Master of Science Core Courses

Synthesis of Knowledge Courses

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Across The Lifespan Emphasis

Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Emphasis

Adult Acute Care/ Family Nurse Practitioner Emphasis

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Emphasis

EXAMPLE OF CNS SPECIALTY PROGRAM PLANS

CNS: Nurse Educator

CNS: Psychiatric Mental Health

Post Masters Certification

Master of Science with a Major in Nursing

Nursing Core Courses

All Master’s students will complete the following core requirements for graduation, no matter the emphasis they choose. The credit hour ratio for clinical or lab is 1 credit hour to 4 contact hours. The core courses are offered in a hybrid format. The hybrid format involves on campus and Web based instruction. The core courses typically meet on campus every other week and include the following:

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 506 Roles and Issues........................................................ 3(2.5-2)

NSG 508 Advanced Practice Theory ........................................ 3(3-0)

NSG 592 Research................................................................... 3(3-0)

Spring

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 552 Advanced Pathophysiology ............................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 561 Advanced Pharmacology................................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 562 Advanced Assessment....................................................... 3(2-4)

Core Nursing Courses.................................................................. 18 total credits (16.5-6)

Nursing Synthesis of Knowledge Courses

All students must choose a method of synthesizing their knowledge either through applied research (thesis), assisting with faculty research (directed research), or through electives (non-thesis). Each emphasis has identified its minimum thesis or non-thesis requirements (see specific emphases). The synthesis of knowledge courses may be taken any time after completion of the core courses. For students choosing the non-thesis emphasis, multiple electives are available. Students are to meet with their graduate advisor for planning their synthesis of knowledge options.

Thesis Option

Courses Titles Credits

NSG 593 Thesis Seminar.......................................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 599 Thesis (minimum of three credit hours required).........Varies

Non-Thesis Options*

Please choose a minimum of 6 credit hours from the courses below.

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 575 Curriculum Development ......................................................2(2-0)

NSG 576 Teaching & Instruction in Nursing......................................... 2(2-0)

NSG 571 Healthcare Informatics ........................................................ 3(3-0)

NSG 587 Synthesis Experience ...........................................................9(3-24)

*Nine graduate credit hours can be transferred in from an accredited institution with approval of the graduate program coordinator.

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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan Emphasis

The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) emphasis is unique in its focus on providing care across the lifespan. The typical ACNP program focuses on adults; however, because the ACNP provide care in settings such as emergency rooms and intensive care areas, the preparation and focus of this program is for the graduate to be able to provide care to patients of any age. This is an intensive program in which the full-time student is expected to complete the coursework and clinical experiences in six semesters. A minimum of 4 contact hours to 1 credit hour or 660 hours of clinical practice will be required to prepare graduates to manage acute health problems for patients across the lifespan. Clinical experiences will be provided with preceptors in a variety of acute care and community settings, which are selected to allow students to work in milieu devoted to particular patient groups, levels of care, or treatment modalities in which they have a desire to specialize. The graduate will meet the following requirements for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification:

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 551 Health and Well Being .............................................. 3(2-4)

NSG 550 Health Policy............................................................. 3(3-0)

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 585 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs I ...................8(4-16)

Spring

Courses Titles Credits (lecture -lab)

NSG 588 Mgmt. of Pediatric Clients ...................................... 4(2-8)

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 586 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs II...................8(4-16)

ACNP

Core Courses .....................................................................18 total credits (16.5-6)

Synthesis of Knowledge .................................................................6 total credits

ACNP Courses ................................................................... 26 credit hours (15-44)

Total Credit Hours ................................................................... 50 credit hours

Clinical Contact Hours .............................................................. 660 clinical contact hours

Lab Contact Hours ................................................................... 90 lab contact hours

Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Emphasis

The Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AACNP) emphasis prepares student to provide care to adult clients. This is an intensive program in which the full-time student is expected to complete the coursework and clinical experiences in five semesters. A minimum of 540 hours of clinical practice are required to prepare graduates to manage acute health problems for adult clients. Clinical experiences are provided with preceptors in a variety of acute care settings, selected to allow students to work in milieus devoted to particular patient groups, levels of care, or treatment modalities in which they have a desire to specialize. The student will be able to take the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification. The following courses are required for this emphasis:

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 551 Health and Well Being............................................... 3(2-4)

NSG 550 Health Policy............................................................. 3(3-0)

NSG 586 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs II...................8(4-16)

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-Lab)

NSG 585 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs I....................8(4-16)

AACNP

Core Courses ................................................................... 18 total credits (16.5-6)

Synthesis of Knowledge..................................................................6 total credits

AACNP Courses ................................................................... 22 credit hours (13-36)

Total Credit Hours ................................................................... 46 credit hours

Clinical Contact Hours.................................................................540 direct patient care contact hours

Lab Contact Hours ................................................................... 90 lab contact hours

Adult Acute Care/ Family Nurse Practitioner Emphasis

The Adult Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner (AACNP/FNP) emphasis focuses on primary care and acute care, especially for rural and underserved populations. Graduates will be eligible for certification as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Students are responsible for determining any additional requirements for certification and eligibility to practice in a state outside of Colorado.

This emphasis combines the theory courses for both Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AACNP) emphases. In addition, the student who chooses this emphasis is required to take an additional 9 credit hours of Synthesis Experience (see below) to allow additional time for the primary care theory and application in primary care clinical settings. A minimum of 1020 hours of clinical practice will be required. The full-time student is expected to complete the following coursework and clinical experience in seven semesters:

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 551 Health and Well Being............................................... 3(2-4)

NSG 550 Health Policy............................................................. 3(3-0)

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 585 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs I...................8(4-16)

Spring

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 588 Mgmt. of Pediatric Clients ......................................4(2-8)

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 586 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs II................ 8(4-16)

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 587 Synthesis Experience (Family).................................... 9(3-24)

AACNP/FNP

Core Courses ................................................................... 18 total credits (16.5-6)

Synthesis of Knowledge ................................................................ 6 total credits

AACNP/FNP Courses ................................................................. 35 credit hours (18-68)

Total credit hours ...................................................................59 credit hours

Clinical Contact Hours..............................................................1020 clinical direct patient

care hours

Lab Contact Hours ...................................................................90 lab contact hours

Clinical Nurse Specialist Emphasis

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) emphasis explores human needs and interventions to achieve health and wellness. While the students’ clinical work will focus on their particular clinical specialties, their learning is developed around a multi-theoretical human needs clinical model applicable to a variety of settings. Requirements for recognition as a CNS vary depending on state nurse practice acts, certification, and administrative regulations. Typically, minimum requirements include graduation from an accredited CNS program or equivalent in a defined area of specialty practice at the master’s level and national certification in the specialty area. Thus, the CNS is developed based on the specialization’s requirements for certification maintained by various credentialing bodies, such as the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC), or National League of Nursing (NLN), or other specialty-nursing organizations. Required courses include:

Basic Requirements

Core Courses ......................................................................18 total credits (16.5-6)

Synthesis of Knowledge.......................................................................6 total credits

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 587 Synthesis Experience ...................................................9(3-24)

Total Credit Hours .....................................................................33

Sample Program Plans

CNS: Nurse Educator

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 506 Roles and Issues ....................................................... 3(2.5-2)

NSG 508 Advanced Practice Theory......................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 592 Research................................................................... 3(3-0)

Spring

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 552 Advanced Pathophysiology........................................ 3(3-0)

NSG 561 Advanced Pharmacology........................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 562 Advanced Assessment............................................... 3(2-4)

NSG 593 Thesis Seminar.......................................................... 3(3-0)

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 551 Health & Well Being ................................................ 3(2-4)

NSG 575 Curriculum Development ........................................... 2(2-0)

NSG 576 Teaching & Instruction in NSG.................................. 2(2-0)

NSG 571 Healthcare Informatics............................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 599 Thesis.....................................................................3(3-0)

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 587 Synthesis Experience................................................. 9(3-24)

Core Courses ................................................................... 18 total credits (16.5-6)

Synthesis of Knowledge................................................................. 6 total credits (must take thesis option)

CNS Courses .................................................................... 19 credit hours (12-28)

Total Credit Hours ................................................................... 43

*Clinical Contact Hours ............................................................ 420

Lab Contact Hours ................................................................... 90

*National League for Nursing Nurse Educator Certification does not require a minimum clinical contact hours.

CNS: Psychiatric Mental Health

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 506 Roles and Issues........................................................ 3(2.5-2)

NSG 508 Advanced Practice Theory......................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 592 Research................................................................... 3(3-0)

Spring

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 552 Advanced Pathophysiology ....................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 561 Advanced Pharmacology .......................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 562 Advanced Assessment............................................... 3(2-4)

NSG 593 Thesis Seminar ......................................................... 3(3-0)

Summer

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 587 Synthesis Experience................................................. 9(3-24)

NSG 551 Health & Well Being.................................................. 3(2-4)

NSG 599 Thesis......................................................................3(3-0)

Fall

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 587 Synthesis Experience................................................. 9(3-24)

Core Courses ................................................................... 18 total credits (16.5-6)

Synthesis of Knowledge................................................................. 6 total credits (must take thesis option)

CNS Courses ................................................................... 21 credit hours (8-52)

Total Credit Hours ...................................................................45

Clinical Contact Hours............................................................... 780

Lab Contact Hours ................................................................... 90

Post Masters Certification

Students seeking post masters certification in the program who already have a nursing graduate degree are evaluated on an individual basis. Their plan of study is based on their academic credentials, according to the Colorado State University-Pueblo Catalog. The student must complete 15 postgraduate credit hours. The student’s plan is developed based on the academic course work already completed.

Typically, non-clinical graduate nursing degrees do not have the three prescriptive privilege courses (advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pathophysiology). As a result, their understanding of the role of the nurse practitioner is incomplete. They usually need to complete the clinical hours and didactic specific to their emphasis. Therefore, students electing to take the post masters certification who do not have a clinical nursing degree must take the following courses for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner across the Lifespan Emphasis:

Courses Titles Credits(lecture-lab)

NSG 506 Roles and Issues........................................................ 3(2.5-2)

NSG 552 Advanced Pathophysiology........................................ 3(3-0)

NSG 561 Advanced Pharmacology .......................................... 3(3-0)

NSG 562 Advanced Assessment............................................... 3(2-4)

NSG 551 Health and Well Being............................................... 3(2-4)

NSG 585 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs I.................... 8(4-16)

NSG 586 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs II................... 8(4-16)

NSG 588 Mgmt. of Pediatric Clients...................................... 4(2-8)

In addition to the above courses, students who are seeking the dual emphasis AACNP/FNP post masters certification must take NSG 587 (Synthesis Experience) courses with 3 credit hours of didactic and 24 contact lab/per week of direct patient care. Students holding a nurse practitioner degree who have prescriptive privileges in the State of Colorado and who are seeking post masters certification as an Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner must complete the following courses: (Clinical time is primarily spent in the acute care setting, grand rounds, specializations, and a minimum of 540 clinical hours.)

Courses Titles Credits (lecture-lab)

NSG 585 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs I.................... 8(4-16)

NSG 586 Acute/Chronic/Emergent Health Needs II................... 8(4-16)

A post masters certification in a specific clinical nurse specialization can be developed on an individual basis considering the certification requirements set forth by national certification and national organization. The student typically completes a minimum of 500 clinical credit hours excluding the nurse educator.

Contact CSU-Pueblo Nursing Department: