This is a 4-credit course.

Description

Understanding the clinical nurse specialist role as expert advanced practice nurse. Emphasis is on theory and science related to chronic illness prevention, risk reduction and management. Students diagnose problems amenable to nursing interventions.

Course Competencies - Didactic

At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Examine the clinical nurse specialist role including evolution, ontological and epistemological influences, unique contributions, and contemporary trends influencing practice.
2. Synthesize concepts, theories, and research relevant to health, wellness, chronic illness prevention, risk reduction, and management.
3. Examine theoretical underpinnings of clinical reasoning for advanced nursing practice.
4. Integrate knowledge from theory and bio-behavioral science for advanced assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for individuals and families at risk for or experiencing chronic illness.
5. Analyze the principles of health coaching and motivational interviewing for promoting self-management for patients and care givers.
6. Analyze developmental, genetic/genomic factors, and cultural influences on ethical decisions arising from chronic illness prevention and management.

Course Competencies - Clinical

Students complete 150 clock hours of supervised clinical experience: 10 clinical hours/week for 15 weeks.

Students will:

1. Explore the clinical nurse specialist role for a specialty population in a selected setting.
2. Use theoretical and scientific evidence for advanced nursing assessment for a specialty population.
3. Diagnose problems amenable to nursing interventions in context of wellness in disease and developmental, cultural, genetic/genomic, psychosocial, and environmental influences.
4. Hypothesize theory- and evidence-based interventions to alter target problem etiologies.
5. Use a strengths-based framework to plan care for patients with complex and chronic health problems.
6. Evaluate clinical and fiscal outcomes of care.
7. Collaborate with the healthcare team to assure comprehensive care and transitions across settings.
8. Plan for resolution of ethical conflicts in a specialty patient population.

This is a 5-credit course.

Description

Application of theory and science to address clinical problems and improve patient outcomes related to symptoms and functional status in the context of wellness in chronic illness.

Additional information

Students analyze theory, research, and evidence in the design, implementation, and evaluation of nursing interventions to optimize outcomes for specialty population groups across the lifespan. Students in the pediatric CNS track concentrate on pediatric populations; students in the adult/gerontology CNS track concentrate on adult and geriatric population groups.

Course Competencies - Didactic

At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze theories and scientific findings that inform clinical reasoning about symptoms and functional problems experienced by specialty populations of adults. 
2. Critique methods of assessment for identifying patterns of problems with same/similar symptoms and functional problems and associated etiology(ies).
3. Examine advanced-level interventions and comprehensive programs for implementation and evaluation at the specialty population level.
4. Explore cultural, developmental, genetic/genomic, and ethical considerations for nursing interventions.
5. Describe the gaps in knowledge regarding the advancement of evidence-based guidelines for optimizing care of specialty populations. 
6. Apply problem-solving and civic judgment in community-based organizations serving patients and families experiencing chronic illness.

Course Competencies - Clinical 

Students complete 150 clock hours of supervised clinical experience.

Students will:

1. Design developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive research- and evidence-based nursing interventions intended to alter the etiology(ies) of symptoms and functional problems for individuals based on advanced assessment.
2. Implement intervention(s) designed to alter the etiology(ies) of symptoms and functional problems.
3. Evaluate clinical and fiscal outcomes of nursing intervention(s) using theoretical grounded and scientifically sound evaluation methods/instruments.

This is a 5-credit course.

Description

Prepares clinical nurse specialists to function as innovation leaders within complex health systems. Emphasis is on leading nurses and multidisciplinary teams in achieving safety, quality, and cost-effective outcomes.

Additional information

Students synthesize and apply theories and research to advance the practice of nursing for a specialty population of adults across the lifespan experiencing chronic illness. Students in the pediatric CNS track concentrate on pediatric populations; students in the adult/gerontology CNS track concentrate on adult and geriatric population groups.

Course Competencies - Didactic

At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Critically appraise leadership theories for advanced nursing practice.
2. Analyze the merits of theories and scientific findings for application to the system-level problem solving and innovation.
3. Critique methods for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practice change at the system level.
4. Explore leadership and change theories for application to advancing nursing practice for a specialty population at the system-level.
5. Analyze principles of collaboration and consultation for application to clinical nurse specialist practice.
6. Examine models of clinical nurse specialist practice for implementation in selected specialty areas including consideration of ethical, cultural, genetic/genomic, regulatory, economic, and social factors influencing the health and well-being of a selected population.

Course Competencies - Clinical

Students complete 225 clock hours of supervised clinical experience.

Students will:

1. Demonstrate leadership for nursing practice and multidisciplinary care delivery.
2. Consult with healthcare providers in the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practice.
3. Demonstrate ability to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive programs of care to achieve desired quality, cost-effective nursing outcomes for specialty populations.
4. Demonstrate professional citizenship for specialty practice and the nursing profession within and across multiple settings serving and with diverse groups of patients/families.