Online Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner

Online Degree : Master's in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization
Online University : Indiana State University

The master of science in nursing (with a family nurse practitioner specialization) includes 48-51 hours (listed below).

REQUIRED COURSES -- 48-51 CREDIT HOURS
Core Courses (9 credit hours)
NURS 601 Health Care Perspectives (3 credit hours)
NURS 605 Nursing Theory Development (3 credit hours)
Plus one of the following:
EPSY 612 Statistical Methods (3 credit hours)
HLTH 604 Research Design and Data Analysis in Health and Human Performance (3 credit hours)

Research (3 credit hours)
NURS 633 Nursing Research (3 credit hours)
Clinical Course Work and Practica (31 credit hours)
LIFS 633 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credit hours)
NURS 624 Health Assessment and Health Promotion for Advanced Nursing Practice (4 credit hours)
NURS 644 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health Care: Management of Common Chronic and Acute Health Problems I (7 credit hours)
NURS 645 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 credit hours)
NURS 646 Diagnostic Laboratory for Family Nurse Practitioners (1 credit hour)
NURS 664 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health Care: Management of Common Chronic and Acute Health Problems II (8 credit hours)
NURS 670 Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship (5 credit hours)

Family Nurse Practitioner Role (2 credit hours)
NURS 635 Family Nurse Practitioner Role I (1 credit hour)
NURS 675 Family Nurse Practitioner Role II (1 credit hour)

Culminating Experience (3-6 credit hours)
Select one of the following:
NURS 697 Evidence Based Practice for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 credit hours)
NURS 698 Culminating Project (3 credit hours)
NURS 699 Master's Thesis (6 credit hours)

Course Descriptions
All courses are delivered via the Internet. Clinicals can be arranged in the student's community.

Note: High-speed Internet access is required. For details see Computer Requirements

EPSY 612 Statistical Methods-3 hours.
A basic course in statistics. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, selected sampling distributions, correlation and simple linear regression, and elementary hypothesis testing (e.g., t-tests, chi-square). Students learn to use computer software appropriately to analyze their data, and to interpret computer output.

LIFS 633 Advanced Pathophysiology-3 hours.
The course builds on a basic understanding of pathophysiology, providing in-depth understanding of adaptation and alteration in cellular function, biorhythms, cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, neuroendocrine system, immune system, and musculoskeletal system. Alterations due to internal/external stressors and aging will be identified. Prerequisites: 241 and 274 or equivalents.

HLTH 604 Research Design and Data Analysis in Health and Human Performance-3 hours.
Designed to familiarize graduate students with research design and data analysis including scientific methodology, data collection, and statistical analyses. Includes an introduction to computerized data manipulation, analyses, interpretation, and presentation.

NURS 601 Health Care Perspectives-3 hours.
The course focuses on an analysis of policies, ethics, and finance in health care delivery and the role of advanced practice nursing in health care delivery systems.

NURS 605 Nursing Theory Development-3 hours.
The student will analyze and synthesize nursing, behavioral, natural and applied sciences theories, frameworks, and models and apply them to advanced nursing practice.

NURS 624 Health Assessment and Health Promotion for Advanced Nursing Practice-4 hours.
This course provides a framework for systematic data collection, organization, documentation, and communication of health care data with a focus on differentiating between normal and pathological findings in clients throughout the life span. An emphasis on the holistic approach facilitates an analysis of developmental, familial, historical, cultural, environmental, occupational, and nutritional factors which are integral to the health and illness of the individual/family. Clinical experiences are utilized for the application of knowledge to practice. Two classroom hours and an average of six clinical hours per week. Prerequisites or concurrent: enrollment in 601, 605, 635 or consent of instructor.

NURS 633 Nursing Research-3 hours.
The course provides an in-depth analysis of research processes used in advanced practice nursing. Emphasis is placed on methods for validating, refining, and extending nursing research. Prerequisite or concurrent: enrollment in statistics.

NURS 635 Family Nurse Practitioner Role I-1 hour.
This seminar analyzes family health theories and frameworks. Emphasis is on the integration and application of theoretical and methodological approaches to family health care. The family nurse practitioner’s role and function as a member of an interdisciplinary team are introduced.

NURS 644 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health Care: Management of Common Chronic and Acute Health Problems I-7 hours.

Focus is on the family nurse practitioner’s role in the recognition and management of selected common chronic and acute health problems of clients across the life span which are encountered in primary health care settings. The course integrates assessment, current research findings, and theory into the diagnostic reasoning and management of health care. Concepts of health promotion and maintenance, anticipatory guidance, health education, behavioral management strategies, and family-focused health care are emphasized. Clinical experiences are utilized for the application of knowledge to practice. Three classroom hours and an average of 12 clinical hours per week. Prerequisite: 624. Prerequisites or concurrent: enrollment in 633 and Life Sciences 633.

NURS 645 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses-3 hours.
This course is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to manage drug therapy for clients across the life span. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles and current research form the foundation for discussion of selected drug groups. Emphasis is given to indications, mechanisms of action, dosages, adverse side effects and control, cost containment, and client education.

NURS 646 Diagnostic Laboratory for Family Nurse Practitioners-1 hour.
This course provides the technical skills, as well as diagnostic reasoning processes, which will enable the family nurse practitioner to collect and analyze laboratory specimens accurately and efficiently. Demonstrations and directed laboratory experiences focus on diagnostic tests commonly encountered in primary health care settings. The appropriate preparation and interpretation of screening procedures for the management of chronic and acute illnesses presented throughout the family nurse practitioner curriculum will be included. Three clinical hours per week.

NURS 664 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health Care: Management of Common Chronic and Acute Health Problems II-8 hours.
This course is a continuation of 644. The focus continues on the family nurse practitioner’s role in the recognition and management of selected common chronic and acute health problems of clients across the life span which are encountered in primary health care settings. The course integrates assessment, current research findings, and theory into the diagnostic reasoning and management of health care. Concepts of health promotion and maintenance, anticipatory guidance, health education, behavioral management strategies, and family-focused health care are emphasized. Clinical experiences are utilized for the application of knowledge to practice. Three classroom hours and an average of 15 clinical hours per week. Prerequisite: 644.

NURS 670 Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship-5 hours.
This clinical practicum provides the student with an in-depth focus on the development of leadership and clinical management skills and the application, refinement, and synthesis of knowledge and skills developed in previous didactic and clinical courses. Interdisciplinary collaborative practice and the student’s own advanced nursing practice model are emphasized. An average of 15 clinical hours per week. Prerequisite: 664.

NURS 675 Family Nurse Practitioner Role II-1 hour.
This seminar explores issues related to advanced practice roles and functions. Attention is also given to the individual’s exploration of a personal/professional ideology and clinical style. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in 670 or with consent of instructor.

NURS 697 Evidence Based Practice for Advanced Practice Nurses-3 hrs.
This course is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to base clinical decision making on current research. Problem based learning will be used to examine clinical research, develop evidence based guidelines based on that research, and design an evaluation plan to determine the effectiveness of the guidelines. Prerequisite courses: 633. As this course is a substitution for a culminating project or thesis, this course must be taken during the final semester of the graduate nursing program.

NURS 698 Culminating Project-1-3 hours.
The student will complete the non-thesis option, culminating project. A student must complete at least 3 credits during the master’s program of study. Prerequisite: 633.

NURS 699 Master’s Thesis-6 hours.
Prerequisite: By permission of chair of thesis committee.

Source: For more information on Online Nursing Degree at Indiana State University, please visit http://www.indstate.edu/distance/fnp_specialization.html