This course focuses on the professional role of the nurse as a collaborator, leader and provider of care with nursing colleagues and other members of the interprofessional health care team, and within the context of complex health care systems.

3 credit course

Online: asynchronous course

Course is only available to accepted students entering the PGO to DNP program

This is a review course on basic principles of physiology that cover the functions of the human body with emphasis on the nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, renal and reproductive systems. The course will provide a broad view of the current knowledge of how the human body works. This course is intended for students in the field of nursing and other allied health fields.

3 credit course

This course is offered online

This course, grounded in theory and based on the DNP essentials, will explore the domains of palliative care interventions to improve care for patients and families with serious life-threatening or terminal illness. The participants will be prepared with the basic knowledge to integrate palliative care into their role as DNP/APRN.

3 credit course

This course is offered hybrid Tuesdays from 4:30 - 7:30pm

This course prepares registered nurses with classroom, laboratory and simulation education and training to care for critically ill adult/older adult patients and their families.  The content is designed to augment knowledge from undergraduate nursing programs to allow safe delivery of competent, professional and patient-centered nursing care.  The course expands knowledge and skills for nurses to recognize and manage life-threatening illnesses, injuries, medical sequelae, and goals of care in critically ill adult-older adult patients and position the patient and their families for optimal outcomes.

3 credit course

This course is offered on-line. Six Wednesdays from 9:00am – 4:00pm

The focus of this course is to prepare the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner student to provide care for critically ill patients. The focus of this course is on the development and refinement of advanced critical thinking skills necessary to master advanced concepts in critical care. Grounded in theory and evidence-based practice, the course enhances the student’s knowledge of diagnostic and collaborative management strategies needed to provide high quality care for adult/older adult patients with common life-threatening illnesses and injuries and their families.

3 credit course

This course is offered on campus Wednesdays 4:30pm – 7:30pm

Permission from course director required: alexander.menard@umassmed.edu

This survey course aims to educate advanced practice nurses to be the rudiments of safe and effective prescribing practices in the treatment of psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. The course utilizes a symptom management framework that integrates concepts from psychobiology with the pathophysiology of psychiatric diseases. Emphasis is placed on gaining a fundamental understanding of the hypothesized compliment between the pathophysiological basis of the disease state and mechanism of action of drugs as a basis for rational selection of pharmacologic treatment. Current standards of practice and treatment algorithms are emphasized in helping the student develop a working knowledge of psychopharmacology for practice. 

Must have taken Advanced Pharm.

3 credit course

This course is offered online asynchronouse. 

Permission from course director required: E-mail

Chronic or life-threatening illnesses, including the issues related to loss, grief, and palliative care, are a substantial portion of the nursing care and clinical practice that is provided in pediatric, adult or geriatric populations. This course will explore the physical, psychological, social, ethical, and spiritual and existential issues raised by the prospect of long-term, disabling, life-shortening illnesses as well as death and bereavement. The focus of the course is on the psychological, behavioral as well as the social aspects of chronic or terminal illness. It will equip the participants with the necessary understanding and skills to develop supportive advanced practice nursing care for the patient population.

3 credit course

This course is offered online Wednesday 4:30 - 7:30pm

This course will focus on cancer care knowledge, decision making and practices for advanced practice nurses caring for cancer patients in ambulatory, hospital and community settings. The course will examine cancer epidemiology, prevention, detection, treatment, and professional practice.

3 credit course

This course is offered hybrid Tuesdays from 4:30 - 7:30pm

This elective graduate nursing course provides the advanced practice nursing student with a theoretical foundation to provide evidence-based care to women and will focus on a variety of issues specific to their health care. Specific concerns of women across the lifespan and the effects of culture and environment on women’s health will be analyzed. Gender-based health issues and disparities and the role of the advanced practice nurse in dealing with these issues are examined.

3 credit course

This is a hybrid course offered Wednesdays 5:00 - 8:00pm 

The course focuses on developing expanded knowledge and refining critical-thinking skills of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) to address the needs of women experiencing gynecological health issues. Complex gynecological and sexualreproductive health concerns of women across the lifespan will be analyzed with an emphasis on enhancing the role of the APN in assessment, diagnosis and treatment/management of these conditions and the promotion of patient coping and restorative strategies.

3 credit course

This course is offered online Tuesdays 9:00am – 12:00pm

This course expands the students' understanding of system theory and healthcare finances/economics. Students will explore current global, technological, socioeconomic and organizational factors that impact the delivery of high-quality health care. This course will expand upon expert clinical knowledge and enable students to engage with other interdisciplinary team members in developing and evaluating contemporary approaches to clinical practice within health care organizations.

3 credit course

This course is offered online 3 Saturdays 10:00am to 1:00pm. 

Permission from course director required: E-mail

This course provides an overview on the logic and appropriate use of statistical techniques as well as enhancing data analysis and interpretation abilities through examples taken from practice and health care literature. The range of topics include most univariate parametric and nonparametric procedures with an emphasis on the knowledge of specific techniques, appropriate use, interpretation of results from statistical software (i.e., SPSS), and evaluation/interpretation of published research results using statistical procedures. 

3 credit course

This course is offered online 3 Saturdays 9:00 - 11:00am.

Permission from course director required: E-mail

This course focuses on types of research reviews and the elements of research grant writing. Students will be guided through locating potential funding sources and using appropriate grant writing techniques. The components of a research grant proposal will be explored with a focus on the significance, innovation, approach, and human subject sections.

2 credit course

This course is offered Tuesdays 1:00 - 4:00pm

This course requires permission by instructor Nancy.morris@umassmed.edu

This course provides the foundation to use genetics and genomic concepts in advanced practice and clinical research. The principles of human and molecular genetics including variations, patterns of inheritance and multifactorial inheritance will be discussed. Gene action and expression, cytogenetics, the Human Genome Project, genetics terminology and basic principles of laboratory methods used in genetics and genomics will be examined. The evolving principles of epigenetics, nutrigenomics, and pharmacogenomics in patient care and research will be explored with attention given to the associated ethical, legal and social implications. Inherited and acquired health conditions will be used to illustrate the impact of genetics and genomics on nursing practice and on opportunities for research.

3 credit course

This is an online course 3 zoom classes on Monday 7:00 - 10:00pm

Permission from course director required: E-mail

This course presents evidence-based theories, strategies, and skills for individuals interested in the role of faculty in programs preparing students for health professions.  Contemporary issues and approaches to educating students with diverse learning needs will be addressed from assessment for learning styles to evaluation of outcomes.  Societal influences on the curriculum development process are highlighted along with strategies for enhancing academic career development. 

3 credit course

This course is offered online Tuesdays 4:30 - 7:30pm

Course is offered in a hybird format: 8 week course starting the week of May 13, 2024. Class meets every other week live via zoom and alternate weeks online modules. Live classes are: May 14, May 28, June 11, June 25

Permission from course director required: E-mail