Online BSN-DNP Adult/Gerontological Primary Care NP

This course provides a comprehensive medical and pathophysiologic foundation for the evaluation of clients in various health care settings. Students will analyze the relationship between normal physiology and the disease state. A brief review of normal physiology and anatomy is included, as well as the pathophysiology of selected disorders and diseases. This course is intended to enable advanced practice nurses to understand and bridge the pathophysiological foundations of various disease processes as manifested by signs and symptoms seen in the clinical setting. Students will analyze the relationship between normal physiology and the different disease states. They will develop an understanding of the mechanism(s) underlying different disease syndromes and their clinical manifestations, so that therapeutic rationale can be ascertained. An introduction to appropriate screening and diagnostic laboratory evaluative methods related to advance primary care nursing practice will also be included. Emphasis will be placed on the clinical understanding and identification of disease states.

This course will focus on the development of policy analysis and advocacy skills necessary to influence policy change in organizations and at the local, state, national, and international levels. Students will study the role of laws and regulations within the U.S. health system, and explore economic, financial, and political influences on the policy-making process. Additional areas of study include the importance of interprofessional collaboration in improving health outcomes through the policy process.

This class is a culminating practicum experience that is designed to facilitate students in their transition to advanced practice in primary care. The student will be able to apply scientific, ethical, theoretical, and evidence-based practice guidelines to the multifaceted patient, family, and community situations. Application of organizational management principles to the advanced practice role and other issues pertinent to professional role transition is emphasized.

This course is the first of a four-course series that provides the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student with mentored opportunities to plan, develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate an evidence-based scholarly project focusing on practice issues related to the student’s topic of interest. Each course builds on the knowledge and practice expertise of the DNP student, culminating in the DNP project. Throughout DNP project courses, each student will practice specific hours in a clinical area related to their topic of interest and submit individual objectives for the DNP practicum experience. In each DNP project course, the student will be responsible for documenting and submitting a log of the practicum hours completed. This course focuses on the development of a DNP project within the student’s practice setting including approximately 100 practicum hours.