MSN Course Descriptions

NSG 622: Theoretical Foundations and Disciplined Reasoning for Advanced Nursing Practice: 3 credits (Didactic, Fall only). An in-depth study of theoretical frameworks as the foundation of advanced nursing practice and research. Students will incorporate middle range nursing theories and theories borrowed from other disciplines to inform and guide holistic care of patients, families, and communities.

NSG 623*: Foundations of the Nurse Practitioner Role and Interprofessional Practice: 3 credits (Didactic, Fall only). This course introduces students to the various roles of the nurse practitioner including clinician, scholar, advocate, collaborator, leader, and lifelong learner.

NSG 625: Statistics: 3 credits (Didactic, Spring only). This course provides an introduction to the collection and analysis of nursing and health sciences data. Topics include sampling, data presentation, summary measures, probability, confidence interval, hypothesis testing, t-test and ANOVA, correlation analysis, simple/multiple linear regression, chi-square test, power and sample size calculation.

NSG 626*: Lifespan Health Promotion: 3 credits (Didactic, Summer only). Prerequisite – NSG 622, NSG 623. Prerequisites may be taken concurrently. An in-depth study of theoretical foundations, epidemiological principles, and advance practice strategies for the promotion of health and prevention of disease across the life-span.

NSG 627: Evidence Based Practice: 3 credits (Didactic, Spring only). Prerequisite or concurrent - NSG 625. An analysis of the application of research to guide the advanced practice nurse in evidence-based nursing practice.

NSG 628*: Leadership/Policy/Ethics: 3 credits (Didactic, Spring only). Prerequisite – NSG 627. An exploration of the concept of leadership in the advanced practice role and application of these leadership behaviors to health care policy and ethical decision making.

NSG 701*: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics: 3 credits (Didactic, Spring only). Prerequisite – NSG 706. Examination of the relationship between pharmacologic principles and the APRN's selection of pharmacologic agents in altered health states across the lifespan

NSG 705*: Advanced Lifespan Assessment: 3 credits (2 credits didactic, 1 credit lab, Spring only). Prerequisite – NSG 706. The focus of this course is the advanced health assessment of individuals across the lifespan. Skilled interviewing and advanced assessment skills are emphasized.

NSG 706*: Advanced Pathophysiology: 3 credits (Didactic, Fall only). Theoretical basis of pathophysiological changes in acute and chronic illnesses confronted across the lifespan is presented. The course serves as the foundation for clinical assessment, decision making, and management.

NSG 709: Health Care Informatics: 3 credits (Didactic, Fall only). Explore information technologies used in point-of-care inpatient and outpatient health settings and describe methods of utilization of technology for practice improvement, quality, and safety.

NSG 712*: Primary Care of Families 1: 3 credits (Didactic, Summer only). Prerequisites – NSG 701, NSG 705. An introduction to the knowledge and skills basic to the health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and revision of care of individuals as members of family units in the primary care setting.

NSG 714*: Primary Care of Families 2: 3 credits (Didactic, Fall only). Prerequisite – NSG 712. Further acquisition of knowledge and skills basic to the health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and revision of care of individuals as members of family units in the primary care setting.

NSG 715: NP Experiential Learning: This course provides nurse practitioner students an experiential learning environment for skills competency assessment prior to entering the clinical practice environment in the practicum course. Competencies include communication, promotion of caring relationships, employment of diagnostic reasoning and patient management.  

This course will require an on-campus experience during the semester.

NSG 720*: Family Practicum 1: 5 credits (Clinical, Fall only). Prerequisite – NSG 712, NSG 714. NSG 714 may be taken concurrently. Supervised practicum designed to facilitate the student’s competency at the advanced practice level in the delivery of primary health care across the lifespan.

NSG 721*: Family Practicum 2: 5 credits (Clinical, Spring only). Prerequisite – NSG 720. Supervised practicum that builds on Family Practicum 1 and applies theory and evidence to the advanced practice of nursing. Further role and competency development at the advanced practice level of lifespan primary health care.

NSG 722: Topics in Global Health: Honduras: 2 credits (Clinical, Fall and Spring only). Elective. Pre-requisite – NSG 720 or NSG 721. Prerequisite may be taken concurrently. Students are introduced to global health concepts through immersion in the culture of Honduras and utilize disciplined reasoning in the application of therapeutics and evidence-based advanced nursing practice in service learning experiences.

*Substance Use Disorder Modules

In fulfillment of the requirements of the Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) grant, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and in accordance with WV ANEW (WV Advanced Nurse’s Education on Waiver), students are required to complete Substance Use Disorder modules as assigned in select courses (courses with asterisk) and as outlined in their corresponding syllabi. Successful completion of these modules will be worth 2% of the total course grade, and students must receive a passing grade on all aspects of the modules in order to receive full credit. The modules are located on the WV ANEW SOLE site.