NURSING SCIENCE

Coursework

NURS 70000 Philosophy of Science

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this course is on the examination of the nature of philosophy and its development in relation to the scientific movements affecting nursing as a scholarly discipline. The course will include perspectives on the philosophical views of the nature of science such as positivism, empiricism, realism, phenomenology and interpretive strategies as they relate to the evolution of nursing knowledge. The identification of the phenomena of study and scientific progress in nursing are critiqued.
Pre-requisite: Acceptance into the Doctor in Nursing Science (DNS) Program with completion of all admission requirements. Master's level course in nursing theory.

NURS 70100 Development of Nursing Knowledge

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this course is on examining the relevance of theories and models and their relationship to the domain of knowledge development in nursing. The development and analysis of theory in nursing and methods for derivation of concepts and theories to generate nursing knowledge will be examined. The conceptual basis of selected nursing theorists will be analyzed. Selected theories from the biosocial and behavioral sciences as well from the empirical, ethical and aesthetic domain will be examined.
Pre-requisites: NURS 70000 Philosophy of Science

NURS 70200 Nursing Bioethics and Clinical Decision Making

3 credits; 45 hours
Description:
The purpose of this course is to analyze theories and models that are pivotal in examining the ethical implications of decision-making in nursing. The course will emphasize the relationship between clinical decision making and ethics as identified in the nursing literature. Concepts to be explored will include: caring, virtue, feminist, relational and narrative approaches to ethics with a focus on three ethical theories, with specific application to nursing: rule ethics, virtue ethics and feminist ethics. Each will be analyzed according to their value and shortcomings, specifically related to nurse researchers, educators and/or administrators. The use of Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) for clinical decision making will also be analyzed in relation to ethical decision making.
Pre-requisites: none.

NURS 71000 Measurement in Nursing Research

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this course is the development of essential competencies required to locate, select, evaluate, and utilize instruments to operationalize nursing variables. Measurement theory will be presented in relation to criterion-referenced measures. Locating and employing a variety of measures appropriate for investigating nursing phenomena will be presented including questionnaires, scales, visual analogs, semantic differentials, and physiologic measures. In addition, ethical considerations in nursing research and research issues in diverse populations will be discussed. Specific attention is given to the process of moving from concept to construct, measurement theory, validity/reliability issues, and measurement issues in diverse populations including literacy, stamina during illness/crisis, social desirability bias, sensitive data, translations, and cultural norms.
Pre- or co-requisite: NURS 70000 Philosophy of Science; Master's level courses in research and statistics

NURS 71100 Applied Statistics I

3 credits; 45 hours
Description:
This course introduces the student to the use of statistical techniques to answer clinically relevant questions, within the discipline of nursing. The focus of this first course in the two-semester statistics sequence is on developing a conceptual applied understanding of the uses and interpretation of statistics testing relationships between and amongst variables including correlation and linear models and their extensions to regression including multiple and hierarchical regression. Drawing on current nursing research, the case study method will be used to enhance the students' conceptual understanding by illustrating actual applications of particular statistical techniques.
Pre-requisites: Graduate level statistics course within the last 5years,NURS 71000 Measurement in Nursing Research; NURS 70100, Development of Nursing Knowledge, Pre- or co-requisite: NURS 71200 Quantitative Research Design

NURS 71200 Applied Statistics II

3 credits; 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this second course in the two-semester statistics sequence will be on developing a conceptual understanding of the uses and interpretation of statistics involving the differences between and among populations (groups) including t tests, one way ANOVA, multifactorial ANOVA and MANOVA, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA and MANCOVA) and Repeated Measures ANOVA. Drawing on current nursing research, the case study method will be used to enhance the students' conceptual understanding by illustrating actual applications of particular statistical techniques.
Pre-requisite: NURS 71100 Applied Statistics I

NURS 71300 Database Analyses

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
This course provides an overview of the major public access large scale health care data sets available on federal, state, and local levels and instructs students in analytical methods to answer research questions using these databases. Included are: (1) variable identifications and definitions; (2) record layouts; (3) data set sizes and analysis restrictions; (4) coding methods; (5) manipulation of these data on PC SAS Version 9.0; and (6) developing a working knowledge of PC SAS Syntax. The public access data sets afford students with opportunities to address a variety of research questions. This is accomplished by presenting simples of current research activities, future projects under consideration, and those completed by previous students.
Pre- or co-requisites: NURS 71100, NURS 71200, NURS 80000

NURS 72000 Nursing Care Perspectives to Eliminate Health Disparities

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this course is to examine both competing and complementary theories of health care disparities and how each affects health care. A variety of theoretical models such as the health belief model, theory of reasoned action, trans-theoretical model and stages of change will be examined for their historical value in understanding health behavior change. Their relevance for changing particular behaviors in various minority populations will be challenged. New theories related to diversity of racial and ethnic communities and selected nursing theories that attempt to understand the inequities in health care practice and health status will be explored.
Pre-requisites: Master's Level Course in Health Policy

NURS 72100 Nursing Initiatives for Policy and Economics

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
The course is designed to demonstrate the effects of various conceptual frameworks on the understanding of multidimensional factors influencing the design of health policy within the local, national and global arenas. The interrelationship between economics, politics and policy development will be examined as well as the effects of nursing research initiatives.
Pre- or co-requisites: Master's level health policy course

NURS 72200 Information Technology in Healthcare and Nursing

3 credits; 30 classroom hours, 15 conference hours
Description:
This course provides knowledge of current issues and trends in information technology (IT) for quality-based nursing care, sets standards for essential IT competencies for nurse leaders including competencies for evaluation of health-related websites and online learning, and promotes student development of selected IT competencies.
Pre- or co-requisites: None

NURS 80000 Quantitative Research Design

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
This course prepares students to design quantitative studies for nursing sensitive patient outcomes-based research. The methods associated with true experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs such as comparative, correlational, exploratory-descriptive, and epidemiological are addressed. Strategies to control for external and intrinsic factors, collect data, develop sampling plans, analyze data, and write research reports are implemented. The ethical context of research, including guidelines for conducting research with human subjects, is discussed throughout the course.
Pre or Co-requisites: NURS 7102 Applied Statistics I

NURS 81000 Qualitative Research Methods

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
This course is designed to educate nursing doctoral students in qualitative research methodology from conceptualization through design and data collection as an applied research methodology for problem investigation, problem solving and evaluation in nursing and related health fields. The course includes a thorough discussion of qualitative research design and the role of theory in guiding and informing research design. The course begins with research problems, questions and design considerations. Students will undertake a pilot research study as part of the course requirements.
Pre-requisites: NURS 70000, NURS 70100

NURS 82000 Doctoral Practicum in Nursing Research

3 credits, 60 hours
Description:
A minimum of one semester field experience is required of all students. The course allows students to share ideas, examine hypotheses and develop research expertise with clinical experts, researchers and/or educators in a selected area. Objectives for the field experience will be developed with the student's advisory committee in cooperation with a nurse researcher employed a clinical agency or school of nursing. The advisory committee will determine the number of credits needed to complete degree requirements.
Pre- or co-requisite: To be taken after all course work except for Dissertation Seminar

NURS 83000 Independent Study

3 credits, 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this course is on the development of a specific area of interest of the doctoral candidate's research. Students select an area to research that will provide additional knowledge or skill related to their research ideas. Students learn to develop their skills of independent research through the guidance of a faculty member.
Prerequisite: None

NURS 90000 Dissertation Seminar I, II

3credits, 45 hours
Description:
The focus of this course is on the development of the doctoral candidate's research into a dissertation proposal. Students present their research for peer and faculty critique. Through this process, research ideas evolve into a proposal that can be defended and implemented. Students also learn to develop their skills of critical appraisal and provide critique of the work of their peers.
Pre-requisites: Completion of First Exam