1.            Provide high quality, safe, patient-centered care grounded in holistic health principles.

5.            Advocates for positive health outcomes through compassionate, evidence-based, collaborative advanced nursing practice.

I.              Background for Practice from Science and Humanities

VIII.        Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving Health

IX.          Master’s Level Nursing Practice

 Scientific Foundation Competencies

These competencies ensure that nurse practitioners graduate with a comprehensive background in medical sciences. All nurse practitioner students are required to take foundational pathophysiology and pharmacology, but depending on their specialty, they may take additional courses. Psychiatric nurse practitioners often take courses in neuroscience whereas neonatal nurse practitioners take courses in neonatology. Scientific core competencies also include knowledge and understanding of clinical practice guidelines, evidence-based practice, translational research, and treatment of vulnerable and diverse patient populations.

The scientific foundation core competencies defined by the NONPF include the following:

1.    Thinks critically about data and applies this evidence to improving practice.

2.    Allows knowledge from the humanities and other disciplines to inform one’s work in nursing.

3.    Incorporates research findings to enhance practice methods and patient outcomes.

4.    Creates fresh evidence-based approaches and techniques, paying thought to research findings, core theory, and experience from practice.

Quality Competencies

Quality care, as defined by the NONPF, refers to the degree to which health services increase the desired health outcomes consistent with professional knowledge and standards. Quality competencies focus on understanding how to access and use information databases and how to critically evaluate research findings.

The quality core competencies include the following:

1.  Applies the best and most contemporary research findings to clinical practice.

2. Considers the complex relationships between cost, safety, access, and quality in healthcare delivery.

3. Assesses the effects of organizational structures, financial management, policy, and other factors on healthcare.

4. Offers feedback in peer reviews to “promote a culture of excellence.”

5. Tailors care to each practice situation and uses interventions as necessary.

Practice Inquiry Competencies

Practice inquiry competencies focus on translational research, i.e., taking academic research and applying it to the clinical setting. These competencies ensure that nurse practitioner students understand how to apply research to improve their patients’ health outcomes.

The practice inquiry core competencies include the following:

1. Translates new knowledge into practice through leadership.

2. Uses clinical experiences to inform practice and improve patient outcomes.

3. Applies investigative abilities in a clinical setting to improve healthcare.

4. Facilitates practice inquiry, both individually and in partnerships.

5. Transmits knowledge from inquiry to others.

6. Thinks critically about the individual applications of clinical guidelines.

AND

Provides at least one specific example of how the program outcome was met;

AND

The student identifies at least one of the listed MSN essentials;

AND

Provides at least one specific example of how the MSN essential was met;

AND

The student identifies at least one of the listed NONPF competencies;

AND

Provides at least one specific example of how the NONPF competency was met.

(6 required elements)

The student identifies at least one of the listed program outcomes; AND Provides at least one specific example of how the program outcome was met; AND The student identifies at least one of the listed MSN essentials; AND Provides at least one specific example of how the MSN essential was met; AND The student identifies at least one of the listed NONPF competencies; AND Provides at least one specific example of how the NONPF competency was met; (6 required elements)

Narrative summary is provided with consideration to organization, spelling, grammar and APA format. (2 critical elements required)