Master of Science in Nursing

Courses integrate advanced clinical knowledge with Christ-centered reflection. Key topics include:

• Advanced pathophysiology & diagnostic reasoning
• Advanced pharmacology & clinical judgment
• Advanced health assessment & promoting well-being
• Primary care across the lifespan: pediatrics, adult care, women’s health, and geriatrics
• Curriculum development and teaching methods (preparing graduates for potential educator roles)
• Evidence-based practice, health systems, and quality improvement

Students complete 750 supervised clinical hours in their geographic region across four population groups:

• Children
• Adults
• Women’s health
• Elderly

Students identify preferred clinical sites and preceptors, and Dordt collaborates to verify qualifications, secure agreements, and ensure consistency with program outcomes.

NURS 501: Advanced Practice Integration (1 credit)
This course examines nursing theoretical principles and the role of advance-level registered nurses within the Christian worldview. Through a leadership perspective focused on improving health care outcomes, students will discern discipleship responsibilities while exploring legal and regulatory obligations of advanced-level registered nurses in health promotion and disease prevention.

NURS 502: Curriculum Development and Nursing Education (2 credits)
This course explores the principles, theories, and best practices in curriculum development. Students will examine the foundations of instructional design and program evaluation. The course emphasizes curriculum planning, accreditation standards, and competency-based learning frameworks to equip advanced-level nurses as educators in academic and clinical settings as they develop serviceable insight.

NURS 503: Teaching Methods in Nursing Education (2 credits)
This course challenges advanced-level nurses to develop and enhance their teaching skills in the dynamic nursing environment in preparation for kingdom service. The course focuses on effective instructional strategies and assessment methods. Participants will explore a variety of teaching methods, including active learning, simulation, case-based learning, and technology integration, to foster an engaging and effective learning experience for diverse populations.

NURS 511: Advanced Pathophysiology & Diagnostic Reasoning I (3 credits)
This course is part one of a two-part course which provides advanced-level analysis and synthesis of abnormal functioning of human cells, tissues, and organ systems. The physiological responses are incorporated. Age-related adaptative and maladaptive variations are discussed. The influences of environmental determinants, genetics, nutrition, and culture will be integrated. Current research, evidence-based practices, standards of practice are merged with holistic clinical assessment, decision-making, and clinical management. Course content is directed at specific systems to include cardiovascular, respiratory, immunological, neurological and sensory.

NURS 512: Advanced Pathophysiology & Diagnostic Reasoning II (3 credits)
This course is part two of a two-part course which provides advanced-level analysis and synthesis of abnormal functioning of human cells, tissues, and organ systems. The physiological responses are incorporated. Age-related adaptative and maladaptive variations are discussed. The influences of environmental determinants, genetics, nutrition, and culture will be integrated. Current research, evidence-based practices, standards of practice are merged with holistic clinical assessment, decision-making, and clinical management. Course content is directed at specific systems to include musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, hormonal and reproductive.

NURS 513: Advanced Pharmacology & Clinical Judgement I (3 credits)
This course is part one of a two-part course which provides advanced concepts of pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of selected drug classes. It is designed to build upon the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of disease processes and holistic health assessment, and to provide the advanced-level clinical competency for therapeutic drug prescription and administration. Emphasis is placed on developing aptitudes in medication safety, effective assessments, diagnoses, and designing pharmacological interventions that are ethical, legal, and meet prescriptive practice standards. Synthesis and the application of pharmacological concepts will also be integrated within clinical practicum experiences.

NURS 514: Advanced Pharmacology & Clinical Judgement II (3 credits)
This course is part two of a two-part course which provides advanced concepts of pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of selected drug classes. It is designed to build upon the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of disease processes and holistic health assessment, and to provide the advanced-level clinical competency for therapeutic drug prescription and administration. Emphasis is placed on developing aptitudes in medication safety, effective assessments, diagnoses, and designing pharmacological interventions that are ethical, legal, and meet prescriptive practice standards. Synthesis and the application of pharmacological concepts will also be integrated within clinical practicum experiences.

NURS 515: Advanced Health Assessment & Promoting Well-Being (3 credits)
This course focuses on advanced-level health assessment concepts. Integrated with comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment skills, clinical decision making, and diagnostic reasoning skills are included. Concepts pertinent to comprehensive physical assessment across the lifespan are applied. Integrative laboratory and diagnostic data are applied. Holistic, patient-centered health assessment is emphasized. Laboratory and simulation experiences are included in the course.

NURS 615: Advanced Concepts in the Care of Children (6 credits)
This course provides the theoretical foundation for the clinical role of the advanced practice registered nurse in the care delivery of infants, children, and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. This course builds on and integrates advanced-level health assessment, and pathophysiological and pharmacological knowledge in clinical reasoning to inform clinical judgement. Implementation of evidence-based holistic patient-centered care is emphasized. The clinical practicum associated with this course will provide the opportunity to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and clinical skills acquired during the student’s academic coursework. Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, this practicum focuses on the delivery of comprehensive healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents. Students will engage in supervised clinical experiences in primary care outpatient settings. Laboratory and simulation experiences are included in the course.

NURS 616: Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (6 credits)
This course provides the theoretical foundation for the clinical role of the advanced practice registered nurse in the care delivery of adults. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. This course builds on and integrates advanced-level health assessment, and pathophysiological and pharmacological knowledge in clinical reasoning to inform clinical judgement. Implementation of evidence-based holistic patient-centered care is emphasized. The clinical practicum associated with this course will provide the opportunity to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and clinical skills acquired during the student’s academic coursework. Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, this practicum focuses on the delivery of comprehensive healthcare to adults. Students will engage in supervised clinical experiences in primary care outpatient settings. Laboratory and simulation experiences are included in the course.

NURS 617: Advanced Concepts in the Care of Women’s Health (6 credits)
This course provides the theoretical foundation for the clinical role of the advanced practice registered nurse in care delivery unique to women’s health. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. This course builds on and integrates advanced-level health assessment, and pathophysiological and pharmacological knowledge in clinical reasoning to inform clinical judgement. Implementation of evidence-based holistic patient-centered care is emphasized. The clinical practicum associated with this course will provide the opportunity to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and clinical skills acquired during the student’s academic coursework. Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, this practicum focuses on the delivery of comprehensive healthcare unique to women’s health. Students will engage in supervised clinical experiences in primary care outpatient settings. Laboratory and simulation experiences are included in the course.

NURS 618: Advanced Concepts in the Care of Elderly (6 credits)
This course provides the theoretical foundation for the clinical role of the advanced practice registered nurse in care delivery unique to the elderly population. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. This course builds on and integrates advanced-level health assessment, and pathophysiological and pharmacological knowledge in clinical reasoning to inform clinical judgement. Implementation of evidence-based holistic patient-centered care is emphasized. The clinical practicum associated with this course will provide the opportunity to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and clinical skills acquired during the student’s academic coursework. Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, this practicum focuses on the delivery of comprehensive healthcare unique to the elderly population. Students will engage in supervised clinical experiences in primary care outpatient settings. Laboratory and simulation experiences are included in the course.

NURS 623: Practice Inquiry & Scholarship Literacy (2 credits)
This course provides the foundation for the scholarly inquiry project. Advanced level students will develop the skills necessary to critically engage with and contribute to nursing practice inquiry and scholarship. Students will apply strategies to work towards Christ centered renewal by recognizing gaps in nursing and health care knowledge, identifying potential solutions or innovations for those gaps, planning and implementing practice changes, and evaluating the outcomes.

NURS 624: Transformative Practice Capstone (2 credits)
This course provides the opportunity for students to complete the scholarly inquiry project. Students will demonstrate advanced level nursing practice inquiry and scholarship by presenting their final project. Students will have the opportunity to communicate, collaborate and disseminate their scholarship to the broader community thus effecting meaningful change as kingdom citizens.

NURS 625: Comprehensive Directed Study (0.5 credits)
This course is designed to optimize students’ preparation for successfully passing the certification exam. Student-faculty interactions will consist of knowledge and skill analysis of strengths and weaknesses and the development of a study plan. Test exposure and remediation will capitalize on established advanced-level knowledge and skills and identify areas for improvement. Commercially prepared resources will be accessed to complement the individualized student’s study schedule.

• Graduate Courses: $625 / credit
• One-time Technology Fee: $200
• Graduate courses taken for graduate credit are worth three credits unless otherwise noted.

Dordt strives to make graduate education accessible. Federal student loans are available for eligible students through the FAFSA process. For assistance, contact:

Financial Aid Office
712-722-6082
www.fafsa.ed.gov
Dordt University Federal ID: 001859

The program requires 48.5 graduate credits in total.

Yes, coursework is delivered primarily online in an asynchronous format. Faculty may hold occasional live cohort sessions via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Clinical hours will be in-person, in area communities.

Yes. Students complete 750 clinical hours with approved preceptors in their home communities, supported by Dordt’s faculty and administrative team.

Applicants must hold:

• A baccalaureate degree (BSN preferred) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• At least one year of full-time RN experience or 1,000 hours of bedside practice
• An unencumbered U.S. RN license
• A completed background check and two professional references

International students must also hold an unencumbered U.S. RN license and complete all clinical hours in the U.S.

Graduates are prepared for roles providing primary care across the lifespan in settings such as community health centers, family practice clinics, private practices, and health systems. They may also pursue roles in nursing education or obtain additional specialty certifications.

Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice nurses trained in the nursing model with a focus on whole-person care, while Physician Assistants are trained in the medical model alongside physicians. Both diagnose, treat, and prescribe, but NPs in many states can practice independently, while PAs typically practice under physician collaboration.