Department of
Nursing

Chairperson and Associate Professor Harrison Assistant Professors Arvidson, Bell, Brown, Hyde, Mitchell, Sato

Master of Science in Nursing

The program requires the successful completion of 36 credits including a thesis or a master's paper. Full and part-time study programs are available. All students are required to enroll in four core nursing courses (13 credits). To develop clinical expertise, students are introduced to advanced knowledge and practice of family nursing. To develop a specific role, students may select from three functional options: administration, education, or clinical nurse specialist in an area of family nursing.

For admission to the Master of Science in nursing program, applicants must be accepted by the Graduate School and must have completed application on file in the Department of Nursing. Preference is given to applicants whose completed application forms are in the department by May 1 or December 1 prior to the semester in which they plan to enroll. Each applicant will be individually reviewed by the Graduate Committee and notified in writing about his/her status in relation to admission to the graduate program.

Applicants whose admission materials are not complete by the deadline dates may be granted conditional admission status by the Graduate School. Degree-seeking students may remain in this status only one semester. However, applicants will not be eligible for consideration for traineeship or other financial assistance administered through the Department of Nursing until all materials have been received. Preference is given to Idaho residents. A completed application consists of:

Application form
GRE scores
Transcript of undergraduate work
Three professional or educational references with specific information regarding the applicant's capacity for graduate study in selected areas, administration, or teaching. Requirements for Admission
1. Descriptive or inferential statistics with a "C" or better.
2. Graduation from an NLN accredited bachelor of science nursing program.
3. Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study.
4. Minimum of 35th percentile on one of the 3 GRE sections.
5. Minimum of one year of work experience preferred.
6. Submission of completed application forms to the Graduate School and to the Department of Nursing.
7. Active Idaho Registered Nurse's license is required for those students enrolled in clinical courses. Progression of Master's Students
  Progression of a master's student will be subject to the following:
  1. Progression criteria established by the Graduate School.
  2. Maintenance of a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  3. No more than three credits of "C" grade in nursing coursework.
  4. No "D" or "F" grade in any course.
  5. Removal of incompletes by midterm of the subsequent semester.
  6. Students may not retake a course to improve their grade.
  7. Students must have completed a course in statistics with a minimum grade of "C" by the end of the first semester in the program.
  8. Students must complete the GRE by the end of the first semester in the program. Graduation Criteria
    To qualify for graduation from the M.S. program, a student must:
    1. Successfully conduct and defend a thesis OR
    2. Successfully pass a written examination and complete a scholarly master's paper
      AND
    3. Meet Graduate School requirements. Curriculum Sequence
      First Semester (All students)
```
NURS 602            Nursing and the Health 
                    Care System                        3 cr
NURS 607            Theoretical Foundations 
                    in Nursing                         3 cr
NURS 608            Theoretical Foundations of 
                    Family Nursing                     4 cr 
ELECTIVE            (core cognate)                     3 cr
                                                TOTAL 13 cr
```
      Second Semester
      Clinical Nurse Specialist Track
```
NURS 610            Research Formulations in 
                    Nursing                            3 cr
NURS 615            Seminar: Principles of 
                    Teaching for the Clinician         1 cr
NURS 616            Nursing Administration I 1 cr
NURS 630            Advanced Clinical Practice I       5 cr
                    (1 cr. seminar; 12 contact 
                    hours or per week practicum)       4 cr
NURS 650            Thesis                             2-3 cr
***ELECTIVE                                            2 cr
                                             TOTAL 12-13 cr
```
      Administration Track
```
NURS 610            Research Formulations in Nursing   3 cr
NURS 613            Family Nursing Assessment          2 cr
                    (6 contact hours per week practicum)
NURS 616            Nursing Administration I           1 cr
NURS 622            Nursing Administration I Practicum 
                    (1 cr. theory; 2 cr. or 6 contact 
                    hours practicum)                   3 cr  
NURS 650            Thesis                             2-3 cr
***ELECTIVE                                            2 cr
                                             TOTAL 11-12 cr
```
      Education Track
```
NURS 610            Research Formulations in Nursing   3 cr
NURS 613            Family Nursing Assessment 
                    (6 contact hours per week)         2 cr
NURS 623            Curriculum Development in 
                    Nursing                            4 cr
NURS 650            Thesis                             2-3 cr
***ELECTIVE                                            2 cr
                                             TOTAL 11-12 cr
```
      ***Students who choose to write a master's paper (NURS 651) will have a 2 cr elective.
      Third Semester
      Clinical Nurse Specialist Track
```
NURS 631            Advanced Clinical Practice II 
                    (1 cr. seminar; 4 cr. or 12 
                    contact hours per week 
                    practicum)                         5 cr 
ELECTIVE            (functional cognate)               3 cr
NURS 650            Thesis                             2-3 cr
                    OR
NURS 651            Master's Paper                     3 cr
                                             TOTAL 10-11 cr
```
      Administration Track
```
NURS 624            Nursing Administration II          3 cr
NURS 626            Nursing Administration II 
                    Practicum (9 contact hours 
                    per week)                          3 cr
ELECTIVE            (functional cognate)               3 cr
NURS 650            Thesis                             2-3 cr
                    OR
NURS 651            Master's Paper                     3 cr
                                             TOTAL 11-12 cr
```
      Education Track
```
NURS 628            Evaluation in Nursing Education    2 cr
NURS 634            Practicum in Nursing Education 
                    (1 cr. theory; 3 cr. or 9 contact 
                    hours per week practicum)          4 cr
ELECTIVE            (functional cognate)               3 cr
NURS 650            Thesis                             2-3 cr
                    OR
NURS 651            Master's Paper                     3 cr
                                             TOTAL 11-12 cr
```
      Nursing
      Graduate Courses
      NURS g417 Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team 1 credit. Introduction to the principles and techniques of interdisciplinary evaluations and treatment planning for youth with special needs. Disciplines emphasized: Social Work, Psychology, Speech Pathology, Audiology, Nursing, Special Education, Physical Therapy. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.
      NURS g482 Trends in Nursing 1-3 credits. Designed to enable nurses and other health care workers to study specific problems and trends; update knowledge and skills; evaluate and explore approaches to the solution of problems or trends. May be repeated up to a total of 6 credits.
      NURS g483 Total Health Assessment 3 credits (1 credit lab). Theory and practice in the evaluation of clients to differentiate normal from abnormal manifestations of health. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF DEPARTMENT OF NURSING.
      NURS g493 Seminar 3 credits. Reading, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. May be repeated up to 6 credits. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.
      NURS 597 Professional Education Development Topics. Variable credit. May be repeated. A course for practicing professionals aimed at the development and improvement of skills. May not be applied to graduate degrees. May be graded S/U.
      NURS 602 Nursing and the Health Care System 3 credits. An analysis of the effects of the health care system on individuals, groups, families, and communities. The interactional effects of the health care delivery system and professional nursing practice are studied.
      NURS 604 Family Assessment II 3 credits. Presentation of specific family assessment instruments such as levels of family functioning scale, circumplex model, beavers system model and family environment scale. PREREQ: PSYC 601 OR CESE 601.
      NURS 606 Family Violence 2 credits. Delineates the implications for assessment and treatment of the family with violence. Topics of physical abuse, sexual abuse and psychological/emotional abuse of adults and children within a family structure will be addressed.
      NURS 607 Theoretical Foundations in Nursing 3 credits. Critical examination of the development of a body of nursing knowledge and the generation and application of theory as a practice profession.
      NURS 608 Theoretical Foundations of Family Nursing 4 credits. Investigates the evolving body of knowledge of family theory as it relates to advanced nursing practice.
      NURS 610 Research Formulations in Nursing 3 credits. Preparation for analyzing and conducting research relevant to nursing practice and basic to the generation of nursing theory. PREREQ: NURS 602, 607, 608, OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.
      NURS 613 Family Nursing Assessment 2 credits (6 contact hours per week practicum). Application of current theories to family assessment and intervention by the nurse as an advanced practitioner. PREREQ: ALL CORE CLASSES; CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT IN NURS 610.
      NURS 615 Seminar: Principles of Teaching for the Clinician 1 credit. The essential components in the development of patient education, staff development, and continuing education in nursing are explored. PREREQ: ALL CORE CLASSES; COREQ: NURS 610.
      NURS 616 Nursing Administration I 1 credit. Nursing and administration theories relevant to nursing departments in the community, extended care facilities, and acute care settings. PREREQ: ALL CORE CLASSES; COREQ: NURS 610.
      NURS 622 Nursing Administration I Practicum. Credits: 3 credit hours per semester; 1 credit hour seminar, 2 credits or 6 contact hours per week practicum. Course description: application of theoretical content from NURS 616. PREREQ: ALL CORE COURSES; COREQ: NURS 616.
      NURS 623 Curriculum Development in Nursing 4 credits. Patterns of curriculum development in nursing, including philosophy, conceptual framework and curriculum design. Instructional design content included. PREREQ: ALL CORE CLASSES; COREQ: NURS 610.
      NURS 624 Nursing Administration II 3 credits. Critical analysis of problems in nursing service departments in the community, extended care facilities, and acute care settings. PREREQ: NURS 622.
      NURS 626 Nursing Administration II Practicum 3 credits (9 contact hours per week). Application of nursing administration concepts to promote quality health care for clients in any setting. PREREQ: NURS 622; COREQ: NURS 624.
      NURS 628 Evaluation in Nursing Education 2 credits. Evaluation of learning in relation to specific objectives and measures is emphasized in this course. PREREQ: NURS 623 AND 625; COREQ: NURS 634.
      NURS 630 Advanced Clinical Practice I 5 credits. Advanced clinical knowledge and skills in providing nursing care to a specified client population. Emphasis is on development of competence in roles of provider of care, collaborator, educator. PREREQ: COMPLETION OF CORE COURSES.
      NURS 631 Advanced Clinical Practice II 5 credits. Advanced clinical knowledge and skills in providing nursing care to a specified client population. Emphasis is on development of competence in roles of consultant, researcher, manager. PREREQ: NURS 630.
      NURS 634 Seminar and Practicum in Nursing Education 4 credits. Application of educational principles and concepts in the classroom and clinical setting. Includes the opportunity to explore facets of faculty roles. PREREQ: ALL CORE COURSES, NURS 623; COREQ: NURS 628.
      NURS 636 Special Problems 1-3 credits. Individual work under faculty guidance. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.
      650 Thesis variable and repeatable to 6 credits.
      NURS 651 Master's Paper in Nursing 3 credits. A paper written under the guidance of a Supervising Committee approved by the Department of Nursing and the Graduate School. The completed paper is to be accepted and filed with the chairperson of the Department of Nursing.