Catalog 2012-13

Master of Science in Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing

253.535.7672

www.plu.edu/nursing

nurs@plu.edu

ACCREDITATION

The School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. The Master of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Both the Family Nurse Practitioner and the Care and Outcomes Manager curricula meet the requirements for several national certification examinations, including Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Educator.

Admission Criteria

The following are the minimum criteria for consideration of admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program. Admission to the School of Nursing programs is competitive; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission.

  • Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • B.S.N. to M.S.N. applicants only: Hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing.
  • B.S.N to M.S.N. and RN-B applicants only: Hold an active unencumbered Washington State RN license.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (B) on a 4.00 scale for all college work.
  • Minimum grade of 3.00 (B) on a 4.00 scale in each prerequisite course.
  • Submission of PLU Graduate Application forms and $40 non-refundable fee.
  • Submission of School of Nursing Addendum packet, which includes:
    • Questions Relative to Licensure;
    • Policy/Procedures for students who have attended another school of nursing;
    • Policy/Procedures Regarding English Proficiency; and Physical/Psychological Expectations of Nurses preparing for Professional Practice.
  • Official transcripts from each college and university attended.
  • Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results from within five years. Minimum scores:
    • 500 in both the verbal and quantitative section (or 150 verbal, 150 quantitative on the new scale) and 4.00 in analytical writing.
  • Professional résumé.
  • Professional statement of goals.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Civil, administrative and criminal history clearance in all states as well as any other applicable territory or country.
  • Fluency in speaking, reading, writing and comprehending graduate-level English (see policy and procedures in the Graduate Application Addendum).
  • Any applicant who has previously attended any school or college of nursing must submit additional documentation (see policy and procedures in the Graduate Application Addendum).

Program Prerequisites

All prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited college or university with a minimum grade of 3.00 (B) or higher on a 4.00 scale before beginning the nursing program. Prerequisites vary for the three M.S.N. program options; see individual program descriptions for a detailed list of prerequisite course requirements.

Advance Deposit

There are limitations on the numbers of students accepted into the M.S.N. programs and concentrations each year. Applicants accepted into the program are required to make a non-refundable $300 advance tuition payment to confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission within two weeks of their acceptance date.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
33 to 48 semester hours

Prerequisite Course for Traditional M.S.N.
Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive)

M.S.N. CORE
 18 to 19 semester hours

  • NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
  • NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
  • NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
  • NURS 526: Nursing Leadership and Management (3)
  • NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
  • NURS 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)
  • Approved Elective (2 or 3)

M.S.N. Capstone
 2 to 4 semester hours

  • NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2) or
  • NURS 599: Thesis (4)

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Sample Curriculum
24 Months
46 semester credits (minimum)

Summer Semester – First Year
NURS 580 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

Fall Semester – First Year
NURS 523 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
NURS 525 Theoretical Foundations (3)
NURS 526 Leadership and Management (3)

January Term – First Year
NURS 524 Advanced Health Promotion (2)
NURS 540 Illness and Disease Management (2)

Spring Semester – First Year
NURS 527 Evaluations and Outcomes Research (3)
NURS 530 Resource Management (3)
NURS 531 Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum 1 (3)

Summer Semester – Second Year
NURS 582 Advanced Health Assessment (2-4)

Fall Semester – Second Year
NURS 583 Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3)
NURS 584 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum I (6)

Spring Semester – Second Year
NURS 585 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (6)
NURS 596 Scholarly Inquiry (2) OR NURS 599 Thesis (4)

MSN Care and Outcomes Manager Sample Curriculum
12 to 15 months
33 semester credits (minimum)

Summer Semester – First Year
NURS 580 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

Fall Semester – First Year
NURS 523 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
NURS 525 Theoretical Foundations (3)
NURS 526 Leadership and Management (3)

January Term – First Year
NURS 524 Advanced Health Promotion (2)
NURS 540 Illness and Disease Management (2)

Spring Semester – First Year
NURS 527 Evaluations and Outcomes Research (3)
NURS 530 Resource Management (3)
NURS 531 Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum 1 (3)

Summer Semester – Second Year
NURS 532 Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum 2 (6)
NURS 596 Scholarly Inquiry (2)

Additional courses may be taken for other COM role specializations. Please note that students who do not complete a role specialization graduate from the COM concentration as Advanced Generalist.

RN-B TO M.S.N. PROGRAM FOR REGISTERED NURSES WITH A NON-NURSING BACHELOR’S DEGREE

RN-B TO M.S.N. PROGRAM SAMPLE CURRICULUM
 32 semester hours (graduate-level, at minimum)

Prerequisite Courses

  • Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab)
  • Introductory Microbiology (with lab)
  • Lifespan Developmental Psychology

RN-B to M.S.N. Program Requirement

  • NURS 430: Situations with Communities (5)

Year One: Summer (COM-Advanced Generalist)

  • NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

Fall (M.S.N. Core)

  • NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
  • NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
  • NURS 526: Leadership and Management (3)

January (M.S.N. Core)

  • NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
  • NURS 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)

Spring (COM – Advanced Generalist)

  • NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
  • NURS 530: Resource Management (2)
  • NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)

Year Two: Summer (COM-Advanced Generalist)

  • NURS 532: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum II (6)
  • NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2)

ENTRY-LEVEL MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM

ENTRY-LEVEL M.S.N. PRE-LICENSURE AND ADVANCED GENERALIST CURRICULUM

55 semester hours (pre-licensure)30 semester hours (post-licensure, at minimum)

Prerequisite Courses

  • Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab)
  • Introductory Microbiology (with lab)
  • Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Year One: Summer (Pre-Licensure)

  • NURS 220: Nursing Competencies I (4)
  • NURS 270: Health Assessment and Promotion (4)
  • NURS 320: Nursing Competencies II (2)
  • NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

Year One: Fall (Pre-Licensure)

  • NURS 260: Professional Foundations I (4)
  • NURS 330: Pharmacology & Therapeutic Modalities (4)
  • NURS 340: Situations w/ Individuals: Adult Health I (4)
  • NURS 350: Situations w/ Individuals: Mental Health (4)

Year One: January (Pre-Licensure)

  • NURS 380: Situations with Families: Childrearing (Peds) (4)

Year One: Spring (Pre-Licensure)

  • NURS 370: Situations w/ Families: Childbearing (OB) (4)
  • NURS 430: Situations with Communities (5)
  • NURS 440: Situations w/ Individuals: Adult Health II (4)
  • NURS 441: Situations Seminar (1)

Year Two: Summer (Pre-Licensure)

  • NURS 480: Professional Foundations II (2)
  • NURS 499: Nursing Synthesis (6)

After completing the pre-licensure curriculum and upon successfully obtaining RN licensure in Washington State, students continue the Entry-Level M.S.N. curriculum in the COM-Advanced Generalist focus (see below). Admission to the EL-M.S.N. program does not guarantee progression into any other COM focus area or specializations (FNP, Educator, etc.). EL-M.S.N. students must apply and be selected for a change of COM focus area or concentration at the completion of their first post-RN licensure semester. The availability of seats in other COM focus areas or the FNP concentration is not guaranteed or implied; when and if available, seats are limited and selection is therefore highly competitive.

Year Two: Fall (Licensure Pending, M.S.N. Core)

  • NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
  • NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
  • NURS 526: Leadership and Management (3)

Year Two: January (Post-Licensure, M.S.N. Core)

  • NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
  • NURS 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)

Year Two: Spring (COM – Advanced Generalist)

  • NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
  • NURS 530: Resource Management (2)
  • NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)

Year Three: Summer (COM-Advanced Generalist)

  • NURS 532: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum II (6)
  • NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2)

Master of Science in Nursing Courses

NURS 220 : Nursing Competencies I

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies of therapeutic communication, and technical skills associated with health management. Prerequisites: BIOL 205, 206; CHEM 105, PSYC 101. Pre- or Co-requisites: BIOL 201, PSYC 320. (4)

NURS 260 : Professional Foundations I

Focuses on nursing as a profession and discipline. The nursing process is introduced as a framework for critical thinking and caring. Open to non-nursing students with permission of instructor. Prerequisite: NURS 220. (4)

NURS 270 : Health Assessment and Promotion

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to perform health assessments and promote health across the life span. Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent with NURS 260 and 280. (4)

NURS 320 : Nursing Competencies II

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies of advanced technical skills associated with health management. Prerequisites: NURS 260, 270, 280, Junior I status. (2)

NURS 330 : Pharmacology and Therapeutic Modalities for Nursing

Focuses on pharmacological principles of major drug classifications, therapeutic modalities, and alternatives to pharmacological interventions. Prerequisite for majors: NURS 280, achievement of Junior I status. Non-majors must receive permission from the instructor. (4)

NURS 340 : Nursing Situations with Individuals: Adult Health I

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to apply the nursing process to situations with individuals experiencing selected alterations in health. Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent enrollment in NURS 320 and 330, achievement of Junior I status. (4)

NURS 350 : Nursing Situations with Individuals: Mental Health

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to apply the nursing process to situations with individuals experiencing mental health issues. Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent enrollment in NURS 330, achievement of Junior I status. (4)

NURS 370 : Nursing Situations with Families: Childbearing

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to apply the nursing process to situations with childbearing families. Prerequisites: NURS 320, 330, 340, 350, achievement of Junior II status. (4)

NURS 380 : Nursing Situations with Families: Childrearing

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to apply the nursing process to situations with infants, children, adolescents and their families. Prerequisites: NURS 320, 330, 340, 350, achievement of Junior II status. (4)

NURS 430 : Nursing Situations with Communities

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to apply the nursing process to situations with the community as client. Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent enrollment in NURS 420, achievement of Senior I status. (5)

NURS 440 : Nursing Situations with Individuals: Adult Health II

Focuses on the core knowledge and competencies necessary to apply the nursing process to situations with individuals experiencing complex alterations in health. Prerequisites: NURS 360, 370, and 380, achievement of Senior I status. (4)

NURS 441 : Senior Seminar

Exploration and integration of core knowledge and competencies related to complex alterations in the health of individuals experiencing complex alterations in health. Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent enrollment in NURS 440 and achievement of Senior I status. (1)

NURS 480 : Professional Foundations II

Critical evaluation of role transition into professional nursing. Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in NURS 499, achievement of Senior II status. (2)

NURS 499 : Capstone: Nursing Synthesis - SR

Synthesis of core knowledge, competencies, professional values, and leadership skills in nursing situations mentored by a professional nurse preceptor. Prerequisites: NURS 420, 430, 440, 441, prior or concurrent enrollment in NURS 460 and 480, and achievement of Senior II status. (6)

NURS 523 : Roles of the Advanced Practice Nurse

Facilitates the development and transition into the advanced practice role through the analysis of legal, ethical, professional, social and practice perspectives. Roles of consultant, researcher, administrator, and expert clinician are explored. (3)

NURS 524 : Advanced Health Promotion

Identification of health risks and protective strategies for diverse populations. (2)

NURS 525 : Theoretical Foundations

Preparation for critique, evaluation, and use of a range of relevant theories that provide guiding perspectives for the provision of client-centered, clinically measurable advanced nursing practice. (3)

NURS 526 : Nursing Leadership and Management

Introduction to policy, organization, and financing of health care. Preparation for provision of quality cost-effective care, participation in the design and implementation of care, and assumption of the leadership role in managing resources. (3)

NURS 527 : Evaluation and Outcomes Research

Preparation for the critique and use of new knowledge to provide, change, and evaluate advanced nursing practice focused on client-centered, clinically demonstrable care. (3)

NURS 530 : Resource Management

Management of resources in the planning, coordination, and/or delivery of health care with an outcome perspective at the system level. Financial and human resources and systems management will be examined from a quality perspective. (3)

NURS 531 : Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I

Direct and/or indirect care given in a defined specialty setting with focus on evaluation and outcomes. Prerequisite: NURS 523. Variable credit with School of Nursing approval. (1 to 5)

NURS 532 : Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum II

Direct care or indirect clinical management, supervision, or education to achieve client goals by implementing approaches, interventions, outcomes, and evaluation method. Pre- or Co-requisite: NURS 538. Variable credit with School of Nursing approval. (1 to 6)

NURS 533 : Informatics in Nursing

Enhancing clinical practice, research and education through the integration of computer science, information science and nursing science. (2)

NURS 538 : Program Development

Integrate theoretical models, clinical parameters, and program planning principles through the construction of a detailed program for care and outcomes management. Clinical component present. Prerequisite or corequisite: NURS 530 and prerequisite NURS 531. (3)

NURS 540 : Illness and Disease Management

Builds on the foundations of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment and focuses on the attainment of positive clinical outcomes for a cohort or population. (2)

NURS 550 : Curriculum and Instruction

Examination of the theory and practice of curriculum planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. Theoretical and philosophical principles of the teaching/learning process. Analysis of adult teaching strategies and the process of self and student evaluations. (3)

NURS 580 : Advanced Pathophysiology

Focuses on normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease. Primary components of the foundation for clinical assessment, decision making, and management. (3)

NURS 582 : Advanced Health Assessment

Development and performance of the skills needed for advanced health assessment of individuals, families, or communities throughout the lifespan. Prerequisites: Basic health assessment skills. (2 to 4)

NURS 583 : Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics

Focuses on the pharmacokinetic basis for and pharmacotherapeutic management of simple and complex disease processes. Includes ethical, legal, and procedural aspects of prescriptive authority. Pre- or co-requisite: NURS 580. (3)

NURS 584 : Family Nurse Practitioner I

Application of theory and research in the management of health problems across the lifespan. Demonstration of diagnostic reasoning related to health care conditions. Seminar and clinical. Prerequisites: NURS 582 and pre- or co-requisite NURS 583. (6)

NURS 585 : Family Nurse Practitioner II

Application of theory and research in the management of increasingly complex health problems across the lifespan. Demonstration of diagnostic reasoning for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Seminar and clinical. Prerequisite: NURS 584. (6)

NURS 591 : Independent Study

Opportunities for advanced study in selected topic related to student's area of interest. Consent of dean required. (1 to 4)

NURS 593 : Advanced Specialty Practice

Application of advanced practice nursing in clinical specialty practice. Prerequisite: Completion of all core requirements. (1 to 6)

NURS 595 : Internship

To permit graduate students to relate theory and practice in a work situation. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Intern: followed by the specific title designated by the instructor in consultation with the student. (1 to 12)

NURS 596 : Scholarly Inquiry in Nursing Practice

Development and submission of professional paper or project related to one's area of specialization based on an evaluation and outcomes model. Cross-listed with NURS 599. (2)

NURS 599 : Thesis

Faculty-guided application of the research process. May involve replication of previous study, secondary analysis of research data, an evaluation project, or an original investigation. Prerequisites: Completion of core courses, approval by School of Nursing. Minimum program requirement is four credits. Once enrolled, must continue to enroll for at least one credit each semester of the academic year until thesis is completed. Capstone course. Course may be taken more than once; this is a four-credit course; if repeated, credits may vary. (1 to 4)