MSN Concentrations
Adult Nurse Practitioner (online)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (online)
Family Nurse Practitioner (online)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (online)
Nurse Anesthesia
Nurse-Midwifery (online)
Nursing Education (online)
Nursing Leadership (online)
(Nursing Leadership in Acute Care Health Systems)
(Nursing Leadership in Community-Based Health Systems)
(Nursing Leadership in Educational Health Systems)
RN to MSN
Adult Nurse Practitioner (top)
The purpose of the Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration is to prepare professional nurses for advanced practice nursing in primary health care of adults. Education for such advanced practice nursing is grounded in theoretical and practical knowledge; therefore, didactic and clinical experiences are integral to the Adult Nurse Practitioner curriculum. Clinical practicum sites are arranged as close as possible to home areas for students. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. This concentration is offered online. There are a total of 7 on campus dates required throughout the curriculum for evaluations with standardized patients. There are 24 students admitted yearly to the ANP concentration.
Prospective students, please click here to listen to message from the concentration director.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration:
Dr. Linda Steele, Director
Ms. Mary Elesha-Adams
Dr. Bruce Leonard
Ms. Melissa Ott
Ms. Michelle Skipper
Mr. James Steele
Mr. Bobby Lowery
Curriculum
A minimum of 45 semester hours with 616 clinical practicum hours is required for graduation in the Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration. The Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration offers two methods for completing your graduation requirements. The first is a full-time curriculum plan which spans two years or a part-time plan which will take three years to complete. These curriculum plans are only a suggested course sequence and you may be able to modify your schedule by meeting with your graduate advisor. Selected courses can be taken during summer sessions.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
Required Clinical Course Listing
Below you will find the Clinical Course Sequence for the Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration.
- NURS 6050 Human Physiology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth analysis of normal physiological processes across life span. Focus on pathophysiology and critical analysis for students area of study. Emphasis placed on correlation of concepts with clinical manifestations.
- NURS 6610 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice. Advanced assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills essential to evaluation of health status, health risks, illnesses, and functional/dysfunctional health patterns of individuals and family members throughout the life span.
- NURS 6611Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth presentation of pharmacological principles to manage pharmacologic agents safely and effectively. Specialty labs will address specific applications.
- NURS 6612 Advanced Nursing Practice with Families in Primary Health Care. Advanced practice psychosocial/cultural context for interpretation of family patterns and processes. Emphasizes utilization of family systems theory and techniques within the nurse practitioner's scope of practice.
- NURS 6613 Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role Development. Leadership role within the context of the health care delivery system, nursing profession, and society.
- NURS 6614 Advanced Nursing Practice with Families: Young and Middle Age Adults. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of primary health care needs of culturally diverse families with young and middle-aged adults.
- NURS 6615 Advanced Practice Nursing with Families: Older Adults. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of primary health care needs of culturally diverse families with older adults.
- NURS 6618 Advanced Practice Nursing: Primary Care of Adults. Demonstrative compentencies in provision of primary health care to adult clients in culturally diverse families. The student practices under the direct supervision of on-site clinical preceptors.
- NURS 6621 Advanced Practice Nursing: Care of Adults. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of health care needs of culturally diverse adults with acute and/or chronic illness.
- NURS 6622 Advanced Practice Nursing: Acute and Chronic Care of Adults. Demonstrative compentencies in providing health care to culturally diverse adult clients with acute and chronic illnesses. The student practices under the direct supervision of on-site clinical preceptors
- NURS 6623 Advanced Practice Nursing: Specialty Care of Adults. Demonstrative compentencies in providing health care to culturally diverse adult clients with complex illnesses in a selected population. The student practices under the direct supervision of on-site clinical preceptors.
Core Courses
Below you will find the common core courses for the Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration.
- NURS 6001 Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Bases of Advanced Nursing Practice. Examines philosophical perspectives, theories, and concepts from nursing and related fields that relate to advanced nursing practice.
- NURS 6002 Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Care Organizations. Examines the political, legal, and economic influences on health care organizations, advanced nursing practice, and quality of care.
- NURS 6003 Research Utilization Seminar. Focuses on knowledge and skill competencies basic to use of research findings in advanced nursing practice
- NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis. Seminar for synthesis of graduate nursing concepts.
- NURS 6994 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing. Prepares students in research methods and design as a basis for clinical and organizational decision-making and for scientific inquiry. Provides an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methodology as well as the development of biopsychosocial approaches to the study of phenomena.
Electives
(Recommended electives if additional coursework is desired)
- NURS 6208 Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Nursing Practice. Role of advanced practice nurse in health promotion and primary prevention.
- NURS 6035 Interdisciplinary Rural Health. Theoretical base for interdisciplinary rural health practice.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (top)
The Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration was developed in 2004. In 2007 this concentration was reviewed by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and meets the criteria for consistency with the standards set by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist. The Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration prepares nurses for advanced nursing practice roles in complex care settings and allows the student to determine the focus of his/her clinical specialization. Emphasis is placed on providing the student with advanced theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to improve patient care. This option provides preparation in the dimensions of expert clinician, educator, consultant, and researcher. Students are educated in the dimensions of the CNS role through a didactic course and 3 practicum courses that allow the student to work with a master's prepared CNS in their area of interest. The 42 s.h. concentration includes core courses, clinical core courses and concentration courses. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification examination as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Selected courses can be taken during summer sessions.
Prospective students, please click here to listen to message from the concentration director.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration of our Graduate School.
Dr. Susan A. Williams, Director
Curriculum
A minimum of 42 s.h. is required for graduation in the Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration. The Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration offers two methods for completing your graduation requirements. The first is a full-time curriculum plan which spans two years. The second is a part-time plan which will take four years to complete. These curriculum plans are only a suggested course sequence and you can modify your schedule by meeting with your graduate advisor.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
Required Clinical Course Listing
Below you will find the Clinical Course Sequence for the Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration.
- NURS 6959 Clinical Nurse Specialist Theory and Role Development. Focuses on the core competencies, essential characteristics, and the conceptual model guiding CNS practice.
- NURS 6960 Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I. Focuses on the role development of clinical nurse specialist with an emphasis on application and evaluation of theory and research in clinical practice.
- NURS 6961 Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum II. Continues with the role development of clinical nurse specialist. Emphasis is placed on application and evaluation of theory and research in clinical practice.
- NURS 6962 Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III. Applies CNS knowledge and skills to clinical practice. Students practice with increasing independence and minimal consultation and collaboration with preceptor.
- NURS Specialty courses - the student is required to take two 3-hour courses that enhance knowledge in their area of specialty practice. The faculty advisor guides the student in the selection of these courses.
Core Courses
Below you will find the common core courses for the Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration.
- NURS 6001 Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Bases of Advanced Nursing Practice. Examines philosophical perspectives, theories, and concepts from nursing and related fields that relate to advanced nursing practice.
- NURS 6002 Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Care Organizations. Examines the political, legal, and economic influences on health care organizations, advanced nursing practice, and quality of care
- NURS 6003 Research Utilization Seminar. Focuses on knowledge and skill competencies basic to use of research findings in advanced nursing practice
NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis. Seminar for synthesis of graduate nursing concepts.
NURS 6994 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing. Research methods and design as basis for clinical and organizational decision-making and scientific inquiry. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology and development of biopsychosocial approaches to study of phenomena.
Clinical Core courses
- NURS 6050 Human Physiology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth analysis of normal physiological processes across life span. Focus on pathophysiological and critical analysis for student's area of study. Emphasis on the correlation of concepts with clinical manifestations.
- NURS 6208 Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Nursing Practice. Role of the advanced practice nurse in health promotion and primary prevention.
- NURS 6610 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice. Advanced assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills essential to evaluation of health status, health risks, illnesses, and functional/dysfunctional health patterns of individuals and family members throughout life span.
- NURS 6611 Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth presentation of pharmacologic principles to manage pharmacologic agents safely and effectively. Specialty labs address specific applications.
Nursing Leadership - Community-Based Health Care (top)
The MSN Community Health concentration has transitioned its focus to Nursing Leadership in Community-Based Health Care Systems presenting exciting opportunities for nurses pursuing this clinical track.
Within the context of population focused care, students learn program planning skills that use models of assessment, evidence-based interventions, and targeted approaches to developing programs to modify health outcomes and address health disparities. Health is seen as an individual and aggregate phenomenon. The relevance of both diversity and disparities to health programming is examined as an integral part of care provision.
For more information and curriculum plans, see Nursing Leadership.
Family Nurse Practitioner (top)
The purpose of the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration is to prepare professional nurses for advanced practice nursing in primary health care settings. Education for such advanced practice nursing is grounded in theoretical and practical knowledge; therefore, didactic and clinical experiences are integral to the Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum. Clinical practicum sites are arranged as close as possible to home areas for students. Graduates are eligible to sit for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. This concentration is offered online. There are a total of 7 on campus dates required throughout the curriculum for evaluations with standardized patients. There are 30 students admitted yearly to the FNP concentration.
Prospective students, please click here to listen to message from the concentration director.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration:
Dr. Linda Steele, Director
Ms. Mary Elesha-Adams
Dr. Bruce Leonard
Ms. Melissa Ott
Ms. Michelle Skipper
Mr. James Steele
Mr. Bobby Lowery
Curriculum
A minimum of 50 semester hours with 748 clinical practicum hours is required for graduation in the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration offers two methods for completing your graduation requirements. The first is a full-time curriculum plan which spans two years or a part-time plan which will take five years to complete. These curriculum plans are only a suggested course sequence and you may be able to modify your schedule by meeting with your graduate advisor.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
Required Clinical Course Listing
Below you will find the Clinical Course Sequence for the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration.
- NURS 6050 Human Physiology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth analysis of normal physiological processes across life span. Focus on pathophysiology and critical analysis for student area of study. Emphasis placed on the correlation of concepts with clinical manifestations.
- NURS 6610 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice. Advanced assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills essential to evaluation of health status, health risks, illnesses, and functional/dysfunctional health patterns of individuals and family members throughout the life span.
- NURS 6611Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth presentation of pharmacological principles to manage pharmacological agents safely and effectively. Specialty labs address specific
- NURS 6612 Advanced Nursing Practice with Families in Primary Health Care. Advanced practice psychosocial/cultural context for interpretation of family patterns and processes. Emphasizes utilization of family systems theory and techniques within the nurse practitioner's scope of practice.
- NURS 6613 Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role Development. Leadership role within care delivery system, nursing profession, and society.
- NURS 6614 Advanced Nursing Practice with Families: Young and Middle Age Adults. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of primary health care needs of culturally diverse families with young and middle-aged adults.
- NURS 6615 Advanced Practice Nursing with Families: Older Adults. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of primary health care needs of culturally diverse families with older adults.
- NURS 6616 Advanced Practice Nursing With Families: Childbearing Clients. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of primary health care needs of culturally diverse families with childbearing members.
- NURS 6617 Advanced Practice Nursing with Families: Childrearing Clients. Theoretical, scientific, and contemporary knowledge base to provide a framework for assessment and management of primary health care needs of culturally diverse families with infants, children and adolescents.
- NURS 6618 Advanced Practice Nursing: Primary Care of Adults. Demonstrative compentencies in provision of primary health care to adult clients in culturally diverse families. The student practices under the direct supervision of on-site clinical preceptors.
- NURS 6619 Advanced Practice Nursing: Primary Health Care of Childbearing and Childrearing Clients. Provision of primary health care to culturally diverse childbearing and childrearing families under the direct supervision of on-site clinical preceptors.
- NURS 6620 Advanced Practice Nursing: Synthesis in Primary Care of Families. Clinical synthesis experience across the lifespan for family nurse practitioner students. The student practices under the direct supervision of on-site clinical preceptors.
Core Courses
Below you will find the common core courses for the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration.
- NURS 6001 Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Bases of Advanced Nursing Practice. Examines philosophical perspectives, theories, and concepts from nursing and related fields that relate to advanced nursing practice.
- NURS 6002 Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Care Organizations. Examines the political, legal, and economic influences on health care organizations, advanced nursing practice, and quality of care.
- NURS 6003 Research Utilization Seminar. Focuses on knowledge and skill competencies basic to use of research findings in advanced nursing practice
- NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis. Seminar for synthesis of graduate nursing concepts.
- NURS 6994 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing. Research methods and design as basis for clinical and organizational decision-making and scientific inquiry. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology and development of biopsychosocial approaches to study of phenomena.
Electives
(Recommended electives if additional coursework is desired)
- NURS 6208 Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Nursing Practice. Role of the advanced practice nurse in health promotion and primary prevention.
- NURS 6035 Interdisciplinary Rural Health. Theoretical base and skills for interdisciplinary rural health practice.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (top)
The purpose of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration is to increase the number of advanced practice neonatal nurses in the region and state to meet the needs of high-risk infants and their families in tertiary care centers. Education for such advanced nursing practice is grounded in theoretical and practical knowledge that is culturally sensitive and prepares practitioners in advanced nursing, medical and pharmacological practices. Graduates of this concentration will be employable as practitioners in neonatal intensive care units, nurse-managed clinics, home health services, health departments, and managed care organizations. Graduates are eligible to sit for The National Certification Corporation's (NCC) examination to certify Neonatal Nurse Practitioner's. The content courses for this concentration are offered online. Required student clinical practice experiences are arranged in the students' geographic area.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration:
Dr. Garris Conner, Director
Ms. Mollie Tripp
Curriculum
A minimum of 41 s.h. is required for graduation in the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration. The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration offers two methods for completing your graduation requirements. The first is a full-time curriculum plan which spans eighteen months. The second is a part-time plan which will take two and one half years to complete. Curriculum plans for certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner's seeking a master's degree as well as a Post-Master's Certificate are available. These curriculum plans are only a suggested course sequence and you may be able to modify your schedule by meeting with your graduate advisor.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
NNP to MSN Curriculum Plan
Required Clinical Course Listing
Below you will find the Clinical Course Sequence for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration.
- NURS 6417 Development Physiology for Advanced Neonatal and Pediatric Nursing Practice. Developmental changes in morphological processes and normal and abnormal physiology in humans from conception through adolescence.
- NURS 6418 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice of Neonatal and Pediatric Patients. Comprehensive assessment neonatal and pediatric clients using diagnostic reasoning process.
- NURS 6419 Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Neonatal and Pediatric Nursing Practice. Pharmacological knowledge basic to assessment and management skills for advanced clinical nursing practice related to newborns and pediatric patients with common acute and chronic health problems.
- NURS 6420 Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research & Theory. Focuses on management of the prenatal and postnatal environments, anticipated health problems experienced by infants and implications for the infants and their families.
- NURS 6421 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum I. Provides intensive neonatal clinical experiences for neonatal nurse practitioner students.
- NURS 6422 Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory II. Focuses on neonatal nurse practitioner management of disorders of organ systems.
- NURS 6423 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum II. Provides intensive clinical experiences for neonatal nurse practitioner students.
- NURS 6424 Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory III. Focuses on the integration of advanced knowledge to care for the infant and the family.
- NURS 6425 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum III. Provides intensive clinical experiences for neonatal nurse practitioner students.
Core Courses
Below you will find the common core courses for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration.
- NURS 6001 Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Bases of Advanced Nursing Practice. Examines philosophical perspectives, theories, and concepts from nursing and related fields that relate to advanced nursing practice.
- NURS 6002 Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Care Organizations. Examines the political, legal, and economic influences on health care organizations, advanced nursing practice, and quality of care
- NURS 6003 Research Utilization Seminar. Focuses on knowledge and skill competencies basic to use of research findings in advanced nursing practice
- NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis. Seminar for synthesis of graduate nursing concepts.
- NURS 6994 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing. Research methods and design as basis for clinical and organizational decision-making and scientific inquiry. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology and development of biopsychosocial approaches to study of phenomena.
Nurse Anesthesia (top)
The Nurse Anesthesia program is a 28-month course of study designed to prepare professional nurses as practitioners of nurse anesthesia eligible for national certification. Applications to the concentration are accepted throughout the year for consideration by the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee that meets each Spring. Each new class will begin in January.
Official Nurse Anesthesia Website
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Nurse Anesthesia program:
Dr. Maura McAuliffe, CRNA, PhD, FAAN, Director
Ms. Melydia Edge
Mr. Greg Gambrell
Curriculum
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Required Clinical Course Listing
Below you will find the Clinical Course Sequence for the Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
- NURS 6805 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthetists I. Survey of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects of pharmacotherapeutic principles of anesthesia, antimicrobial, antieoplastic, endocrine, and other therapeutic agents.
- NURS 6806 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthetists II. Surveys pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, and pharmacotherapeutic principles of drugs affecting the autonomic, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and central nervous systems.
- NURS 6810 Human Physiology for Nurse Anesthetists. Indepth analysis of normal processes across the lifespan. Provides physiological basis for practice with emphasis on correlation of these concepts with clinical manifestations.
- NURS 6811 Anesthesia Pharmacology. Chemical and physical principles involved in administration of anesthesia, including uptake and distribution, and toxicology of anesthetic drugs and agents.
- NURS 6812 Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia. Historic, legal, ethical, and international issues important to contemporary nurse anesthesia practice.
- NURS 6813 Chemistry and Physics of Anesthesia. Aspects of chemistry, biochemistry, and physics applicable to human and mechanical systems involved in delivering safe anesthesia care.
- NURS 6814 Basic Principles of Nurse Anesthesia. Fundamentals of anesthesia practice, including basic techniques, procedures for administering anesthesia, assessment of patient status, and case management.
- NURS 6815 Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia I. Anesthesia concepts for increasingly complex patients with alterations in one or more organ system. Includes principles of increasingly advanced surgical and radiological procedures.
- NURS 6816 Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia II. Advanced principles of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia, infection control, trauma anesthesia, and management of the patient with acute and chronic endocrine disease.
- NURS 6817 Clinical Correlations I. Links anesthesia-related information with specific topics in anatomy. Explores regional anesthesia.
- NURS 6818 Clinical Correlations II. Links research and advanced principles courses examining research in obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiothoracic and neurosurgical anesthesia.
- NURS 6819 Clinical Practicum in Nurse Anesthesia I. Introduces clinical practice in operating room environment, including basic skills such as monitoring, preoperative assessment, positioning, induction agents, and sequence and airway management.
- NURS 6820 Clinical Practicum in Nurse Anesthesia II. Defines physiological, pharmacological, and biochemical concepts in beginning application of anesthesia principles.
- NURS 6821 Clinical Practicum in Nurse Anesthesia III. Explores physiological, pharmacological, and biochemical concepts in complex clinical application of anesthesia principles.
- NURS 6822 Clinical Practicum in Nurse Anesthesia IV. Advanced clinical applications regarding anesthetic preparation, anesthesia equipment setup, airway management, anesthetic management, patient monitoring, and regional anesthesia.
- NURS 6823 Clinical Practicum in Nurse Anesthesia V. Advanced clinical practice utilizing all anesthesia principles to provide independent responsibility for patient care.
- NURS 6824 Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia III. Advanced concepts of anesthetic management. Emphasis on renal, endocrine, pediatric, and obstetric cases, regional anesthesia, and chronic pain management.
- PTHE 7002 Gross Anatomy and Lab. Structure of human body. Lab dissection.
Core Courses
Below you will find the common core courses for the Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
- NURS 6001 Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Bases of Advanced Nursing Practice. Examines philosophical perspectives, theories, and concepts from nursing and related fields that relate to advanced nursing practice.
- NURS 6002 Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Care Organizations. Examines the political, legal, and economic influences on health care organizations, advanced nursing practice, and quality of care
- NURS 6003 Research Utilization Seminar. Focuses on knowledge and skill competencies basic to use of research findings in advanced nursing practice
- NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis. Seminar for synthesis of graduate nursing concepts.
- NURS 6994 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing. Research methods and design as basis for clinical and organizational decision-making and scientific inquiry. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology and development of biopsychosocial approaches to study of phenomena.
Nurse-Midwifery (top)
The purpose of the Nurse-Midwifery concentration is to prepare professional nurses as safe and competent practitioners of nurse-midwifery who are eligible for certification by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
A special intent is for graduates to assume care provider roles in rural areas so as to better meet the needs of underserved women and infants. Additionally, graduates are prepared to incorporate appropriate theory bases and research findings into the delivery of care and to use the scientific method to solve problems in their area of practice, nurse-midwifery. This concentration is offered online.
ECU nurse-midwifery program receives 10-year accreditation
Monday, July 10, 2006| The nurse-midwifery education program in the College of Nursing at East Carolina University has received 10-year accreditation.
The Board of Review of the Division of Accreditation of the American College of Nurse-Midwives met June 16-18 and granted accreditation without recommendations for 10 years. The next self-evaluation report and site visit will be in 2016.
The board commended Jacqueline Hutcherson, certified nurse-midwife and director of the graduate concentration, and the ECU nurse-midwifery faculty for innovation in distance delivery and assessment of student learning and clinical experiences. The educational model at ECU provides an interdisciplinary approach where future physicians and nurse midwives research, practice and learn together.
Additionally, faculty were recognized for their commitment to underserved rural populations, according to a letter by Barbara Decker, chair of the review board. A special intent of ECU's program is for graduates to assume care provider roles in rural areas to meet the needs of underserved women and infants. As of 2005, ECU graduates choosing to practice in North Carolina all had located in federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, officials said.
ECU's nurse-midwifery program is the only one in North Carolina. The program was initiated in 1991 as part of a legislative mandate to combat high infant mortality. ECU's program has succeeded by providing 25 percent of certified nurse midwives approved to practice in the state, Hutcherson said. Since 1991, the state's total number of nurses approved to practice has doubled. A total of 15 certified nurse midwives practice in Pitt County.
Prospective students, please click here to listen to message from the concentration director.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Nurse-Midwifery concentration:
Mrs. Becky Bagley, Interim Director
Dr. Rebecca Benfield
Ms. Jackie Hutcherson
Ms. Monique Van Essendelft
Dr. D. Elizabeth Jesse
Ms. Renee Spain
Curriculum
A minimum of 46 s.h. is required for graduation in the Nurse-Midwifery concentration. The Nurse-Midwifery concentration offers two methods for completing your graduation requirements. The first is a full-time curriculum plan which spans two years. The second is a part-time plan which will take three years to complete. These curriculum plans are only a suggested course sequence and you may be able to modify your schedule by meeting with your graduate advisor.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
Required Clinical Course Listing
Below you will find the Clinical Course Sequence for the Nurse-Midwifery concentration.
- NURS 6109 Introductory Nurse-Midwifery Professional Roles and Issues. Historical, theoretical, and scientific foundations of nurse-midwifery.
- NURS 6110 Reproductive Physiology. Underlying biologic principles and concepts related to human reproductive cycle, genetics, maternal-fetal-placental unit, and neonate.
- NURS 6611 Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Indepth presentation of pharmacologic principles to manage pharmacologic agents safely and effectively. Specialty labs address specific applications.
- NURS 6112 Nurse-Midwifery Management: Introduction to Primary Care Families Well Woman. Focuses on American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) core competencies for promoting health in essentially healthy women. Supervised in-site practicum by clinical practices.
- NURS 6113 Nurse-Midwifery Management: Antepartal Care. Focuses on ACNM core competencies for promoting health in essentially healthy women and their families during the antepartal period including management of anteparta complications. Supervised on-site practicum by clinical practitioners.
- NURS 6115 Nurse-Midwifery Management: Intrapartal Care. Focuses on ACNM core competencies for promoting health in essentially healthy women during labor and birth including management of intrapartal complications. Supervised on-site practicum by clinical practitioners.
- NURS 6116 Nurse-Midwifery Management: Postpartal Care and Neonatal Care. Focuses on ACNM core competencies in promoting health for essentially healthy neonates and women during the puerperium including management of postpartum and neonatal complications. Supervised on-site practicum by clinical practitioners.
- NURS 6117 Nurse-Midwifery Management Integration Practicum. Comprehensive nurse-midwifery management of neonates and healthy women throughout their lifespan.
- NURS 6118 Integration of Nurse-Midwifery Professional Issues and Roles. Roles and responsibilities of professional nurse-midwifery.
- NURS 6610 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice. Advanced assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills essential to the evaluation of health status, health risks, illnesses, and functional/dysfunctional health patterns of individuals and family members throughout life span.
Core Courses
Below you will find the common core courses for the Nurse-Midwifery concentration.
- NURS 6001 Philosophical Perspectives and Theoretical Bases of Advanced Nursing Practice. Examines philosophical perspectives, theories, and concepts from nursing and related fields that relate to advanced nursing practice.
- NURS 6002 Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Care Organizations. Examines the political, legal, and economic influences on health care organizations, advanced nursing practice, and quality of care
- NURS 6003 Research Utilization Seminar. Focuses on knowledge and skill competencies basic to use of research findings in advanced nursing practice
- NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis. Seminar for synthesis of graduate nursing concepts.
- NURS 6994 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing. Research methods and design as basis for clinical and organizational decision-making and scientific inquiry. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology and development of biopsychosocial approaches to study of phenomena.
Nursing Education (top)
The Nursing Education concentration prepares graduates for the role of nurse educator in an academic or clinical setting. Students will be prepared to function in complex educational environments to teach traditional as well as non-traditional learners using a variety of emerging technologies and interdisciplinary skills. The concentration, which is offered online, includes core courses, select clinical core courses, concentration courses, and electives.
Please note: In North Carolina nursing faculty who teach in a program leading to initial licensure are required to have two calendar years or the equivalent of full time clinical experience as a registered nurse (21 NCAC 36.0318).
Prospective students, please click here to listen to message from the concentration director.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Nursing Education concentration:
Dr. Carol Winters-Moorhead, Director
Dr. Sylvia Brown
Dr. Frances Eason
Dr. Phyllis Horns
Dr. Lou Everett
Dr. Annette Perry
Curriculum
The Nursing Education concentration requires a minimum of 36 semester hours (39 semester hours if students have no prior teaching experience). A model curriculum guide follows.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
Nursing Clinical Core Courses
Select any three of these courses. These online courses are not "clinical" courses as you experienced as a BSN student. They are designed to increase your knowledge in advanced practice nursing. Some -not all- are available each semester with fewer in the summer. You will be notified by your advisor which ones are offered each semester.