Curriculum
Year 1:
Fall
NURS5000 |
This course provides an introduction to epidemiologic methods and overview of the role of epidemiology in studies of disease etiology and in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health services. The population-based approach to the collection and analysis of health data will be emphasized throughout the course. Through textbook reading, problems sets, class discussion and review ofthe recent literature, students will become acquainted with the basic designs of epidemiologic studies in theory and in practice. Students will develop the basic skills necessary to use epidemiologic knowledge and methods as the basis for scientific public health practice. Background in elementary statistics is a prerequisite for this course. |
NURS8410 |
Transformational leaders create an organizational vision, inspire and motivate others to actualize strategic goals. Offered in a one-week on-campus intensive with asynchronous online modules including content developed by Wharton Executive Education [link] and the Perelman School of Medicine Health Care Innovation Graduate Program, students explore strategic planning and execution, stakeholder analysis, negotiation and influence, resource allocation, organizational culture and change management. On the path to becoming purpose-driven leaders, students learn of cutting-edge research on the qualities and behaviors of both successful and unsuccessful work environments and how this research can be applied to practical, real-life workplace situations. |
Spring
NURS7890 |
The course integrates the principles and methodologies of both quality and patient safety, which transforms and sustains high reliability organizations. Knowledge of the elements to complete a framework for safe and reliable healthcare will be described, as well as used by the students to apply the framework to a patient safety clinical situation. In addition, critical components of the current status of health care quality will be discussed, with emphasis on the role of patients, leadership, microsystems, and policy leaders. Organizational excellence will be examined in case reviews and discussions on strategies to develop and sustain quality and safety in the delivery of safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care. |
NURS8421 |
Thriving in an everchanging healthcare environment requires that leaders have foundational knowledge of the healthcare insurance market, rivers of value in this industry and available levers of policy change in government and the private sectors. Most policy experts agree that focusing on value will lead to a united approach for improving health care delivery. Offered in an asynchronous and synchronous online format and including content taught by Senior Executives in care transformation and expert faculty in the Perelman School of Medicine Health Care Innovation Graduate Program, this course introduces students to main forces affecting the health insurance environment and drivers of value and practice innovation in the healthcare industry. Spring 1 Course Unit |
Summer
NURS6510 |
Healthcare systems and consumers today are becoming increasingly reliant on information technology. The objective of this course is to provide a foundation for knowledge about health information technology and to expose students, clinicians, and administrators to the breadth of tools and systems currently used in practice. We will explore topics such as mobile health applications/telehealth and their implications for clinical practice and impact on patient outcomes; electronic health records, data analytics, and visualization tools and how these can effectively be used to support decision making and patient care. |
NURS8510 |
This course focuses on the translation of research into practice to achieve sustainable improvements in clinical, patient and systems outcomes. Course content builds on the foundational principles of evidence-based practice and the critical scientific appraisal of evidence to guide advanced evidence-based reasoning and decision-making for translation and application to practice. Prerequisite: NURS 5470 OR NURS 6370 1 Course Unit |
Year 2:
Fall
NURS7450 |
This course approaches statistics from both applied and theoretical perspectives in order to develop an understanding of the ways that data are analyzed and reported. The course is situated in healthcare data analytics and the varied ways existing/new data is analyzed and results communicated. Focus is given to learning the appropriate application, including decision-making for analysis plan, and interpretation of statistical analyses. The course addresses data transformation, effect size and power analysis, clinical significance, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests including t-tests, analysis of variance, chi square, correlation, linear and logistic regression and other methods of analyses for continuous and categorical data. Emphasis is placed on understanding why statistical methods are chosen, developing a cohesive analysis plan, applying best practices for data preparation and management, executing an analysis and using statistical software programs, including conduct of analyses, review of output and interpretation using existing software programs. |
NURS8521 |
This is the second in the series of three project courses. The focus of this course is the development of a complete project proposal. This course provides an overview of the concepts, procedures and fundamental processes of project management for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students. Principles, tools, and techniques of project management within an integrative framework are reviewed and applied to the development of the DNP project. Students will finalize a project management plan that advances high quality, equitable and accessible health care. Students will continue to meet with key stakeholders and members within healthcare agency and/or communities of interest where the project is being implemented. This course offers individualized faculty guidance and mentored opportunities for the planning process. Fall Prerequisite: NURS 8510 1 Course Unit |
Spring
NURS5400 |
Analysis of key contemporary issues in health and social policy that will provide students with a deeper understanding of the design and structure of the U.S. health care system, the policy initiatives that have shaped it, and the roles of the government, the private sector, and consumers and advocacy groups in setting the policy agenda. Seminars will examine the origins of each issue, the policies enacted and their effects, both intended and unintended, and will propose and debate the merits of alternative policy solutions. The role of health services and policy research in informing the policy debate and directions will be highlighted. Please note, the online version of this course has a synchronous component (live online class sessions). The day/time will be listed in the course register. This course satisfies the Society & Social Structures Sector for Nursing Class of 2012 and Beyond. Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms Mutually Exclusive: NURS 3340 1 Course Unit |
NURS8531 |
This is the third of a series of three courses with the focus on implementation and dissemination of the Doctoral of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. In this final course students are expected to carry out the project and determine how the results can be used to improve processes and procedures within the healthcare agency or community of interest. Students integrate evidence-based practice paradigm and process principles into the development of a final report and present the findings to each other for peer critique. Barriers from people, places and policies will be addressed and strategies developed to negotiate solutions. Principles of sustainable evidence-based practice change across disciplines and within various healthcare settings will be discussed. Students will assume the role of leader in the interprofessional collaboration, consultation, and partnership with the healthcare organization or communities of interest with the goal to also share findings and advance nursing scholarship. Students demonstrate proficiency in time management, leveraging resources, communication skills and interprofessional collaboration through the implementation of the project. Spring Prerequisite: NURS 8521 1 Course Unit |
Summer
NURS8430 |
Executive leadership in a complex healthcare industry requires the knowledge and skills to revolutionize care delivery models and improve patient and organizational outcomes. Students explore foundational concepts essential for executive leadership decision-making including behavioral economics and principles of systems thinking and complexity theory. Through the exploration of exemplars in transforming facets of healthcare systems, students also examine pragmatic approaches for leading systems-level change in care delivery. Offered in an asynchronous and synchronous online format and including content developed and presented by expert faculty in the Perelman School of Medicine Health Care Innovation Graduate Program as well as healthcare industry leaders, students develop skills inherent for success in leading transformational change in their own organizations. |
NOTE: As of 4/30/2023, all students were notified of, and approved, the inclusion of three project courses to the program curriculum. Additionally, as of 4/30/2023, in place of Designing Thinking in Healthcare Institute (NURS8400) students will take 1CU of Thriving In a Value-Driven Healthcare Economic Environment (NURS8421). This change was accepted and approved to begin Fall 2023.