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

The College of Nursing offers seven M.S.N. concentrations:

ACNP Adult/Gerontology (ACNP)
Community Health
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Nurse-Midwifery (NM)
Nursing Administration
Nursing Education
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

Details on each concentration’s objectives and curriculum requirements are listed on this page below the shared core courses. Please see the Nursing Graduate Program section of this Catalog for general information, such as program admission and degree requirements.

Core Courses for all M.S.N. students:

		Credit Hours
NURS 501	Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 503	Research in Nursing	3
NURS 505	Health Care Policy, Systems, and Financing for Advanced Practice Roles	3
	Total M.S.N. Core	9

Required clinical core courses for all students in advanced practice concentrations (ACNP, Education, FNP, PNP, NM):

		Credit Hours
NURS 526	Pathophysiology in Advanced Practice Nursing	3
NURS 523 -or- NURS 539 -or- NURS 540	Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators (Education) Advanced Pediatric Health and Development Assessment (PNP) Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (ACNP, FNP, NM)	2 3 3
NURS 543	Pharmacological Principles of Clinical Therapeutics	3
	Total Clinical Core	8-9

Students must also complete the requirements for their chosen concentration, as well as a professional paper, applied examination or thesis. If students choose write a thesis, they 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.

ACNP Adult/Gerontology Concentration

At the completion of the ACNP program, the graduate will be able to:

Provide full scope care utilizing both independent and collaborative approaches, to the adult/gerontology population including management of acute, critical, and/or complex chronic health problems, health promotion, disease prevention, and support for transitional and end of life needs.
Integrate ethical principles in decision-making and evaluation of care related to the adult/gerontology population with acute, critical, and/or complex chronic health problems.
Coordinate health care through interdisciplinary collaboration with members of the health care team.
Empower and motivate the adult/gerontology population and families to be full participants in their own health care.
Advocate for systems and policies that reduce health disparities, facilitate access to care, and address cultural diversity and rural populations.
Assume professional responsibility for maintaining and advancing clinical practice competencies.
Participate in quality assurance and evaluation of health care delivery.
Use and articulate evidence-based research as the basis for practice.
Contribute to existing knowledge through participation in research.

In addition to the required core general and clinical courses, the ACNP concentration has the following requirements:

		Credit Hours
NURS 560	Differential Diagnosis for Advanced Practice	3
NURS 561	ACNP Applications to Practice I: Introduction to the Acutely Ill Adult	5
NURS 562	Complex Patient Analysis and Treatment	3
NURS 563	ACNP Applications to Practice II: High Acuity Adult Patients	5
NURS 564	Health Promotion, Protection, and Disease Prevention for Acute, Critical or Chronically Ill Adults	2
NURS 566	Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills	3
NURS 571	Geriatric and End of Life Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice	2
NURS 572	Iatrogenesis in the Elderly	3
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Field Work	7
NURS 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
	Total	35
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	53 *

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Community Health Concentration

This concentration is currently in moratorium and is not accepting new students.

		Credit Hours
NURS 514	Transforming Organizations through Healthcare Reform	3
NURS 516	Advanced Community Health Nursing I	3
NURS 517	Advanced Community Health Nursing II	3
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	4
NURS 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
Elective		3
	Total	17
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	26

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Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

At the completion of the FNP program, the graduate will be able to:

Provide full scope primary care, utilizing both independent and collaborative approaches, to individuals and families across the lifespan, including management of acute and chronic health problems, health promotion, disease prevention, and support for transitional and end of life needs.
Integrate ethical principles in decision-making and evaluation of care related to individuals, families, populations, and systems of care.
Coordinate health care through interdisciplinary collaboration with members of the health care team.
Empower and motivate individuals and families to be full participants in their own health care.
Advocate for systems and policies that reduce health disparities, facilitate access to care, and address cultural diversity and rural populations.
Assume professional responsibility for maintaining and advancing clinical practice competencies.
Participate in quality assurance and evaluation of health care delivery.
Use and articulate evidence-based research as the basis for practice.
Contribute to existing knowledge through participation in research.

In addition to the required core general and clinical courses, the FNP concentration has the following requirements:

		Credit Hours
NURS 525	Primary Care Concepts	3
NURS 534	Primary Care Geriatrics	2
NURS 535	Primary Care of Adults I	4
NURS 536	Primary Care of Adults II	3
NURS 537	Primary Care of Adults III	4
NURS 541	Antepartum-Postpartum for FNP	1
NURS 542	Primary Care of Pediatrics I	3
NURS 546	Primary Care of Pediatrics II	4
NURS 554	The Evidence Base for APRN Primary Care Practice	1
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	7
NURS 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
	Total	34
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	52

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Nurse-Midwifery Concentration

The nurse-midwifery education concentration is fully accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives' Accreditation Council for Midwifery Education (ACME) through January 2017.

At the completion of the program, the graduate is able to:

Analyze theoretical and empirical knowledge from the sciences and humanities, and apply this knowledge to the care of women and their infants within a family and community context.
Identify the influence of economic, social, and political trends on the effectiveness of health care delivery to women and infants.
Provide safe and satisfying primary health care that supports individual rights and self-determination in a variety of settings, with emphasis on underserved and rural client populations. This includes clinical management of normal labor and delivery, care of the neonate, and well-woman care.
Apply skills in health assessment, teaching, and counseling, with emphasis on self-help, wellness, and the prevention of illness and disability.
Communicate both verbally and in writing with various members of the health care delivery system, including keeping adequate documentation of nurse-midwifery care.
Demonstrate collaborative relationships with other health team members and with community groups for the planning, management, and provision of health care for women and their infants.
Demonstrate the socialization and conceptual awareness of the role and responsibilities of the nurse-midwife.
Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth and the growth of the profession through participation in professional organizations, community, and scholarly activities, such as research, writing, and teaching.
Participate in quality assurance activities in the health care setting.
Exemplify the ethical and moral obligations of professional service while interacting with clients and society in general.

In addition to the required core general and clinical courses, the NM concentration has the following requirements:

		Credit Hours
NURS 525	Primary Care Concepts	3
NURS 544	Antepartum and Postpartum Care	7
NURS 548	Women's Health	4
NURS 550	Intrapartum 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 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
	Total	36
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	54

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Nursing Administration Concentration

This concentration is currently in moratorium, and is not accepting new students.

At the completion of the program, the graduate is able to:

Apply research findings and concepts from nursing, social science and management areas to problem-solving in health care delivery systems.
Incorporate ethical precepts in leadership and management practices in the achievement of clinical goals of the health care system.
Examine goals, structures and processes that facilitate knowledge of and dedication to patient safety through quality nursing care delivery.
Demonstrate leadership skills necessary for creating an organizational environment where personal and professional development is an expectation.
Examine personal and professional accountability for actions and outcomes of self and others related to evidence-based clinical and management practice.
Identify problem-solving approaches to issues of organizational conflict and change management.
Assist in the design of the basic elements of information management and control systems.
Apply concepts of human resource management and development to personnel issues in nursing care systems and health care.
Demonstrate beginning competency in business skills, the management of resources, and strategic management.
Demonstrate competency in communication and relationship skills with internal and external stakeholders utilizing shared decision-making processes necessary in complex health care setting.

		Credit Hours
			Clinical
NURS 508	Human Resource Management in the Changing Healthcare Environment	3	1 (50 hours)
NURS 512	Finance for Nurse Leaders in Contemporary Healthcare	3	1 (50 hours)
NURS 513	Quality Management in a Transformative Healthcare Environment	3	1 (50 hours)
NURS 514	Transforming Organizations through Healthcare Reform	3	1 (50 hours)
NURS 595	Advanced Fieldwork	4	4 (200 hours)
NURS 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
Electives		3
	Total	20	400 hours
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	29

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Nursing Education Concentration

This program is offered on-line and offers practicum experiences in areas such as simulation, on-line courses, and clinical specialty areas. Graduates are prepared to function as faculty in schools of nursing, and also are prepared to function as leaders in staff education. Currently offered part time; full- and part-time enrollment will be offered starting Spring 2016.

At the completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

Demonstrate effective leadership skills and decision-making in the educational environment.
Demonstrate effective communication in intra-professional and inter-professional teamwork and collaboration.
Analyze and apply biophysical and psychosocial concepts of health and illness to educational environments and practice settings.
Apply key concepts from advanced pharmacology, pathology and physical assessment to nurse educator roles and practice.
Develop, analyze and evaluate nursing curricula, teaching strategies, assessment and evaluation methods, and program outcomes.
Critically utilize research findings that have relevance for intervening with patients and families and that are the basis for education of nursing students.
Integrate the use of information systems and communication technologies, resources and learning principles in the education of students, clients, and/or other health care team members.
Synthesize and apply the core competencies of the AACN (American College of Nursing) and the NLN (National League for Nursing) in different educator roles related to a variety of educational environments.

In addition to the required core general courses, the Nursing Education concentration has the following requirements:

		Credit Hours
NURS 509	Teaching in Nursing	3
NURS 510	Curriculum Design and Program Evaluation	3
NURS 511	Assessment and Evaluation in Community and Health Care Systems	2
NURS 515	Nurse Educator Roles and Professional Issues	3
NURS 523	Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators	2
NURS 526	Pathophysiology in Advanced Practice Nursing	3
NURS 543	Pharmacological Principles of Clinical Therapeutics	3
NURS 557	Biophysical and Psychosocial Concepts of Health and Illness	4
NURS 592	Clinical Specialty Practicum	2
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Field Work	4
NURS 597	Applied Examination	1
	Total	30
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	39

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Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Concentration

At the completion of the PNP program, the graduate will be able to:

Provide full scope primary care, utilizing both independent and collaborative approaches, to children and families including management of acute and chronic health problems, health promotion, disease prevention, and support for transitional and end of life needs.
Integrate ethical principles in decision-making and evaluation of care related to children, families, populations and systems of care.
Coordinate health care through interdisciplinary collaboration with members of the health care team.
Appropriately empower and motivate children and families to be full participants in their own health care.
Advocate for systems and policies that reduce health disparities, facilitate access to care, and address cultural diversity and rural populations.
Assume professional responsibility for maintaining and advancing clinical practice competencies.
Participate in quality assurance and evaluation of health care delivery.
Use and articulate evidence-based research as the basis for practice.
Contribute to existing knowledge through participation in research.

In addition to the required core general and clinical courses, the PNP concentration has the following requirements:

		Credit Hours
NURS 525	Primary Care Concepts	3
NURS 538	Case Studies in Diagnostic Reasoning	1
NURS 542	Primary Care of Pediatrics I	4
NURS 546	Primary Care of Pediatrics II	5
NURS 547	Pediatric Chronic Illness-Special Needs	4
NURS 549	Adolescent Health	3
NURS 554	The Evidence Base for APRN Primary Care Practice	1
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Fieldwork	7
NURS 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
	Total	30
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	48