Overview:
The School of Nursing offers a curriculum leading to the degree of Master
of Science in Nursing with an advanced practice area of adult nurse practitioner.
The program of study prepares students as health care providers for individuals
age 13 to end of life. 
The
program requires course content in research, professional and clinical cores,
and the advanced practice area with a selected focus. Applicants are admitted
for either full-time or part-time study and can begin in fall or spring.
The curriculum is designed to prepare nurses as adult nurse practitioners
(ANP) with a focus in an area of their choice. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the American Nurses' Association (ANCC) or American Academy
of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) certification examination for adult nurse practitioners.
They will have advanced comprehensive assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills
and knowledge and skills in prevention and management of common health issues.
In the final semester, students will select an area of clinical practice in
which they wish to develop in-depth knowledge and proficiency. Graduates will
be skilled in implementing and evaluating interventions across health care settings
as well as throughout the trajectories of illness. They are educated for practice
that is evidence-based, collaborative, and reflective of an understanding of current
health care delivery, as well as, economic, ethical, and professional issues.
All students will complete five clinical courses which include a core course
in advanced diagnostic reasoning, three clinical courses that emphasize management
of common adult health problems and one course that emphasizes the management
of adult health problems related to a focus area of choice. A total of 700 hours
of supervised clinical practice is interspersed throughout the curriculum.
Each student's program is individualized to the student's interests and needs
through clinical placements, papers, presentations, and elective courses. Full-time
students who begin during the fall semester can complete the program in four
semesters and one intervening summer practicum. Part-time students usually complete
the program in six semesters and one intervening summer term.
ANP/Oncology Focus
The School of Nursing offers a curriculum leading to a Master of Science in Nursing degree in the Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) advanced practice area with a clinical focus in Oncology. This program of study prepares students as health care providers for adults at risk for, or with, cancer. Students receive advanced comprehensive assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills, and knowledge and skills in both the prevention and management of common health issues in adults and in the care of adults at risk for, or with, cancer.
Applicants are admitted to the Adult Nurse Practitioner advanced practice area and complete all required coursework for the ANP advanced practice area including an additional four credits of coursework focused in Oncology. Additional Oncology coursework (tentative) includes:
- Introduction to Oncology [2 credits] (Summer term)
- Advanced Pharmacology in Oncology [1 credit] (Summer term)
- Oncology Seminar I [0.5 credits] (Fall semester)
- Oncology Seminar II [0.5 credits] (Spring semester)
Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the American Nurses' Association (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) certification examination for adult nurse practitioners and the Oncology Nursing Certification (AOCNP) examination upon completion of additional hours in oncology after graduation. CCNE approval of this specialty focus
is currently in process.
Curriculum:
(See Graduate Record for prerequisites and/or corequisites)
Professional Core (6 credits):
NURS 646
Health Care Policy in the US: Development, Impacts, and Implications for Nurses (3 credits)
Examines health care systems development, impacts, and prospects for change. Content enables nurses to draw implications for nursing practice and advocacy for improving systems. (3 classroom hours/week)
NURS 647
Approaches to Advanced Practice Integrating Theories, Roles and Issues (3 credits)
Examines the historical evolution, theoretical roots, current roles and context of advanced practice nursing. Content addresses the definition, issues, and scope of advanced practice nursing within a changing environment. (3 classroom hours/week)
Research Core (9-11 credits):
NURS 776
Research for Advanced Clinical Practice (3 credits)
Graduate standing. Successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course. This course explores approaches to research problems in advanced practice nursing. Theories, methods, designs, measurements, ethical conduct, and skills in critical appraisal are emphasized.
NURS 777
Intermediate Statistical Applications in Health Care (3 credits)
Graduate standing. This course provides an introduction to probability, statistical concepts, and analytical techniques useful in health care research and for interpreting the literature.
NURS 992
Master's Paper (3 credits)
Students complete a master's paper under the guidance and supervision of a faculty mentor and advisory committee. Completion of a scholarly paper reflecting the activity is required.
OR
NURS 993
Master's Thesis (3-6 credits)
Students complete a thesis under the guidance and supervision of a faculty mentor and advisory committee. Completion of a scholarly paper reflecting the activity is required.
Clinical Core (12 credits):
NURS 642
Health Promotion (2 credits)
This course focuses on the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and identification of factors that impact health across the life span. (2 classroom hours/week)
NURS 715
Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course examines physiological and pathophysiological responses to injury - the effects of injury on cell function, host defense responses, the maintenance of vital functions, and neuroendocrine immune responses to stress across the life span. (3 classroom hours/week)
NURS 720
Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course examines principles of pharmacotherapeutic decision making in advanced nursing practice, with application to clinical management of common health problems specific to all age groups, encompassing a life span approach. (3 classroom hours/week)
NURS 726
Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning in Primary Care Nursing (4 credits)
This course focuses on diagnostic reasoning as a framework to synthesize knowledge for comprehensive assessment of primary care patients throughout the life span. Prerequisites to all advanced practice area courses. (3 classroom hours/week; approximately 120 clinical hours including supervised labs/semester)
Advanced Practice Area (13 Credits):
NURS 810
Primary Care Management of Adults (4 credits)
This course examines the management strategies in community-based ambulatory care settings that provide care to adult individuals and their families. (3 classroom hours/week and 120 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 811
Selected Issues in Adult Health (4 credits)
This course provides the opportunity for an in-depth examination of management strategies with selected health problems in adults, and the examination of issues inherent in the management of women and geriatric populations. (3 hours class clinical hours per semester)
NURS 812
Management of Complex Health Problems in Adults (4 credits)
This capstone course focuses on the management of complex health problems in adult populations for the Adult Nurse Practitioner. Each student selects the focus area for clinical practice. (1 credit lecture, 1 credit seminars = 3 classroom hours/week; 2 credits clinical = 240 hours per semester).
NURS 819
Practicum in Adult Nursing Practice (1 credit)
Students will complete 160 hours of precepted practice across the semester in community-based ambulatory care settings that provide personal health services to adult individuals and their families.
Oncology Courses (Tentative; more information to follow):
- Introduction to Oncology [2 credits] (Summer term)
- Advanced Pharmacology in Oncology [1 credit] (Summer term)
- Oncology Seminar I [0.5 credits] (Fall semester)
- Oncology Seminar II [0.5 credits] (Spring semester)
Supported Electives
Electives are not required for this advanced practice area, however many students
take electives in nursing and other disciplines such as physiology, immunology,
informationlogic physiology, health law, ethics, and health policy. Popular elective
options in nursing for ANPs include Principles of Teaching Applied to Nursing,
Care of the Dying and Bereaved Over the Life Span, AIDS: Principles, Practices
and Politics, and Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice and Diabetes Mellitus.
Admission
Applicants must be accepted by The Graduate School and the School of Nursing. Applications for spring admission must be submitted by October 1st, and by March 1st for fall admission. Students wishing to be considered for the University's Competitive Merit Fellowship program must apply by December 15th for fall admission. Only complete applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee; all required elements must be received before Committee evaluation can begin.
The School of Nursing admits students on a "rolling basis" however, if an
expeditious review is desired, applicants must submit all
supporting documentation to the School at the time the application is electronically
filed.
Admission Criteria
- Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program.
- Registered nurses with an associate's degree or diploma in nursing, or who
have an earned bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, may apply to
the RN-MSN Program. These students complete three undergraduate nursing courses
prior to beginning the Master's clinical course sequence. Please contact the
Office of Admissions & Student Services for information on the RN-MSN Program
or see the RN-MSN
page.
- Strong overall academic record with an average of "B" or better in nursing
courses and during the four years of undergraduate work. For RN-MSN applicants,
the GPA is calculated using the 51 course credits required for admission (see
RN-MSN page).
- Competitive GRE scores.
The University considers scores at or near the 50th percentile as "competitive" for
each of the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE. Applicants who feel
their working knowledge of algebra, geometry and data analysis may be "rusty",
are encouraged to prepare thoroughly before sitting for this exam. Completion
of a GRE Preparation Course may be
helpful.
- Introductory statistics course with a grade of C or better, completed
in the past 10 years.
- Health assessment course, approved by the School. Please refer to the School
of Nursing's Master's Application Instructions for details of this requirement.
- Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which the student will do clinical course work. Note: an "unencumbered license" means neither the license, the licensee's practice, nor the licensee is associated with any type of restriction, encumbrance, or probationary limitations imposed by the applicable Board of Nursing or any judicial entity.
Please refer to the School of Nursing Master's
Application Instructions for detailed information on admissions requirements
and required application materials.
Adult and Geriatric Health Faculty:
Diane Berry, PhD, RN, CANP
Barb Waag Carlson, PhD, RN
Barbara Germino, PhD, RN, FAAN
Elaine Harwood, MSN, RN, FNP, CS
Jane Kaufman, MSN, RN, CS, ANP
Deborah Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN
Virginia Neelon, PhD, RN
Mary H. Palmer, PhD, RNC, FAAN
FOR MORE INFORMATION
School of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
For general information on the School of Nursing and application materials,
contact:
Office of Admissions and Student Services
(919) 966-4260
nursing@unc.edu
