2024-2025 Academic Catalog

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Outcomes

Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN

Upon graduation, students will demonstrate mastery of the 3 Spheres of Impact: Client, Nurse and Nursing Practice, and Organizational System; and 5 Roles of the CNS: Advanced Practitioner, Educator, Scholar, Consultant, Manager/Leader. The AG-CNS requires advanced critical thinking in clinical decision-making for adult-gerontology patients. Patient outcomes are enhanced by applying cognitive, psychomotor, cultural, and physiological principles. Systems level plans of care are developed based on evidence-based practice, safety, and clinical expertise. As an educator, interventions aim to reduce the risk of iatrogenic injuries, applying adult learning theory to enhance staff skills. The scholar's role involves expanding nursing practice through research-based projects and using a theory-based framework. The consultant collaborates with healthcare teams to address patient variations, while the manager/leader oversees departmental reviews, inter-professional team building, and strategic resource management.

 

AG-CNS DNP Program outcome requirements

  • Comply with the GSN requirements for graduation.
  • 24 months of full time study
  • Complete required number of program courses, credits and clinical hours
  • Complete the MSN Portfolio
  • Comply with program requirements for graduation.
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above and in good academic standing
  • Achieve the minimum grade required in each course
  • Obtain a minimum of 500 total clinical hours in the population/role of the AG-CNS and over 900 total clinical hours
  • Must be eligible to sit for national certification exams
  • Meet the mission of the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialty Program
  • Meet the GSN, AGCNS program terminal competencies/expected outcomes
  • Maintain specialty certification (e.g., CNOR, CCRN, CEN, RNC-OB, or other as indicated)
  • Maintain certification in BLS and ACLS (PALS, NRP optional) throughout the program
  • Recommended for graduation by the AG-CNS Program Director

Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist DNP

AGCNS DNP Program–Specific Terminal Competencies

Upon graduation, students will demonstrate mastery of the 3 Spheres of Impact: Client, Nurse and Nursing Practice, and Organizational System and  5 Roles of the CNS: Advanced Practitioner, Educator, Scholar, Consultant, Manager/Leader. In the Client sphere, as an advanced practitioner, the DNP CNS diagnoses and addresses client conditions across the lifespan by utilizing advanced clinical judgment, critical thinking, and culturally sensitive approaches, implementing comprehensive assessment strategies, and advocating for client preferences and rights, supporting decision-making within interprofessional teams. In nursing and nursing practice, an educator leads interventions to reduce iatrogenic injuries, enhance team skills, promote growth, and apply teaching principles. As a Scholar in Evidence-Based Practice, the DNP-prepared CNS integrates evidence to evaluate system programs, explore protocols, and disseminate evidence for improved client care. In the Organization/System sphere, the DNP-CNS is a Consultant through active collaboration on patient outcomes, serving as an expert and applying change theory. As a Manager/Leader, the DNP CNS designs programs, analyzes outcomes, provides leadership, identifies resources, and uses technology for efficient, ethical, and evidence-based care delivery at multiple levels.

 

AG-CNS DNP Program outcome requirements

  • Comply with the GSN requirements for graduation.
  • 36 months of full time study
  • Complete required number of program courses, credits and clinical hours
  • Complete the DNP Portfolio
  • Comply with program requirements for graduation.
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above and in good academic standing
  • Achieve the minimum grade required in each course
  • Obtain a minimum of 1700 total clinical hours
  • Must be eligible to sit for national certification exams
  • Meet the mission of the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialty Program
  • Meet the GSN DNP, AGCNS program terminal competencies/expected outcomes
  • Maintain specialty certification (e.g., CNOR, CCRN, CEN, RNC-OB, or other as indicated)
  • Maintain certification in BLS and ACLS (PALS, NRP optional) throughout the program
  • Recommended for graduation by the AG-CNS Program Director

 

Family Nurse Practitioner and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner DNP

Upon completion of the program, the DNP FNP, WHNP or FNP/WHNP dual track graduate will be prepared to meet all of the NONPF Core, Family Nurse Practitioner, and/or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner population competencies and will also be prepared to:

  • Manage the unique healthcare needs of Federal beneficiaries including active duty service members and their families, retirees, and other directed populations.
  • Provide adaptive leadership in joint service environments within multidisciplinary teams.
  • Deliver innovative healthcare in unique and dynamic settings including military operational, austere, disaster, humanitarian and civic aid environments.

 

FNP/WHNP Program Terminal Competencies/Expected Outcomes

  • Comply with the GSN requirements for graduation.
  • 36 months of full time study
  • Complete required number of program courses, credits and clinical hours
  • Complete the DNP Portfolio
  • Comply with program requirements for graduation.
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above and in good academic standing
  • Achieve the minimum grade required in each course
  • Obtain a minimum of 1700 total clinical hours
  • Must be eligible to sit for national certification exams
  • Meet the mission of the Family & Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program.
  • Meet the GSN DNP, FNP, and WHNP program terminal competencies/expected outcomes
  • Be recommended for graduation by the FNP/WHNP Program Director
 

 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP

PMHNP Program –Specific Terminal Competencies/Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the DNP PMHNP graduate will be prepared to meet all of the NONPF Core and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner population competencies and will also be prepared to:

  • Manage the unique behavioral health needs of Federal beneficiaries including active duty service members and their families, retirees, and other directed populations.
  • Provide adaptive leadership in joint service environments within multidisciplinary teams.
  • Deliver healthcare in unique and dynamic settings including military operational, austere, disaster, and humanitarian and civic aid environments.
 

PMHNP Program outcome requirements

  • Comply with the GSN requirements for graduation.
  • 36 months of full-time study
  • Complete required number of program credits and clinical hours
  • Complete the DNP Portfolio
  • Comply with program requirements for graduation.
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above and in good academic standing
  • Achieve the minimum grade required in each course
  • Obtain a minimum of 1700 total clinical hours
  • Must be eligible to sit for American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam for PMHNP
  • Meet the mission of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
  • Meet the GSN and PMHNP program terminal objectives and NONPF Core and PMHNP competencies
  • Be recommended for graduation by the PMHNP Program Director
  • Meet the mission needs of the respective service who sponsored education

Registered Nurse Anesthetist DNP

The GSN CRNA terminal outcome competencies/expected outcomes are in accordance with those set by the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Programs.

Patient Safety

  • Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care.
  • Refrain from engaging in extraneous activities that abandon or minimize vigilance while providing direct patient care.
  • Conduct a comprehensive equipment check.
  • Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.

Perianesthesia

  • Provide individualized care throughout the perianesthesia continuum.
  • Deliver culturally competent perianesthesia care.
  • Provide anesthesia services to all patients across the lifespan.
  • Perform a comprehensive history and physical assessment.
  • Administer general anesthesia to patients with a variety of physical conditions.
  • Administer general anesthesia for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
  • Administer and manage a variety of regional anesthetics
  • Maintain current certification in ACLS and PALS.

Critical Thinking

  • Apply knowledge to practice in decision making and problem solving
  • Provide nurse anesthesia services based on evidence-based principles
  • Perform a preanesthetic assessment before providing anesthesia services.
  • Assume responsibility and accountability for diagnosis.
  • Formulate an anesthesia plan of care before providing anesthesia services.
  • Identify and take appropriate action when confronted with anesthetic equipment related malfunctions.
  • Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities. 
  • Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy.
  • Recognize, evaluate, and manage the physiological responses coincident to the provision of anesthesia services.
  • Recognize and appropriately manage complications that occur during the provision of anesthesia services.
  • Use science-based theories and concepts to analyze new practice approaches.
  • Pass the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the NBCRNA.

Communication

  • Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families.
  • Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective interprofessional exchange of information and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
  • Respect the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of interprofessional care.
  • Maintain comprehensive, timely, accurate, and legible healthcare records.
  • Transfer the responsibility of care of the patient to other qualified providers in a manner that assures continuity of care and patient safety.
  • Teach others

Leadership

  • Integrate critical and reflective thinking in his or her leadership approach.
  • Provide leadership that facilitates intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration.

Professional Role

  • Adhere to the Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
  • Interact on a professional level with integrity.
  • Apply ethically sound decision-making processes.
  • Function within legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Accept responsibility and accountability for his or her practice.
  • Provide anesthesia services to patients in a cost-effective manner.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of wellness and substance use disorder in the anesthesia profession through completion of content in wellness and substance use disorder.
  • Inform the public of the role and practice of the CRNA.
  • Evaluate how public policy making strategies impact the financing and delivery of healthcare.
  • Advocate for health policy change to improve patient care.
  • Advocate for health policy change to advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
  • Analyze strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care.
  • Analyze health outcomes in a variety of populations.
  • Analyze health outcomes in a variety of systems.
  • Disseminate scholarly work.
  • Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care.
  • Use information systems/technology to support and improve healthcare systems.
  • Analyze business practices encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery settings.

CRNA Program Outcome Requirements

  • Comply with the GSN requirements for graduation.
    • 36 months of full-time study
    • Complete required program credits in the designated specialty
    • Complete and disseminate DNP Scholarly Project
    • Successful completion of clinical COA practicum requirements
  • Comply with program requirements for graduation.
    • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above
    • Minimum GPA of 3.0 (B or better) in all letter-graded courses and passing grade in pass/fail courses
    • Completion of all required case experiences Obtain a minimum of 2000 total clinical hours
    • Successfully meets the GSN and RNA terminal competencies
    • Receives recommendation for graduation by the RNA Program Director
  • Meet or exceed National Board of Certification and Recertification (NBCRNA) and Council on Accreditation (COA)

Nursing Science PhD

PhD Program Terminal Competencies/Expected Outcomes*

  1. ROLE- Develop the Science
    1. Scholarly knowledge base in a substantive area related to military and Federal nursing
    2. Critically appraise and assimilate diverse scientific perspectives in research
    3. Conduct original research that generates new knowledge based on a critical evaluation of existing knowledge
    4. Apply professional and research ethics and judgment in the conduct of research
    5. Disseminate research findings to professional and public audiences and identify the implications for policy, nursing practice, and the profession.
    6. Integrate data science and omics knowledge in nursing research and practice as underpinnings of Precision Health
  2. ROLE- Steward the Discipline
    1. Integrate research, teaching, mentoring, and professional service as components of scholarship
    2. Communicate scholarships with publications and presentations in professional interdisciplinary forums
    3. Lead and advance the profession and understand the evolving nurse scholar roles and responsibilities
  3. ROLE- Educate the Next Generation
    1. Lead and participate in interdisciplinary research teams
    2. Provide professional and research mentorship
    3. Engage and train future nurse scientists and scholars through discovery, application, and integration

*The expected outcomes are aligned with the PhD Program in Nursing Science curriculum and with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing- Pathways to Excellence Report.

The PhD students and faculty contribute to the discovery, development, and transmission of new knowledge, and the result of these activities is the development of a scientific body of knowledge relevant to military and federal health care. Graduate students also contribute to the research mission of the university through professional presentations and publications. Graduates of this program readily assume leadership roles in their respective service or organization and carry with them the expectation they will be productive throughout their career.