Nursing, Adult-Gerontology-Education - Master of Science in Nursing
(Code 700-819)
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to prepare students in adult-gerontologic or family nursing to assume leadership roles in advanced professional nursing. Students are prepared for roles in nursing education or nursing administration/leadership & management. Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing degree are 39 to 40 credits and include an option of thesis or a scholarly project and public presentation. Completion of the program usually requires four semesters of full-time study with 3 credits taken in a Winterim term. For full time students, the first year of courses generally are on Mondays and the second year of courses usually are on Tuesdays, with the first year courses being taught in a hybrid fashion (combination of face-to-face immersion and online synchronous and asynchronous modalities) and the didactic portions of the second year clinical courses being online (combination of synchronous and asynchronous). The winterim course tends to be online with remote synchronous immersion days. A part-time plan of study may be required based on the year of admission. Consult the Nursing Graduate Programs Director regarding course scheduling. Total clinical hours equal approximately 525 hours. The MSN no longer is a degree option at UW-Eau Claire for students pursuing the nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist role preparations, in keeping with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommendation to transition advanced practice nursing preparation to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree level. Note that program costs are higher than typical University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduate programs and thus the nursing graduate courses involve additional course fees.
Qualifications for M.S.N. Admission
Criteria for admission into the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate program include (also see notes):
1. An undergraduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program, with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
2. Wisconsin Registered Nurse licensure. Current nursing licensure in one of the jurisdictions of the United States required at time of application.
3. Evidence of coursework in statistics (grade of C or better) at the undergraduate level.
4. Satisfactory evidence of personal qualification and capacity for graduate study in nursing.
5. Competence in health assessment.
6. Completed and submitted all application materials including but not limited to a MSN demographic form, essay, resume, university application, official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended, three references (forms provided) from individuals who are knowledgeable of the applicant’s clinical expertise and/or potential for graduate study, and all application fees (nonrefundable).
7. Completed health record, background check, and evidence of current CPR certification and other related requirements (needed by July 1st following admission).
NOTE 1: Previous nursing practice experience is recommended.
NOTE 2: Examples of national accreditation for nursing programs include CCNE, NLN, and ACEN. A portfolio approach may be used for students who have not graduated from an appropriately accredited program. Contact the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nursing Graduate Programs Director for more information.
NOTE 3: WI RN licensure needed by July 1st following admission.
NOTE 4: A graduate special student may not take more than two nursing courses or six credits in nursing before being admitted to the graduate program.
NOTE 5: Priority admission application deadline is as specified on the Graduate Admissions web site.
NOTE 6: Must complete and be current with health requirements, CPR certification, WI RN licensure, and background checks in order to be enrolled in courses.
M.S.N. Curriculum
The core courses, all of which are nursing courses, are required of all MSN students. Students select a population focus in Adult-Gerontologic or Family Nursing in addition to the education or nursing administration/leadership & management role preparation. Functional role preparation requires specific nursing courses which build on a core of nursing knowledge. Cognate courses will be selected by nursing administration students and their advisers to augment their core knowledge, area of population focus, or functional role preparation. Graduate students must earn a grade of C or above in courses and practica to successfully progress.
No more than 2 C’s may be earned in the graduate program.
Nursing, Adult-Gerontology-Education Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| NRSG 701 | Nursing Research: Methods | 4 |
| NRSG 702 | Nursing Research: Application | 2 |
| NRSG 715 | Leadership and Health Policy in Nursing | 3 |
| NRSG 718 | Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing | 2 |
| NRSG 794 | Scholarly Project | 2-3 |
| or NRSG 799 | Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 13-14 | |
Population Focus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontologic | ||
| NRSG 719 | Human Responses in Health and Illness: Adults and Older Adults | 4 |
| NRSG 720 | Advanced Theory and Practice of Adults and Older Adults I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
Functional Role Preparation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Educator Functional Role Preparation | ||
| NRSG 730 | Nursing Education I | 6 |
| NRSG 731 | Nursing Education II | 7 |
| NRSG 709 | Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Concepts | 3 |
| NRSG 703 | Advanced Clinical Concepts for Nurse Educators | 3 |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
| Total Degree Credits | 39-40 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
A graduate of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program will be prepared to:
- Analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge from nursing science and other disciplines related to the health of adults, older adults, and families.
- Synthesize, critique, evaluate, and utilize theory to guide advanced nursing roles.
- Synthesize, evaluate, and utilize research to improve client outcomes for adults, older adults, and families.
- Demonstrate expertise in ethically based, advanced clinical decision-making of human responses in diverse populations.
- Integrate leadership and management theories into the advanced nursing roles.
- Analyze and synthesize current nursing and health care issues and policies within the context of advanced nursing roles.
- Integrate knowledge and theory of health policy, organizations, and financing of health care as a basis for the provision of quality, cost effective care.
- Assume beginning advanced nursing roles across health care settings demonstrating effective advocacy for diverse populations.
- Engage in lifelong learning and scholarship for the advancement of professional nursing.