Walden’s MSN Program Specialization Courses
NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology* (5 credits)
5 credits
Advanced practice nurses need a deep understanding of disease processes throughout a person’s life. In this class, students learn about how the body works, what goes wrong in diseases, and the scientific ideas related to disease biology. Advanced practice nursing students use their knowledge of how organs normally work to help them get back to a healthy state. By understanding disease processes, students put together the knowledge they need to make treatment plans for patients of all ages. Students also study different topics about diseases in organ systems.
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Prerequisites
- NURS 6002 or NURS 6003
NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology* (5 credits)
5 credits
To be effective in their roles, advanced practice nurses must have a strong grasp of drug therapy concepts throughout a person’s life. This class delves into advanced pharmacology principles, covering areas like how our genes affect drug responses, how drugs move in the body, and how they work. Students study common drug types that advanced practice nurses use for patients of all ages. They also consider various factors that affect successful therapy, such as how well the drug works, its safety, whether patients find it acceptable, the cost, genetic and environmental factors, complementary treatments, and patient behaviors. By taking this course, students prepare themselves to make complex decisions when managing and treating both short-term and long-term illnesses using both drugs and non-drug approaches. They also gain a deeper understanding of the rules and regulations around prescribing medications.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501
NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning* (5 credits)
5 credits
Ensuring the well-being of patients and their families, both physically and emotionally, can be quite intricate. Advanced practice nurses must possess the knowledge and skills to perform thorough and safe physical health assessments. In this class, students concentrate on learning the principles and techniques to assess patients at all stages of life. They are trained in using diagnostic thinking, advanced communication, and physical examination skills to spot changes in health conditions. Moreover, students delve into preventive health, focusing on evaluating the risks for individuals who are in good health, which is a significant aspect of clinical practice. This is in addition to assessing patients dealing with sudden or long-term health issues. The course also covers advanced skills like suturing wounds, interpreting 12 Lead EKGs, and analyzing X-rays. The assignments in the course stress the importance of risk assessment, diagnostic thinking, and using evidence-based methods when assessing patients of all ages.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6521
NRNP 6531 – Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
3 credits
In this class, students discover how nurse practitioners become experts in the art and science of making clinical decisions for adults of all ages. The primary focus is on diagnosing and handling the essential healthcare needs and issues of adult patients throughout their lives. Students participate in various assignments that concentrate on the physical and behavioral processes related to diseases, which are crucial for diagnosing conditions and creating, carrying out, and assessing treatment plans for common acute illnesses typically found in primary healthcare environments.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501
- NURS 6512
- NURS 6521
- NURS 6052
PRAC 6531 – Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
Nurse practitioner students specializing in their field combine their knowledge from prior clinical courses and professional experiences related to the evolving healthcare requirements of adults throughout their lives. This includes diagnosing and treating a range of conditions. The primary emphasis of this class is on advanced nursing practice in the acute and chronic care of adult patients. Students build their confidence through clinical experiences in a primary healthcare setting, where they develop the skills to design, carry out, and assess treatment plans for adult patients dealing with frequently encountered acute and long-term health issues.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501
- NURS 6512
- NURS 6521
- NURS 6052
Note: This course requires a minimum of 160 practicum hours.
NRNP 6541 – Primary Care of Adolescents and Children (3 credits)
3 credits
To become proficient in making clinical decisions for pediatric populations, nurse practitioners can follow a specific path. This course offers students the chance to explore this journey as they study topics related to primary healthcare for pediatric patients, ranging from newborns to adolescents (up to age 21). The focus is on understanding growth and development, promoting health, and dealing with common primary care health issues. Students learn how to recognize, diagnose, and address these concerns. Additionally, they build confidence through hands-on clinical experience in a primary healthcare setting, which provides opportunities to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate treatment plans for both short-term and long-term illnesses commonly found in children and adolescents.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6531
PRAC 6541 – Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
In their specialization, nurse practitioner students bring together their knowledge from past clinical courses and experiences, specifically concerning healthcare requirements for children and adolescents, which includes diagnosing and managing various conditions. This course primarily concentrates on advanced nursing practice in the acute and chronic care of child and adolescent patients. Students boost their confidence through practical clinical exposure in a primary healthcare setting, where they develop the skills to design, implement, and assess treatment plans for pediatric patients facing typical acute and chronic health issues.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6531 and PRAC 6531
Note: This course requires a minimum of 160 practicum hours.
NRNP 6552 – Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care (3 credits)
3 credits
Nurse practitioners face the challenge of prioritizing what’s crucial during short 15 to 30-minute appointments with individuals seeking primary, prenatal, or postpartum care. This course provides students with the tools to guide individuals towards well-being. It involves screening for common gynecologic conditions, understanding normal pregnancy, and recognizing other common health issues affecting an individual’s well-being. Students learn how to assess data and interpret results to help individuals plan healthy lifestyle changes. Additionally, they gain insights into dealing with an individual’s sexual identity and sexual orientation, emphasizing ethical decision-making and an unbiased approach to providing the best care. The ultimate goal is for students to see how this course will enhance their clinical experiences in primary healthcare settings, enabling them to excel in diagnosing, treating, making referrals, and following up with a focus on improving patient outcomes.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6531
PRAC 6552 – Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
Nurse practitioner students, as part of their specialization, combine their knowledge gained from previous clinical courses and experiences, with a focus on understanding the evolving healthcare needs of individuals, families, and communities, including the diagnosis and management of reproductive care. This course primarily emphasizes advanced nursing practice in the acute and chronic care of gynecologic and/or obstetric patients. Additionally, students explore how to provide care that is sensitive to patients’ sexual preferences and gender identification, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to healthcare.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6531 and PRAC 6531
Note: This course requires a minimum of 160 practicum hours.
NRNP 6568 – Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings (3 credits)
3 credits
In this synthesis course, students concentrate on becoming clinically competent in family healthcare settings, building upon the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired in previous courses. This journey helps them gain confidence as they transition from the role of a registered nurse to that of an advanced practice nurse. Through classroom activities and case studies, students delve into the critical issues faced by nurse practitioners when delivering safe, competent, high-quality, and cost-effective care in a constantly changing healthcare system. The course underscores the application of knowledge in managing clients and encourages collaboration between advanced practice nurses, clients, families, and interprofessional healthcare teams. Its primary aim is to enable nurse practitioner (NP) students to bring together their knowledge and clinical skills to provide care to patients dealing with complex health conditions.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6541
- NRNP 6552 or NRNP 6553
PRAC 6568 – Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
This is the final of four practicum courses in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Students gain additional clinical experience in family healthcare settings, which allows them to further refine their ability to develop, implement, and assess management plans for patients dealing with complex health conditions. The course continues to stress the importance of applying knowledge in managing clients and fostering collaboration between advanced practice nurses, clients, families, and interprofessional healthcare teams.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6541 and PRAC 6541
- (NRNP 6552 and PRAC 6552) or (NRNP 6553 and PRAC 6553)
Note: This course requires a minimum of 160 practicum hours and must be the last course in the curriculum.
Course Sequence
MSN – FNP Course Sequence Example 1
One MSN – FNP course sequence example is as follows. This quarter sequence is an example for BSN-Entry students. Please note that RN-MSN students must complete all RN Foundation and General Education courses before they can begin working on the MSN Core and Specialization courses listed below.
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | NURS 6003 – Perspectives on Graduate Study for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 credits |
| NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 2 | NURS 6051 – Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology | 5 credits |
| NURS 6052 – Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 | NURS 6053 – Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership | 5 credits |
| NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 | NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology | 5 credits |
| NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 | NRNP 6531 – Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6531 – Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 6 | NRNP 6541 – Primary Care of Adolescents and Children | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6541 – Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | NRNP 6552 – Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6552 – Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 8 | NRNP 6568 – Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6568 – Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings Practicum | 2 credits |
MSN – FNP Course Sequence Example 2
Another MSN – FNP course sequence example is as follows. This quarter sequence is an example for BSN-Entry students. Please note that RN-MSN students must complete all RN Foundation and General Education courses before they can begin working on the MSN Core and Specialization courses listed below.
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | NURS 6003 – Perspectives on Graduate Study for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 credits |
| NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 2 | NURS 6051 – Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology | 5 credits |
| NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 | NURS 6052 – Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice | 5 credits |
| NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 | NRNP 6531 – Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6531 – Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 5 | NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health | 5 credits |
| NRNP 6541 – Primary Care of Adolescents and Children | 3 credits | |
| PRAC 6541 – Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 6 | NURS 6053 – Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership | 5 credits |
| NRNP 6552 – Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care | 3 credits | |
| PRAC 6552 – Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | NRNP 6568 – Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6568 – Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings Practicum | 2 credits |
*Due to the nature of this practicum, it is strongly recommended that students take this practicum experience paired only with its didactic course (NRNP) or by itself.
*Note regarding NURS 6051 and NURS 6052: It is recommended that these courses are NOT taken with a practicum experience.
*Note regarding PRAC 6531 and PRAC 6568: Due to the nature of these practicums, it is strongly recommended that students take these practicum experience paired only with their corresponding didactic course (NRNP) or by itself.
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