Curriculum
This is a 23 credit graduate degree program. It is designed for part-time attendance by working nurses.
Course Descriptions
NURS 555 — Psychopharmacology
This course presents current scientific knowledge of psychopharmacology and its application to clinical problems commonly seen in a variety of settings. The course addresses advanced concepts in neuroscience, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and the clinical management of target psychiatric symptoms, related to psychopharmacologic treatment of various psychiatric disorders.
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NURS 592 — PMHNP I: Theoretical Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
This course introduces conceptual models and theories related to the practice of psychiatric mental health nursing. Models of personality development and individual functioning provide a theoretical basis for understanding the development of psychopathology, and the selection of appropriate therapeutic strategies. Concepts from neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and pathophysiology, neuropsychiatry, psychiatry, physiology and social science are examined for their application to practice.
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NURS 593 — PMHNP II: Management and Care of Clients with Acute and Chronic Mental Illness
This course focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and management of common mental disorders of schizophrenia and severe and persistent mental illness. The role of the PMHNP in various models of community mental health will be addressed. Analysis of health care systems and advocacy to improve patient/population outcomes will be discussed.
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NURS 594 — PMHNP III: Psychiatric Conditions in Primary Care
This course focuses on assessment, differential diagnostic process, and management of psychiatric conditions common in primary care setting such as eating disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. Students will critically analyze clinical strategies and interventions in health promotion, health maintenance, and prevention of common psychiatric problems in primary care. Group therapy as a therapeutic modality will be addressed.
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NURS 595 — PMHNP IV: Management and Mental Health Care of Special Populations
This course focuses on assessment, diagnosis and management of common psychiatric conditions in older adults, women and minority. Issues on health disparity in mental health care in these populations are discussed. The role of advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in consultation-liaison is addressed. Students will analyze societal, systems, legal and ethical issues which affect the advanced practice psychiatric nursing role in the delivery of care to older adults, women and minority.
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NURS 669 — Professional Seminar for Advanced Nursing Practice
This required course is the application and integration of the role and competencies of the MSN prepared Nurse with advanced nursing knowledge who will seek employment in a diversity of advanced practice roles. The roles of the MSN graduate as clinician, educator, researcher, expert, and leader are presented and explored. Interpretation and application of professional issues, practice issues, legislative issues, certification issues, insurance issues, legal issues, and ethical conflict resolution in advanced nursing practice are explored, and integrated into a model for interdisciplinary collaborative practice. Emphasis will be on preparing the graduating MSN prepared nurse for practice and of assuming new professional advanced practice roles. Last, all MSN graduates must establish competency in oral and written communication skills as a graduation outcome.
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