NURSING

 

Course Descriptions

 

NUR 504       Strategies and Theories in Education (3)

This course focuses on the development and implementation of effective communication skills and strategies in the teaching/learning process to foster the development of the nurse educator as a leader within the nursing profession. The course explores contextual environments, advances in technology, diversity in learners’ backgrounds and experiences, and covers both traditional and innovative pedagogies in nursing education. Emphasis is placed on building collegial relationships, critical thinking, reflective thinking, and communication skills through evidenced based practice. This course is offered in a web-enhanced format. This course requires a three-hour classroom lecture session. Prerequisite or Co-requisites: None. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 505       Advanced Health Assessment (4)

This course is designed to provide the adult nurse practitioner student with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a complete health and physical assessment on clients from young adulthood through senescence. It is expected that students are prepared to conduct a basic history and physical exam when they enroll in this course.

 

The course emphasizes student competencies in data gathering, assessing, recording and integrating information obtained from the client. Information from the assessment is utilized as a database for establishing differential diagnoses and developing treatment plans. Risk factor assessment and health promotion and disease prevention strategies for the adult client are described.

 

This course requires a three-hour classroom lecture session and a two-hour laboratory session per week, as well as a minimum of 20 clock hours during the semester. Prerequisite or Co-requisites: NUR 509, NUR 517 and NUR 519 must be completed no more than two years prior to registering for Health Assessment. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 506       Foundations of Palliative Care (1)

This course is designed to introduce the student to concepts relating to palliative care. Contextual factors impacting upon peoples’ views of death, the history of the palliative care movement, policy factors relating to palliative care, and future directions for palliative care will be addressed. This course is meant to serve as an introduction to the field of palliative care and to sensitize the student to macro and micro factors impacting upon end of life care. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 509       Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (3)

This course examines concepts and theories related to disorders of physiological processes which result in health alterations and disease across the lifespan. Fundamental concepts from cellular to clinical manifestations of altered health and disease are presented. Critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-based learning are utilized to support the application of theoretical knowledge about physiology and altered physiology (pathophysiology) to actual patient situations. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 511       Conceptual Basis for Advanced Practice Nursing (2)

This course explores selected concepts essential to the advanced practice nursing role. The scope of practice is discussed and roles of the advanced practice nurse (including clinician, independent practitioner, collaborator, researcher, educator, consultant, and administrator) are explored. Standards of care and professional performance including evaluation of advanced nursing practice are discussed. Legal issues specific to the advanced practice role, methods of health care delivery, and regulation of advanced practice nursing are addressed. This course is offered on-campus in a web-enhanced format. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 513       Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing (2)

This course focuses on issues surrounding health and illness in our society. The course is designed to familiarize advanced practice nurses with multiple understandings of the health/illness experience from a wide range of perspectives. Beginning with an historical frame of reference, the student will explore issues relating to nursing, health and the quality health care delivery. Students will be challenged to view health care from societal, evidence-based, provider and patient perspectives. With enhanced analytic skills, students will develop nursing interventions which empower patients. Controversial issues facing nursing will be explored and debated. This course is offered in a web-based format. Offered Each Year (Summer).

 

NUR 515       Theoretical Perspectives in Advanced Practice Nursing (2)

This course explores nursing theories and theories from other disciplines in relation to advanced nursing practice. The origins and structure of nursing knowledge are identified and examined and selected theories/conceptual models of nursing and other disciplines are analyzed. The relationship among theory, research, and practice is explored. Emphasis is placed on applying theoretical perspectives in identifying and managing disease conditions and promotion of health. The student's own theoretical base for practice is identified and developed. This course is offered in a web-enhanced format. Lecture: two hours per week. Offered Each Year (Summer).

 

NUR 517       Introductory Topics in Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse (1)

This course provides a foundation for the understanding of pharmacological principles that will assist the adult health nurse practitioner in prescribing and administering medications. An introduction to general principles of pharmacology that are essential for an understanding of individual drug actions will be presented, and a few specific groups of medications will be covered. Topics include important aspects of pharmacokinetics and routes of administration, important aspects of pharmacodynamics and drug-receptor interactions, and also pharmacotherapeutic considerations such as side effects and drug interactions. Groups of medications to be studied include drugs that affect the autonomic nervous system (cholinergic and anticholinergic drugs, adrenergic and antiadrenergic\ drugs) and antibacterial drugs. Information about these medications will be presented in a manner that is relevant to the needs of the adult health nurse practitioner who cares for patients in a variety of clinical settings.

 

Discussion and class content regarding these medications will focus on drug actions, therapeutic usage, side effects, drug interactions, and monitoring in adult clients. Also, principles of rational prescription writing, as well as Federal and New York State laws pertaining to noncontrolled and controlled prescription medications, will be discussed in detail.

A research paper assignment will require students to develop methods for effectively communicating with colleagues and clients regarding expected drug effects, uses, cautions, and potential side effects of prescribed pharmacological agents. This course is a companion course to NUR 519, and together with NUR 519, fulfills the pharmacology requirement for the graduate adult health nurse practitioner program. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 519       Selected Topics in Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse (2)

The focus of this course is the study of selected categories of medications that are commonly used in primary care. Groups of medications to be studied include antihypertensives, diuretics, antianginals, drugs for heart failure, anticoagulants, hypolipemics, antidiabetic drugs, thyroid drugs, sex hormones, NSAIDs, dermatological drugs, antiasthmatic drugs, gastrointestinal drugs, antifungals and antivirals, sedative-hypnotics, and antidepressants. Information about these medications will be presented in a manner that is relevant to the needs of the adult health nurse practitioner who cares for patients in a variety of clinical settings. Discussion and class content regarding these medications will focus on drug actions, therapeutic usage, side effects, drug interactions, and monitoring in adult clients. A research paper assignment will require students to critically analyze research information regarding pharmacologic agents used in advanced nursing practice. This course is a companion course to NUR 517, and together with NUR 517, fulfills the pharmacology requirement for the graduate adult health nurse practitioner program. Offered Each Year (Spring).

 

NUR 524       Care for the Caregiver (1)

This one credit course focuses on the needs of caregivers to individuals who are near the end of life. Strategies to assist lay and professional caregivers in caring for self and others will be explored. The benefits of self-help groups, crisis debriefing, and stress management techniques will be highlighted. Recognizing the need for referral and identification of appropriate referral resources will also be addressed. Offered Each Year (Spring).

 

NUR 525       Ethical Dilemmas in Palliative Care (2)

Health care providers who practice in today’s health care system soon realize that making ethical decisions is a common part of every day health care. As health care technology continues to advance into the 21st century, making ethical decisions has become more and more difficult. The ability to make sound ethical decisions is based on awareness of underlying ethical principles, ethical theories or systems, a decision-making model, and the profession’s Code of Ethics. The course will explore some of the important issues in today’s health care delivery system and focus on the role of the health care provider in palliative care settings. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 528       Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education (3)

This graduate level course focuses on methodologies to assess the learner’s level of learning, evaluation of course and program objectives, as well as evaluation of clinical practicum settings. The course will also familiarize the graduate student with accreditation models and provide content related to the development of nursing program standards and policies regarding admission, progression, and graduation. This course requires a three-hour classroom lecture session. Prerequisite or Co-requisites: None. Offered Every Other Year (Fall).

 

NUR 531       Palliative Care Management I (6)

This course focuses on the assessment and management of symptoms caused by advanced disease, thereby enhancing quality end stage living. All lectures will incorporate information regarding pathophysiology, clinical assessment, pharmacology, and complementary modalities, as deemed appropriate to topic. This course includes four hours of lecture/discussion weekly, and a total of 250 hours of clinical practice. Clinical seminars will be scheduled at specific times during the semester to discuss clinical issues and offer time for student presentations. Prerequisites: NUR 506, NUR 525. Pre or Co-requisite: NUR 524. Offered Every Other Year (Spring).

 

NUR 561       Adult Primary Health Care I (6)

The first clinical practicum focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in providing basic primary care for adult clients from young adulthood through senescence. Students apply concepts, theories, and skills from core and prerequisite courses along with a functional, life span orientation. Emphasis is placed on comprehensive assessment of the health status of adult clients, health promotion and disease prevention, and differential diagnosis and treatment of common acute and chronic illnesses. Supervised clinical experiences emphasize clinical decision-making and implementation of evidence-based practice, integrating clinical assessment, management skills, and client teaching. This course involves four hours of in-class course delivery and 20 hours of clinical practice weekly for a total of 250 clock hours for the semester. Additional clinical seminars/laboratories are scheduled during the semester to allow for skills review and discussion of clinical issues. Students are individually supervised in the clinical setting by either a physician or a nurse practitioner preceptor. Ongoing interaction between Daemen College faculty and clinical preceptors is maintained throughout the semester. Prerequisites: NUR 505, NUR 509, and NUR 517. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: NUR 519. This course is held on-campus in a web-enhanced format. Offered Each Year (Spring).

 

NUR 562       Adult Primary Health Care II (6)

This second clinical practicum focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in providing care for adult clients with complex health problems from young adulthood through senescence. Students apply concepts and theories from the core courses along with a functional life-span orientation toward research and nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on comprehensive assessment of the health status of adult clients with multiple and complex problems, case management, health promotion, preventative health care, differential diagnosis, and application of appropriate management protocols. Supervised clinical experiences include an emphasis on decision-making and implementation of evidence-based practice, which integrates, advanced assessment and management skills and client teaching. This practicum involves four hours of in-class course delivery and 20 hours of clinical practice weekly for a total of 250 clock hours for the semester. Clinical seminars are scheduled throughout the semester to discuss clinical issues. Ongoing interaction between Daemen College faculty and clinical preceptors is maintained throughout the semester. Prerequisite: NUR 561. This course is held on-campus in a web-enhanced format. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 600       Curriculum Design and Implementation (3)

This course focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing curricula. Emphasis is placed on designing nursing curricula based on evidenced based education and practice, program outcomes, institutional philosophy and mission, societal and healthcare trends and needs, and community and clinical partnerships. The course explores educational principles, change theories and strategies, and philosophical and theoretical frameworks in curricula development. Methods for analyzing curricula and formulation of evaluation strategies and curricular revisions will also be investigated. This course is offered in a web-enhanced format. This course requires a three-hour classroom lecture session. Prerequisite: NUR 504: Strategies and Theories in Education, or permission from the course instructor. Offered Each Year (Fall).

 

NUR 601       Palliative Care Management II (6)

This course is designed to facilitate the application of palliative care theory and research to advanced nursing clinical practice. Grounded in Watson’s Transpersonal Caring-Healing Theory, the course addresses communication, stigma, spirituality, and culture related to end of life care. The course emphasizes clinical management of individuals who are near end of life, support of significant others through care giving and bereavement, and identification of/intervention with individuals who are experiencing complicated bereavement. This course includes four hours of weekly lecture/discussion. The clinical component of the course involves 250 hours of clinical practice. Clinical seminars will be scheduled at specific times during the semester. Prerequisite: NUR 531 or permission of the instructor. Offered Every Other Year (Fall).

 

NUR 602       Qualitative Research (2)

This course addresses the inductive mode of research. The history, methods, and outcome of qualitative research are described in detail. Different qualitative research methodologies, including phenomenology, grounded theory, and ethnography, are explored. Issues of reliability and validity in qualitative research are discussed. The use of computers in qualitative research is addressed. A qualitative research proposal, including a human subjects consent form, is developed. In addition, qualitative research studies in the area of advanced practice nursing are reviewed and critiqued. Lecture: two hours per week. Offered Each Year (Summer and Fall).

 

NUR 603       Quantitative Research (2)

This course will provide an examination of the significance of quantitative research as well as a foundation of the principles and methods for conducting quantitative research. We will consider the theoretical foundation for both quantitative research methods (correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental designs), and apply appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Lecture: two hours per week. Offered Each Year (Summer).

 

NUR 604       Thesis (4-6)

The thesis option provides the student with an opportunity to consider a theoretical question in relation to Adult Health Nurse Practitioner practice and to attempt to answer this question through the research process. The thesis is geared towards the development of a research proposal and the implementation of a pilot study that addresses an issue related to Adult Health Nurse Practitioner practice. For the thesis option, the student is expected to identify a research question, choose a theoretical framework or a conceptual model, select an appropriate methodology, collect, analyze, and discuss data. Students registering for Thesis for the first time are required to attend a one-credit Introduction to Thesis seminar on-campus.

 

At least two (2) members should be on each thesis committee, with the committee chairperson being a full-time faculty member from the Nursing Department. After a successfully thesis defense, two hard bound copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Nursing Department. Offered Each Year (Fall, Spring, Summer).

 

Note: A student who has registered for the 6th credit of thesis/project and who does not complete the thesis/project in that semester will receive a grade of "Incomplete.” In such a case, the student will have one additional semester to complete the thesis/project and the grade of "Incomplete" will be changed to "Pass Complete.” In the event that the student does not complete the thesis/project in the additional semester, the grade of "Incomplete" will revert to a grade of "F.” The student will then need to register for one credit hour of 604/605. 

 

 

 

NUR 605       Project (4-6)

The project option is a demonstration of expertise in a field of interest to Adult Health Nurse Practitioner practice, which serves to either contribute new knowledge to the field or to apply advanced knowledge in a creative manner. Students who are practice oriented, with the goal of developing advanced skills and knowledge, may choose to complete a project focusing on a clinical nursing practice issue.

 

The purpose of the project is to allow the student a concentrated learning experience with graduate nursing faculty guidance. The project is designed to promote creative and unique approaches to advanced nursing care. The project method will vary depending on the subject matter chosen. Some examples of appropriate projects include: development of a health teaching module, use of media to promote health teaching, application of existing research to a particular clinical setting, and evaluation of existing health services. The way in which the project may contribute to the student’s professional nursing expertise would be delineated in the proposal. Students registering for Project for the first time are required to attend a one-credit Introduction to Thesis seminar on-campus.

 

At least two (2) members should be on each project committee, with the committee chairperson being a full-time faculty member from the Nursing Department. When the project is completed, the student is expected to submit a detailed report of the findings or outcome. Further, upon completion of the project, two hard bound copies of the project or – if in a media format – one high quality media copy along with supporting documentation, must be submitted to the Nursing Department. Prerequisite and/or Co-requisite: NUR 602 and 603. Offered Each Year (Fall, Spring, Summer).

 

Note: A student who has registered for the 6th credit of thesis/project and who does not complete the thesis/project in that semester will receive a grade of "Incomplete.” In such a case, the student will have one additional semester to complete the thesis/project and the grade of "Incomplete" will be changed to "Pass Complete.” In the event that the student does not complete the thesis/project in the additional semester, the grade of "Incomplete" will revert to a grade of "F.” The student will then need to register for one credit hour of 604/605. 

 

 

Note: A minimum of four credits must be completed for the thesis or project. Depending on the topic and depth of research, six credits may be taken. Credit may be distributed over several terms.

 

NUR 620       Nursing Education Practicum (3-5)

The course emphasizes development of the nurse educator as leader in the practice environment. Focus is placed on functioning in the role of nurse educator and applying the core competencies of nursing faculty which include: facilitation of learning, facilitation of learner development and socialization, use of assessment and evaluation strategies, functioning as a change agent and leader, pursuing continuous quality improvement in the nurse educator role, and functioning within the educational environment. Lecture: 3 hours, nursing education practice: 150 clock hours. Prerequisites: NUR 504: Strategies and Theories in Education, NUR 528: Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education, or permission from the course instructor. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: NUR 600. Offered Each Semester.

 

Note: For the post-master certificate, NUR 620 may be taken for three credit hours, including three hours per week of lecture and 90 clock hours of clinical nursing education practice.

 

 

 

 

NURSING DEPARTMENT GRADUATE FACULTY

 

Lynda Cessario, PhD, RN. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University at Buffalo; Master of Science in Community Health Nursing, D'Youville College; Doctor of Philosophy in Adult Education, University at Buffalo. Professor Cessario has experience in community based nursing and has served as a consultant to various community health organizations. Her research interests include curriculum development, the perception of stress by RNs returning to school, and web based learning.

 

Zena Hyman, RN, MS, ANP-C. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University at Buffalo; Master of Science in Nursing, Adult Nurse Practitioner, University at Buffalo. Ms. Hyman has extensive experience as an adult nurse practitioner in the field of addiction.

 

Catherine Mann, MSN, RN. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Niagara University; Master of Science in Community Health Nursing, D’Youville College. Ms. Mann has experience in home health and palliative care and is the Coordinator of the MS/Palliative Care Program. Her palliative care experience includes practice in the clinical field at the administrative level.

 

Cheryl Nosek, DNS, RN. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, State University of New York at Albany; Master of Science in Community Mental Health Nursing, University at Buffalo; Doctor of Nursing Science, University at Buffalo. Professor Nosek has experience in mental health nursing and has worked in both clinical and administrative roles. Her research interests include family caregiving, depression, and quality improvement.

 

Jeanne Perla, PhD, RN. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University at Buffalo; Master of Science in Nursing with a Minor in Education, University at Buffalo; Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology, University at Buffalo. Dr. Perla has extensive experience in nursing education and research. She has conducted numerous research studies and has published several articles on her findings in various professional journals.

 

Mary Lou Rusin, EdD, RN. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University at Buffalo; Master of Science in Child Health Nursing, University at Buffalo; Doctor of Education, Curriculum Planning and Supervision, University at Buffalo. Professor Rusin has been the Chair of the Nursing Department since 1987. Her professional activities include serving as a program evaluator and member of the Evaluation Review Panel for the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. She consults extensively on such topics as ergogenic drug abuse, and curriculum design, implementation and evaluation.

 

Diane Ryan, RN, MS, ANP-C, GNP-C, FNP-C and CNS, holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from D’Youville College and Master of Science in Nursing, Adult Nurse Practitioner, State University of New York at Buffalo. She has additional nurse practitioner certifications in gerontology and family practice and is the Coordinator of the MS/Adult Nurse Practitioner Program. Ms. Ryan has extensive experience as an adult nurse practitioner in community health and gerontology. Her research interest is the role of the nurse practitioner with advance directives and end-of-life planning.