MSN Course Descriptions
Not all programs are offered for completion at each campus or through Berkeley College Online®. Please review the academic program pages (https://berkeleycollege.edu/academics/index.html) for information on where each program is offered. Additionally, all students may be required to take some courses at another campus or online.
SAMPLE PROGRAM SEQUENCE - FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER - PART-TIME
SAMPLE PROGRAM SEQUENCE - FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER - FULL-TIME
NUR5000 Transition to Advanced Nursing Practice: Expanded Practice, Communication, and Collaboration
This course addresses continuing professional role development for Registered Nurses who are returning to school to prepare for advanced generalist roles at the graduate level. This course facilitates the development and implementation of strategies to enable the synthesis of professional development for the nurse. Students will explore and identify what advanced practice means within the context of their own professional practice role. The course enables students to engage in a thoughtful process of inquiry to more intentionally and consciously develop their knowledge and nursing practice, develop their confidence and ability to act in alignment with their nursing values, and to navigate the complexities of contemporary health care settings as they care for patients and families. The focus is on integrating multidimensional care through communication and collaboration, advance students’ skills of inquiry and analysis, and advance students’ clinical reasoning through the use of case analysis.
4 Credits
NUR5005 Population Health in a Global Society, Legislation and Social Policy
This course is designed to explore population health, a field of practice and research concerned with the health of groups of individuals and the equitable distribution of health within these groups. This course is designed to prepare graduate nursing students for leadership in public and global health by exploring the social determinants of health, political process and development of social policy. The course framework integrates knowledge from nursing with contemporary population health knowledge. Using case studies students will be able to explore, examine and analyze evidence based population interventions and outcomes, how population health innovations are applied by health systems, and how legislation influences healthcare delivery.
3 Credits
NUR6000 Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice
This course is designed to further develop graduate students understanding of the research process to include clinical question generation, literature search methods, critique of research methods and appropriate statistical analysis in published research evidence, and synthesis of evidence related to clinical nursing problems. Emphasis is placed on the importance of research to improve clinical practice, strategies to evaluate the quality of research and evidence, and increase integration of research into practice. Ethical implications of research are considered. Students address evidence-based practice and are introduced to quality improvement models. Each student develops a thesis pre-proposal with application to their area of clinical interest to be implemented as the Master's thesis requirement.
3 Credits
NUR6010 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
This course will build upon health assessment skills developed in the professional nurse's basic educational program. Students will develop the theoretical and clinical basis for health assessment of diverse clients across the life span by the advanced clinician. The process whereby the advanced clinician utilizes comprehensive history, physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment across the lifespan to gather specific data relevant to common health problems is demonstrated. Students will develop clinical reasoning skills to begin to formulate differential diagnoses. Students will also evaluate the use of information systems technology for exploring health care outcomes, application of the nursing process through various technologies, therapeutic communication with diverse clients/groups, and patient education.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005
Prerequisite or Corequisite: MED5000, MED5005
NUR6030 Primary Care for Adolescents and Adult Patients
The course explores the theories and practice of advanced practice nursing and health care planning and delivery to adults ages 18-60 considering diverse populations in concordance with nationally recognized FNP competencies. Course content includes developmental, physiological, pathological, and psychosocial changes relative to health maintenance, acute and stable chronic illnesses and life transitions. The role of the nurse practitioner is explored to include the practitioner as educator, leader and provider.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6035
NUR6035 Clinical I: Advanced Practice Nursing in Adolescents and Adults Care
This course serves as a companion course to Primary Care for Adolescents and Adult Patients and consists of two components, a clinical practicum (180 hours with an approved preceptor) and an online seminar. The diagnostic reasoning skills needed for clinical decision making in the advanced practice role are practiced including refining skills in the performance of a comprehensive health status assessment, development of differential diagnoses, planning, health promotion and care management of adult patients with stable chronic and minor acute health issues. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up.
4 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, NUR6010, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6030
NUR6040 Primary Care for Geriatric Patients
The course provides a problem-based case approach to explore the theories and practice of health-care for adults, families and communities in late adulthood in concordance with nationally recognized FNP competencies. Course content includes the assessment, diagnoses, planning, and management and health promotion for elder persons as well as those with complex conditions or multiple chronic conditions. The role of the nurse practitioner is explored to include the practitioner as educator, leader and provider.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, NUR6010, NUR6030, NUR6035, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6045
NUR6045 Clinical II: Advanced Practice Nursing in Geriatric Care
This course serves as a companion course to Primary Care for Geriatric Patients and consists of two components, a clinical practicum (clinical hours with an approved preceptor) and an online seminar. The diagnostic reasoning skills needed for clinical decision making in the advanced practice role are practiced including refining skills in the performance of a comprehensive health status assessment, development of differential diagnoses, planning, health promotion and care management of adults, families, communities in late adulthood, and patients with complex chronic health issues. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, NUR6010, NUR6030, NUR6035, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6040
NUR6050 Primary Care for Pediatric Patients
This course provides a problem-based case approach to explore the theories and practice of health-care for pediatric patients, within the context of family health care in concordance with nationally recognized FNP competencies. The course is designed to provide experience with assessment, diagnosis, planning, and management of children for health promotion, minor acute conditions, and wellness visits. The role of the nurse practitioner is explored to include the practitioner as educator, leader and provider.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, NUR6010, NUR6030, NUR6035, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6055
NUR6055 Clinical III: Advanced Practice Nursing in Pediatric Care
This course serves as a companion course to Primary Care for Pediatric Patients and consists of two components, a clinical practicum (clinical hours with an approved preceptor) and an online seminar. The diagnostic reasoning skills needed for clinical decision making in the advanced practice role are practiced including refining skills in the performance of a comprehensive health status assessment, development of differential diagnoses, planning, health promotion and care management of children for health promotion, minor acute conditions, and wellness visits. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up.
2 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, NUR6010, NUR6030, NUR6035, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6050
NUR6060 Primary Care for Maternal-Child
This course focuses on advanced nursing care to women in diverse populations. It is designed to introduce the student to the role of the nurse practitioner as a provider of women’s health in primary care settings in concordance with nationally recognized FNP competencies. The course will provide experience with assessment, diagnosis, planning, and management of women for health promotion, minor acute conditions, wellness visits and pregnancy. The emphasis will be on health maintenance and illness prevention. The role of the nurse practitioner is explored to include the practitioner as educator, leader, and provider.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005
Corequisite: NUR6065
NUR6065 Clinical IV: Advanced Practice Nursing in Woman’s Health and Perinatal Care
This course serves as a companion course to Primary Care for Maternal-Child and consists of three components, a clinical practicum (clinical hours with an approved preceptor), a simulation on site, and an online seminar. The diagnostic reasoning skills needed for clinical decision making in the advanced practice role are practiced including refining skills in the performance of a comprehensive health status assessment, development of differential diagnoses, planning, health promotion and care management of patients with stable chronic and minor acute health issues. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: NUR5000, NUR5005, NUR6010, NUR6030, NUR6035, MED5000, MED5005
Corequisite: NUR6060
NUR7035 Advanced Practice Nursing in Family Practice Capstone
The course reflects a culmination in advanced education to synthesize knowledge and skills acquired throughout the MSN Program. Incorporates analysis of selected patient and healthcare system issues and the development of action plans for patient care and organizational change.
This capstone course requires the graduate nursing student to focus on substantive nursing practice issues and to develop solutions. The student is required to complete a scholarly project, under the direction of a faculty member, which synthesizes advanced practice knowledge and skills to address substantive nursing practice issues as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
3 Credits
Prerequisite: All MSN Core, Direct Care Core and Specialization Courses, or approval from Chair, Nursing
MED5000 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology
Expands upon basic knowledge of physiology and pathophysiology to provide a more in-depth understanding of human responses to interventions. Students will explore the pathologic mechanisms of disease across the lifespan, incorporating concepts of advanced clinical assessment and management of common, episodic and chronic conditions. Students will demonstrate assimilation of technology and information literacy to access ever-changing research integration of best practices and apply findings to case studies or simulations.
3 Credits
MED5005 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
This course is designed to advance the graduate student’s knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics as they relate to the treatment and management of common illnesses and conditions across the lifespan. Attention is given to the physiologic basis and clinical characteristics of disease states relative to pharmacotherapy. Major categories of pharmacologic agents are examined in the context of the life span, culture, health and disease states. Emphasis is placed on the use of evidence-based practice and current guidelines in the selection and management of medication regimens for patients and populations. Clinical decision-making and review of laws governing prescriptive authority for advance practice are also emphasized.