The purpose of the Master's Degree Program in Community Health Nursing is to prepare advanced practice specialists for leadership roles in community health practice, education, and administration; to provide graduate nursing education which integrates faith with learning; and to provide the foundation for doctoral studies.
Concepts and theories of nursing, public health, and community development, planning, organization, education, administration, evaluation, and research are integrated into the advanced community health nursing specialty. Practicum courses provide experience in developing appropriate solutions to priority community health needs through partnerships with local communities, state and county health departments, and health-related organizations and agencies. Graduates are able to assess the health needs of populations and to plan, administer, and evaluate community-based primary health care and nursing services.
The Master's Degree Program in Primary Care Nursing prepares registered nurses as Adult, Family, or Gerontological Nurse Practitioners (NP). The focus of Primary Care is the interrelationship of theory, research, and practice. Opportunities for development of critical thinking and clinical problem-solving skills are provided throughout the program. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for nurse practitioner certification by the appropriate credentialing body. The 40-hour curriculum consists of 14 credits of Core Courses taken by all graduate nursing students, 18 credits in the Primary Care Curriculum for all practitioner students, and 8 credits in the respective option.
| Core Courses: |
|
14 hours |
| CHN510 |
Theoretical Foundations |
|
3 |
| CHN515 |
Research Methods |
|
3 |
| CHN530 |
Epidemiology |
|
3 |
| CHN544 |
Health Policy: Process and Analysis |
|
2 |
| CHN590/592 |
Nursing Investigation/Capstone Project |
|
3 |
| |
| Primary Care Curriculum: |
|
18 hours |
| CHN554 |
Care of Aging and Chronically Ill Populations |
|
2 |
| PYC512 |
Advanced Pharmacology for Primary Care |
|
3 |
| PYC514 |
Advanced Pathophysiology |
|
3 |
| PYC530 |
Primary Care of Adults-Seminar |
|
3 |
| PYC530P |
Primary Care of Adults-Practicum |
|
4 |
| PYC552 |
Advanced Health Status Assessment |
|
3 |
| |
| Options: |
|
8 hours |
| Adult Nurse Practitioner: |
| PYC545 |
Practicum in Primary Care Nursing |
|
5 |
| |
Elective |
|
3 |
Family Nurse Practitioner: |
| PYC532 |
Primary Care of Children-Seminar |
|
2 |
| PYC532P |
Primary Care of Children-Practicum |
|
3 |
| PYC534 |
Primary Care of Women-Seminar |
|
1 |
| PYC534P |
Primary Care of Women-Practicum |
|
2 |
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: |
| PYC536 |
Primary Care of Older Adults-Seminar |
|
3 |
| PYC536P |
Primary Care of Older Adults-Practicum |
|
5 |
| PYC545 |
Advanced Practicum |
|
1 |
Students have the option of a dual major program earning a Master of Science Degree with a concentration in both Community Health and Primary Care Nursing. The purpose of the dual focus is to prepare nurse practitioners for community-based roles in the changing health-care system.
The Adult Nurse Practitioner/Community Health student completes:
Family Nurse Practitioner or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner students complete 8 additional credit hours from the respective option.
An individual with a Master's Degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program may complete a post master's degree certificate as a nurse practitioner in any of the three practitioner options. Master's Degree prepared nurses who complete the course of study are eligible to seek certification from the appropriate credentialing body.
Admission to Graduate Studies in Nursing begins with submission of required application forms, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts of previous college and university studies to the College of Graduate Studies.
Criteria for regular admission to Graduate Studies in Nursing are:
Scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may be required for students on conditional admission and GPA below 3.0.
Students in the graduate nursing program are required to demonstrate proficiency in the area of statistics prior to taking CHN515 Research by meeting one of the following options:
Graduate nursing students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to remain in the graduate nursing program or to graduate. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation. Failure to raise the GPA to 3.0 or better during the following three courses may result in dismissal from the program. A student may not register for a practicum course while on probation. Exceptions may be petitioned through the Graduate Nursing Committee.
A minimum grade of "B" must be obtained in each course with a practicum or lab component. A minimum grade of "C" is required in each non-practicum course.
Students must have health clearance for TB, Rubella, and Hepatitis B and any other requirements from the practicum sites for practicums and any other client contact.
The graduate program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Courses are offered all year to facilitate completion of degree requirements. Evening and Saturday classes accommodate working professionals. Faculty and students collaborate in selection of practicum sites.
| CHN510 Theoretical Foundations |
3 |
| Introduces philosophy, conceptual frameworks, models, and theories which provide a theoretical foundation for advanced nursing practice. Discusses strategies of theory development, relationship of theory-research-practice, and criteria for evaluating theories. Considers the philosophical, ethical, and cultural aspects of nursing theories. |
| |
| CHN515 Research Methods |
3 |
| Considers research in the field of nursing, health, and human services and the relationship of research to knowledge and practice, including cross-cultural research in national and international communities. Emphasizes conceptual understanding of design, methodology, and the development of a structural investigation of a problem. Prerequisite: CHN528 or equivalent. |
| |
| CHN520 Contemporary Issues in Health Care |
2 |
| Analyzes the social, economic, political, ethical, and professional implications of contemporary issues in health care and advanced practice nursing. Considers the Biblical Christian perspective on such issues. |
| |
| CHN525 Cultural Implications |
2 |
| Develops a framework for analyzing social, economic, political, psychological, and religious factors affecting health care in multiple cultural settings. Examines the role of the Christian nurse in cross-cultural community health practice. |
| |
| CHN528 Biostatistics |
3 |
| Focuses on examination and application of statistical methods used in behavioral and social science research and the public health sciences. |
| |
| CHN530 Epidemiology |
3 |
| Examines basic concepts of epidemiology, including methods of identifying distributions and determinants of health and disease and analytical techniques used in epidemiology. Integrates application of epidemiologic principles to community health and primary care. |
| |
| CHN534 Principles and Theories of Education in Community Health Nursing |
3 |
| Theories of adult and community health education are analyzed and applied to community health nursing practice. Ethical considerations of community health education are discussed. |
| |
| CHN535 Advanced Community Health Nursing I: Community Health Assessment Seminar |
3 |
| Analyzes principles, theories, and research data from epidemiology, nursing, community development, and other disciplines related to cross-cultural community health nursing assessment of populations. Prerequisites or co-requisites: CHN510, CHN530; regular student status. |
| |
| CHN535P Advanced Community Health Nursing I: Community Health Assessment Practicum |
2 |
| Students will conceptualize, operationalize, and implement a comprehensive community health assessment, according to an identified theoretical framework, integrating principles of epidemiological analysis, community participation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural competence. Maintenance of community-oriented health records to document the on-going processes of community assessment. Analysis and synthesis of assessment data within a theoretical framework and identification of substantiated community health priorities. |
| |
| CHN538 Health Teaching Methods for Developing Areas |
2 |
| Focuses on adapting educational content, lesson planning, and teaching methods to identified training needs of health personnel at hospital and village (community) levels. Students will develop a teaching project, using appropriate health-teaching principles, methods, and resources. Production of low-cost visual aids will be included. |
| |
| CHN540 Advanced Community Health Nursing II: Planning/Evaluation Seminar |
3 |
| Analysis of concepts, theories, and frameworks from nursing, public health, health education, management, community organization, community development, and other interdisciplinary areas of knowledge applicable to the processes of planning, implementation, and evaluation in community health nursing, health education, and health promotion. |
| |
| CHN540P Advanced Community Health Nursing II: Planning/Evaluation Practicum |
1 |
| Active participation in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of community health initiatives, within the context of selected target community settings and populations and in conjunction with interdisciplinary professional teams and community groups. Examination of professional role development of the advanced practice community health nurse. |
| |
| CHN542 Health Services Administration |
3 |
| Principles and theories of health care administration are analyzed and evaluated, incorporating the influences of Christian values and beliefs on administrative practices. |
| |
| CHN544 Health Policy: Process and Analysis |
2 |
| Examines the process of public policy information in health care and provides techniques for analysis of such policies. The focus is on application of knowledge to specific health policy issues. |
| |
| CHN545 Internship-Community Health Nursing |
1 - 3 |
| Elective in which the student can gain additional clinical experience in an area related to career goals. Prerequisites: Regular admission status; permission of instructor. |
| |
| CHN548 Program Evaluation |
3 |
| This course provides an overview of the evaluation process applied to health care. It introduces students to the role of evaluation in designing, monitoring, and assessing utility and performance of health and social programs. It permits students to develop and apply evaluation techniques and strategies used in evaluative research. |
| |
| CHN550 Special Topics Seminar |
1 - 3 |
| A seminar course for graduate students designed around a special topic or area of interest relevant to advanced practice nursing in diverse settings. Students will examine the topic of interest in diverse contexts. Analysis will include current practice issues, research, management strategies, theories, and policies related to the topic of interest. |
| |
| CHN554 Community Health Nursing Care of Aging and Chronically Ill Populations |
2 |
| Considers theories of aging and associated developmental changes. Analyzes trends, issues, and policies affecting the elderly and chronically ill. Explores ways to provide health care for this population. |
| |
| CHN555 Tropical Health |
3 |
| Examines major health problems common to tropical climates and developing areas. The focus is on prevention and control of tropical diseases and promotion of health in community settings. Prerequisite: CHN530 or permission of instructor. |
| |
| CHN556 International Nursing |
3 |
| Analyzes nursing systems in a variety of developed and developing countries. Evaluates major trends and issues related to international nursing education, practice, and research. |
| |
| CHN557 Ethics in Health Care |
3 |
| A seminar course which will assist the student in applying ethical theories to decision-making within the scope of practice for nurse managers and administrators in institutional, community, and cross-cultural settings. Students will develop an ethical decision-making model and an ethical code of conduct which is compatible with Christian values. |
| |
| CHN560 Community Health Nursing- Independent Study |
1 - 3 |
| An elective course in which the student can focus on an area of nursing pertinent to individual career goals. |
| |
| CHN590 Nursing Investigation |
3 |
| Structured investigation of a research problem pertinent to advanced practice nursing. Prerequisite: CHN515. |
| |
| CHN592 Applied Nursing Capstone Project |
3 |
| Students demonstrate the scholarship of application through the development and implementation of an applied nursing project in a specific community health or primary care practice arena. Prerequisite: CHN515. |
| |
| CHN595 Nursing Investigation Continuation |
0 |
| Continuation of the process involved in completing the requirements for CHN590, Nursing Investigation. |
| |
| PYC500 Advanced Transitions |
1 |
| A reentry course designed for applicants to the primary care major who have a Master's degree from a program other than Indiana Wesleyan University. Students will participate in semiars designed to enhance current understanding of issues, theories, and research related to primary health care. |
| |
| PYC509 Clinical Procedures for Advanced Practice Nursing |
2 |
| This course is designed to provide the advanced practice student with essential knowledge and introductory skill in procedures commonly preformed in advanced practice nursing care settings. The course invloves both lecture and laboratory practice. Laboratory fees are charged for this course. Prerequisite: PYC530 |
| |
| PYC511 Laboratory Techniques, Procedures, and Interpretations for Nurses in Advanced Practice |
2 |
| A course designed to acquaint advanced practice nursing students with current laboratory practices in diverse settings. Includes guidelines for ordering common laboratory tests and evaluation of results. Lecture and demonstration. |
| |
| PYC512 Advanced Pharmacology for Primary Care |
3 |
| Explores various pharmacological agents used to treat common recurrent health problems; indications, contraindications, side, and interactive effects of commonly prescribed drugs. Legal and prescriptive regulations will be considered. |
| |
| PYC514 Advanced Pathophysiology |
3 |
| Provides understanding of disease and its treatment as a basis for advanced nursing management of patient care. Major disease entities will be examined. |
| |
| PYC530 Primary Care of Adults |
3 |
| This course is designed to prepare the advanced practice student with the theoretical, scientific, and technical foundations needed for optimal functioning as an adult nurse practitioner. Emphasis will be placed on health promotion, disease prevention, education, and the diagnosis and management of common acute and stable chronic disease states of the adult client enabling the advanced practice student to develop advanced clinical judgement, technical skills, and decision-making skills is required. Prerequisites: PYC512 (may be a co-requisite), PYC514, and PYC552. |
| |
| PYC530P Primary Care of Adults Practicum |
4 |
| Supervised clinical practice of adults in primary care settings, to develop clinical judgment, technical skills assessment and management; totaling 280 hours. |
| |
| PYC532 Primary Care of Children |
2 |
| This course is designed to prepare the advanced practice student with the theoretical, scientific, and technical foundations in care of children and families needed for optimal functioning as a family nurse practitioner. Emphasis will be placed on health assessment, health promotion, and disease prevention and the diagnosis and management of common congenital, acute, and stable chronic conditions in children. A supervised clinical preceptorship experience (PYC532P, 210 hours) enabling the advanced practice student to develop advanced clinical judgment, technical skills, and decision-making skills is required. |
| |
| PYC532P Primary Care of Children Practicum |
3 |
| A supervised practicum experience that builds assessment management, clinical judgment and technical skills related to the health of children and their families. |
| |
| PYC534 Primary Care of Women |
1 |
| This course is designed to prepare the advanced practice student with the theoretical, scientific, and technical foundations needed for optimal functioning as a family nurse practitioner. Emphasis will be placed on physical and environmental assessment, health promotion and disease prevention education, and the diagnosis and management of common acute and stable chronic conditions peculiar to women. A supervised clinical and preceptorship experience (PCY534P, 140 hours) enabling the advanced practice student to develop advanced clinical judgment, technical skills, and decision-making skills is required. Prerequisites: PYC512 (may be co-requisite), PYC514, and PYC552. |
| |
| PYC534P Primary Care of Women Practicum |
2 |
| A supervised practicum experience that builds assessment, management, clinical judgment and technical skills related to women's health, totaling 140 hours. |
| |
| PYC536 Primary Care of Older Adults |
3 |
| An in-depth, research-based course in assessment and management of older adults by the advanced practitioner. Emphasis is on health maintenance, illness or disability, legal and ethical concerns related to practice with geriatric populations. |
| |
| PYC536P Primary Care of Older Adults Practicum |
5 |
| Supervised clinical practice in settings focused upon care of older adults, totaling 350 hours. |
| |
| PYC545 Advanced Practicum in Primary Care Nursing |
1 - 5 |
| Designed to provide the advanced practice student opportunity to gain additional primary care clinical experience related to the role of a nurse practitioner. |
| |
| PYC552 Advanced Health Status Assessment |
3 |
| Provides for an enhancement of knowledge and skills necessary for performing a thorough health assessment for clients of all ages in a variety of settings. |
| |
| PYC554 Primary Care of Older Clients with Psychiatric Co-Morbidity |
2 |
| This course prepares the advanced practice nurse in gerontology to manage the geriatric client with co-morbid psychiatric illness. Emphasis upon research, pharmacology, behavioral interventions, and caregiver support will be incorporated. The utilization of the interdisciplinary team will be a focus of this content as it is applied to geriatric clients in a variety of community-based settings. |
| |
| PYC556 Concepts of Advanced Pharmacology in Geriatrics |
2 |
| This course prepares the advanced practice nurse to prescribe medications for the complex medical problems of the geriatric client, with a special emphasis on minimizing side effects. Advance application of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as the unique issues of compliance in older populations will be addressed. |
| |
| PYC560 Primary Care Nursing-Independent Study |
1 - 3 |
| An elective course in which the student can focus on an area of nursing pertinent to individual career goals. |
