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. The program requires research, professional and clinical cores,
and a selected advanced practice area. Applicants are admitted for either full-time
or part-time study and can begin in fall or spring.
The advanced practice specialty in Women's Health Nursing focuses on the care
of women from adolescence through old age who are experiencing a wide range of
health and illness conditions or encountering life crises and transitions. Students
are prepared as women's health care nurse
practitioners (WHNP). WHNP students complete a minimum of 600 hours of clinical
practice with experienced and credentialed preceptors in order to be eligible
for national certification examinations.
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.
Dual Option: Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner & Family Nurse Practitioner
A program option for dual preparation as both a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and a Family Nurse Practitioner is available. Graduates of this dual program are prepared to care for families across the lifespan with an additional in-depth focus on the unique health issues of women. Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for national board certification as a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
The dual program is 48 credit hours in length. Students complete all courses within the women’s health and family nurse practitioner practice areas. Students may be admitted directly to the WHNP/FNP option or may petition to enter the dual program after matriculation.
If you are a matriculated student who is interested in applying for the dual option and learning more about the required plan of study, please contact Regina McCarthy.
Curriculum:
(See Graduate Record for prerequisites and/or corequisites)
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, 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 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 825
Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 credits)
This course uses a lifespan approach to examine principles of primary care management of child bearing couples, and sexual and reproductive health in women and men. Application is in community-based settings. (45 classroom hours and 120 clinical hours)
NURS 833
Specialty Care In The Health Of Women (4 credits)
This course focuses on the primary care of women with complex gynecological problems, reproductive complications, and socially derived health care problems. Emphasis is placed on assessment, diagnosis, management, and clinical decision-making. Current practice trends and research findings are incorporated. (3 classroom hours/week; 120 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 838
Health Care In Women, Practicum (2 credits)
This course gives the student a concentrated, experiential opportunity to provide advanced practice nursing in selected areas of women's health. Students must take at least 2 credits (240 total clinical hours); students may elect or be required (based on identified need) to take more than 2 credits.
Clinical Placements
The program is enhanced by its location near two university-based tertiary
care medical centers where women's health placements are available in both inpatient
and ambulatory settings and on specialized healthcare teams. In addition, public
health department programs, community hospitals, private physician practices,
and numerous other clinical sites where women receive care are used. Placements
can be made throughout the state with the statewide Area Health Education Centers
(AHEC) program. Through clinical placements, students may focus on specific populations
within women's health nursing.
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.
- 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.
- Minimum of one year of work experience as an RN, preferably in the area
of desired specialization.
- 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.
Women's Health Care Nursing Facutly:
Noreen
Esposito, EdD, WHNP, FNP
Cathie
Fogel, Ph.D, RNC (WHNP), FAAN
Regina
McCarthy, MS, CNM, CPNP
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
