Graduate Program

All students seeking admission to graduate studies must meet the University and College of Nursing requirements set forth in this catalog. Please check the College of Nursing website at http://hsc.unm.edu/consg/ for application information.

Graduate Course Work Without a License to Practice Nursing

Students may take graduate courses without a clinical component even if they are not licensed to practice nursing in the state of New Mexico. This may apply to non-degree students prior to application for admission to the program, individuals awaiting licensure by examination or reciprocity, individuals taking Web courses or individuals from other disciplines taking graduate nursing courses as electives. For any course having a required clinical component, the student must be licensed in the state in which they are completing the clinical experience.

Academic Regulations

Graduate students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 to stay in good academic standing. No more than 6 credit hours of course work graded C, C+, or CR may be credited toward the graduate degree. Individual graduate nursing concentrations may impose more rigorous academic standards for their clinical courses. Graduate students who do not earn a passing grade or better (as defined by the concentration) in any graduate nursing course on a second attempt are not allowed to progress. Graduate nursing students receiving less than a passing grade in any two nursing courses are also not allowed to progress in the College of Nursing. Students must wait one year before reapplying to the College of Nursing. Courses taken during the year cannot be counted in the program of studies. Prior to repeating a nursing course, the graduate student’s record is reviewed by an academic advisor. Progress will be monitored by an academic advisor.

NOTE: A grade of “B” or better is required for courses taken in non-degree status or at another university in order to be applied to the program of studies.

Online Master’s Degree Concentrations

Students may choose to obtain a master’s degree from The University of New Mexico College of Nursing by taking all courses on the Web, in the following concentrations: Nursing Administration, Community Health, and Nursing Education.

Students will discuss with their concentration advisor clinical requirements during course work. For any clinical experience, including the Fieldwork experience, out of state students will submit the resumes of two to three individuals, master’s prepared in Nursing at a minimum, who have expressed willingness to serve as a preceptor. The student and faculty advisor will then decide on the appropriate preceptor and, when necessary, a contract between the College of Nursing and the agency or institution will be prepared in advance.

NOTE: These contracts sometimes take 12-16 weeks to prepare so advance planning is needed.

If site visits are required for any reason for out-of-state students, costs of such visits will be borne by the student and not the College of Nursing.

Priority for Enrollment in Web Courses

Priority for enrollment in master’s level Web courses will be given to students who have been accepted into the College of Nursing’s degree programs. Only students who have been accepted into the College of Nursing degree programs will be allowed to enroll in any of the online core courses.

Drop Policy for Master’s Level Courses

At the discretion of the faculty teaching the course, students who do not appear in class or log into a Web course or who have not made prior arrangements with faculty during the first week of the term may be dropped.

Minor in Nursing (Master’s Level Only)

The minor consists of 12 credits in non-clinical nursing courses, at least 6 credits of which must be core courses. Students may select the remaining 6 credits of non-clinical nursing courses with the approval of a College of Nursing faculty advisor.

Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

Concentrations: nursing administration, community health, nursing education, acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP), family nurse practitioner (FNP), pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) and nurse-midwifery (NM).

NOTE: A minimum enrollment is required for a concentration, emphasis, or course to be offered.

The College of Nursing offers the Master of Science in Nursing under either Plan I (with thesis) or Plan II (without thesis). Students must meet the general University requirements for Plan I or Plan II as set forth earlier in this catalog. Plan I requires a minimum of 30 credits (including 6 credits for thesis) in nursing and related subjects. Under Plan II a minimum of 32 credits in nursing and related subjects is required. Under both plans the student must complete the courses required for the chosen concentration. Although some concentrations may require many credits beyond the minimum, individual review of records may allow waiver of some of the concentration courses. The minimum credit requirement for Plan I (30) or Plan II (32) must be met by all degree-seeking candidates regardless of any course waivers. Requirements for individual concentrations are available from the concentration coordinators or the College of Nursing Advisement Office. Some concentrations require full time study. Students should expect a minimum of three hours per week per credit for clinical involvement when taking clinical nursing courses.

The M.S.N. Program Objectives
Once completed, the graduate will be prepared to:

Analyze theoretical formulations as a basis for nursing practice, education and administration.
Apply and/or participate in research about health/illness and the practice of nursing.
Utilize advanced clinical knowledge and skill to promote, maintain and/or restore optimum wellness to client systems.
Assume leadership roles in nursing practice, education or administration.
Assume responsibility for developing health care policy relative to social, ethical, legal, economic and political issues that impact on nursing.
Organize and develop collaborative relationships for the improvement of health care on an agency, organizational or legislative level.
Synthesize knowledge from the biophysical, social and nursing sciences which affects health/illness behavior or client systems as a basis for nursing practice, education and administration.

Application Deadlines
Spring term Nursing Administration, Nursing Education: October 15
Summer term (Note: the FNP, PNP, NM, and ACNP concentrations accept applications for summer term only)

ACNP: December 1
FNP: December 1
PNP: December 1
Nurse-Midwifery: October 1, first consideration; January 15, final consideration

NOTE: Early application is recommended. Clinical courses cannot be taken until the student is accepted into the program and is eligible to be licensed as a registered nurse in New Mexico and/or state where clinical work will be done.

Admission Requirements

All students seeking acceptance to the College of Nursing graduate program must meet requirements for admission to the University. See the section in this catalog on the Graduate Program for information on University admission requirements.

Applications are only accepted through an online application process. Check the College of Nursing website at http://hsc.unm.edu/consg/ for current application information. This application is in addition to the application for admission to the University as a graduate student.

Screening for admission to the College is conducted at periodic intervals. All applications, fees, official transcripts, and required documents must be received by the deadline. Students should submit applications early to allow for adequate advisement and processing of applications.

To be considered for acceptance into the graduate program, in nursing, applicants must:

Hold a bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.S.N.) from an accredited (N.L.N.A.C. or C.C.N.E.) nursing program, with an upper-division major in nursing. (Graduates from non-accredited programs and R.N.s with a baccalaureate degree in non-nursing fields are considered on an individual basis.) R.N.s with non-nursing baccalaureate have one opportunity to pass a Community Health test prior to the application deadline. Results of the exam must be received within 5 days of application deadline.
Have a minimum grade point average for baccalaureate work of B (3.0) or better.
Submit the application, required academic records, and documents by deadline dates. See the College of Nursing website at http://hsc.unm.edu/consg/ for further details.
Submit evidence of RN licensure (which must be kept current throughout enrollment in the program). If NCLEX results are pending at the time of application, applicant should indicate this in the personal statement, with copy of RN license submitted within the first term enrolled and prior to any clinical experience. Note: Active RN license is required for the state in which any lab or clinical work (inpatient or community) will be done. An active New Mexico RN license is required for students holding teaching or research assistantships.
An interview may be required for admission.

NOTES: Preference is given to New Mexico residents. (See College of Nursing home page for any updates.)
Physical assessment skills are required for clinical nursing courses. An upper-division statistics course is recommended as a prerequisite to the nursing research course (NURS 503).

College of Nursing graduate students can only apply 9 credits of non-degree course work to their program of studies.

M.S.N. Degree Requirements

Core courses for all M.S.N. students:
NURS 501	Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 503	Research in Nursing	3
NURS 504	Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare	3
NURS 505	Health Care Policy, Systems, and Financing for Advanced Practice Roles	3
	Total M.S.N. Core	12

Required clinical core courses for all students in advanced practice concentrations (ACNP, FNP, PNP, NM)
NURS 526	Pathophysiology in Advanced Practice Nursing	3
NURS 539	Advanced Pediatric Health and Development Assessment (PNP)	4
-or-
NURS 540	Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (ACNP, FNP, NM)	4
NURS 543	Pharmacological Principles of Clinical Therapeutics	3
	Total Clinical Core	10

Students must also complete the requirements for their chosen concentration, as well as a professional paper, applied examination or thesis. If students choose to do a thesis, they will enroll in six credits of NURS 599 Thesis instead of one credit of NURS 596 Professional Paper or one credit of NURS 597 Applied Examination. The paper or examination is completed in the last term of study.

**Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)**
NURS 560	Differential Diagnosis for Advanced Practice	3
NURS 561	ACNP Applications to Practice I	5
NURS 562	Complex Patient Analysis and Treatment	3
NURS 563	ACNP Applications to Practice II	5
NURS 566	Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills	3
NURS 567	Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Ethical Considerations	1
NURS 568	ACNP Clinical Topics I	3
NURS 569	ACNP Clinical Topics II	3
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	4
NURS 596	Professional Paper	1
-or-
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	32
	Total for ACNP Concentration	54

**Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (full time enrollment required)**
NURS 541	Antepartum/Postpartum	2
NURS 542	Ambulatory Pediatrics I	4
NURS 548	Women's Health	3
NURS 535	Adult Health I	3
NURS 536	Adult Health II	5
NURS 546	Ambulatory Pediatrics II	4
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	7
NURS 596	Professional Paper	1
-or-
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	30
	Total for FNP Concentration	52

**Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) (full time enrollment required)**
NURS 542	Ambulatory Pediatrics I	4
NURS 546	Ambulatory Pediatrics II	4
NURS 547	Pediatric Chronic Illness/Special Needs	5
NURS 549	Adolescent Health	3
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	7
NURS 596	Professional Paper	1
-or-
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	25
	Total for PNP concentration	47

**Nurse Midwifery (NM) (full time enrollment required)**
NURS 544	Antepartum/Postpartum	7
NURS 548	Women's Health	4
NURS 550	Interpartum Care	9
NURS 551	Newborn Care	3
NURS 552	Evidence-Based Practice in Nurse Midwifery	1
NURS 553	Nurse-Midwifery Professional Practice	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	7
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	33
	Total for NM Concentration	55

**Community Health**
NURS 514	Nursing Administration in Health Institutions and Agencies	3
NURS 516	Advanced Community Health Nursing I	3
NURS 517	Advanced Community Health Nursing II	3
NURS 522	Applied Epidemiology to Community Problems	3
Elective		3
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork (fieldwork alternative available)	4
NURS 596	Professional Paper	1
	Total	20
	Total for CH Concentration	32

**Nursing Administration**
NURS 514	Nursing Administration in Health Institutions and Agencies	3
NURS 512	Resource Management in Nursing Administration	3
NURS 513	Administration to Facilitate Quality Clinical Care	3
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	4
Electives		6
NURS 596	Professional Paper	1
-or-
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	20
	Total for Admin Concentration	32

**Nursing Education**
NURS 558	Brain and Behavioral Correlates of Health and Illness	3
NURS 559	Physiologic Concepts in Health and Illness	3
NURS 509	Teaching Nursing	3
NURS 510	Educational Program Development and Evaluation	3
NURS 515	Faculty Roles and Professional Issues	3
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	4
NURS 596	Professional Paper	1
-or-
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	20
	Total for Education Concentration	32

Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing

The Post-Master’s Certificate, also known as the Nursing Certificate Program (NURCP), offers students who hold a master’s degree in nursing an opportunity to specialize in an area of nursing not covered in their initial master’s program.

The program of studies consists of specialty courses in the chosen area (at least 15 graduate credit hours) to be designated by the Concentration Advisor or faculty in the specialty area, with approval from the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Course work must be completed within three years and a 3.0 (B) average is required. Contact concentration coordinator for admission and curriculum details.

**Dual Degree Program in Nursing (M.S.N.) and Public Health (M.P.H.)

**In moratorium, currently not accepting new students.

The dual degree plan in Nursing and Public Health prepares nurses interested in leadership careers for professional Community Health Nursing and Public Health positions. Nurses will be prepared to perform the core functions of Assessment, Assurance, Surveillance and Health Policy in the public health arena.

The program of studies in the two disciplines enables nurses with baccalaureate preparation to further develop skills necessary to assess and plan health care delivery systems within the public health system. The detailed plan of studies satisfies the core curriculum in both areas. Either the thesis option or the non-thesis option may be chosen. Applicants must satisfy the admission and other academic requirements.

**Dual Degree Program in Nursing (M.S.N.) and Public Administration (M.P.A.)

**In Moratorium, currently not accepting new students.

The College of Nursing and Public Administration dual degree prepares nurses interested in leadership careers for professional and management policy positions in health care delivery systems. The program of studies enables students to develop skills necessary to assess health care delivery systems, determine goals, planning strategies and evaluation methods and to become capable and effective leaders within health care systems, planning organizations and service agencies. Either the thesis option or the non-thesis option (both requiring 56 credit hours) may be chosen.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. program prepares individuals who can assume leadership roles in academia, including the scholarship of teaching, research and professional service activities. The program focuses on nursing education and knowledge development in the provision of care for multicultural, rural and underserved populations; the improvement of nursing care outcomes of individuals, families and systems, with a special emphasis on women of all ages and children.

The College of Nursing has both a master’s entry option and a B.S.N. entry option to the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program in nursing is offered under a part-time plan, requiring students to enroll in 6 credit hours each term (Summer, Fall, Spring), with full time enrollment available most terms.

Note: Robert Wood Johnson Nursing and Health Policy Fellows (RWJF Nursing Fellows) follow a full-time plan. Other students in the Health Policy concentration may follow a part-time plan. Contact the Director, RWJF Nursing & Health Policy Collaborative for details.

The Ph.D. Program is delivered online with attendance at a 1-week summer residency in Albuquerque required the first three years of enrollment in the Ph.D. program. After that time, yearly face to face meetings with the student’s Committee on Studies are required until completion of the Ph.D. degree. Attendance at the annual Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) Research Conference is required the first two years of enrollment, with attendance at WIN or another research conference approved by the student’s Committee on Studies each year until completion of the Ph.D. degree. Students are responsible for the cost of conference registration and travel to the meetings.

Note: RWJF Nursing Fellows have additional meeting/conference requirements and face-to-face time in Albuquerque.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is offered in the College of Nursing, with students following an individualized plan of study or a concentration in health policy. Graduates of the Ph.D. program will be able to:

Assume the role of the Ph.D. prepared nurse in teaching, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Accept the responsibility for self-directed scholarly development in an ongoing research program, focused on patient care improvement, especially for women, children, and families.
Conduct independent formal inquiry pertaining to health care, reflective caring practice, critical synthesis of existing knowledge, and generation of new knowledge and theory.
Practice nursing reflectively, guided by theory, based on best evidence, and integrating creative and critical thinking.
Cultivate research expertise relative to a particular population, setting, or human response to health or illness.
Evaluate and critique social policy relevant to the organization and delivery of health care.

Students’ dissertation research may fall within the College of Nursing’s identified focus areas of health care needs of underserved and vulnerable populations--especially women, youth, and families--or some area identified by the student. Other College priorities include rural health, disease prevention, and health promotion.

The Ph.D. program is planned for part-time study. The part-time program is expected to take four to five years of part-time study for master’s prepared applicants, with an additional year for students admitted under the B.S.N. option. Students will be required to complete 6 credit hours of prescribed courses in the first summer term, and then 6 credit hours of prescribed courses each term (fall, spring, summer) until completion of the coursework. Options exist for students who wish to complete the program faster. On acceptance into the program, each student will be required to commit to a program of studies.

Note: RWJF Nursing Fellows follow a full-time plan of studies.

Application Deadlines

Application deadline is December 1.

Applicants under the B.S.N. entry option are admitted to the spring term, and master’s prepared applicants are admitted to the summer term.

Admission Requirements

General requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree are set forth in the University of New Mexico catalog. Specific requirements for the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. program are:

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.) or Master of Science in Nursing degree (M.S.N.) from an accredited nursing program (National League for Nursing or Commission on Credentialing of Nursing Education through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing). Students with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and a master’s degree in another field will be considered on an individual basis for the master’s entry option.
A grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Preference will be given to students with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
A signed statement indicating knowledge of computer literacy skills that include word processing, sending and receiving e-mail communications, and searching Web sites.
Three letters of recommendation from persons who know the applicant professionally and can attest to his/her academic ability. These letters must be submitted directly to the College of Nursing.
Submission of a writing sample that demonstrates evidence of scholarly ability and the potential for scholarly growth. Examples include, but are not limited to, a thesis, a published or unpublished scholarly paper, or written creative work.
A one-page statement of the applicant’s experiences in the discipline of nursing, which highlights experiences with underserved or vulnerable populations.
A letter of intent that addresses professional and personal goals.
A brief two-to-three page resume that summarizes educational and professional background.
An upper-division or graduate-level statistics course completed within 3 years of the date of admission is highly recommended.
After initial screening, a select group of priority candidates will be interviewed. Interviews for admission will be conducted either in person or through interactive video technology.
Health requirements prescribed by the College of Nursing must be in compliance by the date of enrollment.
A valid R.N. license from any U.S. state, territory, or foreign country, which must be kept current throughout the program. Note that students holding teaching or research graduate assistantships must have an active New Mexico R.N. license (or multistate license).
Exceptions to any program admission criterion will be considered on an individual basis and are at the discretion of the Ph.D. Committee with recommendation to the Research Team Chair.

M.S.N. En Route to the Ph.D.

Students admitted directly to the Ph.D. program without a master’s degree in nursing may earn the M.S.N. degree en route to the Ph.D. in Nursing. A student earning the M.S.N. en route to the Ph.D. will not have an M.S.N. concentration, unless the student meets the specific M.S.N. concentration requirements.

Ph.D. Committee on Studies/Comprehensive Examination Committee

By the end of the fourth term of enrollment, each Ph.D. student is required to assemble a Committee on Studies (COS). The COS guides the student developing a plan of study that fosters a fundamental knowledge of the major field, both in depth and breadth. The COS typically consists of three College of Nursing faculty with tenure or tenure-track positions and holding regular graduate faculty approval. The COS serves as the student’s Ph.D. comprehensive examination committee.

The Application for Candidacy (AC) must be approved by the Committee on Studies prior to completion of the Ph.D. comprehensive exam. Once the Ph.D. comprehensive examination is passed and the Dean of Graduate Studies approves the AC, the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy, and must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours of dissertation (i.e., NURS 699) each term until the dissertation is completed.

Dissertation Committee

The Dissertation Committee typically includes the members of the Committee on Studies. (See requirements stated earlier in the catalog for steps in appointment of the committee.) One of the members of the COS typically serves as the Dissertation Committee Chair. In addition to the Chair and the two other members of the COS, the Dissertation Committee must include:

A required external member who holds a tenure or tenure-track appointment outside the student’s unit/department. This member may be from The University of New Mexico (must have regular graduate faculty approval) or from another accredited institution (must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies).
Note: An optional fifth member of the committee may be a non-faculty expert in the student’s major research area or a doctorally prepared member of the College of Nursing Clinical Educator Track with regular graduate approval.

Overview of the Ph.D. Program Curriculum

Ph.D. students may pursue an individualized plan of study or a concentration in Health Policy. Students wishing to have a Ph.D. in Nursing with a concentration in Health Policy must be formally accepted into the concentration at the time of admission to the Ph.D. program or subsequent to admission to the Ph.D. program through submission of required materials by the deadline. All students take the same 24 credits of core courses and prescribed research methods courses. The substantive area coursework will vary, depending on the student’s plan of study (individualized vs. Health Policy). The student’s advisor and Committee on Studies will guide the student in selecting coursework that will help meet personal, professional, and scholarship needs.

Curriculum Plan

Students admitted under the B.S.N. entry option should consult the Ph.D. Program Director for any requirements that are in addition to those listed in this section. The Ph.D. curriculum consists of a core of Ph.D. courses on philosophy of science, theory, statistics, and research design. Students additionally choose from a selection of research methods courses, substantive area courses, and electives.

Required Core Courses – 24 credits
All students are required to take the following core courses:

NURS 600	Philosophy of Science in Nursing
NURS 601	Theory I: Nursing Knowledge Development
NURS 602	Theory II: Substantive Nursing Knowledge
NURS 606	Quantitative Methods In Nursing Research
NURS 607	Qualitative Methods In Nursing Research
NURS 620	Advanced Health Care Statistics I
NURS 621	Advanced Health Care Statistics II
NURS 690	Ph.D. Seminar

Substantive Area Courses – 9 credits for individualized plan of study; 3 credits for Health Policy concentration
Students following an individualized plan of study are required to select at least three of the four substantive area courses listed below. RWJF Nursing Fellows and other students in the Health Policy concentration take one course chosen from NURS 608, NURS 609, or NURS 611.

NURS 608	Nursing Environments of Human Health
NURS 609	Family Nursing: Concepts, Issues, and Outcomes
NURS 610	Nursing Education: Pedagogy and Roles
NURS 611	Rural and Cultural Health

Health Policy Courses - 13 credits (required for RWJF Nursing Fellows and other Health Policy students; may serve as electives for students pursuing an individualized plan of study)

NURS 640	Evidence, Health Policy, and Politics
NURS 641	Health Disparities and Policy
NURS 642	Applied Health Economics
NURS 648	Introduction to Health Policy Field Placement
NURS 649	Health Policy Field Placement

Methods Courses – 6 credits
All students are required to select at least two of the following methods courses:

NURS 612	Clinical Nursing Therapeutics and Outcomes
NURS 613	Mixed Methods Research
NURS 614	Instrumentation
NURS 615	Critical Ethnography and CBPR in Health Care Research
NURS 624	Behavioral Observation Methods
NURS 627	Qualitative Data Analysis

Electives – 12 credits

Students following an individualized plan of study will take at least four elective courses (12 credits) in the student’s area of interest approved in advance by the student’s Committee on Studies. RWJF Nursing Fellows and other Health Policy students take two elective courses (6 credits) related to health policy, approved in advance by the student’s Committee on Studies. For all students, subject to the approval of the Committee on Studies, up to 6 credits of electives may be taken as independent study as part of the program of studies; however, no more than 3 credits of independent study in Nursing may be applied to the degree requirements.

Dissertation - 18 credits

Students must complete 18 credits of NURS 699 Dissertation. Once enrollment in NURS 699 begins (may be counted no earlier than the term in which the student passes the Ph.D. comprehensive exam), the student must enroll in 6 credits of NURS 699 each term until completion of the Ph.D. degree. Students may include the NURS 699 credits in their Application for Candidacy during the term in which they pass the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, and subsequent terms. During completion of the dissertation it is possible that students will have enrolled in more than 18 credits of NURS 699; however, no more than 18 credits of NURS 699 will be counted in the Application for Candidacy for degree requirements. The College of Nursing requires enrollment in a minimum of 6 credits of NURS 699 (dissertation) per term.

Individualized Plan of Study	51 credits of coursework + dissertation
Health Policy Concentration	52 credits of coursework + dissertation
Total Credits	Individualized Plan of Study 69 credits
	Health Policy Concentration 70 credits

Transfer of Courses

A limited number of courses may be considered for transfer to The University of New Mexico. To be transferable, course work must be no more than five years old at the time of application for candidacy and the transfer of credits must be approved by the student’s Committee on Studies.

Keys and Symbols Reference