Master of Science in Nursing Concentrations

The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) has eight concentrations available:

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

Details on each concentration’s objectives and curriculum requirements are listed on this page below the shared core courses. Please see the College of 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:
(AG-ACNP, Education, FNP, NM, PNP, PMHNP)

		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 (AG-ACNP, FNP, NM, PMHNP)	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 to write a thesis, they enroll in six credit hours of NURS 599 Thesis instead of one credit hour of NURS 596 Professional Paper or one credit hour 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 Adult/Gerontology (AG-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 healthcare 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 healthcare delivery.
Use and articulate evidence-based research as the basis for practice.
Contribute to existing knowledge through participation in research.
Disseminate evidence to the adult/gerontology population and professionals throughout multiple modalities.

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

		Credit Hours
NURS 555	Management of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology Patient	4
NURS 561	AG-ACNP Practicum I	3
NURS 562	Management of the Complex and Chronically Ill Adult-Gerontology Patient	4
NURS 563	AG-ACNP Practicum II	5
NURS 564	Health Promotion, Protection, and Disease Prevention for Acute, Critical or Chronically Ill Adults	3
NURS 565	Management of the Critically Ill Adult-Gerontology Patient	4
NURS 566	Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills	3
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Seminar	1
NURS 595	Advanced Nursing Field Work	6
NURS 596 -or- NURS 597	Professional Paper Applied Examination	1
	Total	34
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	52

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

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

At the completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner (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 healthcare 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 healthcare 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

Nurse-Midwifery Concentration

At the completion of the Nurse-Midwifery (NM) 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 healthcare delivery system, including keeping adequate documentation of nurse-midwifery care.
Develop accurate and reflective self-evaluation skills of knowledge-base and clinical performance.
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 healthcare 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

Note: 55 credit hours are required for completion of this program by the accrediting body, American College of Midwifery Education.

For information about requirements or to apply to this program, contact the Nurse-Midwifery concentration coordinator Kristen Ostrem-Niemcewicz, D.N.P., Certified Nurse-Midwife at kostrem@salud.unm.edu.

Nursing Administration Concentration

At the completion of the Nursing Administration 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 healthcare settings.

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

Nursing Education Concentration

The Nursing Education program is offered online and offers practicum experiences in areas such as simulation, online 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 and community education. The program is currently offered for part-time enrollment.

At the completion of the Nursing Education 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 of Learning in Nursing Education	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

* NURS 595 is taken for two semesters. Each semester is two credit hours for a total of four credit hours.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Concentration

At the completion of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (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

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration

At the completion of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration program, the graduate will be prepared to:

Provide full scope psychiatric and behavioral health care, utilizing both independent and collaborative approaches, to individuals and families across the lifespan, including management of acute and chronic mental health problems, health promotion, and disease prevention.
Integrate ethical principles in decision-making and evaluation of psychiatric care related to individuals, families, populations, and systems of care.
Use and articulate evidence-based research as the basis for practice.
Participate in quality assurance and evaluation of mental health care delivery.
Empower and motivate individuals and families to be full participants in their own psychiatric and behavioral healthcare.
Assume professional responsibility for maintaining and advancing clinical practice competencies.
Advocate for systems and policies that reduce mental health disparities, facilitate access to behavioral healthcare and address cultural diversity and rural populations.
Identify evidence-based psychopharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in the management of complex, acute, and chronic psychiatric disorders in diverse groups of adults and across the life-span.
Evaluate complex, acute, and chronic mental health advanced practice nursing care using selected outcome measures.
Describe the complexity of legal and ethical decision-making with adults who have acute and chronic mental health issues in the primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings.

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

		Credit Hours
NURS 583	Psychotherapy, Behavior Change, and Health Promotion-Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan	3
NURS 584	Integrated Behavioral Health Care and Common Psychiatric Presentations	3
NURS 585	Advanced Assessment, Neurobiology, and Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan	3
NURS 586	Diagnosis and Management of Adults for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner	3
NURS 587	Diagnosis and Management of Children and Older Adults for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner	3
NURS 588	Advanced Practicum I	3
NURS 589	Advanced Practicum II	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	30
	Total for concentration (includes core courses)	48