GRADUATE FACULTY COUNCIL DOC. NO. 861 APPROVED May 14, 2001 RECOMMENDATION OF THE GRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE AND THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING FOR CHANGES IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE PROGRAM I. Current Graduate School Bulletin Copy Master of Science in Nursing Admission The admission requirements of the Master's program in Nursing are consistent with those requirements specified by the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, students must also meet the following requirements for the School of Nursing: A bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professionally accredited program, with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale). Completion with a grade of C or higher of an upper-level undergraduate course in statistics within the five years immediately preceding admission. Current registration as a professional nurse in the State of Wisconsin. Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the last five years. The master's program admission requirement of the GRE will be waived for students who have completed a master's degree. Three (3) letters of recommendation for graduate study in nursing, two (2) of which are from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant's recent academic and work experiences. Personal interview with a faculty member may be requested. Completion of an autobiographical sketch. These data are used by the Admissions Subcommittee as indicators of academic potential. Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the individual graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree. Major Professor as Adviser The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student's studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The student is assigned to an adviser at the time of admission.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 2 Approved May 14, 2001 Credits and Courses The Master of Science program is offered to prepare Advanced Practice Nurses. This is accomplished through core courses required of all students (24 credits) and completion of requirements for one of three clinical tracks. The following tracks are available: Clinical Nurse Specialist Track Family Nurse Practitioner Track Post Nurse Practitioner Track Graduate Core Courses: 12 Credits 735 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 727 Epidemiology, 3 cr. 729 Health Care Systems and Advanced Practice, 3 cr. 725 Nursing Research and Knowledge Generation in Nursing, 3 cr. Advanced Practice Core Courses: 12 Credits 753 Physiologic Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 707 Advanced Pharmacology: Application to Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 754 Comprehensive Assessment of Health: Implications for Clinical Decision-Making, 3 cr. 784 Advanced Nursing Practice Interventions, 3 cr. Clinical Nurse Specialist Track (22 Credits) Students selecting this track develop program of study focused on the planning, delivery, and evaluation of advanced practice nursing care to a specified population. Students complete 22 credits in the clinical track for a total of 46 program credits. Designated course work in the clinical specialty is completed under the direction of faculty experts and clinical preceptors. The specialty areas available to clinical nurse specialist students are: adult health nursing (acute and chronic), community health nursing, psychiatric / mental health nursing, and maternal-child nursing. Clinical Support Courses: 9 Credits Students in the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track select a minimum of 9 required credits in a substantive area to support clinical specialization. Electives may be selected in nursing or other related disciplines. Not more than one of the electives may be a U/G (Undergraduate/graduate) course for graduate credit. Clinical Nurse Specialist Practica: 13 Credits 737 Clinical Nurse Specialist: Practicum I, 4 cr. 738 Clinical Nurse Specialist: Practicum II, 4 cr. 739 Clinical Nurse Specialist: Practicum III, 4 cr. 991 Research and Thesis, 1 cr.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 3 Approved May 14, 2001 Family Nurse Practitioner Track (22 Credits) Students selecting the Family Nurse Specialist Track follow a program of study designed to prepare them for advanced nursing practice in primary care settings with families across the lifespan. Designated coursework in the specialty is completed under the direction of faculty experts and clinical preceptors. A three-semester sequence of theory and practicum courses total 22 clinical track credits for a total of 46 program credits. Family Nurse Practitioner Theory Courses: 9 Credits 767 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory I, 3 cr. 768 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory II, 3 cr. 769 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory III, 3 cr. Family Nurse Practitioner Practica Courses: 13 Credits 757 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum I, 3 cr. 758 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum II, 5 cr. 759 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum III, 4 cr. 991 Research and Thesis, 1 cr. Post Nurse Practitioner Track The Post Nurse Practitioner Track is designed for nurse practitioners who have a bachelor's degree and preparation as a nurse practitioner at the certificate level and wish to pursue a master's degree. Students in this option will complete the 24 credits of the core courses, an experience portfolio, and 1 credit of Research and Thesis for the required clinical project. This track is offered on weekends and during the summer. Special advising is required to establish eligibility and develop a program plan. Total Program 46 credits for students who complete the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track; 46 credits for students who complete the Family Nurse Practitioner Track; and 25 credits for students who complete the Post Nurse Practitioner Track. Thesis Optional (as a 3 credit elective) Comprehensive Clinical Project The student will complete a final comprehensive clinical project. Time Limit Students in the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track or the Family Nurse Practitioner Track must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student. Students in the Post Nurse Practitioner Track must complete all degree requirements within five years of the first enrollment as a degree student.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 4 Approved May 14, 2001 II. Summary of Proposed Changes Create an RN to MS option by modifying the current MS program by decreasing the credit hours required for graduation to 36 for Registered Nurse (RN) students who are completing the BS in Nursing program and who desire to immediately continue their graduate education. III. Resource Implications No additional faculty or facilities will be required for this program modification. IV. Justification for Proposed Changes The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice has urged that by the year 2010 at least two thirds of the nursing workforce hold a baccalaureate or higher degree to meet the needs in this country. Currently only about 40% of nurses have these degrees. In response to the demand for an increasing number of baccalaureate and master s prepared nurses educational programs need to be designed that facilitate current nurses with associate degree preparation to complete both baccalaureate and master s programs. The current BS in Nursing Program at UWM is a 124-credit degree program that includes 26 to 32 elective credits depending on the student s previous coursework. The RN to MS option would allow students interested in pursuing both degrees consecutively to complete 12 credits of graduate coursework while finishing their BS degree and then complete a 34 credit hour master s. The 12 credits of graduate core courses that would be taken while completing the BS program are: 690-735 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 690-727 Epidemiology, 3 cr. 690-729 Health Care Systems and Advanced Practice, 3 cr. 690-725 Nursing Research and Knowledge Generation in Nursing, 3 cr. Students would apply for the MS program in their last semester in the undergraduate program. Students will need to meet all current requirements and have completed the 12 credit hours of core graduate courses in the MS program with a grade of B or better to be admitted to this option. An increasing number of RN's inquiring about the UWM BS program are indicating that they are very interested in enrolling in a RN to MS program. UWM is one of the last collegiate nursing programs in Wisconsin to be adding a RN to MS option. The addition of this option will require no additional resources since our current course offerings could accommodate an additional 30-50 students a year.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 5 Approved May 14, 2001 V. Proposed Bulletin Copy Master of Science in Nursing Admission The admission requirements of the Master's program in Nursing are consistent with those requirements specified by the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, students must also meet the following requirements for the School of Nursing: A bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professionally accredited program, with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale). Completion with a grade of C or higher of an upper-level undergraduate course in statistics within the five years immediately preceding admission. Current registration as a professional nurse in the State of Wisconsin. Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the last five years. The master's program admission requirement of the GRE will be waived for students who have completed a master's degree. Three (3) letters of recommendation for graduate study in nursing, two (2) of which are from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant's recent academic and work experiences. Personal interview with a faculty member may be requested. Completion of an autobiographical sketch. These data are used by the Admissions Subcommittee as indicators of academic potential. Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the individual graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree. Major Professor as Adviser The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student's studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The student is assigned to an adviser at the time of admission.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 6 Approved May 14, 2001 Credits and Courses The Master of Science program is offered to prepare Advanced Practice Nurses. This is accomplished through core courses required of all students (24 credits) and completion of requirements for one of three clinical tracks. The following tracks are available: Clinical Nurse Specialist Track Family Nurse Practitioner Track Post Nurse Practitioner Track Graduate Core Courses: 12 Credits 735 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 727 Epidemiology, 3 cr. 729 Health Care Systems and Advanced Practice, 3 cr. 725 Nursing Research and Knowledge Generation in Nursing, 3 cr. Advanced Practice Core Courses: 12 Credits 753 Physiologic Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 707 Advanced Pharmacology: Application to Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 cr. 754 Comprehensive Assessment of Health: Implications for Clinical Decision-Making, 3 cr. 784 Advanced Nursing Practice Interventions, 3 cr. Clinical Nurse Specialist Track (22 Credits) Students selecting this track develop program of study focused on the planning, delivery, and evaluation of advanced practice nursing care to a specified population. Students complete 22 credits in the clinical track for a total of 46 program credits. Designated course work in the clinical specialty is completed under the direction of faculty experts and clinical preceptors. The specialty areas available to clinical nurse specialist students are: adult health nursing (acute and chronic), community health nursing, psychiatric / mental health nursing, and maternal-child nursing. Clinical Support Courses: 9 Credits Students in the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track select a minimum of 9 required credits in a substantive area to support clinical specialization. Electives may be selected in nursing or other related disciplines. Not more than one of the electives may be a U/G (Undergraduate/graduate) course for graduate credit. Clinical Nurse Specialist Practica: 13 Credits 737 Clinical Nurse Specialist: Practicum I, 4 cr. 738 Clinical Nurse Specialist: Practicum II, 4 cr. 739 Clinical Nurse Specialist: Practicum III, 4 cr. 991 Research and Thesis, 1 cr.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 7 Approved May 14, 2001 Family Nurse Practitioner Track (22 Credits) Students selecting the Family Nurse Specialist Track follow a program of study designed to prepare them for advanced nursing practice in primary care settings with families across the lifespan. Designated coursework in the specialty is completed under the direction of faculty experts and clinical preceptors. A three-semester sequence of theory and practicum courses total 22 clinical track credits for a total of 46 program credits. Family Nurse Practitioner Theory Courses: 9 Credits 767 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory I, 3 cr. 768 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory II, 3 cr. 769 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory III, 3 cr. Family Nurse Practitioner Practica Courses: 13 Credits 757 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum I, 3 cr. 758 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum II, 5 cr. 759 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum III, 4 cr. 991 Research and Thesis, 1 cr. RN to MS Option The RN to MS Track is designed for RN students who are interested in completing both a BS and MS degree. Students in this option complete 12 credits of graduate core courses while enrolled in the BS in Nursing program designed for Registered Nurses. In the last semester of the BS program they apply for admission to the graduate program. In addition to the admission requirements described above students will be required to have completed the 12 credits of graduate core courses with a grade of B or better. Upon admission they complete the remaining 34 required credits in either the Clinical Nurse Specialist or Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks. Post Nurse Practitioner Track The Post Nurse Practitioner Track is designed for nurse practitioners who have a bachelor's degree and preparation as a nurse practitioner at the certificate level and wish to pursue a master's degree. Students in this option will complete the 24 credits of the core courses, an experience portfolio, and 1 credit of Research and Thesis for the required clinical project. This track is offered on weekends and during the summer. Special advising is required to establish eligibility and develop a program plan. Total Program 46 credits for students who complete the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track; 46 credits for students who complete the Family Nurse Practitioner Track; 34 credits for students who complete the RN to MS option; and 25 credits for students who complete the Post Nurse Practitioner Track.
Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 861 p. 8 Approved May 14, 2001 Thesis Optional (as a 3 credit elective) Comprehensive Clinical Project The student will complete a final comprehensive clinical project. Time Limit Students in the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track or the Family Nurse Practitioner Track must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student. Students in the Post Nurse Practitioner Track must complete all degree requirements within five years of the first enrollment as a degree student. VI. Proposed Effective Date Fall Semester, 2001-2002