Nursing: Direct Entry (M.S.)

Program Overview

The Direct Entry Master's in Nursing Program is a five-semester program designed for non-RN students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field. The program combines academic coursework with clinical experience, preparing graduates for leadership roles in healthcare as Clinical Nurse Leaders, Nurse Managers, Nurse Educators, and Nurse Researchers. The program includes courses in health policy, pathophysiology, clinical reasoning, and leadership, and uses a variety of teaching methods including lectures, discussions, simulations, and clinical rotations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Direct Entry Master's in Nursing Program is a full-time, five-semester program of study designed for non-RN students who hold a B.S.
or B.A. or higher degree in a field other than nursing. The curriculum begins in January and includes two summer sessions. This program offers the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track.
• Objectives: Graduates will:
• Serve in a healthcare leadership and change agent role as part of a diverse, complex, and patient-centered health care system.
• Act as a practice scholar to design, direct and evaluate system changes to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care.
• Use data analytic methods, information systems and technology to evaluate, integrate and apply knowledge that will improve programs of care, outcomes of care and care systems.
• Use translational science and analytic methods to develop, identify, implement, and evaluate best practices to improve health care and health care systems.
• Design and implement health promotion and clinical prevention strategies across the health/illness continuum to optimize health and disease management.
• Systematically use improvement methods to monitor and evaluate care processes and outcomes and applies data for continuous improvement and safety
• Advocate for social justice through policy, professional and political engagement.
• Applies leadership principles that support inter-professional practice.

Outline:

• Content: The program includes courses in:
• Health Policy and Nursing Practice
• Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
• Clinical Reasoning Through Simulation
• Health Assessment and Clinical Nursing Theory
• Health Assessment and Clinical Nursing
• Chronic Disease Management
• Caring for People with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
• Managing Acute and Complex Care of Individuals
• Childbearing and Childrearing Families
• Leadership in Healthcare
• Population Health
• Advanced Physical Assessment
• Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
• Clinical Nursing Leadership
• Promoting Quality Management
• Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone
• Structure: The program is divided into five semesters, with two summer sessions.
Students take courses in a block format, with each course lasting for two weeks.
• Course Schedule:
• Spring Semester 1:
Health Policy and Nursing Practice, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, Health Assessment and Clinical Nursing Theory, Health Assessment and Clinical Nursing, Foundations of Evidence Based Practice
• Summer Session 1:
Chronic Disease Management, Caring for People with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, Childbearing and Childrearing Families, Advanced Physical Assessment, Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
• Fall Semester 2:
Clinical Reasoning Through Simulation, Managing Acute and Complex Care of Individuals, Leadership in Healthcare, Population Health

Assessment:

• Assessment methods include:
• Exams
• Quizzes
• Assignments
• Clinical evaluations
• Criteria used in the program include:
• Performance on exams and quizzes
• Completion of assignments
• Clinical performance

Teaching:

• The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Simulations
• Clinical rotations
• The faculty are experienced nurse educators with expertise in their respective fields.
• The program uses a unique approach that combines academic coursework with clinical experience.
This approach allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations.

Careers:

• Graduates of the program are eligible for positions as:
• Clinical Nurse Leaders
• Nurse Managers
• Nurse Educators
• Nurse Researchers
• Graduates can work in a variety of settings, including:
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Research institutions