Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing Program Goals
The goals of the M.S.N. program are to prepare graduates who:
- Demonstrate advanced practice based on theoretical foundations and research from nursing and related disciplines.
- Provide leadership in integrating research into practice.
- Participate in the conduct of nursing and interdisciplinary health care research.
- Apply information technology to enhance nursing education, practice and research.
- Collaborate with multi-disciplinary health care providers and consumers to improve health care delivery.
- Provide leadership in formulating and implementing policy that contributes to ongoing improvement of health care delivery.
- Practice from an ethical perspective that acknowledges conflicting values and rights as they affect health care decisions.
- Assume and develop advanced practice roles to meet societal needs in a rapidly changing health care system.
- Provide innovative care that promotes health and quality of life for culturally diverse individuals, families and communities.
- Analyze emerging issues confronting nursing and society as a basis for enacting social change in ways that foster health.
- Foster activities among individuals and groups that promote health and prevent illness.
Master's Entry Program in Nursing 20 Goals
The goals of the MEPN program are to prepare students for registered nurse eligibility at the master’s level who are able to achieve the advanced beginner level of nursing practice in the seven domains of nursing practice identified by Dr. P. Benner (1984). By the end of the student’s education, they will:
- Individualize the nursing process to manage and coordinate comprehensive patient care to help heal individuals, families, and clinical cohorts at the point of care incorporating culturally sensitive primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions as needed.
- Develop and execute generalist nursing roles to meet the changing health needs and maximize the patient’s (individuals, families, groups, and populations) participation in their recovery in front-line units such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health, community or public health, and school-based settings.
- Assess individuals and families to anticipate risks, design and implement plans of care, provide support, and oversee care delivery and outcomes for a specified group of patients or specialty populations
- Assist patients to integrate the implications of illness and recovery into their lifestyles
- Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and appropriateness in patient teaching and coaching
- Integrate strategies for clinical assessment and management, risk anticipation and risk assessment to design and implement safe medical and nursing care; evaluate and revise plans of care in collaboration with colleagues and health care providers
- Identify and manage a patient crisis at an advanced beginner level until assistance is available
- Demonstrate advanced beginner clinical expertise with clinical assessment, management, evaluation, recovery, discharge planning, and rehabilitation of patients within specialty population.
- Demonstrate skill competency with invasive and non-invasive clinical tasks
- Identify and prevents the clinical sequelae of immobility.
- Assess and intervene to decrease pain and improve quality of life.
- Assume responsibility for the delegation and oversight of care deliver by other staff on a daily basis.
- Collaborate with and advocate for culturally diverse consumers and colleagues in the delivery of innovative health care services
- Evaluate research, implement evidence-based practice, and use quality improvement strategies to ensure consistency of clinical care and improved outcomes
- Utilize past educational, life, and professional experiences to synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge as a basis for professional nursing practice and leadership
- Apply clinically and culturally appropriate information technology to promote quality health care.
- Identify and participate in the implementation of clinical research for best practice.
- Provide leadership in implementation evaluation of guidelines, professional standards and policies that affect patient care.
- Assume responsibility and accountability for legal and ethical practice.
- Demonstrate awareness of global factors, including global environments and human cultures, as they influence health and health care delivery.
General Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing Degree
- Course and GPA Requirements
All candidates for the M.S.N. degree must complete a minimum of 30-71 semester-hours of graduate credit depending on the area of specialization. A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained in all program coursework. A minimum grade of “B-” is required in all lab, practicum and residency courses that are not graded on a pass/fail basis. A minimum grade of “B-” is also required in the clinical component of M.E.P.N. courses. Courses in which a grade lower than “B-” is received must be repeated, and a grade of “B-” or better must be earned before the student may progress to the next clinical management theory and practicum courses in the program. - Time Limits
All students are expected to complete their programs within six years after initial enrollment. - Professional Liability and Malpractice Insurance
All students must maintain professional liability and malpractice insurance while enrolled in their programs. - Transfer and Waiver of Courses
Nursing students who have earned applicable credit at another institution may be permitted to transfer the credit (if not applied to another degree) or waive the required course credit. A maximum of 6 units may be waived or transferred. However, a minimum of 30 units at USD is required for all master’s programs in nursing. Core courses and electives may be waived, but waiver of specialty courses requires the additional permission of the specialty faculty.
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