Nursing (NURS)

E-mail: tkippen@uark.edu or nursing@uark.edu

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Graduate Program expands on the philosophy of the undergraduate nursing program and contributes to the mission of the College of Education and Health Professions and the University of Arkansas. The MSN program prepares students as Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) who are eligible to take national certification exams and apply for licensure as Advanced Practice Nurses.

Program objectives focus on the roles of expert clinician, consultant, educator, manager, and researcher. The skills necessary for life-long learning, including self-assessment, goal setting, active learning, and research utilization are integrated throughout the curriculum. Graduates are prepared to function independently or in a collaborative role on an interdisciplinary team as change agents to affect nursing practice. Graduate education at the master’s level builds on the foundation of baccalaureate education to prepare students to assume responsibility for addressing complex health needs of adults in a variety of settings.

Graduates are prepared to provide clinical leadership for evidence-based practice and to contribute to the development of nursing science through practice, evaluation, and outcomes research. The faculty recognizes the uniqueness of individual students as adult learners and strives to provide flexible opportunities for learning.

The Graduate Nursing Core provides students with the foundation of the science of nursing, the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse; and the complex health needs of diverse populations. The Advanced Practice Core provides students with the advanced knowledge and skills for a comprehensive approach to the management of client problems. The Clinical Nurse Specialist Core provides students with the experience and guidance in advanced clinical decision making to ensure quality care for diverse populations. The Thesis or Research Project allows students to contribute to new knowledge in nursing through original research, replication studies, dissemination efforts, and utilization projects. The Thesis or Research Project requirement also prepares graduates for further study in a doctoral program. The Nursing Education option prepares students to assume the nurse educator role in various institutional settings. The Capstone experience, a written comprehensive exam, will provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to synthesize knowledge from the cores areas and communicate their ideas effectively.

Upon the completion of the program of studies the graduate will be able to:

1. Promote evidence-based practice through problem identification and the critique and utilization of research findings.

2. Collaborate in policy development, resource management, and cost-effective care delivery.

3. Apply legal/ethical principles to promote a values-based professional practice.

4. Effect health care outcomes through advanced practice roles of clinician, teacher, manager, researcher, and consultant.

5. Utilize theories from nursing and other disciplines for clinical decision making.

6. Advocate for access to quality health care for diverse populations.

7. Collaborate with other disciplines to design, deliver, and evaluate health promotion/disease prevention programs for diverse populations.

Areas of Concentration: Medical-surgical nursing; nursing
education.

Primary Areas of Faculty Research: Cardiopulmonary physiology; placement, recruitment and retention of advanced practice nurses; attrition and retention of nursing students; nurse educator leadership; patient falls; self-care and health promotion in older adults.

Admission Requirements: 1) Admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. 2) Completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program. 3) Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Arkansas. 4) Completion of a basic health assessment course (academic or continuing education). 5) Completion of a basic-level statistics course with a grade of “C” or above. 6) Evidence of current CPR (American Heart Association for Professionals) certification, TB screening, Hepatitis immunization, professional liability insurance, and health insurance. 7) Basic computer and library skills including the use of electronic databases. 8) Qualified applicants will be admitted on a space available basis.

Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing Degree: In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, students must complete a minimum of 41 credits (44 credits with thesis option) including the following courses: Graduate Nursing Core courses: NURS 5003, 5013, 5023, 5033, 5042, 5141; Advanced Practice Core courses: NURS 5143, 5102, 5111, 5123; Clinical Specialist Core courses: NURS 5212, 5225, 5232, 5245. Clinical practicum courses involve 3 contact hours per credit. Students complete a total of 540 hours of clinical practicum. Students who select the thesis option complete a minimum of six credits of thesis that will count toward the degree. As an alternative to completing a thesis, students may elect the research project option and are required to complete a three-credit independent study. Students who intend to pursue doctoral preparation are strongly urged to select the thesis option. All candidates for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) must successfully complete a comprehensive written exam.

The Nursing Education option is available to students currently enrolled in the MSN program and to those nurses with a previous master’s degree in nursing. Students complete nine credits by taking the following courses: NURS 5303, 5313, 5323.

Arkansas State Board of Nursing approval pending.

Accreditation of the program will be pursued prior to the first graduating class.

---

NURS5003 Theorectical Foundations in Nursing (Fa)  The course utilizes the critical reasoning process to examine the element of nursing knowledge. Emphasis is placed on concept analysis and the evaluation of nursing theories. Identification of the links between theory and empirical indicators is examined. The clinical relevance of mid-range and practice theories is explored.

NURS5013 Advanced Nursing Research I (Fa)  This course foceses on scientific approaches to the knowledge, logic, and techniques of the research process. Reciprocal relationships among theory, research, ethics, and evidence based nursing practice are emphasized. Pre- or Corequisite: NURS 5003.

NURS5023 Advanced Nursing Research II (Sp)  Builds on the content of Advanced Nursing Research I. Focuses on specific research methodologies, statistical analysis, and interpretation of findings. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis of nursing research outcomes for support of evidence-based practice. Syntheses of the two course sequence results in completion of a research proposal. Prerequisite: NURS 5013.

NURS5033 Role Development of the Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialist (Fa)  The study of role development of the Advanced Practice Nurse with specific emphasis on the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Concepts include role development, interdisciplinary communication and collaborative strategies, patient advocacy and serving as change agent for role implementation. Pre- or Corequisite: NURS 5003.

NURS5042 Advanced Concepts in Health Promotion with Diverse Populations (Sp)  Provides a theoretical basis for health promotion, risk reduction and disease prevention at the individual, family and community levels. A cross-disciplinary approach to achieve or preserve health is identified. Focuses on holistic plans and interventions that address the behavioral and social factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality in diverse populations.

NURS5102 Advanced Health Assessment  (Su)   Application of advanced health assessment techniques with adults within the context of the family and community. Differentiate abnormal from normal findings, interpret diagnostic tests, and use clinical reasoning to formulate diagnoses for culturally diverse individuals. Emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. Corequisite: NURS 5111.

NURS5111 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Health Asessment  (Su)   Clinical practicum companion course for NURS 5102: Advanced Health Asessment. Opportunities to conduct health assessments on a variety of clients. Corequisite: NURS 5102.

NURS5123 Advanced Pharmacology  (Su)   Advanced concepts and application of pharmacotherapeutic and pharmacokinetics of broad categories of agents used for disease management of individuals. Provides the student with the knowledge and skills to manage (including the prescription of pharmacologic agents) a client’s common health problems in a safe, high quality, cost-effective manner.

NURS5141 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Concepts in Health Promotion with Diverse Populations (Sp)  Clinical practicum companion course for NURS 5042. Provides opportunity to develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion interventions for selected clients. Corequisite: NURS 5042.

NURS5143 Advanced Pathophysiology (Sp)  This course is designed for nurses experienced in the management of pathophysiological disorders. It includes mechanisms of disease, the immune response and selected system based disorders.

NURS5212 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing I (Fa)  Focuses on utilization of advanced theories, concepts, knowledge and skill in the care of diverse adult populations with complex acute health problems. Prerequisite: all core courses.

NURS5225 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing I (Fa)  Clinical practicum for NURS 5212. Application of advanced theories, concepts, knowledge and skill in the care of diverse adult populations with complex acute health problems. Corequisite: NURS 5212. Prerequisite: all core courses.

NURS5232 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing II (Sp)  Focuses on utilization of advanced theories, concepts, knowledge and skill in the care of diverse adult populations with complex chronic health problems. Corequisite: NURS 5245. Prerequisite: all core courses.

NURS5245 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing II (Sp)  Clinical practicum for NURS 5232. Application of advanced theories, concepts, knowledge and skill in the care of adults with chronic health problems. Corequisite: NURS 5232. Prerequisite: all core courses.

NURS5303 Foundations of Nursing Education (Fa)  Considers the principles, philosophies, theories, and strategies of teaching, learning, and evaluation needed in nursing education.

NURS5313 Curriculum and Evaluation in Nursing Education (Sp)  Considers knowledge and skills needed for curriculum and program development and evaluation for a variety of nursing eduation settings.

NURS5323 Teaching in Nursing Practicum  (Su)   Supervised experience in the nurse educator role in both classroom and clinical settings. Prerequisite: NURS 5303 and NURS 5313.

NURS579V Independent Study (Sp, Su, Fa) (1-3)  Independent study designed by student with faculty advisor. May be completed as alternative to thesis.

NURS589V Workshop  (Irregular) (1-3)  Practice-based topics for the advanced practice nurse.

NURS599V Seminar  (Irregular) (1-3)  Selected topics in nursing explored in discussion format.

NURS600V Master’s Thesis (Sp, Su, Fa) (1-3)  Student research to fulfill degree requirement for the MSN. Prerequisite: NURS 5013 and NURS 5023.