions and response to selected disease processes and the integration of this knowledge into evidenced-based nursing practice. The students will expand and refine skills related to integrated health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology essential for advanced nursing practice and nursing education practice.

GNSG 5540
Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing [Course] (3)
This course prepares the nurse practitioner student to effectively and safely prescribe medications, considering the needs of patients, families, and relevant organizations. Students are taught how to employ appropriate parameters in order to evaluate the efficacy, safety and convenience of similar medications and will explore the appropriate selection of medications for patients of all ages and across a variety of practice settings. Selected topics reflect considerations and situations seen most commonly in practice settings. Emphasis is placed on inclusion of the patient in the selection and rational use of medications as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Additionally students will meet the NYS and Federal requirements for prescription and recordkeeping of controlled substances. Pre-requisite: GNSG 5541.

GNSG 5541
Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing [Course] (3)
This course focuses on pathophysiology and disruptions in normal body functioning for individuals across the lifespan. In depth theoretical and clinical principles of diseases encountered in primary care as well as health disparities resulting from genetic, environmental, and stress related causes are included. Assessment findings, diagnostic testing and interventions specific to selected health problems are explored to begin development of critical thinking skills for pathophysiologic causes and treatments of given disease processes.

GNSG 5542
Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning [Course] (3)
This graduate level course provides the theoretical and clinical foundation for advanced comprehensive assessment of the health status of individuals and families throughout the lifespan. Building on undergraduate preparation, advanced interviewing and history-taking, diagnostic reasoning, and advanced physical, psychosocial, cultural, developmental, spiritual, and environmental assessment are presented. Students will learn techniques for discrimination and analysis of common abnormal findings, the process of differential diagnosis, and methods for presentation of findings. Theoretical contexts of health promotion and health education will be discussed and applied to clinical findings. Pre-requisite: GNSG 5540.

GNSG 5543
Diagnostic Skills and Procedures Lab [Course] (1)
This one-week intensive course provides the advanced practice nursing (APN) student with lab and simulation experience for skill acquisition of selected clinical diagnostic laboratory and imaging tests and with selected procedures practiced commonly by APNs. Clinical decision making for selecting appropriate tests or procedures, and interpretation of diagnostic test results is addressed. Students will use evidence-based resources to appropriately gather, interpret, and manage objective diagnostic clinical data to address various health problems across the lifespan and to educate clients re: prescribed diagnostic tests and procedures. This course builds on previous knowledge of basic microbiology, physiology, and clinical practice. Didactic content addresses selected common laboratory and imaging tests applicable to APN practice, the rationale for these tests, expected results and common abnormal results. Practice and simulation experiences focus on selection of appropriate diagnostic tests, collecting specimens, analyzing selected tests and evaluating results. Clinical content prepares students for procedures commonly carried out by APNs in primary care. Students should plan to spend 12 hours/day during this course on studies. Pre-requisite: GNSG 5542.

GNSG 5800
Healthcare Finance Management [Course] (5)
This is an overview course that will provide an in-depth introduction of healthcare accounting and finance. This course is intended to give those who seek to manage health care organizations the accounting and financial management foundation they need to assure that their organizations produce information that will support their responsibility to make necessary and sound decisions. The course will focus on the operations of health care organizations such as not for profit and for profit hospitals, physician groups and other healthcare agencies including how these organizations use accounting and financial systems for decision making. In this course, we will examine the healthcare organization as a management function and the basic principles of accounting followed by financial statement analyses, cost accounting, cost shifting, budgeting, managing accounts receivable, materials management and healthcare economics. We will examine these topics and their use in planning, control, evaluation and “real life” work examples. The course covers all the essential functions in health care accounting and financial operations that would be experienced throughout the healthcare industry, except for the insurance business and those entities which have special and additional requirements for being for-profit. During the course the participants will carefully construct what the accounting and finance department is expected to accomplish. The course objectives are reinforced through the lecture/PowerPoint presentations and supplemental readings, significant group discussion forums, abstracts, homework problem sets, a case study, and a final presentation.

GNSG 5950
Independent Study [Course] (1 - 3)
This course is an elective in the curriculum that allows students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and/or skills in an in-depth and individualized manner. The independent study is arranged with and supervised by a graduate faculty member. No prerequisites.

GNSG 6155
Educational Theory and Curriculum Development [Course] (5)
Teaching as a scholarly endeavor and the history of nursing education are a backdrop to the study of teaching and learning theories used in nursing education as well as an exploration of nursing curriculum development and current influencing factors in the academic, practice, and patient education settings. Various theories of learning will be introduced in the context of undergraduate pre-licensure programs, nursing professional development and patient education. Students will have the opportunity to design an educational course/program within a framework including mapping of organizational/program mission and the course, and student learning outcomes. Exploration of program evaluation will include an introduction to regulations and accreditation standards. Pre-requisites: GNSG 5100 and GNSG 5300.

GNSG 6255
Teaching Strategies and Evaluation [Course] (5)
This course explores the creative design of teaching/learning strategies in the context of instruction specific to nursing education within the classroom and clinical environment. Consideration is given to pre-licensure learners, professional nurse development, and individual and population focused patient education. Learners identify learner objectives and specific teaching/learning strategies and explore classroom and clinical learning using formative and summative evaluation strategies. Pre-requisite: GNSG 6155

GNSG 6300
Strategic Leadership in Healthcare [Course] (5)
This course is designed to prepare nurses for executive administrative and leadership positions in a variety of complex health care settings. The focus is on how the nurse executives and leaders create and maintain a dynamic healthy work environment through the use of program development, project implementation, fiscal design, informatics, and staff education while examining the art and practices of strategic leadership within an organization. In addition, this course will provide an overview of teaching methods and learning theories to support effective educational programs for individuals (patient population), communities, and health Professionals. Pre-requisites: GNSG 5100 and GNSG 5300.

GNSG 6355
Internship in Healthcare Leadership and Administration [Practicum] (3)
This course is designed to prepare nurses for executive and leadership positions in a variety of complex health care settings. The focus is on how the nurse executives and leaders create and maintain a dynamic work environment through the use of exceptional leadership practices, strategic planning, program development and evaluation, fiscal design and implementation, informatics and other resources. Through the use of an integrated internship with an approved leadership mentor, the students will experience first-hand executive leadership. In addition, the student will complete a project for their mentor that requires the skills of a master's prepared nurse which highlights their acquired knowledge and skills. The individualized internship builds on the previous courses and the student's special interests, prior experience and personal strengths and weakness. The internship includes on-site hours, conference hours, and completion of a mutually agreed upon project for the mentor. Pre-requisites: GNSG 5050, 5100, 5300, 5800, 6300, 6550, 6650, 6725

GNSG 6400
Seminar/Practicum in Nursing Education [Course] (3)
This course provides an opportunity to apply the theories and principles of teaching nursing students and practicing nurses in group or one-on-one, formal and informal settings. Aspects of educating nurses, such as planning and implementing experiences and documenting and evaluating performance of individual learners will be practiced. In addition, students will take responsibility for designing and delivering classes on various nursing topics to nurse learners. Each student will be mentored by one or more nursing faculty or professional nurse development staff. Seminar topics include closing the theory-practice gap; evidence-based teaching; confronting difficult situations; giving constructive criticism/evaluation; the tripartite role of the academic nurse educator; and the multiple roles in professional nursing development. Pre-requisites: GNSG 5100, 5300, 5050, 6550, 5530, 6155, 6255, 6750

GNSG 6500
Graduate Project Course [Course] (3)
The purpose of the graduate project is to identify a clinical problem, analyze the problem, and propose an evidence-based change to address the problem. Students will choose problems within their area of clinical specialty, thoroughly review and analyze the available literature/ information, identify the current best practices and, using a change theory/evidence-based practice model, propose and initiate a change that would lead to improved quality and safety for patients in primary care. The student will include measurable outcomes to evaluate the practice change in the proposal. The proposal will be developed as a substantive, formal paper and a professional presentation appropriate to primary care practice. Pre-requisite: GNSG 5100

GNSG 6501
Graduate Project II [Course] (1)
The purpose of the graduate project is to identify a clinical problem, analyze the problem, and initiate an evidence-based change to address the problem. During GNSG 6500, students will choose problems within their area of clinical specialty, thoroughly review and analyze the available literature/ information, identify the current best practices and, using a change theory/evidence-based practice model, propose and initiate a change that would lead to improved quality and safety for patients in primary care. The student will include measurable outcomes to evaluate the practice change in the proposal. The proposal will be developed as a substantive, formal paper and a professional presentation appropriate to primary care practice. Once approved by the faculty and the setting of the project, the student will implement the project. GNSG 6501 will take place during the final semester. Students will complete the project presentation and submit the final Graduate Project at the end of the final course.

GNSG 6550
The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in the Transformation of Practice [Course] (5)
In this course, the role of the educator and leader as change agent will be emphasized as it relates to the scope and standards of professional leadership and education practice and within the context of using the best evidence to inform the role of leader and educator and transform practice. This course culminates in the completion of a scholarly Graduate Project Proposal and overview of the project via a scholarly and professional audio-video presentation. Pre-requisites: GNSG 5100, GNSG 5300

GNSG 6600
Health Policy, Advocacy and Leadership for the Advanced Practice Nurse [Course] (3)
The course will introduce students to health policy, regulatory practices, and current issues within the US that impact cost, quality, and access to care promotion. Formal discussion of leadership initiatives to address healthcare disparities and professional practice legalities will be discussed. Global health will be explored as this impacts care and disease management. The role of the APN as a leader in ethical practice, healthy work environments, and business skill development will be explored.

GNSG 6610
Primary Care I for Advanced Practice Nursing: Care of the Adult Patient with Clinical Practice Exp A [Course] (3)
This graduate level course develops comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based clinical practice for care and management of adult patients utilizing a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. Students will use case studies to apply advanced physical assessment, and diagnostic skills to develop treatment plans for this population. Students will begin clinical practice, apply advanced physical assessment, and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6611
Primary Care I for APN: Care of Adult Patient with Clinical Practice Experience B [Clinical] (3)
This graduate level course develops a comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based clinical practice for care and management of adult patients utilizing a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. Students will use case studies to apply advanced physical assessment, and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population. Students will continue clinical practice, apply advanced physical assessment, and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6620
Primary Care II for APN: Care of the Older Adult Patient with Clinical Practice Experience A [Course] (3)
This graduate level course develops a comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based clinical practice for care and management of older adults. Students will begin clinical practice and apply advanced physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population. Pre-requisite: GNSG 6611

GNSG 6621
Primary Care II for APN: Care of the Older Adult Patient with Clinical Practice Experience B [Clinical] (3)
This graduate level course develops a comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based clinical practice for care and management of older adults. Students will continue to begin clinical practice and apply advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6630
Primary Care III for APN: Reproductive Health with Clinical Practice Experience A [Course] (3)
This graduate level course develops a comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, and evidence-based reproductive health care and management for people of all genders. Students will participate in virtual scenarios and complete case studies to apply advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills to develop treatment plans for the reproductive health care needs of people. Students will begin to apply this knowledge in clinical practice including advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6631
Primary Care III for APN: Reproductive health with Clinical Practice Experience B [Clinical] (3)
This graduate level course develops a comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, and evidence-based clinical practice for reproductive health care and management. Students will complere case studies to apply advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills to develop treatment plans for the reproductive health care needs of people. Students will continue to apply this knowledge in clinical practice including advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6640
Primary Care IV for APN: Care of the Pediatric Patient with Clinical Practice Experience A [Course] (3)
This graduate level course develops comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based clinical practice for care and management of pediatric patients ages newborn through age 22 utilizing a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. Students will begin virtual clinical practice and use case studies to apply advanced physical assessment, and diagnostic skills to develop treatment plans for this population. Students will begin clinical practice and apply advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6641
Primary Care IV for APN: Care of the Pediatric Patient with Clinical Practice Experience B [Clinical] (3)
This graduate level course develops comprehensive understanding of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based clinical practice for care and management of pediatric patients utilizing a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. Students will begin virtual clinical practice and use case studies to apply advanced physical assessment, and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population. Students will apply knowledge from GNSG 6640 in clinical practice including advanced physical assessment and diagnostic skills with supervision to develop treatment plans for this population.

GNSG 6650
Human Resources, Ethics, Policy and Law [Course] (5)
This course provides a focused examination of Strategic Human Resources management. Human Resources Management is an essential skill for nurses in healthcare leadership positions and focuses on talent acquisition, training and development, coaching, organizational effectiveness, diversity and inclusion, and a healthy work environment. Additionally, students will examine employment law, ethics and safety. The course will culminate with a broader examination of ethical and legal dilemmas faced by health care leaders. The formation of governmental policy is reviewed and the role of leaders in advocating for healthcare and professional needs.

GNSG 6700
Health Care Delivery Systems and Information Technology [Course] (3)
The course will focus on the application of informatics using Health Information Technology (HIT) as a tool for improving healthcare delivery and the health of populations served. This course provides a comprehensive overview of HIT relating to the importance of technology in the overall goals of the Quadruple Aim; the basics of point-of-care technology; approaches to data management and analytics; and the impact of HIT on quality and safety of care.

GNSG 6725
Informatics in Healthcare [Course] (5)
In this course the significance of informatics as a part of effective practice and research in advanced practice nursing is examined as learners explore the use of technologies and information systems to enhance, strengthen and improve quality of care and patient safety. Content focuses on information systems relating to patient outcomes, safety, quality improvement, and clinical decision making. Consideration is also given to administrative systems supporting nursing leadership planning and decision making, as well as the legal and ethical issues emergent from the use of technology in healthcare. Application to practice is explored through face-to-face interviews with nursing and informatics leaders in the practice setting.

GNSG 6750
Teaching with Technology [Course] (5)
In this course the significance of technology as a part of effective teaching and learning in the virtual learning environment is examined. This course provides nurse educator students with the knowledge and skills for understanding and using a variety of online learning technologies to support the teaching-learning process. The course will discuss principles and application of online learning, use of technology in teaching and learning, and how to integrate computer technologies into the nursing curriculum. Pre-requisite: GNSG 6155