Sharon Dowdy, Leigh Ann McInnis, Sheron Salyer

Master of Science in Nursing

The M.S.N. program of study is designed to build upon the generalist preparation of the B.S.N. program and leads to clinical specialization as a family nurse practitioner (F.N.P.). Program graduates are expected to demonstrate advanced practice skills for a variety of settings, leadership and management skills, competent research skills, and skills to function in the roles of administrator and educator. Upon completion of the program, graduates will:

In order to meet these objectives, the program of study is divided into three areas of concentration. The core courses include advanced research and theory courses common to graduate nursing programs. Specialty courses provide the in-depth clinical education for preparation as a beginning family nurse practitioner.

Affiliation

Belmont University School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Southern Council on Collegiate Education of Nursing. The graduate program is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In addition, the School of Nursing holds the charter for the Omicron Phi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and is a member institution of the Nightingale Society.

Academic Policies

Policies and Procedures for Admission

A. Requirements for Admission to Graduate Program

To be considered for acceptance as a graduate student, the applicant must submit the following items and/or meet these requirements:

1. A completed application form.
2. The $50 application fee.
3. One official transcript indicating a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from a nationally accredited degree-granting institution should be mailed directly to the Belmont University Office of Admissions from the originating institution.
4. One official transcript from all institutions attended should be sent directly to the Belmont University Office of Admissions from the originating institution. (A student may transfer up to 6 graduate hours from another institution upon the recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee.)
5. Proof of a current RN license from the student's state of residence and/or practice. A Tennessee RN license is required for clinical experiences in Tennessee.
6. Official scores for the Graduate Record Examination taken within the last five years should be sent to the Office of Admissions.
7. The applicant must have at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade-point average on a 4.0 scale for full admission.
8. Two references are required. One should be from a faculty member who is familiar with the applicant's undergraduate nursing work, and one should be from a current nursing clinical supervisor. Both letters should be on company letterhead and should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions.
9. Applicant's interview with faculty.
10. Narrative statement of 1-2 pages in length describing the applicant's interest in the FNP role, education goals, and career goals. Additional writing samples may be requested.

B. Departmental Screening

After a student submits an application form and undergraduate transcripts and meets all requirements for admission as defined in the admission guidelines, the applicant's file is forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Committee for review. The committee can make one of the following recommendations:

1. Full admission when the applicant has a B.S.N. degree and meets GPA and GRE requirements.
2. Conditional admission with individually determined stipulations.
3. Denial of admission.

C. Admission to Courses for Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students currently enrolled in the Belmont RN-BSN program, and who are within six (6) hours of completing their degree, are eligible to take graduate courses as non-degree seeking students. These courses may not be used as hours toward the undergraduate degree. These students may take up to six (6) hours of graduate coursework prior to completion of the BSN degree.

Students with a BSN degree are eligible to take 6 hours of graduate coursework as non-degree seeking students. Students with an M.S.N. may take courses in the clinical sequence necessary for specialty certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

D. Post Master's Option

Students who have an M.S.N. and desire specialty certification as a family nurse practitioner may take a 21-credit hour post master's option. Coursework for the post-master's option includes NUR 5000, 5010, 5030, 5140, 5300, 5310, 5311, and 5320. Post-master's students must make at least a "B" in all courses to remain in the program. The post-master's program can be completed in four consecutive semesters of full-time study, beginning in the summer. Students are awarded a certificate upon completion of their course of study and are eligible to sit for a national Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam.

E. Financial Aid

All students taking four (4) or more hours are eligible for graduate scholarships. In addition, students taking six (6) or more hours are eligible to apply for Professional Nurse Traineeship funding which is requested each year. Application forms for scholarship and traineeship financial aid may be obtained from the School of Nursing. Information on federal loan programs is on page 18.

F. Limitation on Completion of Requirements

A graduate student in the master's program must complete all degree requirements within a six (6) year period. Time limits shall be computed from and will include the first semester of credit applied to the degree program.

G. Graduation Requirement - Comprehensive Exam

All students are required to take a comprehensive exam during the final clinical semester they are enrolled in the MSN program. The comprehensive exam includes questions on all content areas in the MSN program. Students who are not successful on the first attempt may take the exam one additional time. Students who are unsuccessful on the exam two times will have their file reviewed by the Admission Committee. The student must complete any remedial work or retake any courses required by the Admission Committee prior to being approved to retake the comprehensive exam. Passing the comprehensive exam is required for graduation or post-masters certificate.

Readmission

Students who fail to register for courses during a given semester are required to apply for readmission in the subsequent semester in which they expect to enroll for courses.

Suggested Course of Study for Full-Time Student

Nursing Core Courses

NUR 5010. Advanced Pathophysiology (3). The course is designed to provide the post-baccalaureate nurse with the opportunity to utilize undergraduate science background and clinical experiences in the examination of pathophysiologic mechanisms of certain disease processes. Selected client case studies will be utilized.

NUR 5020. Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3). This course builds on the basic concepts of critical thinking. Students use this information to provide a critical analysis of selected nursing theories/models and to begin the process of differential diagnosis. Students examine the theoretical basis of nursing by formulating an individualized model to use in their own advanced nursing practice.

NUR 5030. Issues in Nursing and Health Care (3). The course provides an exploration of the influence of current ethical, legal, economic, professional, and political factors on the practice of nursing.

NUR 5040. Advanced Nursing Research (3). Prerequisite: NUR 5050. Methodology including design, sampling, data collection, and data analysis is explored in depth. Quantitative and qualitative methods are studied. Application of knowledge is evidenced by synthesis of the current nursing and health-related literature into a written state-of-the-science review.

NUR 5050. Statistics in Health Care Research (3). This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics used in health care research. Emphasis is placed on how and when to use statistical techniques as well as interpretation of statistics. Computer applications also are explored.

NUR 514. Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3). Pharmacokinetics, dynamics and therapeutics of major drug classifications in current therapeutic use are discussed. Principles and prescribing practices for advanced practice nurses are emphasized.

NUR 5620. Economics and Management of Healthcare Systems (3). This course addresses the financial, economic, operational, marketing and strategic planning issues that are relevant for family nurse practitioners in contemporary healthcare settings. Basic principles of healthcare economics and basic marketing principles for advanced practice and healthcare operations are emphasized. In addition, pertinent principles of management and their application for family nurse practitioners in clinical settings are explored.

Nursing Specialty Courses

NUR 5000. Theoretical Foundations of Family Nursing (2). Theories of family development and family systems are presented from the perspective of promoting family health and well-being. Application of family theories to nursing care of primary care clients is emphasized. Students use two models of family assessment to investigate family responses to health and illness.

NUR 5300. Advanced Health Assessment (3). This course provides an opportunity for students to explore and practice advance health assessment techniques utilized by nurse practitioners. Students participate in class laboratory and clinical activities to enhance assessment skills. Health promotion and maintenance activities throughout the lifespan are discussed.

NUR 5310. Primary Health Care I (4). Prerequisites: NUR 5300. This course encompasses both didactic and clinical content. Health promotion and disease prevention throughout the lifespan are discussed. Students explore the management of acute and chronic illnesses throughout the lifespan. Emphasis is on diagnosis and management of clinical problems. Clinical situations are provided for students to begin integration and synthesis of the didactic component of the course.

NUR 5311. Primary Health Care II (4). Prerequisites: NUR 5300, NUR 5140, NUR 5310. This course is a continuation of the concepts of health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management begun in NUR 5310 (PHCI). In addition to didactic content and clinical experiences, students will participate in a clinical conference designed to encourage peer feedback. Emphasis is placed on continuing synthesis and integration of content in the classroom and in the clinical setting.

NUR 5320. Family Nurse Practitioner Intensive Practicum (4). Prerequisite: NUR . This course integrates the knowledge and skills acquired in NUR 5310 and NUR 5311 in an intensive clinical semester. Students are expected to demonstrate significant synthesis of diagnostic, management, and evaluation skills in the clinical setting, as well as in clinical conferences.

NUR 5800. Research Application I (2). Prerequisite: NUR 5050. This course links the research process to clinical practice by emphasizing the need for evidence-based practice. Students work with faculty in a research team format to explore both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Active learning exercises are used to introduce the research tools needed to assess and manage their clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on scholarship in clinical practice and community service.

NUR 5810. Research Application II (1). Prerequisite: NUR 5800. This course is a continuation of NUR 580. Emphasis is placed on the oral and written dissemination of research findings using the data collected in NUR 580. Students prepare and submit both a manuscript for publication and abstracts for paper and poster presentations.

Nursing Electives*

NUR 5510. Curriculum Design (3). The course provides an exploration of the major influences on curriculum formation, and the issues and trends impacting curricula. The process of curriculum development is examined including the roles and responsibilities of the faculty and students in higher education.

NUR 5520. Instructional Methods (3). This course provides opportunities to apply the teaching-learning process to nursing education. Emphasis is placed on media design and utilization, computer-assisted learning and on evaluation techniques for classroom and clinical teaching.

NUR 5530. Nursing Informatics (3). Students will explore the use of computer technology in accessing, managing and analyzing information systems. Students will improve computer skills usage and will access and use various types of data.

NUR 5600. Management in Advanced Practice Nursing (3). This course focuses on management issues and concepts related to those who will be practicing as advanced practitioners. An examination of intervening variables which affect organizations including structure, dynamics, and processes of change will be conducted. Seminars will focus on integrating organizational theory, nursing, clinical practice and research.

NUR 5910. Independent Study (1-3). This course provides opportunity to pursue study to meet individual student needs.

NUR 5920. International Health Care Delivery Systems (3). This course examines the health care delivery system of a selected country, its philosophy, and technology of the country (countries) visited. The system of the selected country is compared to the health care delivery system of the United States. Learning activities include immersion into the selected country, lecture, small group discussion, pertinent readings, and clinical practice.

NUR 5930. Independent Study: Clinical Practice (1-3). This course provides the opportunity to pursue additional mentored clinical study to meet individual student needs.

NUR 5980. Spirituality in Nursing (3). The concept of spirituality/religiosity will be explored in a three-hour didactic and seminar format. The role of the nurse as a provider of spiritual care and as distinguished from religious care will be addressed. The course incorporates the School of Nursing's belief that all individuals are viewed holistically, an approach that takes into consideration the bio-pscho-social-spiritual needs of the client. Another outcome of the course will be a greater understanding of one's own spiritual nature.

*Not included in the MSN or post-MSN required curriculum.