Overview: Adult Gerontology
Mission
The Mission of the Uniformed Services University Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) program is to educate safe, competent Clinical Nurse Specialists who are able to practice independently in response to worldwide missions in the Uniformed Services in support of the adult and geriatric population across the wellness through acute care continuum with the specialty focus of perioperative nursing.
Philosophy
The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) program is dedicated to graduate education of nurses in the uniformed services within the advanced practice role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). The program prepares nurses for the care of the adult and geriatric population across the wellness to acute care continuum, and includes specialty preparation in perioperative nursing. The educational focus is on the integration of clinical practice, management & leadership, evidence-based practice/scholarship, education, and consultation into the single multifaceted advanced practice role of a CNS. The program integrates evidence-based theory and practice concepts to enable students to critically analyze scientific literature, evaluate nursing outcomes, translate evidence to support clinical, fiscal, and managerial decision-making, and develop advanced practice skills necessary to function in increasingly complex healthcare settings and assist in the transformation of healthcare to improve safety and outcomes for our patients.
The rigorous curriculum not only stresses concepts supporting direct care for individuals, families and populations; but also inter-professional relationships between nurses, physicians, and healthcare organizations in an effort to improve patient outcomes through process and system changes. As such, graduates from the program are uniquely qualified to manage quality care of the adult-geriatric population across the continuum from wellness through acute care; analyze healthcare systems/processes to optimize patient outcomes; and guide change in support of high reliability organizations in healthcare.
In addition to the role and population focus of the AG-CNS program, additional content is provided to support the specialty focus of perioperative nursing. From a specialty perspective, the program emphasizes building leadership within the perioperative environment to improve patient care outcomes; enhance the delivery of evidence based care; and improve the business side of healthcare focused on efficiency, productivity, and overall management in the care of the surgical patient. The specialty focus of the program supports the advanced practice CNS role across the perioperative continuum of care to enhance the care of patients and families undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.
Design
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) AG-CNS program is 36 months of full-time study combining didactic and clinical experiences across the wellness through acute care continuum within the five domains of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): leader/manager, consultant, educator, scholar (evidence-based practice) and clinical expert within the three spheres of influence for CNS practice (patient, nurse and organization). Within the 3 year program, on average, graduates will obtain over 1800 hours of clinical experience working with masters and doctorally-prepared managers, clinical nurse specialists, physician assistants, clinical and surgeon champions, and subject matter experts within Federal and civilian healthcare facilities. In addition to educational preparation for the role and 59 population, the program is designed to include clinical and didactic specialty content in perioperative nursing. All clinical assignments are designed in concert with the leadership at the clinical sites in an effort to develop “real world application” experiences that demonstrate the student’s ability to translate knowledge gained in the classroom into clinical practice. The approximate clinical hour distribution supporting the CNS role across the wellness through acute care continuum as well as within the perioperative specialty for the adult-gerontology population is as follows: wellness/primary care through acute care continuum – 297 clinical hours (16%); CNS role across 3 spheres of influence - 654 ( 35%); Systems-based scholarly project - 276 (15%); and CNS practice within the perioperative continuum – 650 clinical hours (35%).
The curriculum meets or exceeds the goals of the AACN 2021 Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, and the National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialist (NACNS) National CNS Competency Task Force Organizing Framework and Core Competencies (2008). The curriculum is aligned with the2010 AACN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies; the 2011 Criteria for the Evaluation of Clinical Nurse Specialist Masters, Practice Doctorate, and Post-graduate Certificate Educational Program, 2010 AACN Scope and Standards for Acute and Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice; Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) 2006 Position Statement on the Perioperative Advanced Practice Nurse and the 2010 AORN Perioperative Advanced Practice Nurse Competencies.
Graduates from this program are prepared to sit for advanced practice certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult-Gerontology offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation. Additionally, graduates are eligible to sit for specialty certification as an advanced practice Perioperative CNS offered by the Credentialing and Certification Institute (CCI). This specialty certification links the CNSs initial licensure certification as an APRN to that of specialty practice to validate specialty specific competencies at the APRN level of practice within the perioperative continuum of care.
Overview: Family Nurse Practitioner and Women's Health
Mission
The Mission of the Uniformed Services University FNP Program is to educate safe, competent providers prepared to practice independently in response to worldwide mission in the Uniformed Services.
Philosophy
The USUHS FNP program prepares advanced practice nurses with a clinical doctorate, preparing them to practice in diverse and increasingly complex health care systems. USUHS graduates are uniquely qualified to provide quality care within Federal health care systems and other diverse and austere settings. Evolving nursing roles, new scientific knowledge, and concerns about the quality and outcomes of patient care necessitated the creation of an enhanced curriculum that includes expanded coursework in healthcare leadership, research translation, and advanced clinical knowledge and skills.
Design
The DNP FNP program is a 36 month, full-time program in which didactic, simulation and clinical experiences are tightly and deliberately integrated using a life-span approach that supports the development of critical thinking skills. The program was built to achieve goals of the AACN 2021 Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, and meets the requirements of the 2011 National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties’ (NONPF) guidelines for NP programs, and the 2012 NONPF specialty competencies for Family Nurse Practitioners.
Across the 3 year program, each graduate will acquire over 1800 direct practice hours, will create and implement a DNP project addressing a healthcare system problem and will create a personal portfolio demonstrating how they have achieved each of the 10 Essentials for Advanced-level Nursing Education.
Overview: Psychiatric Mental Health
Mission
The Mission of the Uniformed Services University's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program is to educate safe, competent, and professional Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners who are able to practice independently within the Federal healthcare system.
Philosophy
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (DNP Track) is dedicated to preparing graduate nurses for advanced clinical practice, the critical appraisal and translation of evidence into practice, and leadership in the advanced practice nursing role across healthcare systems. The rigorous curriculum stresses psychiatric-mental health care across the lifespan that is consistent with current standards of practice for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.
Design
The PMHNP DNP track is a 36 month - full time program that refines critical thinking skills through didactics, clinical simulation, and clinical practice. Our curriculum stresses care across the lifespan and operationally relevant psychiatric-mental health care foundationally built upon evidenced based practice and systems orientation. Didactic learning is cemented into knowledge within the clinical practice environment at military and Federal facilities supervised by experienced nurse practitioner and other behavioral health providers. The first year of clinical exposure is executed exclusively via simulation. The second year of clinical exposure utilizes both simulation and direct patient care opportunities. In the third year, students continue to build upon clinical skills at a service specific phase II clinical site.
The program was built to achieve goals of the AACN 2021 Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, and meets the requirements of the 2011 National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties’ (NONPF) guidelines for NP programs, and the 2012 NONPF specialty competencies for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.
Across the 3-year program, each graduate will acquire over 1900 direct practice hours, will create and implement a scholarly inquiry project addressing a healthcare system’s issue and will create a personal portfolio demonstrating how they have achieved each of the 10 Essentials. Program faculty are experienced nurse practitioners and educators.
Overview: Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Mission
The Mission of the USU Nurse Anesthesia Program is to graduate safe, competent Nurse Anesthetists for the uniformed services who are able to practice independently to meet the anesthesia needs of the nation’s uniformed members and their beneficiaries. The unique curriculum emphasizes the role of Federal health agencies in response to worldwide missions.
Philosophy
The Nurse Anesthesia Program is dedicated to the graduate education of nurse anesthetists in the uniformed services. The uniformed services require that graduates independently provide quality anesthesia care in diverse settings throughout the world. The rigorous curriculum is designed to integrate scientific principles with anesthesia theory and practice, stressing unique aspects of the Federal health care system. An emphasis is placed on statistics and research methodology enabling the student to critically analyze anesthesia literature and evaluate potential problems in anesthesia. 46 The primary goal of the program is to produce safe, competent, adaptable anesthetists who can meet the challenges of today's Federal health care needs.
Design
The 36-month DNP front-loaded, regionalized program consists of two phases. The Phase I didactic component, is a 15 month program of study conducted on the campus of USU that provides the student with the academic and professional education necessary for entrance into the clinical arena. All content areas identified in the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs are introduced during Phase I. The 21-month Phase II clinical component focuses on the application of science and research to clinical anesthesia. Students are assigned to a Federal medical treatment facility as their principal clinical training site. Phase II assignments are made during the first year of phase I and may change (although rarely) if required for optimal student experience. Students also rotate to other clinical sites that may require travel outside of the local area. Travel is funded through TAD/TDY orders. Individual clinical training sites may be eliminated or added as needed to assure quality clinical education. The clinical phase is designed to guide graduate students toward the goal of functional autonomy by demanding that students care for patients in a manner reflecting comprehensive integration of scientific principle and, anesthesia theory, as well as, maximal independent decision-making appropriate to each student’s level of experience.
Licensure
All nurse anesthesia students are required to obtain and maintain a valid, unrestricted nursing license. Licensure may be required in the state where out-rotations are completed. The cost of obtaining and maintaining licensure is the responsibility of the student. The student must provide the Program Director and Clinical Site Director/Coordinator with a copy of the current license and a copy of each renewal. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in immediate suspension and possible dismissal from the program.
Core Requirements
Core Requirements
| OPMS 5000 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective I | 1 |
| OPMS 5001 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective II | 1 |
| OPMS 5002 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective III | 1 |
| NURS 5110 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 5111 | Advanced Anatomy | 3 |
| NURS 5112 | Advanced Physiology | 3 |
| NURS 5120 | Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems-I | 3 |
| NURS 5121 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 5122 | Advanced Pharmacology | 4 |
| NURS 5130 | Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems-II | 3 |
| NURS 5131 | Inquiry into Statistical Methods, Evidence Based Practice and Scholarship | 5 |
| NURS 5132 | Integrative Medicine Methodologies | 1 |
| NURS 5133 | Trauma & Combat Casualty Care | 3 |
| NURS 5134 | Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 5220 | Translation of Evidence for Health Care Practice, Policy, and Evaluation | 3 |
| NURS 5330 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Project | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 47 |
Electives
Electives
| NURS 5400 | Operational Readiness: Dive Medicine and Water Rescue | 1 |
| NURS 5401 | Operational Readiness: Military Mountain Medicine (M3C) | 1 |
| NURS 5402 | Operational Readiness: Military Cold Weather/Avalanche | 1 |
| NURS 5403 | Operational Readiness: Directed Study | 1 |
| NURS 5404 | Operational Readiness: Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) | 1 |
| NURS 5405 | Operational Readiness: Transitions of Care | 1 |
| NURS 5406 | Operational Readiness: Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties (MMCBC) | 1 |
| NURS 5407 | Operational Readiness: Military Humanitarian and Civic Assistance | 1 |
| NURS 5408 | Interdisciplinary Health Policy | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Degree Requirements: Adult Gerontology
Additional Required Courses
| NURS 6121 | Principles in Outcomes Management for CNS Practice | 2 |
| NURS 6131 | CNS Role Application Across the 3 Spheres of Influence | 3 |
| NURS 6132 | Business Administration for High Reliability Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| NURS 6510 | Advanced Diagnosis and Management in Adult Primary Care | 5 |
| NURS 6612 | Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis in Management of the Older Adult | 1 |
| NURS 6210 | Medical Facility Design: Maximizing Patient Outcomes | 2 |
| NURS 6211 | Trauma Management in CNS Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6212 | Advanced Diagnosis and Management in Adult-Geriatric Acute Care | 3 |
| NURS 6220 | Performance Metrics in Outcomes Management | 3 |
| NURS 6222 | Practicum for CNS Practice I: Advanced Concepts for CNS Independent Practice | 4 |
| NURS 6231 | DNP Practicum for CNS Practice II: Systems Assessment for High Reliability Organizations | 4 |
| NURS 6310 | DNP Practicum for CNS Practice III: Strategic Planning in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 6320 | DNP Practicum for CNS Practice IV: Capstone Immersion for CNS Independent Practice | 6 |
| NURS 5404 | Operational Readiness: Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) | 1 |
| NURS 5405 | Operational Readiness: Transitions of Care | 1 |
| NURS 5406 | Operational Readiness: Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties (MMCBC) | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 45 |
These courses must be taken in addition to Core and Elective requirements.
Degree Requirements: Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health
Additional Required Courses
| NURS 5530 | Family Theory for the APRN | 1 |
| NURS 5630 | Response to (Military) Sexual Assault | 1 |
| NURS 6510 | Advanced Diagnosis and Management in Adult Primary Care | 5 |
| NURS 6511 | Essentials of Gynecologic Health | 1 |
| NURS 6512 | Advanced Diagnosis & Management in Pediatric Primary Care | 5 |
| NURS 6610 | Advanced Diagnosis & Management in Embryology, Gynecology & Obstetrical Care | 5 |
| NURS 6611 | Fundamentals of Advanced Clinical Practice | 4 |
| NURS 6612 | Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis in Management of the Older Adult | 1 |
| NURS 6613 | Drugs in Pregnancy & Lactation | 1 |
| NURS 6620 | Operational & Medical Readiness in a Changing Global Environment | 4 |
| NURS 6621 | Application of Advanced Diagnostic & Therapeutic Approaches | 2 |
| NURS 6622 | Military Contingency Medicine/Operation Bushmaster | 6 |
| NURS 6630 | Application & Integration of Advanced Clinical Concepts | 5 |
| NURS 5710 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum & Seminar in NP Practice I | 5 |
| NURS 5720 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum & Seminar in NP Practice II | 5 |
| NURS 5730 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum & Seminar in NP Practice III | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 56 |
These courses must be taken in addition to Core and Elective requirements.
Degree Requirements: Psychiatric Mental Health
Additional Required Courses
| NURS 5530 | Family Theory for the APRN | 1 |
| NURS 5630 | Response to (Military) Sexual Assault | 1 |
| NURS 7120 | Foundations of Advance Practice Psychiatric Nursing | 5 |
| NURS 7121 | Psychopharmacology I | 1 |
| NURS 7130 | Advanced Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 7131 | Psychopharmacology II | 1 |
| NURS 7210 | Therapeutic Modalities | 4 |
| NURS 7211 | Psychopharmacology III | 3 |
| NURS 7220 | Advanced Practice Administrative Behavioral Health | 2 |
| NURS 7221 | Operational Behavioral Health for Advance Practice Nurses | 5 |
| NURS 7222 | Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 7230 | Applied Concepts for Advanced Psychiatric Nursing | 5 |
| NURS 5710 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum & Seminar in NP Practice I | 5 |
| NURS 5720 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum & Seminar in NP Practice II | 5 |
| NURS 5730 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum & Seminar in NP Practice III | 5 |
| NURS 7512 | Child and Adolescent Mental Health | 1.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 51.0 |
These courses must be taken in addition to Core and Elective requirements.
Degree Requirements: Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Additional Required Courses
| NURS 7602 | Applied Biochemistry for Nurse Anesthetists | 3 |
| NURS 7605 | Principles of Anesthesia I | 4 |
| NURS 7606 | Principles of Anesthesia II | 5 |
| NURS 7607 | Principles of Regional Anesthesia and Vascular Access | 1 |
| NURS 7608 | Principles of Anesthesia III | 3 |
| NURS 7610 | Acute and Chronic Pain Science and Practice | 2 |
| NURS 7801 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice I | 1 |
| NURS 7802 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice II | 8 |
| NURS 7803 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice III | 8 |
| NURS 7804 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice IV | 5 |
| NURS 7805 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice V | 8 |
| NURS 7806 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice VI | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 56 |
These courses must be taken in addition to Core and Elective requirements.