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2017-2018 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.
Master of Science - Nursing
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Plan Description
The M.S.N. program currently offers two tracks: the Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Track and the Nurse Educator (NE) Track. The role of the nurse practitioner (NP) is that of direct care provider. NPs practice in clinics, long-term care facilities, hospitals, physician offices, managed care corporations and private industries. NPs perform health histories and physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose and manage acute and chronic diseases, prescribe medication and treatments, provide patient and family counseling and education regarding lifestyle behaviors and self-care skills and participate in research projects and integrate research findings. The NP blends some aspects of medicine with nursing, using a nursing perspective. When required by state law, as it is in Nevada, NPs have collaborative relationships with physicians. Credentialing examinations, designed by specialty area, are available and required prior to practice in most states. The nurse practitioner track offers courses with the option for full-time and part-time study.
The nurse educator track prepares the graduate for a faculty position within a program of nursing or a nurse educator position in a clinical setting. The student will increase mastery related to teaching and learning and evaluation strategies, curriculum design, and the use of educational technologies. Via directed study and mentorship with experienced faculty, students will enhance clinical expertise in a selected specialty area. Graduate students will have the opportunity to supervise basic nursing students in clinical practice areas and/or work with nurse educators in clinical settings in the preparation, delivery and evaluation of educational programs for nurses. The nurse educator track is a year round program featuring full time and part time options for program completion.
Program Outcomes of the Master of Science Degree
Upon completion of the program the graduate will complete the following core outcomes:
- Integrate scientific findings from health and educational fields to include but not limited to nursing, social sciences, and humanities.
- Assimilate leadership at the organizational and systems level to advance safe high quality outcomes in clinical or educational settings.
- Apply continuous quality improvement measures to achieve positive outcomes in clinical or educational settings.
- Utilize a systematic, scholarly approach to translate, apply, and disseminate evidence based research in clinical or educational settings.
- Incorporate health related technologies to deliver, coordinate care, and analyze data to improve outcomes.
- Practice advocacy to improve education, the health of the public, and the profession of nursing.
- Employ culturally appropriate skills in communicating and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to achieve positive outcomes in clinical or educational settings.
- Synthesize social, cultural, financial, legal, ethical, and political influences to advance nursing practice, healthcare, and education.
- Model the professional role of an advanced practice nurse or nurse educator in daily practice.
Program Outcomes: Nurse Practitioner Track
- Competently assess, diagnose, prescribe, evaluate and create a holistic plan of treatment.
- Articulate the professional role, which includes the ethical code of conduct and scope of advanced practice.
- Develop and monitor comprehensive, holistic plans of care that address the health promotion and disease prevention needs of diverse client populations.
- Assess and monitor teaching/learning needs in a diverse client population. Practice ethically in the conduct of research, management and clinical professional practice.
Program Outcomes: Nurse Educator Track
- Utilize education research to continually improve teaching strategies/skills.
- Develop a teaching-learning style that facilitates learner development that meets the educational outcomes of the learner.
- Assess and evaluate at both the course and program level
- Function as a leader and change agent in nursing education settings.
- Participate in scholarship to further knowledge and abilities in nursing education.
Master of Science in Nursing
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
Students are admitted to the program in the fall semester of each year based upon competitive selection. Students may enroll in selected (NURS 705, 706, and 713) classes as a non-degree student, but no more than seven credits of course work as a non-degree student will be accepted toward the degree.
Students make simultaneous application to the Graduate College and the School of Nursing.
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 or a GPA of 3.00 in the last two years of undergraduate work. (Submit one copy of official transcripts from all previous college and professional schools to the Graduate College and one copy to the School of Nursing). The undergraduate nursing course work must have been completed at a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Completion of undergraduate courses in nursing research, physical assessment (as currently taught in the undergraduate program of nursing at UNLV), and a course in introductory statistics. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C (2.00) or better. It is expected that students possess basic computer word processing skills. If not, the student should seek that content prior to enrollment.
- Completion of a graduate level statistics course with a grade of “B” or better within five years prior to matriculation into the MSN program. (Example EPY 721 or KIN 751.)
- Two letters of recommendation from former instructors or employers that speak to the applicant’s potential to complete the graduate program must be submitted to the school. The evaluators should speak to the student’s professional nursing competency, including application of theory, quality of patient care, independent judgment when appropriate; relationship with team members such as nurses, physicians, and others; leadership skills; and personal responsibility and accountability.
- A current resumé or curriculum vita.
- Current valid RN license in state of residence. Students should submit a copy of their Nursing License with the word “copy” printed over the top.
- Accepted applicants must, prior to enrollment, show evidence of current health and malpractice insurance, proof of completion of the Hepatitis B Vaccine series, or a titer indicating presumptive immunity, proof of varicella or a titer indicating presumptive immunity, or a statement from a health care provider indicating that vaccination is contraindicated for health reasons and validation of a negative drug screen and background check. Other immunization and health data requirements are identified in the student handbook.
- A statement of approximately 300 words describing the student’s professional goals and reason for seeking graduate education.
- Students seeking admission to the FNP track must submit a resume or vita that demonstrates a minimum of one year clinical experience as a registered nurse.
- Students seeking admission into the Nursing Education Pathway are required to have completed one year of clinical practice prior to enrollment in the first nursing education practicum course (NURS 733 ).
- Selection into one of the approved pathways is based upon the applicant’s qualifications (academic and professional), applicant’s strengths as compared to other applicants, and upon the number of available openings.
- All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 1 Requirements: Family Nurse Practitioner Track
Total Credits Required: 46
Course Requirements
MSN Core – Credits: 18
NURS 703 - Advanced Health Assessment
NURS 704 - Advanced Pathophysiology and Genetics I
NURS 706 - Nursing Theory and Research
NURS 711 - Informatics and Quality Improvement
NURS 713 - Health Policy and Population Health
NURS 730 - Advanced Pharmacology and Genetics II
MSN FNP Required Courses – Credits: 27
NURS 701 - Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for the FNP
NURS 714 - Family Theory and Health Promotion
NURS 740R - FNP Adult and Women’s Health
NURS 750R - FNP Children and OB
NURS 752 - Nurse Practitioner Business and Roles
NURS 760R - FNP Geriatric and Chronic Illness
Culminating Experience - Credits: 1
NURS 761 - Clinical Synthesis
Degree Requirements
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
- Receive a grade of B (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses. If less than a B, for example a B- (2.70), is earned, the course must be repeated. The student must be in good standing to repeat a course and any required course may be repeated only one time.
- A student may register for a course only two times. A student who has registered for the same course twice and has withdrawn or received a grade less than B is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the UNLV Graduate College.
- If a student fails two courses or has withdrawn from two courses or received a grad less than B in two courses he/she is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the Graduate College.
- Complete a minimum of six semester hours in each calendar year.
- Continuously register for a minimum of three (3) semester hours of credit each semester while working on the thesis or capstone project.
- In order to maintain clinical competency the FNP student must continuously register for at least three (3) semester hours of NURS 773 (clinical practicum) each semester while working on the thesis or capstone project if all required clinical courses are complete.
- Residency Credits: No more than three courses (maximum 7 credits) may be transferred into the program. The MSN Coordinator and the Graduate College must approve transfer credit.
- Credit by Challenge Examination: Graduate courses with a 700 number or above may not be challenged for credit.
- Six-Year Completion Rule: All degree requirements must be completed within six calendar years from the date of matriculation. No credit may be used in an advanced degree program for course work completed more than six calendar years immediately preceding the term in which all degree requirements are completed.
- Graduation Requirements: Students have a choice of the catalog under which they wish to graduate. They may choose between: 1) the year of official matriculation, or 2) the year of graduation. Students are encouraged to meet the requirements of the current catalog.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Comprehensive Examination: Students in all tracks will be formally evaluated by an Examination Committee for their thesis or capstone project. (More detailed information is provided in the MSN Handbook.)
- Complete a thesis or capstone project.
- If completing a thesis:
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- The student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted thesis to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Nursing Education Track
Total Credits Required: 33
Course Requirements
MSN Core – Credits: 18
NURS 703 - Advanced Health Assessment
NURS 704 - Advanced Pathophysiology and Genetics I
NURS 706 - Nursing Theory and Research
NURS 711 - Informatics and Quality Improvement
NURS 713 - Health Policy and Population Health
NURS 730 - Advanced Pharmacology and Genetics II
MSN EDU Required Courses – Credits: 14
NURS 709 - Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education
NURS 710 - Course Level Evaluation Strategies for Nurse Educators
NURS 724 - Developing & Evaluating Curriculum for Nursing Education
NURS 733 - Nursing Education Practicum I
NURS 743 - Nursing Education Practicum 2
Culminating Experience – Credits: 1
NURS 753 - Nurse Educator Scholarship Project
Degree Requirements
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
- Receive a grade of B (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses. If less than a B, for example a B- (2.70), is earned, the course must be repeated. The student must be in good standing to repeat a course and any required course may be repeated only one time.
- A student may register for a course only two times. A student who has registered for the same course twice and has withdrawn or received a grade less than B is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the UNLV Graduate College.
- If a student fails two courses or has withdrawn from two courses or received a grad less than B in two courses he/she is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the Graduate College.
- Complete a minimum of six semester hours in each calendar year.
- Continuously register for a minimum of three (3) semester hours of credit each semester while working on the thesis, professional paper, or research utilization project.
- In order to maintain clinical competency the FNP student must continuously register for at least three (3) semester hours of NURS 773 (clinical practicum) each semester while working on the thesis or capstone project if all required clinical courses are complete
- Residency Credits: No more than three courses (maximum 7 credits) may be transferred into the program. The MSN Coordinator and the Graduate College must approve transfer credit.
- Credit by Challenge Examination: Graduate courses with a 700 number or above may not be challenged for credit.
- Six-Year Completion Rule: All degree requirements must be completed within six calendar years from the date of matriculation. No credit may be used in an advanced degree program for course work completed more than six calendar years immediately preceding the term in which all degree requirements are completed.
- Graduation Requirements: Students have a choice of the catalog under which they wish to graduate. They may choose between: 1) the year of official matriculation, or 2) the year of graduation. Students are encouraged to meet the requirements of the current catalog.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Comprehensive Examination: Students in all tracks will be formally evaluated by an Examination Committee for their thesis, research utilization project, or professional paper. (More detailed information is provided in the MSN Handbook.)
- Complete a thesis, research utilization project, or professional paper.
- If completing a thesis:
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- The student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted thesis to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
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