NOTE: Applications to the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) program are not currently being accepted.
For additional information contact Kathy Moore (mooreka@email.unc.edu) in the Office of Admissions and Student Services in the School of Nursing, or Dr. Jennifer D’Auria (jennifer_d'auria@unc.edu), MSN Program Director.
Overview:
The School of Nursing offers a curriculum leading to the degree of Master
of Science in Nursing. The program of study prepares students for roles in advanced
nursing practice.
8th ranked program in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
For additional information
visit
PNPlace.Required coursework includes professional, research
and clinical core courses, and advanced practice specialty courses including
electives. Applicants are admitted for either full-time or part-time study and
can begin in fall or spring.
The Children's Health advanced practice program focuses on the health care
of infants, children and adolescents, and their families. Students may be prepared
as pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP) or, when a sufficient pool of students
and faculty resources are available, as clinical nurse specialists (CNS). PNP
students focus on primary care of infants, children, and adolescents. Upon program
completion, PNP graduates are eligible for approval to practice as a PNP in North
Carolina and to take national certification examinations. A minimum of 540 clinical
hours with credentialed preceptors are required in the program. CNS students
focus on the specialized care of infants, children, and adolescents in acute
care settings. Upon program completion, CNS graduates are eligible for national
certification examination.
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.
Curriculum:
The curriculum includes four components: professional core, research core,
clinical core, and the advanced practice area requirements:
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 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.
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.
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 710
Developmental Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course explores developmental changes in morphological processes and normal and abnormal physiology in humans from conception through adolescence. Physiological differences between infants and children and adults are included. (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 725
Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning in Neonatal and Pediatric Nursing (4 credits)
This course is designed to prepare the advanced practice children's health nurse to comprehensively assess neonatal and pediatric clients using a diagnostic reasoning process and demonstrating an appreciation of cultural diversity. The content includes normal infants/children and those with significant medical development problems. (2.5 classroom hours/week and 90 clinical hours, including supervised labs.)
Advanced Practice Specialty Core (13 credits):
NURS 840
Advanced Concepts in Ambulatory Pediatric Nursing (4 credits)
This course focuses on ambulatory nursing management of children. Content includes health promotion, health maintenance, and common clinical symptomatology/problems in infants, children, and adolescents. (3 classroom hours; 120 clinical hours per semester).
NURS 841
Advanced Concepts in Family-Centered Health Care of Children and Adolescents (3 credits)
This course focuses on advanced concepts in family-centered health care of selected child and adolescent health problems. Students function in an advanced practice role, working with children, adolescents, and their families in primary care, acute, and/or chronic illness settings. (3 cr: 2-3 classroom hours; 120 clinical hours per semester)
NURS 842
Nursing Interventions with Psychophysiological Problems of Infant and Children (3 credits)
This course prepares the advanced neonatal or /pediatric nurse to design and implement systems of interventions that promote optimal health and development for infants, children and adolescents with complex psychophysiological health problems and to manage chronic illness in infants and children. (3 cr: 2-3 classroom hours; 120 clinical hours per semester)
NURS 849
Clinical Practicum in Advanced Pediatric Nursing (1 credits)
Supervised practicum in an advanced practice role in a selected health care setting that provides primary care and/or specialized health care to infants, children, or adolescents. (120 clinical hours/1 cr.)
Elective in Nursing or Related Field (2-3 credits)
An elective may include additional courses, clinical practicum hours
or thesis credits.
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Option: Contact the Director
of Master's Programs
Clinical Placements
The program is enhanced by its location near two university-based tertiary
care pediatric medical centers where placements are available both in inpatient
and ambulatory settings and on specialized health care teams. In addition, multidisciplinary
developmental centers, child health teams in public health departments, community
hospitals, private physicians' offices, health maintenance organizations, and
numerous others clinical sites are used. Placements can be made throughout the
state through arrangements with the statewide Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
program.
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 associates degree or diploma in nursing, or who
have an earned bachelors 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.
- Note: 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.
- A minimum of one year of work experience as an RN, preferably in the area
of desired specialization.
- 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's Master's
Application Guidelines for detailed information on admissions requirements
and required application materials.
Neonatal/Pediatric Faculty:
Susan
A. Brunssen , PhD, RN
Jennifer
Piersma D'Auria, PhD, RN, CPNP
Maureen
Kelly, MS, RN, CPNP
Suzanne
Thoyre, PhD, RN
Marcia
Van Riper, PhD, RN
Julee
Waldrop, MS, RN, FNP, PNP
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
