Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing degree meets the educational eligibility requirements for national certification in the respective area of study. The degree program can be completed in four to five semesters (two full academic years) for full-time students. Part-time students typically take three to four years to complete the program. Completion of a thesis is optional.

The Nursing major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration provides a knowledge base for advanced nursing care to adults with complex, acute and chronic illnesses. Clinical practica occur in a variety of hospital settings such as specialty clinics, emergency departments and acute, sub-acute and intensive/critical care areas.
• The Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration fosters acquisition of the needed competencies to care for patients spanning the entire adult to older-adult spectrum. Class and clinical experiences focus on providing advanced nursing care across the health continuum, from wellness to acute care. Students develop competencies in direct care, consultation, systems leadership, collaboration, coaching, research, ethical decision-making, moral agency and advocacy.
• The Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration allows students to develop advanced practice nursing competencies in health promotion, risk detection, illness prevention and management of acute and chronic illnesses in adults and older adults. Clinical experiences involve direct care in collaboration with other health professionals to maximize the effectiveness of community and health care system services. Clinical practica include primary care offices, such as internal medicine and family practice clinics, managed care offices, emergency departments, free clinics and long-term care and occupational health settings.
• The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration allows students to acquire advanced practice nursing competencies to provide continuity of health care to persons across the life span, as well as to maximize the effectiveness of community and health care system services through collaboration with other health professionals. Clinical experiences are offered in a variety of ambulatory care settings and specialty clinics in primary care offices, including family practice, internal medicine, managed care offices, emergency departments, long-term care facilities and academic and occupational health settings.
• The Nurse Educator concentration gives students the advanced nursing knowledge in curriculum development, instruction and evaluation for traditional and online learning in academic and staff development settings and the development of in-depth knowledge and expertise in an area of clinical specialty. Emphasis is placed on application of educational theories and principles in curriculum development and evaluation and acquisition of skills in role development as a nurse educator. Students engage in individualized practicum experiences with master educators to gain experience in their desired field of nursing education.
• The Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership concentration integrates management, leadership and nursing knowledge for students to develop skills and competencies in administration, systems leadership and advanced nursing.
• The Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration focuses on health promotion, illness prevention, risk identification and acute and chronic care of infants, children and adolescents. Practicum experiences take place in outpatient primary care and specialty settings; the experiences offer the opportunity for students to provide individualized and culturally competent advanced practice nursing care to children within the context of their families.
• The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration builds on core advanced practice nursing knowledge. The program focuses on knowledge and skill development in mental health assessment and diagnostic reasoning, prescribing and medication management and advanced therapeutic modalities such as individual, group and family psychotherapy.
• The Women's Health Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares students to provide the highest level of primary nursing care for women involving health promotion and disease prevention. Students gain competency in advanced nursing management of common acute and chronic conditions. Students practice in direct care and in collaboration with other health care professionals. Practicum experiences foster development of clinical judgment and primary care skills through faculty mentorship and clinical preceptors in a variety of ambulatory care settings and specialty clinics.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Acquire educational eligibility to meet standards for advanced practice certification or other advanced professional distinction.
• Acquire competencies based on professional standards to assume advanced roles in nursing and for leadership and career advancement, including doctoral study.
• Communicate, integrate and apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive nursing care and promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.