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Graduate 2003 - 2005 Information
Extract For College (pdf approx. 105K)
Complete Catalog (pdf approx. 1.1Mb)
210 Nursing Building
Telephone: (256) 824-6742
Email: nursing.grad@uah.edu
Dean:
C. Fay Raines, B.S.N., M.S.N., Ph.D., Professor
Associate Dean:
Marsha Dowell, B.S.N., M.S.N., Ph.D., Associate Professor
Degree: Master of Science in Nursing
The College of Nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing, a Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate, and a Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education. The faculty of the College of Nursing believe that nursing is a caring profession that is based on a unique body of knowledge which is derived from the arts, humanities, physical, biological, social, behavioral and health sciences, as well as from clinical practice.
The College of Nursing is dedicated to excellence in teaching, practice, scholarship, and service. Faculty have the responsibility to educate students of nursing as well as to provide continuing education, to engage in scholarly activities that will develop and extend the discipline of nursing, and to provide service to the nursing profession, the community, and the academic environment in which nursing study resides.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs offered by the College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The undergraduate program is also approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing.
Mission
The fundamental purpose of the College of Nursing is to prepare nurses at the baccalaureate and master's level who are critical thinkers, life-long learners, and are able to practice as caring professionals in a variety of health care delivery systems. As the only institution offering both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs in north Alabama, the college is also a regional center for research activities in nursing. In addition, the college is committed to providing educational services for and in collaboration with agencies for professional nursing development. Educational offerings and faculty practice are both services to community clients and means of improving health care and delivery systems. In order to meet its obligations in teaching, research, scholarly activities, practice and service, the college maintains high quality faculty who are excellent teachers and expert practitioners who add to the body of nursing knowledge.
Degrees and Certificates Offered
The College of Nursing offers master's degree programs as well as a post-master's family nurse practitioner certificate program and a graduate certificate in nursing education.
Master's Degree
Graduate tracks offered through the College are focused on preparing advanced practice nurses in direct care provider roles as a family nurse practitioner, acute care nurse practitioner, adult clinical nurse specialist, or in an indirect care provider role as a nurse administrator. The Master of Science degree is awarded upon successful completion of one of the four tracks.
Advanced practice nursing is distinguished by autonomy of practice and characterized by both increased complexity in clinical decision making and skills in managing organizations and health care environments.
Comprehensive health assessment skills provide a foundation for the critical thinking used in diagnostic decision making and treatments of complex human responses of diverse individuals, families and communities to health problems. Advanced practice nursing students are guided in classroom and clinical experiences to formulate clinical decisions to manage common health problems, acute and chronic illnesses and promotion of wellness.
Theory and research form a central core of knowledge for all tracks in the master's program. Building on content in these areas, all students integrate education, management, leadership, and consultation into their clinical experiences as they practice in a variety of settings. Practice sites for clinical courses are individually arranged with the student. Classes are usually offered one day per week and may be offered on campus, at off campus sites or through web-based courses.
Students who successfully complete their program of study are eligible to sit for the national certification examination in their area of expertise.
Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
This advanced practice nurse is an expert clinician and client advocate in a nursing practice specialty with adults. They provide direct client care including assessing, diagnosing, planning and prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions for health problems, health promotion and preventive care. The adult clinical nurse specialist is also involved in indirect practice activities with the goal of improving outcomes of care. Practice settings include hospitals, clinics and community health agencies.
Nurse Practitioner
The nurse practitioner is a skilled health care provider who uses expert clinical judgment and decision making in the performance of comprehensive health assessments, differential diagnoses and prescribing of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in the direct treatment of health problems. Nurse practitioners function as care providers, case managers, researchers, consultants, and educators. Two nurse practitioner tracks are offered at the college: family nurse practitioner and acute care nurse practitioner. Although both are advanced practice nurses, family nurse practitioners function as primary care providers focusing on common health care problems. Family nurse practitioners establish collaborative practices with primary care physicians to deliver culturally sensitive care to clients. Acute care nurse practitioners focus on the care of adults with acute illnesses and may practice in the hospital, home, or clinic setting. Acute care nurse practitioners provide expert interventions focused on health promotion, illness prevention, and health care management.
Nurse Administrator
Health care organizations are becoming increasingly complex businesses. Nurse administrators are emerging as executive leaders able to direct people and organizations in the creation of more humanistic but fiscally sound health care systems.
The faculty prepare nurses to design and implement strategic plans and manage departments and organizations. Students are prepared to assume leadership roles in hospital and community settings and serve as case managers. Human resource and fiscal management theories are merged with organizational theory as the student engages in classroom and clinical experiences to implement strategies that enhance health care for individuals, families, and communities.
Post-Master's Certificate
Students already possessing a master's degree in nursing have the opportunity to pursue a family nurse practitioner certificate. Students are admitted to the family nurse practitioner certificate program on a full-time basis to complete the requirements in one year.
Graduate Certificate Program in Nursing Education
Students who are currently enrolled in graduate education or those possessing a master's degree have the opportunity to continue their education and obtain a certificate in nursing education. Classes for this program are arranged in a manner to allow for full time employment or continued study in the master's program. The program is composed of five courses and requirements for the certificate program may be completed in one calendar year.
More detailed information about opportunities for students seeking graduate degrees and certification may be obtained from the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs (256) 824-6742.
Distance Learning
The mission of the College is to provide excellence in teaching, research, and service while providing unique opportunities and creative flexible programs for students, faculty, and the community. Distance learning and the use of other new educational technologies are part of the future for the continuing mission.
The College of Nursing offers select graduate courses via interactive television (IITS) to sites in north Alabama. These offerings allow students at distant geographical sites to actively participate in class and clinical learning activities.
The faculty are expanding these opportunities for the IITS and using the Internet and Web-based courses to enhance educational opportunities. For further information and class offerings, contact the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs (256) 824-6742.
Master of Science in Nursing
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Early Decision Option for Registered Nurses (RN-MSN)
Family Nurse Practitioner Track
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track
Adult Health Nurse Specialist Track
Post-Master of Science
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