Graduate Program. Master of Science Nursing

Transcription

1 Graduate Program Master of Science Nursing

2 XPER IENCE A graduate degree from Alverno College gives you more Alverno s unique teaching methods and outstanding faculty are internationally recognized and studied. This means that your degree from Alverno will be a widely respected and a valued testament to your well-developed knowledge and abilities. But that is not all. Alverno is different than other schools. How is Alverno different? Here s one way: at Alverno, your professors will focus on how well you can integrate, master, and use the material you re learning in the real world rather than on whether you can simply get the answers right on a one-time exam. And here is another: our graduate programs integrate the core skills of your chosen profession into every course you take rather than splitting up and isolating distinct subjects. And another: our teaching helps you learn how to solve realistic, actual problems the same way you do while working and living in the real world. How will the faculty teach you? You will receive personalized, comprehensive, in-depth feedback from your professors on every assignment you complete. You will be held to rigorous academic standards and given the tools you need to meet and exceed those standards. You will learn how to fully integrate theory into practice. You and your classmates will bring your own knowledge to the table, and you will collaborate and learn from each other. Your teachers will see their role as facilitating your learning. What is learning at Alverno like? Relevant. Experiential. Active. Real-world. Who are the women and men who choose to pursue a graduate degree at Alverno? Motivated. Passionate. Ambitious. They appreciate a challenging but rewarding environment one that prepares them to excel and lead in today s complex world. Does this sound like you? Do you want to join them? 2 Alverno Value alverno.edu/msn Alverno Value 3

3 OVERVIEW Program Overview Nuts and Bolts Alverno offers three tracks within our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program all of which prepare you to be an advanced practice nurse. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track prepares you to provide primary care to all populations, from infants to the elderly. (A post-master s certificate is also available within this track.) The Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator (CNS/NE) track trains you as a nurse educator at a college internationally recognized for teaching and education. As a nurse educator, you will be capable of teaching in a variety of settings from schools, to hospitals, to community-based organizations. Additionally, this track prepares you to be an advanced practice clinical nurse, one who takes a strategic, big-picture approach to monitoring patient outcomes and problem-solving, while managing and leading within an organization. Note: there is an Adult/ Gerontology focus within this track. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track prepares you to provide advanced care, through your clinical practice, to those with mental health disorders. (A post-master s certificate is also available within this track.) Program Details Open to both women and men who are licensed as an RN and hold a BSN degree. Coursework prepares you to sit for national certification exams. Upon graduation and certification, you will have completed all of the academic preparation toward licensure as an Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber. These programs are a good foundation for doctoral work. Throughout the program, you will complete practicum hours within certain courses allowing you the opportunity to use the skills that you have learned in the classroom. Requirements for the various tracks are as follows: $ $ Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): 665 practicum hours required After completing the FNP program, you may be eligible for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam. $ $ Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator (CNS/NE): 590 practicum hours required After completing the CNS/NE program, you may be eligible for the ANCC Clinical Nurse Specialist Adult/Gerontology Certification Exam. $ $ Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): 665 practicum hours are required After completing the PMHNP program, you may be eligible for the ANCC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam. 4 Nuts and Bolts alverno.edu/msn Nuts and Bolts 5

4 REPAREProgram Overview 6 Key Principles Analyze and Implement Evidence-Based Practice Patient Safety and Continuous Quality Improvement Leadership, Scholarship, and Inter-Professional Collaboration Influence Outcomes Within Alverno s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, throughout every course you take, you will be challenged to do the following: Integrate and apply both theory and practice in the delivery of advanced practice-level care Influence outcomes for individuals, populations, organizations, and communities Analyze and implement evidence-based practice for the delivery of care Embrace and lead change in enhancing the quality of care Integrate and Apply Both Theory and Practice Embrace and Lead Change Explore and promote patient safety and continuous quality improvement in healthcare Enhance and demonstrate leadership, scholarship, and inter-professional collaboration skills These six key principles will guide your coursework. But even more, they will guide your career after you graduate and are working in the field. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to assume the role of an advanced practice registered nurse with readiness, accountability, and commitment. K E Y PRINCIPLES 6 Key Principles alverno.edu/msn Key Principles 7

5 CURRIC ULUM Course Offerings Classes meet in one of three time slots Friday evening, Saturday morning, or Saturday afternoon. Some courses are also offered on weekday evenings. In addition, some courses may be offered in a hybrid format (part in-class, part online). Summer courses are available to expedite your time within the program. Students complete the program at their own pace. Required Core Courses Theories & Frameworks of Advanced Nursing Practice Nursing Inquiry Healthcare Systems: Organization, Economics, & Politics Education & Human Development Advanced Practice Nursing Roles & Ethical Decision Making Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology Advanced Health & Physical Assessment Advanced Pharmacology & Clinical Decision Making Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Additional Courses Helping Relationships: Prevention, Intervention, & Systems Practicum 1: Advanced Primary Care Management with Adults & Older Adults Practicum 2: Advanced Primary Care Management with Women, Infants, & Children Practicum 3: Advanced Primary Care Management of Vulnerable Populations FNP Track: 39 total credits required Post-Master s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate After completing the required FNP courses, you may be eligible for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam. (Transcript review required.) Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator (CNS/ NE) Additional Courses Education & Human Development Practicum 1: Theories & Strategies of Instructional Design & Assessment Practicum 2: Promoting Health in Diverse Communities Practicum 3: Advanced Practice Nursing for Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator CNS/NE Track: 39 total credits required Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program Additional Courses Helping Relationships Theories of Personality & Psychopathology Practicum 1: Advanced Primary Mental Health Care Management of Adults Practicum 2: Advanced Primary Mental Health Care Management of the Bipolar Spectrum Disorders & the Child, Teen, & Geriatric Populations Practicum 3: Advanced Primary Mental Health Care Management of the Chronic, Serious Mentally Ill & Substance Addicted Populations PMHNP Track: 42 total credits required Post-Master s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate After completing the required PMHNP courses, you may be eligible for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam. (Transcript review required.) 8 Course Offerings alverno.edu/msn Course Offerings 9

6 LUMNI They Speak for Themselves Pursuing a graduate degree in Alverno s Master of Science in Nursing Program meant that I could balance my professional life with my studies by attending classes on the weekends. More importantly, the quality of my learning was unmatched. Alverno s way of assessing and evaluating students meant that my experience wasn t based on grades it was based on showing what I learned. This made me proficient in articulating my progress and putting my learning into practice. Everything I learned turned into usable knowledge, and now I feel self-assured when working with people who would have intimidated me before. Alverno helped me build confidence in who I am and what I know. Beth St. John Education Coordinator, Fresenius Medical Care Between balancing my career and my life as a wife and mother, the thought of returning to school for a graduate degree was daunting. However, Alverno s weekend class structure gave me the flexibility I was seeking, along with the quality learning and resources I needed to grow. Professors at Alverno demonstrate a genuine interest in meeting the unique needs of their students. In addition, I benefitted from the intimate classroom environment and the emphasis on open discussion which greatly facilitated my learning. In all these things, Alverno has given me the tools I need to pursue my goal of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Shaunta Pierce Aurora Health Care After completing my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Alverno, I eagerly enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program because I knew the quality I would get and how much my career would be helped by the further education at Alverno. Between the real-world, evidence-based curriculum and coursework, diverse clinical rotations, and individualized attention from faculty, I am confident that Alverno has helped me to reach my greatest potential. In an ever-changing healthcare world, my Alverno education has placed me in an ideal position to make a positive impact by providing quality, collaborative, and holistic care for my patients across the lifespan. Amanda Farrell Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - St. Joseph s Hospital The graduate nursing program at Alverno provided me a great opportunity to develop my skills, through a wide range of clinical nursing experiences. One thing I didn t expect was how much the program improved my communication and critical thinking skills which are vital to my role as a nurse educator. I really appreciated the collegial relationships I was able to build with my professors, as well as with the diverse group of students in the program. My classmates brought new perspectives to me, from many different backgrounds and areas of expertise. My Alverno education was instrumental in my growth as a person, and in my professional development as an advanced practice nurse. Ann VanEerden Assistant Professor, Joann McGrath School of Nursing, Alverno College 10 Student Testimonials alverno.edu/msn Student Testimonials 11

7 PROOF Here s How You Know For over 125 years, Alverno has been offering innovative, cutting-edge, quality education. Representatives from 43 countries throughout the world have come to Alverno to study our unique teaching and learning methods. Alverno consistently rates among the region s top liberal arts colleges in U.S. News and World Report s annual college guide having been listed 30 times since 1983 in the highly respected rankings. Our unique ability-based-learning and assessmentas-learning approaches to education have been chronicled nationally in TIME magazine, the New York Times, and USA Today over the past decade. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation s Genius Award has been granted to Alverno, for our distinctive approach to liberal arts education. Alverno s faculty and staff have been called upon to consult with three U.S. Presidential Administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education. 12 Proof alverno.edu/msn Proof 13

8 S. 27th St. S. 60th St. S. 43rd St. S. 43rd St. S. 35th St. S. 39th St. Frequently Asked Questions Who is eligible for this program? For consideration in this program, you must hold a Bachelor s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. You must also hold a current, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the United States. Is financial aid available? Graduate students are eligible to apply for loans. To qualify for a federal loan, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applications can be found at fafsa.ed.gov (use Alverno s federal school code: ). We encourage all students to complete the FAFSA, even if you do not anticipate the need for financial aid at this time. Then, if your financial situation changes, your information will already be on file. In addition, your employer may offer tuition reimbursement for your studies. If this is an option for you, we d be happy to work with you to get the process started. Will this program work within my busy schedule? Classes meet every other weekend during the Fall and Spring Semesters, giving flexibility to today s working students. Courses meet in one of three time slots Friday evening, Saturday morning, or Saturday afternoon. Some courses are also offered on weekday evenings. In addition, some courses may be offered in a hybrid format (part in-class, part online). Students complete the program at their own pace. Graduate learning is selfdirected and requires intensive time and commitment, both inside and outside the classroom. Full or part-time schedules are available to you. Application Steps Apply Online: alverno.edu/gradapply Submit the following materials (in any order): Three Recommendations (at least two must be professional or academic) Official Transcripts (verifying that you hold a Bachelor s or advanced degree) Goal Statement (one-page description of your professional goals and why this program will help you reach them) Learning Narrative (two-page description of a significant learning experience related to your nursing practice) Current Resume Copy of Unencumbered Nursing License Looking for more details? Go here: alverno.edu/msninstructions Apply early, this program fills quickly! Questions? Contact Alverno Graduate Admissions: (414) (800) admissions@alverno.edu You have worked hard but have you gotten to where you want to be in your career? You are on the pathway to nursing leadership but would you like to speed up your trajectory? Don t wait another day to pursue your dreams. Invest in you. Apply today. N to Madison to Beloit W. Greenfield Ave. W. National Ave. W. Lincoln Ave. W. Beloit Rd. 94 W. Oklahoma Ave. W. Morgan Ave. W. Forest Home Ave. 43 W. Layton Ave MILLER PARK W. Loomis Ave. 57 Anthony Dr W. Oklahoma Ave. W. Euclid Ave. W. Morgan to Chicago to Green Bay ALVERNO COLLEGE CAMPUS Howard/Holt Ave. exit 43 DOWNTOWN GENERAL MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Alverno College is located on a 46-acre campus in the Jackson Park neighborhood of Milwaukee, just 15 minutes from downtown and the lakefront, and is easily accessible from all major freeways. There is ample free parking on campus. Driving directions to Alverno: alverno.edu/directions 14 Frequently Asked Questions alverno.edu/msn Page title 15

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