School of Nursing Graduate Program | Programs | Health Professions Mission

Program Profile: School of Nursing Graduate Program

Program Description

Name of program: School of Nursing Graduate Program

Program Overview: Idaho State University School of Nursing offers a Master of Science degree in Nursing and is committed to providing quality graduate nursing education for professional nurses. Graduate education offers knowledge, skills, and expertise for advanced practice that builds upon a strong nursing foundation. Emphasis on health care policy and rural issues prepare our graduates to assume leadership and provider roles in a variety of settings including administration, education, and primary health care. Programs of study are either full-time (2 years) or part-time (3 years). Five program options are offered: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nursing Education, and Nursing Leadership. All MS students are required to pass a written and oral comprehensive examination during their final semester of study. There is no thesis requirement. Following are more details about each of the program options:

Clinical Nurse Leader: The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) option prepares students to direct outcomes management for a distinct patient population, actively provide direct patient care and implement evidence-based practice to ensure patients benefit from the latest care delivery innovations.

Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) option prepares students as advanced practice nurses to work in an adult medical-surgical specialty area. Clinical Nurse Specialists are engaged in education, expert clinical practice, consultation, research, and administration and are prepared to practice in primary, acute, or long-term care settings.

Family Nurse Practitioner: The Family Nurse Practitioner option prepares students for primary care throughout the lifespan in a variety of settings. FNP courses are designed to develop critical clinical decision-making skills necessary for primary care providers working with diverse populations. Rural health issues are emphasized.

Nursing Education: The Nursing Education option prepares students for nursing faculty positions. Students are prepared as nursing leaders to respond to current and projected changes in the health care system. Grounded in adult learning theory, coursework includes a teaching/learning practicum and a focus on teaching with technology.

Nursing Leadership: The Nursing Leadership option is designed to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles within acute, ambulatory care, or community-based settings. Content includes organizational and leadership theories, strategic planning, finance, human resource management, clinical and outcomes management, and health service administration.

Accreditation

The program is approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Program Highlights

The School of Nursing has the largest graduate nursing program in Idaho. Following a needs assessment of graduate nursing education in Idaho, the program was offered fully online in 2006. Since the inception of online delivery, admissions have grown from 20 to 50 students. Graduate education is now available to nurses anywhere in Idaho, regardless of location. Of particular note is the consistent 100% pass rate of the national certification exam for Family Nurse Practitioner graduates.

About the Profession

Potential Salary:Salary range varies with preparation and location. The MS-prepared nurse may expect to earn in the $45,000 - $80,000 range.

Faculty

11 full-time faculty, 36 clinical faculty and 50 clinical sites.

Faculty teaching in the Family Nurse Practitioner option are all board certified and licensed in Idaho as Advanced Practice Professional Nurses (APPN) with prescriptive authority. All maintain an active clinical practice. The Clinical Nurse Specialist faculty advisor is board certified in Adult Health with APPN licensure. Graduate faculty members are actively engaged in scholarship including the areas of advanced practice role socialization, domestic violence, health promotion, interprofessional education/practice, elder health, rural health, and use of simulation technology in nursing and healthcare.

Class Size

Fixed Seats: Yes

Number of students in entering class: 50

Total number of students enrolled in program: 104

Length of Program

Number of academic years needed to complete the program: 2

Locations

Locations offered: Statewide

Program offered fully online? Yes

Program delivered through distance presentation? No

Prerequisites

Required Degree: AS in Nursing for AD-MS Pathway and BSN for BS-MS pathway

Costs

Tuition: Full time Resident: $3103.00/semester

Professional fees: $675.00 per semester (assessed > 5 credits/semester)

Equipment: $1000 - $2000 depending upon option

Books: $1000 - $2000 depending upon option

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarship Deadline: A variety of scholarships are available.

Financial Aid Deadline: Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Other Information: The School of Nursing usually receives Federal Traineeship money that is available for full-time students during the entire program and part-time students during their final semester. The amount of traineeship money varies each year but in the past about $500 has been available each semester per student.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: Oct. 1 for AD-MS Pathway and Feb. 1 for BS-MS Pathway