Beginning Fall 2008, a Clinical Nurse Leader option will be opening. Please see
information below about this new exciting opportunity.
Overview:
Today's health care system requires new skills
of clinical nursing leaders to transform the delivery of nursing and health care.
3rd ranked program in Nursing Service Administration
For additional information
visit
the HCS website.
The Health Care Systems (HCS) Advanced Practice Area in the Master of Science degree program prepares students with knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a variety of leadership positions in health care organizations. This advanced practice area includes content in management and leadership, informatics, financial management, human resource management, quality improvement, outcomes management, and education. Such an approach prepares graduates with a breadth and depth of knowledge and skills needed to develop, implement, and measure the impact of innovations in care delivery at all levels within health care organizations.
Health Care Systems prepares students to become advanced practice leaders in five areas:
- Administration: Prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in the management, organization, and delivery of systems of care, with emphasis on human and financial resource management.
- Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL): Prepares students to be clinical leaders in complex healthcare systems by deriving knowledge and skills from both the clinical and heath care systems practice. The CNL is part of a national movement to improve healthcare delivery by preparing nurses to create the innovations needed to transform the way health care is delivered. These nurses are prepared with advanced knowledge and skills in the provision and management of care for individuals and groups of patients, with emphasis on understanding patients' clinical progression, care transitions and processes, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and patient safety.
- Education: Prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in teaching and nursing education to fill roles in patient education, staff development, or academic settings.
- Informatics: Prepares students with in-depth knowledge and skills in information management and processing principles to support data, information, and knowledge needs in the practice of nursing.
- Outcomes Management: Prepares students with advanced skills in managing patient and systems outcomes, emphasizing quality and performance improvement, outcomes measurement, and introducing practice innovations.
Upon entry to the program, students choose one of these five areas of focus for their graduate study based on their personal experiences and career goals.
Students enrolled in HCS complete core MSN and HCS specialty courses, supporting coursework commensurate with their area of focus and future goals, and an intensive residential experience. For the residency, students are individually placed with preceptors employed in selected clinical practice sites for role integration and immersion. Full-time students usually complete their program of study in five semesters, while part-time students typically complete the program in three to five years. Upon completion of the program and with the requisite experience, graduates may be eligible to sit for appropriate certification examinations in their area of focus.
HCS faculty members are sensitive to students' learning needs by employing a variety of instructional modalities, including seminar or classroom settings, and on-line instruction. As a result, HCS courses may be offered using traditional classroom settings and/or Web-enhanced technologies.
Curriculum:
The HCS curriculum includes coursework from the Master of Science in Nursing professional and research cores (15-18 credits), the Health Care Systems Advanced Practice Area core, and coursework commensurate with the student’s area of focus. These curricular requirements are outlined in detail below.
The curriculum for the Clinical Nurse Leader area is currently under development. Please see the CNL program of study for the most current information.
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, impact, 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 774
Research for Nursing Practice I (3 credits)
This two course sequence explores the philosophy, logic, and methods of research and statistical analysis for use in clinical practice. This course focuses on the relations between research and practice, the research process, and on non-experimental designs. (3 classroom hours per week.)
NURS 775
Research for Nursing Practice II (3 credits)
This two course sequence explores the philosophy, logic, and methods of research and statistical analysis for use in clinical practice. This course focuses on sampling, measurement, data management, experimental designs, and on the use of data for improving practice. (3 classroom hours per week.)
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.
Advanced Practice Area
(19 credits):
Health Care System students in Administration, Outcomes Management,
and Informatics are required to complete all of the five courses listed
below and an intense residency in their area of focus, for a total of 19 credits.
Health Care Systems students in Education also complete 19 credit hours by taking
four of the five HCS courses listed below, six credit hours of nursing education
courses, and an intensive residency.
NURS 870
Health Care Informatics (3 credits)
This online course focuses on developing an understanding of the concepts relevant to health care informatics, and the use of computerized information systems in health care organizations, with a focus on applications that support clinical and administrative decision making.
NURS 871
Leadership in Organizations (3 credits)
This course examines health care and nursing practice organizations, the influence of the external and internal environment on these organizations, and the role and relationship of nurse leaders to the nursing practice environment and to the greater organization. (3 classroom hours)
NURS 872
Human Resources Management (3 credits)
This course explores the knowledge and skills required for effective human resource management. Managerial behaviors that promote and maintain a professional nursing practice environment are emphasized. (3 classroom hours per week; 60 clinical hours per semester)
NURS 873
Financial Management (3 credits)
This course examines issues related to health care economics, financial management, and budgeting, to facilitate managerial decision-making. (3 classroom hours per week)
NURS 874
Outcomes Management (3 credits)
This course explores theories and methods related to outcomes management for quality improvement in health care, including improvement science, patient safety approaches, health services research, evidence-based practice, and translation research. (3 classroom hours per week; 60 clinical hours per semester)
Students in the Education option are required to take four
of the five courses listed above, plus both of the following nursing education
courses.
NURS 875
Principles of Teaching Applied to Nursing (3 credits)
This online course provides students who have minimal or no previous teaching experience with educational principles necessary to teach nursing. Special emphasis is placed on the application of theory through course project. (Distance Education)
NURS 876
Innovations in Nursing and Health Care Educational Curricula (3 credits)
This online course examines the foundations of contemporary nursing and health care education, including academic, staff development and patient education programs, and lifelong learning. The use of technology in the curriculum is considered. (Distance Education)
All HCS students also are required to take the following courses:
NURS 704
Scientific Writing (1 credit)
This course focuses on the principles and practice of scientific writing, with emphasis on research proposals, theses, report preparation, dissertations, and articles for publication.
NURS 878
Health Care Systems Residency and Integrative Seminar (3 credits)
This online and residency course provides an environment where students develop, implement, and evaluate advanced practice leadership strategies in a Health Care Systems area of focus. An understanding of systems structures, processes, and outcomes is gained through practical experiences, personal reflection, and seminar discussions. (Approximately 180 clinical hours per semester.)
Supporting Courses in Health Care Systems
Focus Areas
(3-6 credits):
The Health Care Systems curriculum prepares students for leadership roles
in one of four areas of focus: Administration, Outcomes Management, Informatics,
or Education. Students in each of these focus areas are required to take
additional credit hours of coursework to strengthen their selected focus area
and support their personal career goals. Examples of courses for each option
that may be available to students are listed below. Students work closely with
their academic advisor in the selection and approval of these or other courses
within the University.
Administration (6 credits)
HPAA 405
Organization and Administration of Multihospital Systems (3
credits)
Legal, financial, and organizational issues of multihospital
systems development and management are examined, including issues of corporate
reorganizations, strategic planning, and marketing. Prototypes and operating
examples are considered.
HPAA 732
Management of Organizational Change (3
credits)
The objective of this course is to improve competence
in analyzing health organizations and managing planned change.
HPAA 725
Health Administration and Planning I (3
credits)
This course provides an overview of the concepts, processes,
and methods used in policy analysis, strategic planning, and management in the
health care sector.
HPAA 742
Long-Term Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations (3
credits)
Advanced financial management concepts and practices
in health service organizations, including: working capital management, capital
markets, capital structure, capital budgeting, and reimbursement implications.
HPAA 715
Health Economics for Policy and Administration (3
credits)
Provides training in the theory of health economics
and applies this theory to important issues in health policy and administration.
Informatics (6 credits)
(See Graduate Record for prerequisites)
INLS 461
Information Tools (3
credits)
Tools and concepts for information use. Information
literacy, microcomputer software use and maintenance, microcomputer applications,
and networked information systems.
INLS 523
Introduction to Database Concepts and Applications (3
credits)
Design and implementation of database systems. Semantic
modeling, relational database theory, including normalization, indexing and query
construction, SQL.
INLS 582
Systems Analysis (3
credits)
Introduction to the systems approach to the design
and development of information systems. Methods and tools for the analysis and
modeling of system functionality (e.g., structured analysis) and data represented
in the system (e.g., object-oriented analysis) are studied.
INLS 572
Internet Applications (3
credits)
Introduction to Internet concepts, applications, and
services. Introduces the TCP/IP protocol suite along with clients and servers
for Internet communication, browsing, and navigation. Examines policy, management,
and implementation issues.
INLS 718
User Interface Design (3
credits)
Basic principles for designing the human interface
to information systems, emphasizing computer-assisted systems. Major topics:
users' conceptual models of systems, human information processing capabilities,
styles of interfaces, evaluation methods. (Prerequisite: INLS 162).
Education (3 credits)
EDUC 683
Educational Measurement and Evaluation (3
credits)
Identifies the basic concepts in measurement and evaluation,
describes the role of evaluation in curriculum construction and revision, and
describes the development and use of teacher-constructed tests.
EDUC 609
Tests and Measurements (3
credits)
Studies basic concepts in measurement and their application
in the use and interpretation of tests.
EDUC 835
Instructional Improvement and Staff Development (3
credits)
Provides fundamental knowledge of instructional design,
techniques of learning, evaluation of teaching/learning process and ways in which
school-based leaders can support excellence in classroom instruction.
EDUC 783
Applied Measurement Theory for Education (3
credits)
An examination of the logic and theory of educational
measurement. Practical applications of measurement theory to the construction
and use of a variety of educational measurement devices.
EDUC 785
Program Evaluation in Education (3
credits)
An examination of the major approaches to program evaluation
with emphasis on differences between evaluation and research.
Outcomes Management
(6 credits)
BA 232
Managing for Quality (variable
credits)
Increasingly, business organizations are adopting a
set of practices for the systematic improvement of customer value. Whether these
practices are called Total Quality Management (TQM), reengineering, operational
excellence, or something else, they have in common a number of underlying concepts.
This course explores those underlying ideas.
HPAA 472
Program Evaluation (3
credits)
Concepts and methods of the program evaluation paradigm
as applied in health administration; experiential learning of evaluation planning,
design, and implementation.
HPAA 761
Quality and Utilization Management (3
credits)
Evolution and current status of health care quality
management systems and programs for utilization control. Includes discussion
of alternative quality assurance methods; hospital accreditation; government
programs.
HPAA 762
Measurement Methods and Applications in Health Care
Quality (3 credits)
Methods and practices for quality control and assurance
in health care organizations.
HPAA 265
Health Policy Issues Analysis (3
credits)
A framework for analysis is developed and applied to
three major health policy issues, e.g., medical care rationing, role of public
health, or technology assessment.
Other Courses
Depending on student interests, career goals, and the selected HCS focus area,
it may be possible for students to take three credit hours of coursework offered
in the School of Nursing master's curriculum as a supporting course in their
focus area. Faculty advisors will work with individual students to identify appropriate
courses to enhance the student's ability in a chosen area. The School of Nursing
offers a variety of courses that can augment a student's program and career interests.
Dual Degree MSN/MSIS or MSN/MSLS
The School of Nursing and the School of Information and Library Sciences offer
two dual programs of study leading to two professional degree combinations: the
Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Information Science (MSN/MSIS),
and the Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Library Science (MSN/MSLS).
The MSN/MSIS and MSN/MSLS degree programs provide an opportunity for HCS students
focusing in Informatics to combine skills in nursing, health care informatics
and clinical leadership with specialized training in information and library
sciences to meet the demands of a highly complex health care environment. These
innovative programs create unique and highly challenging intellectual experiences
for interested students. Graduates will be well versed in clinical and information
management techniques, the design and implementation of these technologies, and
the evaluation of these technologies on the people who use them.
Under the dual degree arrangement, a student may earn two professional degrees
in a period of time less than the total required to complete the two degrees
separately. For example, full time HCS students may complete either the MSN/MSIS
or MSN/MSLS in approximately three academic years. Students must meet all HCS
requirements listed above, plus complete a plan of study in either information
or library science.
Admission to the dual program requires that students be admitted to both the
MSN and MSIS/MSLS programs. However, students must apply initially for graduate
study in the School of Nursing, Health Care Systems-Informatics program area.
Students will then apply to the School of Information and Library Sciences in
a subsequent semester.
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 31st for fall admission. No application will be reviewed by the Admission Committee before all the elements are received.
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.
- A 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.
- An introductory statistics course with a grade of C or better, completed
in the past 10 years.
- A health assessment course, approved by the School. Please refer to the School
of Nursing's Master's Application Instructions for details of this requirement.
- An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of
North Carolina is required for enrollment.
Please refer to the School of Nursing Master's
Application Instructions for detailed information on admissions requirements
and required application materials.
Health Care Systems Faculty:
Bonnie
Angel, EdD, RN
Ed
Halloran, PhD, RN, FAAN
Cheryl
B. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Mary
Lynn, PhD, RN
Barbara
Mark, PhD, RN, FAAN
Deborah
Thompson, EdD, RN
Debbie
Travers, PhD, RN, FAEN
Julie Vann, PhD, RN
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
