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Application Deadlines

Nursing Direct Entry Deadline:
Spring Only: September 1st.

Nursing (Regular) Degree Deadlines:
The MS degree deadline is July 1st for Fall and November 1st for Spring.

Summer:
Not open for admissions

Application Requirements

Test Scores: No

New England Regional:
No (However under certain circumstances the Direct Entry Program may be eligible for NER, please contact Dovev Levine at the Graduate School for more details.)

Nursing

Hewitt Hall
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862 - 2299
Email:
Web Address: www.unh.edu/nursing

Degrees Offered: M.S.

The Department of Nursing offers the master of science degree in nursing under two programs: Graduate Program in Nursing and Direct Entry Master’s in Nursing.

The Graduate Program in Nursing currently offers three clinical practice tracks: family nurse practitioner (FNP), clinical nurse leader (CNL), and evidence-based nursing. Within the evidence-based nursing track, students can complete a program of study in clinical nursing education. Click here for information about the Cognate in College Teaching Certificate program. All tracks prepare nurses for evidence-based practice through critical inquiry using a variety of instructional modalities.

The Direct Entry Master’s in Nursing Program culminates in the CNL track for the master of science degree in nursing.

Admission Requirements

Graduate Program in Nursing: Registered nurses (RNs) who hold a baccalaureate degree in either nursing or another field are considered for admission. Applicants are required to have a good academic record and completion of coursework in statistics and research. RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a discipline other than nursing are considered. The program of study is individualized based on evaluation of competency statements and resume submitted with the application form. RNs without a B.S.N. should contact the Graduate Nursing Office for a copy of the competency statement form.

Direct Entry Master’s in Nursing: Direct entry applicants are required to have a solid academic record and satisfactory completion of coursework in statistics, anatomy and physiology I and II, and microbiology with a grade of B or better. This program is for applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a field other than nursing.

Degree Requirements

M.S. Degree Requirements
The requirements for the Graduate Program in Nursing for the master of science degree includes a total of 48 credit hours for family nurse practitioner (30-39 credit hours for post-master’s FNP), 34 credit hours for the clinical nurse leader (CNL), and 32 credit hours for the evidence-based nursing track. All tracks are designed to be completed in three to four semesters of full-time study including summer. Individual plans of study are available for those wishing to pursue part-time study. Although no guarantees are given, we do try to accommodate student requests to the extent possible.

The Direct Entry Master’s in Nursing Program is a two- or three-year, 73-credit, full-time course of study, beginning in January of each year. Students are provisionally admitted to the MS program. Provision will be removed once the RN license is received. Students will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN after completing a total of 64 credits of accelerated study (including summer).

Students graduate as an advanced generalist as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) with a Master’s of Science degree. Students will sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader national certification examination in their final semester. The CNL is a new role in the field of nursing designed to provide master’s prepared, point of care nurse leaders with the ability to manage and solve complex patient problems within a systems framework.

As part of the CNL curriculum, students study master’s level research in health promotion and illness management. Students complete a clinical immersion experience of approximately 400 clinical hours. Students conclude their CNL master’s preparation in a capstone project seminar.

Core Courses
All master’s degree students complete the following 9 credits of core courses: 900, The Discipline of Nursing; 901, Nursing and Change in Health Services; and 905, Research.

Specialty courses for the Graduate Program in Nursing (23-39 credits) required for each area of specialization:

For family nurse practitioner (FNP): 810, Families in Health and Illness; 907, Pharmacology; 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology; 909, Health and Illness Appraisal; 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership; 935, Primary Care of Families I; 936, Practicum in the Primary Care of Families I (168 clinical hours); 937, Primary Care of Families II; 938, Practicum in the Primary Care of Families II (168 clinical hours); 939, Seminar and Practicum in the Primary Care of Families III (336 clinical hours); 942, Advancing Evidence in Complex Health Challenges; 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis

For clinical nurse leader (CNL): 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology; 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership; 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis; 952, Clinical Nursing Leadership I (300 clinical hours); 953, Promoting Quality Management; 954, Clinical Nursing Leadership II (112 clinical hours); and 956, Capstone Project Seminar.

For evidence-based nursing: 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology; 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership; 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis; 953, Promoting Quality Management; 955, Practicum in Advanced Nursing Practice (300 clinical hours); 956, Capstone Project Seminar; and one, 3-credit elective related to program of study.

Concluding Experience

For clinical nurse leader (CNL) and evidence-based nursing (EBN) tracks, the capstone course, NURS 956, requires students to complete a scholarly project which synthesizes advanced practice knowledge and skills to address substantive nursing practice issues. CNL and EBN students may elect to complete a thesis, NURS 899 (6 credits), as the capstone course in place of NURS 956. If a student opts to do a thesis, the student should discuss this option with a faculty adviser early in the program of study. For family nurse practitioner track, the capstone course, NURS 939, is the final integrated clinical practicum.

Direct Entry Courses (73 credits); all courses are required and sequenced. The following is the two-year accelerated plan of study:

Spring I
NURS 806 Clinical Inquiry 4 cr.
NURS 807 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 4 cr.
NURS 813 Health Assessment and Clinical Nursing 5 cr.
NURS 825 Collaborative Care I: Care of Older Adult 3 cr.
NURS 900 Discipline of Nursing 3 cr.

Summer I
NURS 826 Caring for People with Severe & Persistent Mental Illness 4 cr.
NURS 827 Collaborative Care II: Managing Acute & Complex Care of Individuals 6 cr.
NURS 901 Nursing & Change in Health Services 3 cr.

Fall I
NURS 828 Public Health Nursing 5 cr.
NURS 829 Collaborative Care III: Childbearing & Childrearing Families 6 cr.
NURS 905 Research 3 cr.
NURS 908 Clinical Application of Human Physiology 3 cr.

Spring II
NURS 925 Health Care Systems & Leadership 3 cr.
NURS 951 Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis 3 cr.
NURS 952 Clinical Nursing Leadership I (immersion experience) 10 cr.
Eligible for NCLEX-RN

Summer II
NURS 953 Promoting Quality Management 2 cr.

Fall II
NURS 954 Clinical Nursing Leadership II (practicum) 3 cr.
NURS 956 Capstone Project Seminar 3 cr.

Research and Scholarly Activities
The graduate faculty of the University’s nursing program believe learning is a creative process wherein students are active participants in their education, growth, and development as advanced practice nurses. Faculty members are facilitators and mentors to students within a supportive scholarly environment. Students are prepared to be skilled, knowledgeable, and reflective leaders in health care who practice as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse leaders, or clinical educators.

The generation, dissemination, and application of evidenced-based nursing knowledge and practice are a central mission for the nursing department. Health care of vulnerable populations is the research focus among the faculty. Faculty engage in scholarly inquiry across diverse topics such as care-giving, acute symptom management, clinical decision-making, adolescent pregnancy, elder care giving, and cultural diversity. Faculty publications, research, public policy initiatives, and other consultative/professional activities can be viewed at the department’s Web site.