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 four functional options: administration, education, family nurse practitioner, 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

Descriptive or inferential statistics with a "C" or better.
Graduation from an NLN accredited bachelor of science nursing program.
Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study.
Minimum of 35th percentile on one of the 3 GRE sections.
Minimum of one year of work experience preferred.
Submission of completed application forms to the Graduate School and to the Department of Nursing.

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:

Progression criteria established by the Graduate School.
Maintenance of a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
No more than three credits of "C" grade in nursing coursework.
No "D" or "F" grade in any course.
Removal of incompletes by midterm of the subsequent semester.
Students may not retake a course to improve their grade.
Students must have completed a course in statistics with a minimum grade of "C" by the end of the first semester in the program.

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:

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 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
                      practicum)	                 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

Nurse Practitioner Option - Full-Time Curriculum Pattern

First Year, Fall Semester

NURS 602	      Nursing and the
                      Health Care System	          3 cr
NURS 607	      Theoretical Foundation
                      in Nursing	                  3 cr
NURS 608	      Theoretical Foundations
                      of Family Nursing	                  4 cr
		      TOTAL                              10 cr

First Year, Spring Semester

NURS 610	      Research Formulations
                      in Nursing	                  3 cr
NURS 611	      Advanced HealthAssessment
                      and Practicum	                  4 cr
NURS 612	      Rural Community Seminar and 
                      Practicum	                          3 cr
		      TOTAL                              10 cr

Second Year, Fall Semester

PHAR 645	      Pharmacology in Primary Care	  3 cr
NURS 614	      Adult Primary Nursing I/Chronic 
                      Illness	                          3 cr
NURS 617	      Adult Primary Nursing II/Acute 
                      Illness	                          3 cr
NURS 618	      Maternal-Child Primary Care	  3 cr
NURS 650	      Thesis
	              OR
NURS 651	      Master's Paper in Nursing	          2 cr
		      TOTAL                              14 cr

Second Year, Spring Semester

NURS 619	      Nurse Practitioner Practicum I	  5 cr
NURS 620	      Nurse Practitioner Practicum II	  5 cr
NURS 621	      Nurse Practitioner Roles	          1 cr
NURS 650	      Thesis
	              OR
NURS 651	      Master's Paper in Nursing	          3 cr
		      TOTAL                              14 cr

Nurse Practitioner Option - Part-Time Curriculum Pattern

First Year, Fall Semester

NURS 602	     Nursing and the
                     Health Care System	                  3 cr
NURS 607	     Theoretical Foundation
                     in Nursing	                          3 cr

First Year, Spring Semester

NURS 608 Theoretical Foundations of Family Nursing 4 cr NURS 610 Research Formulations in Nursing 3 cr

First Year, Summer Session NURS 611 Advanced Health Assessment and Practicum 4 cr NURS 612 Rural Community Seminar and Practicum 3 cr

Second Year, Fall Semester

PHAR 645	     Pharmacology in Primary Care	  3 cr
NURS 614	     Adult Primary Nursing I/
                     Chronic Illness	                  3 cr

Second Year, Spring Semester

NURS 617	     Adult Primary Nursing II/
                     Acute Illness	                  3 cr
NURS 618	     Maternal-Child Primary Care	  3 cr

Second Year, Summer Session

NURS 650	     Thesis	                          3 cr
	             OR
Elective if writing Master's Paper in Nursing	          2 cr

Third Year, Fall Semester

NURS 619	    Nurse Practitioner Practicum I	  5 cr
NURS 621	    Nurse Practitioner Roles	          1 cr

Third Year, Spring Semester

NURS 620	   Nurse Practitioner Practicum II	  5 cr
NURS 650	   Thesis	                          2 cr
	           OR
NURS 651	   Master's Paper in Nursing	          3 cr