Master's in Nursing Course Descriptions: Clinical Nurse Leadership

NURSG 502: Advanced Health Assessment (3 Credits)
Course Description: This course assists students to develop effective clinical interviewing, focused history-taking and advanced physical assessment skills. Course content builds upon the student's foundational knowledge of pathophysiology, microbiology and anatomy. The underlying approach to assessment stresses a holistic view of clients as complex beings possessing physical, emotional, social and spiritual health needs and resources. (On-campus residency in Chicago occurs at the conclusion of this course).

The residency will be held on a Friday evening through Sunday morning during the second half of the course. Activities and tasks include:

• Practice of physical assessment skills
• Competency testing in physical assessment skills
• Discussion of Clinical Nurse Leader role and expectations for practicum
• Initial planning for Clinical Nurse Leader project

NURSG 503: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 Credits)
Course Description: This course describes the etiology, natural history, developmental considerations, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of specific disease processes. In this course, students will acquire a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of disordered physiology that underlie the disease conditions that are most commonly encountered in practice settings. Knowledge of pathophysiological processes will be linked to the clinical manifestations of disease and will form the basis for clinical diagnosis and decision-making regarding therapeutic interventions.

NURSG 512: Advanced Pharmacology (2 Credits)
Course Description: This course focuses on the pharmacologic effects and clinical uses of selected drug groups. Principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are reviewed. The issues of altered pharmacotherapeutic response relative to physiologic and psychosocial variables will be included. Pharmacologic mechanisms in association with side effects, drug interactions, contraindications and patient education will be addressed.

NURSG 523 Clinical Nurse Leader Role I (2 Credits)
Course description: This is the first of four courses specific to the CL role. The course provides a foundation for implementation of the role. Students focus on the CL role and its contribution to improve patient outcomes, ensure quality care and reduce health care costs. Concepts, theories and issues related to nursing leadership and care environment management are investigated in depth. End of program competencies for the Clinical Nurse Leader role will be discussed. The practicum facilitates role clarification and application of microsystem analysis. This course requires 75 hours of clinical practicum.

NURSG 524 Clinical Nurse Leader Role II (3 Credits)
Pre-requisite: NURSG 523
Course description: This is the second of four practicum courses in the Clinical Leadership track. Students apply elements of the CL curriculum with a selected cohort of clients in a practice setting. The practicum facilitates development of skills for advocacy and leadership in a microsystem as a means to promote positive change in a health care delivery system while putting best practices into action. Periodic seminars provide opportunities for CL students, faculty and mentors to discuss issues and assess experiences related to implementation of this role. This course requires 75 hours of clinical practicum.

NURSG 572: Family Systems (2 Credits)
Course description: This course focuses on the examination of concepts and theories that address the family as a dynamic system. Particular emphasis is given to the development of the family across the life cycle and the effects of social, cultural, political and economic variables on the family. The impact of stress on the family system will be analyzed.

NURSG 612 CNL Immersion I (3 Credits)
Pre-requisite: NURSG 524
Course description: This is the third practicum course in the Clinical Leader track. Students enhance skills in advocacy and leadership for reforming a health care delivery system while putting best practices into action. The practicum facilitates development of a project to promote positive change in the microsystem. Periodic seminars provide opportunities for CL students, faculty and mentors to discuss issues and assess experiences related to implementation of this role. This course requires 150 hours of clinical practicum.

NURSG 614 CNL Immersion II (3 Credits)
Pre-requisite: NURSG 612
Course description: This is the fourth practicum course in the Clinical Leader track. Students refine the skills necessary to implement roles of the clinical leader in a specific health care delivery system. The practicum facilitates implementation, measurement of outcomes and dissemination of a project that promotes positive change in the microsystem. Periodic seminars provide opportunities for CL students, faculty and mentors to discuss issues and assess experiences related to implementation of this role. This course requires 150 hours of clinical practicum.