Vision:  The College of Nursing will build upon its tradition of developing caring and scholarly nurse leaders who positively impact contemporary and future health care.

The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare professional nurses for the MSN and DNP degrees. MSN emphases include the Family Nurse Practitioner with a primary care focus, Nurse Educator, and Clinical Nurse Leader. The DNP emphasis is for MSN-prepared advanced practice and advanced administrator nurses who wish to obtain the professional doctorate in nursing, a practice-focused doctorate. MSN students are prepared for doctoral study while DNP students are prepared for a practice role with a more comprehensive grasp of population health, leadership, evidence based practice, and technology. There also are two certificate programs: the Graduate Achievement Program (GAP) and the Natural Alternative Complementary (NAC) Health Care certificate program.

In addition to the requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies specified in the first section of this bulletin, the program has the following policies and procedures for admission:

Grade-Point Average
MSN: A grade-point average of 3.00 in undergraduate studies is required. We recommend part-time probationary status for any student who has appealed and been admitted with a GPA below 3.0.

MSN to DNP: A MSN grade point average of 3.5.

Interview
Qualified MSN and DNP applicants are interviewed.

Goal Statement
Applicants must submit a short written statement of career goals and reason(s) for pursuing graduate study in this major. DNP applicants provide a portfolio.

Licensure/Degree
MSN: Applicants must hold a bachelor of science degree in nursing from an accredited program (CCNE or NLN) and Wisconsin licensure as a registered nurse. Nursing practice is helpful but not required. Part-time rather than full-time study is encouraged while gaining nursing experience. Individual consideration may be given for graduates from non-accredited nursing programs, if the institution is regionally accredited.

DNP: Applicants must hold a MSN from an accredited program, RN licensure, and national certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse or in advanced nursing.

References
Applicants must provide three references from professional and/or work-related sources.

Prior Coursework
MSN: Applicants must have earned within five years of admission a B or better in a three (3) credit introductory statistics course that includes both descriptive and inferential statistics. Within two years of admission, program applicants must have earned a grade of B or better in an acceptable health assessment course with a lab.

DNP: Prior coursework required is listed on the College of Nursing website supplementary application. 550 clinical hours of prior advanced practice or administration practice is needed.

Computer Competency
Students are expected to have experience with a word processing program, sending and receiving emails, and accessing the World Wide Web. Each student is given a campus e-mail account and 24-hour computer access. All official communication from the program is sent via campus e-mail to the student’s UW Oshkosh account.

Health and CPR Requirements and Caregiver Background Checks
Before starting clinical rotations, students must meet health and CPR requirements and have a caregiver background check. Contact the Graduate Nursing Office for a list of immunization requirements. Clinical agencies and the College of Nursing may refuse entry into clinical experience if requirements are not met.

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The DNP curriculum is comprised of components modeled after guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing DNP Essentials.

Subject

Catalog No.    Credits    Title

Nursing

801  4  Philosophical, Theoretical & Ethical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice

803  4  Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Population Health

805  4  Clinical Scholarship for Advanced Nursing Practice

809  4  Organizational Leadership and Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice

821  4  DNP Seminar & Practicum I

822  5  DNP Seminar & Practicum II

890  3  DNP Capstone Project

• Master of Science of Nursing (MSN)

The MSN curriculum is comprised of several components modeled after guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (MSN Essentials and Clinical Nurse Leader competencies), the National Task Force on Quality NP Education, and NLN Nurse Educator core competencies.

MSN Graduate Core Courses:

Subject

Catalog No.   Credits   Title

Nursing

700  3  Advanced Health Assessment

701  3  Research in Nursing

702  2  Healthcare Systems Policy and Politics

703  2  Health Promotion in Advanced Nursing

704  3  Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse

707  2  Epidemiology

708  2  Ethics in Advanced Nursing

709  3  Pharmacotherapeutics for the Advanced Practice Nurse

719  3  Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing

793  3  Clinical Paper

OR

795  3  Nursing Thesis

OR

759  5  Clinical Nurse Leader Immersion Practicum (CNL only-Capstone)

* All master’s students need core course content. Core content can be combined within another course or be an individual course.

Note: Diversity and Social Issues threaded through courses and emphasized in the following:

Nursing

722   Diversity Practicum ( FNP)

736   The Education Process in Nursing (Nurse Educator)

737   Foundations of Education Clinical Practicum I (Nurse Educator)

738   Advanced Educator Practicum (Nurse Educator)

760   Healing Care ( CNL)

Note: Professional Role emphasized in the following:

Nursing

730   Clinical Practice Management ( FNP)

736   The Education Process in Nursing (Nurse Educator)

737   Foundations of Education Clinical Practicum I (Nurse Educator)

738   Advanced Educator Practicum (Nurse Educator)

762   Leadership in the CNL Role (CNL)

Specialty Courses

1. Family Nurse Practitioner Emphasis

Nursing

716  2  Clinical Management and Pharmacology I

717  3  Clinical Management and Pharmacology II

718  3  Clinical Management and Pharmacology III

720  1  Pediatric Seminar for APN (Elective)

722  2  Diversity Practicum

726  2  FNP Practicum I

727  4  FNP Practicum II

728  4  FNP Practicum III

730  2  Clinical Practice Management

Eligible to sit for the ANCC or AANP Certification Examination

2. Adult Health and Illness Emphasis - ADMISSIONS SUSPENDED

Nursing

754  2  Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum I

755  4  Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum II

756  4  Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum III

764  2  Adult Clinical Management and Pharmacology I

765  2  Adult Clinical Management and Pharmacology II

766  2  Adult Clinical Management and Pharmacology III

Eligible to sit for the ANCC or AANP Certification Examination

3. Clinical Nurse Leader Emphasis

737  1  Foundations of Education Clinical Practicum I

757  1  Clinical Nurse Leader Clinical Practicum II

758  2  Clinical Nurse Leader Clinical Practicum III

760  3  Healing Care

762  2  Leadership in the Clinical Nurse Leader Role

Eligible to sit for the CNL Certification Examination

Note: Core Course Nursing 759 also includes immersion practicum.

4. Nurse Educator Emphasis

736  3  The Education Process in Nursing

737  3  Foundations of Education Clinical Practicum I

738  4  Advanced Educator Practicum

* 3 Electives

*Three (3) credits of electives are taken from the graduate subject areas in the College of Nursing, Business, Education and Human Services, or Letters and Science. Students are expected to consult with the program director and/or their academic adviser in selecting elective courses.

Eligible to sit for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certification Examination after NLN criteria are met which includes 2-4 years of education employment.

Other Requirements
Completion of a culminating project: clinical paper, thesis or manuscript option.

Non-Degree CHOICES and Requirements

Choice 1: Graduate Achievement Program (GAP)

PRIMARY HEALTHCARE GRADUATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

The Graduate Achievement Program in Primary Healthcare Nursing is designed for people who already have a master's degree in nursing but wish to add a different area of nursing specialization. GAP applicants will be accommodated as class size permits. A minimum of 31 credits are required.

 Admission Requirements

1. Master's degree in nursing from a National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program. Individual consideration may be given to graduates of graduate nursing programs that were not accredited at the time of graduation.

2. Current licensure as a registered nurse in Wisconsin.

3. Three letters of reference from professional and/or work related sources.

4. Nursing practice experience recommended.

5. A personal interview

6. An acceptable health assessment course with a lab or equivalent in the past two years, receiving a B or higher grade or validated use of all health assessment skills. Written exam (pass rate 85%) and performance exam to validate correct use of health history and physical exam skills. Written and demonstration exam has a fee.

7. For the Skill Enhancement GAP option, ANCC, AANP, or NAPNAP certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner or adult nurse practitioner is required

Program Requirements:   Family Nurse Practitioner GAP

Skill Expansion Option: Skill expansion option, designed for master’s prepared nurse administrators, educators, and clinical nurse specialists, is based on the family nurse practitioner curriculum. Credit for comparable courses will be evaluated individually. Contact the Graduate Nursing Office for information.

Skill Enhancement Option: Two tracks are available to assist pediatric nurse practitioners (who would take the mature family track) and Adult Nurse Practitioners (who would take the young family track) to acquire competency in caring for families.

FNP GAP Courses, Skill Expansion Option (31 Credits)

Subject

Catalog No.   Credits   Title

Nursing

700  3  Advanced Health Assessment

703  2  Health Promotion in Advanced Nursing

704  3  Pathophysiology for the APN

707  2  Epidemiology

709  3  Pharmacotherapeutics for the APN

716  2  Clinical Management and Pharmacology I

717  3  Clinical Management and Pharmacology II

718  3  Clinical Management and Pharmacology III

726  2  FNP Practicum I (Clinical)

727  4  FNP Practicum II (Clinical)

728  4  FNP Practicum III (Clinical)

Subject

Catalog No.   Credits   Title

Nursing

Young Family Track (12 credits in track; other GAP credits required.)

750  6  Primary Healthcare for the Young Family I

751  6  Primary Healthcare for the Young Family II

Mature Family Track (12 credits in track; other GAP credits required.)

752  6  Primary Healthcare for the Mature Family I

753  6  Primary Healthcare for the Mature Family II

Certification Requirements

Graduates of the Family and Adult Nurse Practitioner curriculum meet the FNP and ANP eligibility requirements of the certification centers, ANCC and AANP. Educators and Clinical Nurse Leaders are eligible for certification exams in their specialty.

Choice 2: The Natural Alternative Complementary Healthcare Certificate (NAC)

A 10-credit certificate program meant to augment intervention options. The purpose of the NAC program is to educate bachelor’s or master’s prepared registered nurses in NAC therapies. NAC therapies can complement conventional treatments and/or provide alternative methods for health concerns, as well as provide for integration of natural therapies into a plan of care.

Natural Alternative Complementary Healthcare Certificate Program

Subject

Catalog No.   Credits   Title

Nursing

770  1  Introduction to Natural Alternative Complementary Healthcare

771  2  Alternative Healthcare Systems

772  2  Mind Body Spirit Interventions

773  1  Biologic Based Therapies

774  1  Manipulative and Body Based Methods

775  1  Energy Therapies

776  2  NAC Therapies Field Project and Seminar