This track is no longer accepting applications.
This specialty track prepares the student to ensure high-quality, safe, and cost-effective nursing care and patient outcomes for young adults, older adults, and frail elderly across the health-illness continuum.
Graduates of the CNS track use their depth of expertise, developed through professional practice and graduate education, to provide, manage, support, and improve the nursing and health care provided to patients with chronic and acute illnesses. CNSs advance the care of patients, families, groups, and the nursing profession through collaboration, consultation, and teaching. CNSs conduct research, evaluate and apply evidence, and use ethical decision-making to solve problems. CNSs operate within three spheres of influence:
- patient/nurse
- nursing practice
- organization/system
The development of the curriculum is based on:
- The Criteria for the Evaluation of Clinical Nurse Specialist Master’s, Practice Doctorate, and Post-graduate Certificate Educational Programs (NACNS 2015)
- National CNS competency and standards statements (Clinical Nurse Specialist Core Competencies (NACNS 2017)
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies (AACN 2010).
-
Statement on Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education, 3rd Edition (NACNS 2019)
-
The Essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education (AACN, 2021)
Certification: Graduates are eligible to apply for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Track-Specific Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NR.210.650 | Clinical Judgment I-The Role of the CNS in Clinical Decision Making: Common Health Problems | 3 |
| NR.210.651 | Clinical Judgment II-The Role of the CNS in Clinical Decision Making: Acute & Chronic Health Problems | 3 |
| NR.210.652 | Clinical Judgment III-The Role of the CNS in Clinical Decision Making: Complex Health Problems | 3 |
| NR.210.653 | Clinical Practicum I-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (168CL) | 3 |
| NR.210.654 | Clinical Practicum II-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (224CL) | 4 |
| NR.210.655 | Clinical Practicum III-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (168CL) | 3 |
| NR.210.656 | Clinical Practicum IV-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (224CL) | 4 |
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Track Totals [23cr/784CL]
Program of Study
DNP Advanced Practice Track: Adult-Gerontological Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Program of Study: 4-year plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| NR.210.606 | Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NR.210.607 | Context of Health Care for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NR.210.806 | Health Finance | 2 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NR.210.608 | The Research Process and Its Application to Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NR.210.600 | Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology | 4 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| NR.210.610 | Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NR.210.602 | Clinical Pharmacology | 4 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| NR.210.609 | Philosophical, Theoretical & Ethical Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NR.210.601 | Advanced Health Assessment and Measurement | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NR.210.822 | Health Information Systems and Patient Care Technologies | 2 |
| NR.210.804 | Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care | 2 |
| NR.210.802 | Advanced Nursing Health Policy | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| NR.210.650 | Clinical Judgment I-The Role of the CNS in Clinical Decision Making: Common Health Problems | 3 |
| NR.210.886 | Problem Discovery (56PPR) | 2 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| NR.210.803 | Nursing Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NR.210.651 | Clinical Judgment II-The Role of the CNS in Clinical Decision Making: Acute & Chronic Health Problems | 3 |
| NR.210.653 | Clinical Practicum I-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (168CL) | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NR.210.805 | Translating Evidence into Practice | 3 |
| NR.210.654 | Clinical Practicum II-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (224CL) | 4 |
| NR.210.887 | Project Advancement (56PPR) | 2 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| NR.210.652 | Clinical Judgment III-The Role of the CNS in Clinical Decision Making: Complex Health Problems | 3 |
| NR.210.655 | Clinical Practicum III-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (168CL) | 3 |
| NR.210.817 | Analysis and Evaluation of Individual and Population Health Data | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| NR.210.656 | Clinical Practicum IV-Clinical Nurse Specialist: Advanced Practice Management (224CL) | 4 |
| NR.210.888 | Project Application (56PPR) | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NR.210.818 | Clinical Data Management and Analyses | 2 |
| NR.210.889 | Project Evaluation and Dissemination (56PPR) | 2 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 75 | |
Program Total: 75 Credits [cr]/784 Clinical Hours [CL]/224 Project Practicum Hours [PPR]