500

This course prepares students for leadership roles in advanced health care policy and practice.  It examines the current health care industry, including the impact of managed care on health care and its outcomes.  The course provides a framework for analyzing trends in organizational strategy, policy, politics, financial and economic influence on health care access and the health care system.  Issues such as health policy, health values and beliefs, patient rights, reimbursement, malpractice, risk management, and coordination with regulatory agencies will be explored from an industry perspective.

This course will provide the opportunity to identify appropriate research studies utilizing the library databases and critically appraise the studies for use in evidence-based practice.

This course examines the nature of knowledge acquisition, process of concept analysis, and development and use of models and theories relevant to advanced nursing practice.  The relationship between theory, research, evidence, and clinical judgement in advanced nursing practice is explored.

This course addresses the essential concepts and skills required for reading, communicating, interpreting, and applying statistical methods in healthcare.  Various methods will be reviewed with emphasis on statistical application for the critical assessment of data.  the use of statistics and the associated values of meaning and significance for appropriate and informed decision making are major underpinnings for the course.  Ethical issues that may arise in the application of statistical techniques will be explored.

This course focuses on the development of a research proposal for evidence-based practice in healthcare settings.  This process includes: retrieval and critical appraisal of evidence, and development of a research proposal for improving healthcare outcomes.  Content will also include the Institutional Review Board process and the ethical principle for conducting research.

This course provides students with an advanced nursing perspective in the provision of population based care.  Consideration is given to an evaluation of human and cultural diversity across the health-illness continuum.  Emphasis is placed on utilizing evidence-based strategies to provide health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance and disease management for diverse populations.  Databases related to population health are evaluated.

This course addresses the advanced study of technology and informatics relevant to nurse leaders.  The course includes the management and transformation of health data into information and knowledge to improve health outcomes such as safety, quality and cost.  The focus is on healthcare information systems that assist healthcare providers to process, manage, and analyze data for decision-making and outcome measurement.  Key informatics concepts and models as well as current legal and policy issues are discussed.  Current research and applications of informatics and technology as fundamental tools for evidence-based practice, education, and quality improvement will be emphasized.

This course builds on the student's knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment in preparation for the role of nurse educator.  Content will be focused on a systems approach to holistic nursing practice through integrated conceptual learning.  Students will demonstrate advanced competencies in physical assessment.

This course provides the basic preparation of nurses with the career goal of parish nursing utilizing the standardized curriculum of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries, St. Louis, Mo. It provides the competencies, skills and behaviors required for effective individual, community and congregational nursing interventions.

This course introduces the student to the field of educational theory in a nursing and health education environment. The scholarship of teaching model will provide a framework for exploring theories of learning, motivation, instruction and teaching. Selected theoretical perspectives will be explored to facilitate development of a philosophy of nursing education to serve as a base for the emerging expertise of the future nursing educator.  Evaluation of theory and scholarship of education will be evidenced by a classroom observation of an experienced professor, as well as development of a personal portfolio.

Building on basic principles of accounting and economics, the course provides a framework for analyzing health care systems and financial processes to inform decisions about health care delivery.  Topics include (a) supply, demand, and cost analysis; (b) budget development, implementation, and evaluation; (c) variance reporting and analysis; (d) cost accounting and reimbursement systems, and (e) reporting, measuring, and analyzing financial results.

This course will provide a comprehensive exploration of the principles of curriculum planning, development, implementation and evaluation. Analysis of evolving world views, diverse cultural perspectives and emerging health care needs provide a framework for considering the evolution of curriculum. Current issues related to the evaluation of outcomes in nursing and health education programs are emphasized. Tools and strategies for curriculum assessment and analysis are explored to form a foundation for future courses in instructional methods and assessment. Opportunities are provided for the student to develop a knowledge base in evidence-based educational practice and methods for evaluation processes and outcomes of educational programs.

This course explores, analyzes and evaluates teaching strategies as applied to various populations, with emphasis on diversity in learning styles and the adult learner. Students select appropriate teaching strategies for traditional, online, and clinical instruction. Evaluation models related to the measurement of outcomes in classroom and clinical instruction are examined. Multimedia resources, distance learning techniques are integrated into micro teaching opportunities to assist the student to develop and refine personal teaching techniques.

This course is designed to provide role transition experiences for the nurse educator in an educational setting.  Emphasis will be on immersion into the multi-dimensional role of the nurse educator including the process of didactic teaching, evaluation of learning, and other faculty responsibilities.

This course immerses the nurse into the leadership role and processes important to become an innovator in healthcare as a professional nurse leader.  Concepts and knowledge are integrated with application to start the transformational journey of the nurse to a nurse leader.  The course will address strategic management and strategic planning, professional nurse leader development, and program development and evaluation.

This course focuses upon the dimensions of healthcare leadership. Emphasis is placed upon application of critical knowledge of healthcare leadership principles, strategic human resource management, and patient care staffing models and work design knowledge to advanced practice nursing administration. Knowledge from nursing administration, leadership, human resource management, legal, ethical, and safety principles as well as fiscal integrity will be integrated into the learning resources and assignments for this course.

This course provides an overview of the microsystem, mesosystem, and macrosystem levels of healthcare organizations from the perspectives of organization theory, organization development, and organization behavior. Modern and current organization theories, especially complex adaptive systems (CAS) and complexity/chaos theories are explored in relation to the issues facing healthcare organizations today. Information on organizational structure, design, culture and behavior, strategy and change, leadership, individual and group motivation, power and politics, impact of technology, and environmental influences are integrated to create a holistic understanding of what organizations currently face in the dynamic healthcare arena.

This course addresses the underlying principles and methods necessary to manage healthcare organizations from an evidence-based perspective. Content includes core quality improvement principles and methods, utilization of benchmarking data to formulate performance goals, and integration of quality and safety metrics into organizational goals. A focus on synthesis of multiple data sources and linking management practice to performance is emphasized.

This course addresses the business planning skills necessary to develop and implement programmatic development and change in a healthcare setting. Content includes problem definition and refinement, organizational fit, market identification and research, benchmarking, and business planning models including financial projects and return on investment. Implementation strategy including project management principles and human factors are also addressed.

This course addresses the integration of translational research into practice as well as monitoring and evaluating the impact of practice change.  Focus is on utilizing systematic inquiry to identify, summarize, and appraise best evidence on a selected topic inclusive of published research, benchmarking data, and practice expertise.

This course provides an overview of Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) roles including the historical and current practice issues relevant to APN practice.  There will be emphasis on understanding the leadership role, organization of health care delivery systems, and regulatory and reimbursement issues.

This course is faculty-based independent study, based on submitted project proposal and hours required for completion.

This capstone course is a field experience with a scholarly project that synthesizes and applies the essential knowledge for a Master of Science in Nursing.  The course provides students with an opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate a collaborative change project in a healthcare organization guided by a preceptor in that setting and Lewis University faculty.  The scholarly project demonstrates the Lewis University MSN program objectives of (1) Exercise leadership in the design and implementation of systems changes using theoretical frameworks, analytical skills, and informatics to enhance quality and safety in the healthcare environment, (2) Develop collaborative approaches within a transdisciplanary environment to improve health care outcomes, (3) Synthesize knowledge to design health promotion and prevention strategies in collaboration with individuals and populations to promote culturally congruent health outcomes across the lifespan, (4) Utilize ethical principles and awareness of health policy and advocacy processes to influence practice.  The project advances the mission of Lewis University by integrating thoughtfully organized service learning.

This capstone course is a field experience with a scholarly project that synthesizes and applies the essential knowledge for a Master of Science in Nursing.  The project demonstrates the Lewis University MSN program objectives of (1) Exercise leadership in the design and implementation of systems changes using theoretical frameworks, analytical skills, and informatics to enhance quality and safety in the healthcare environment, (2) Develop collaborative approaches within a transdisciplinary environment to improve health care outcomes, (3) Synthesize knowledge to design health promotion and prevention strategies in collaboration with individuals an populations to promote culturally congruent health outcomes across the lifespan, (4) Utilize ethical principles and awareness of health policy and advocacy processes to influence practice.  The project advances the mission of Lewis University by integrating thoughtfully organized service learning.