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Graduate Record 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED RECORD]
Master of Science in Nursing
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 Return to: School of Graduate Nursing: Programs/Courses
Characteristics of Graduates
The disciplinary and professional domains of nursing give direction to current and evolving nursing practice. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree prepares nurses for practice as advanced generalists as Clinical Nurse Leaders or as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is prepared through graduate nursing education as an advanced generalist nurse who provides and leads care at the point of care to individuals and groups or populations in all settings in which health care is delivered. The CNL designs, implements, and evaluates client care by coordinating, delegating and supervising care provided by the health care team. Nurses implementing these roles are prepared to provide leadership and assume accountability for client care outcomes through assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate client plans of care.
MSN-prepared nurses in specialty practice demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills in nursing and health care systems with diverse populations. Components of their roles are expert clinical practice or leadership, assessment of outcomes, research, teaching, collaboration, and consultation within health care systems or in the community. Nurses prepared through graduate nursing programs with advanced practice knowledge, critical thinking, and decision-making skills can function in a variety of nursing roles. Examples of such roles include clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. Nurses implementing these roles demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills. For example, nurses engaged in advanced clinical practice conduct in-depth assessments and demonstrate expertise in judgment and decision-making for purposes of health promotion/disease prevention, intervention, and follow-up in specified populations. Implementation of a particular role may emphasize some role attributes more than others and reflect the advanced practice nurse’s area of expertise.
Purpose
The purpose of the master’s program is to prepare nurses with strong critical thinking and decision-making skills for generalist practice as a clinical nurse leader, or as an advanced practice registered nurse in acute care, primary care, or psychiatric mental health.
Program Objectives
Graduates of the MSN program are expected to:
- Integrate theoretical and research based knowledge as a generalist leader or in an advanced nursing practice specialty.
- Provide care and comfort to individuals, families, and groups experiencing complex health care needs.
- Provide care that reflects sensitivity to differences among culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
- Assume a leadership role in establishing and monitoring standards of practice to improve patient care in collaboration with other nursing experts.
- Use ethical principles to guide decision-making in nursing practice.
- Evaluate clinical practice in relation to professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.
- Apply the research process to improve evidence based clinical practice and contribute to knowledge development.
- Engage in self-directed and purposeful activities in seeking necessary knowledge and skills to enhance career goals.
- Examine economic, political, and social forces affecting nursing care delivery in complex health care systems.
- Promote multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure quality, cost effective care.
- Contribute to the development of peers, colleagues, and others to improve patient care and foster the growth of professional nursing.
- Act as change agents to create environments that promote effective nursing practice and patient outcomes.
These core characteristics are in accordance with national guidelines for the Clinical Nurse Leader and professional standards of advanced nursing practice specialties.
Admission
Individuals with BSN degrees apply for the MSN tracks leading to preparation in advanced practice. Registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing area may apply for CNL MSN track. Non-nurse applicants with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing apply for the master’s-entry Clinical Nurse Leader track.
Master’s Entry MSN
Applicants are offered admission to the master’s-entry MSN Clinical Nurse Leader track on the basis of intellectual capacity, healthcare experience, academic performance, maturity, clarity of goals, and other qualities appropriate to graduate study in nursing. Not all of these qualities are measured in absolute terms, and the decision to make an offer of admission is based on a balanced appraisal of the total application record.
The applicant must:
- Have a baccalaureate or master’s degree from a nationally accredited school
- Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Successfully complete the following prerequisite courses before enrolling:
- Human anatomy & physiology within five years of program start
- A course in microbiology within five years of program start
- A course in statistics at the graduate or undergraduate level within five years of program start
- A course in life span development (conception to death) within five years of program start
- Submit three satisfactory recommendations; one of the three from someone in healthcare.
- Submit a copy of your resume or CV.
- Have prior work or volunteer experience in healthcare; exposure to nursing is recommended.
- Be available for an interview, if requested.
- International applicants have additional admissions requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate a strong ability in academic English from the TOEFL or IELTS examination.
Advanced Generalist and Specialty Practice Preparation
Applicants are offered admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program on the basis of intellectual capacity, clinical and academic performance, maturity, clarity of goals, and other qualities appropriate to graduate study in nursing. Not all of these qualities are measured in absolute terms, and the decision to make an offer of admission is based on a balanced appraisal of the total application record. Applicants to advanced practice specialties who have limited relevant clinical experience may be admitted and gain that experience while enrolled in core/pre-clinical courses.
The applicant must:
- Have completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school. NOTE: Registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing area may apply for Clinical Nurse Leader MSN.
- Applicants to the NNP track must have 2 years’ experience in a NICU (within the last 5 years).
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate study.
- Have completed an undergraduate or graduate statistics course within five years of program start.
- Submit three satisfactory academic and professional recommendations.
- Submit a current resume or CV.
- Possess an unencumbered RN license in the US and be eligible for RN certification in Virginia.
- Be available for an interview if requested.
- International applicants have additional admissions requirements.
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate a strong ability in academic English from the TOEFL or IELTS examination.
Technology requirements
All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop. Students in the NP and CNS tracks programs are also required to have a smartphone (Apple or Android). Information on the laptop and smartphone requirements will be sent to enrolling students in the summer before classes begin.
Admission Procedures
Applications for admission are available on the School of Nursing website: http://nursing.virginia.edu/admissions.
Application Deadlines
The application deadline for fall entry is November 1 of the year prior to enrollment.
Direct-entry CNL: October 1 is the deadline for matriculation the following May.
All correspondence concerning admission should be addressed to the Assistant Director for Admissions and Financial Aid, Office of Admissions and Student Services, School of Nursing, P.O. Box 800826, Charlottesville, VA 22908 or nursing-admissions@virginia.edu.
Degree Requirements
Satisfactory completion of a minimum of:
- 75 credits for the master’s-entry MSN CNL track
- 34-42 credits for the RN-CNL track
- 43-46 credits for the Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Pediatric NP - Primary Care
- 44 credits for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP track
- 42 credits for the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP track
- 46 credits for the Pediatric NP - Acute Care track
- 46 credits for students in the Neonatal Acute Care NP track
- 44 credits for students in the Acute Care CNS track
- 57 credits for the combined AG-ACNP/CNS tracks.
Course requirements are specified under the Program Description section. Satisfactory completion of all course work is specified in the policy on grades, with a final cumulative grade point average of at least 3.000 (B).
Time to Completion
MSN students have a maximum of 10 semesters from the date of matriculation in which to complete all graduation requirements while certificate specialty students have 6 semesters. Exceptions must be approved by the advisor, department chair, and the Program Director and are granted only under extenuating circumstances.
Enrollment and payment of tuition and fees for no fewer than two regular semesters or the equivalent are required.
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Nurse Practitioner Tracks
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Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track
44 credits, 560 clinical hours
This track prepares nurses for an advanced practice role providing direct patient care in medical/nursing subspecialty areas in collaboration with other members of the health care team. AGACNPs deliver care along the continuum of critical, acute, and chronic care. Students determine the focus of their specialization (i.e., cardiology, nephrology, wound/ostomy/continence, neurology or neuro-surgery, digestive health, general surgery, ER/trauma, pulmonary, transplant, etc.). In this track, students gain the advanced theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to manage acutely and chronically ill patients through all phases of their hospitalization and clinical follow-up. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic and clinical decision-making, preparation for prescriptive authority, collaboration with physicians, and outcomes management, as well as evidence-based practice and clinical research. Upon completion of this track, students are qualified to take the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) certification examination for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Family Nurse Practitioner Track
46 credits, 616 clinical hours
Students in the FNP track are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to practice as NPs in primary care settings. UVA’s program places particular emphasis on understanding the specific healthcare needs of underserved and rural communities with one of the two practicum rotations occurring outside of Albemarle County.
At the completion of the FNP track, students are eligible to write either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Family Nurse Practitioner examination. Graduates of the PNP track are qualified to sit for the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Exam.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
46 credits, 616 clinical hours
As advanced practice nurses, NNPs provide evidence-based quality care for our most vulnerable neonatal patients. The board certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP-BC) is prepared to practice advanced nursing in a multitude of settings including newborn nurseries, Level II, III, and IV NICUs and pediatric ICUs.
Upon completion of this track, students are qualified to sit for the National Certification Corporation certification exam for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care
46 credits, 672 clinical hours
As advanced practice nurses, PNP-ACs provide evidence-based quality care for our most vulnerable pediatric patients. The certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in acute care (CPNP-AC) provides care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with acute, complex, critical, and chronic illness across a variety of care settings.
Upon completion of this track, students are qualified to sit for the Pediatric Nurses Certification Board certification exam for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care Track
42 credits, 616 clinical hours
Students in the PNP track are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to practice as NPs in primary care settings. UVA’s program places particular emphasis on understanding the specific healthcare needs of underserved and rural communities with one of the two practicum rotations occurring outside of Albemarle County.
At the completion of the PNP track, students are qualified to sit for the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Exam.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track (PMHNP)
42 credits, 560 clinical hours
This area of concentration prepares nurses for advanced practice in the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Students complete core nursing courses, core advanced practice courses, and specialty specific courses. Major emphasis include the neurostructural, neurochemical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and cultural correlates of psychiatric illness in the context of the advanced practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Supervised clinical practice is directed toward applying this emerging scientific knowledge to patient care through psychiatric-mental health nursing interventions including prescriptive practice. Faculty work closely with students to develop individualized clinical experiences in appropriate settings. Graduates are prepared to practice in the PMHNP role and are qualified to sit for American Nursing Credentialing Center PMHNP certification.
Primary Care: Public Health Nursing Leadership/Family Nurse Practitioner Track
No new enrollment is being accepted into the Public Health Nursing Leadership/Family Nurse Practitioner track at this time.
59 credits, 784 clinical hours
Primary Care: Public Health Nursing/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Track
No new enrollment is being accepted into the Public Health Nursing Leadership/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track at this time.
57 credits, 784 clinical hours
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Track
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Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialty Track
42 credits, 560 clinical hours
This track prepares nurses for advanced practice in the care of young adults, adults, elderly and frail elderly patients over a continuum of wellness, acute illness and chronic illness. The AGCNS track allows students to determine the focus of their specialization (i.e., cardiology, wound/ostomy/continence, neurology or neurosurgery, general surgery, ER/trauma, pulmonary, transplant, diabetes, geriatrics, etc.) and the areas of practice in which they would like to focus their clinical experiences (critical care, acute care, or chronic care). Emphasis is placed on providing students with the advanced theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to care for practice in wide variety of medical and surgical critical care, acute care and specialty clinics. The roles of clinician, educator and researcher, as well as clinical consultant and leader are key aspects of this specialty. Evidence-based practice, outcomes management, clinical research, and advanced clinical decision-making are emphasized. The required 560 hours of preceptorship exceeds the recommendation of the National Association of CNS’s for 500 hours. At the completion of this track, students are qualified to sit for the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) certification examination for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS certification.
Adult-Gerontology and Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner Track
Students in the dual Adult-Gerontology and Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist track complete all requirements of the A-G ACNP and A-G ACCNS tracks.
Generalist Practice - Clinical Nurse Leader Tracks
This track prepares students for advanced generalist nursing practice as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) to provide and manage care at the point of care to individuals and cohorts or populations in all settings in which health care is delivered. Emphasis is placed on providing students with the advanced theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to design, implement, and evaluate client care by coordinating, delegating and supervising the care provided by the health care team. Students are prepared to provide leadership and assume accountability for client care outcomes through assimilation and application of research-based information to design, implement, and evaluate client plans of care. Evidence-based practice, outcomes management, clinical research, and clinical decision-making are emphasized. At the completion of this track, master’s-entry students are qualified to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN). All graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader®. This track admits students at three points of entry:
- Master’s-entry for non-nurses with a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in a non-nursing areas.
- BSN entry for BSN prepared nurses.
- RN entry for RNs who have a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in a non-nursing area.
Clinical Nurse Leader Track
75 credits, 924 clinical hours for master’s entry for non-nurses
35 credits for BSN-prepared nurses
42 credits for ADN-prepared nurses
Undergraduate course:
- NUIP 4200 - Pathophysiology Credits: 4
Graduate courses:
Clinical Nurse Leader - Post Baccalaureate Entry (Nurses with a BSN or an RN with a BS/BA in another discipline)
35-42 credits, 400 clinical hours
Applications with a BS/BA in a non-nursing discipline are required to take:
Leadership Specialty Tracks
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Public Health Nursing Leadership Track
No new enrollment is being accepted into the Public Health Nursing Leadership track at this time.
38 credits, 448 clinical hours
The Public Health Nursing Leadership concentration prepares nurses for specialized practice in promoting the health of individuals, families, groups, and populations. Emphasis is on the development of knowledge and expertise to assess the health status and health delivery systems of populations and to design nursing interventions to better manage care in complex settings. Courses provide the required knowledge and expertise needed to plan, implement, and evaluate care in population settings, including public health departments, schools, home health agencies, and nursing clinics. Care management strategies to assure continuity of health service delivery for individuals and groups at the local and global level are emphasized. International learning experiences are available.
The MSN in Public Health Nursing Leadership is also offered for students who do not live in Central Virginia. In this option, students enroll in 2-4 courses per term and complete most of the course requirements via the internet. Classes meet ‘live’ at the University twice per term (at the beginning and end of the semester). Upon completion of this track, students are qualified to take the American Nursing Credentialing Center certification examination in Community Health Nursing.
Health Systems Management Track
No new enrollment is being accepted into the Health Systems Management track at this time.
38 credits, 504 clinical hours
The Health Systems Management concentration prepares nurse leaders at the MSN level for management and executive level positions in complex health care organizations including public and private sector hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, and long-term care facilities as well as for positions in quality improvement, information systems, and policy. This program emphasizes competencies in (1) communication and relationship building, (2) knowledge of the healthcare environment, (3) transformational leadership, (4) professionalism, and (5) business skills. Innovative learning experiences are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to perform effectively at the business and clinical interface of health care delivery organizations.
Distance Education Option: The MSN in Health Systems Management is offered in an online, web-based format. In this option, students enroll in 2-4 courses per term and complete most of the course requirements via the internet. Classes meet ‘live’ at the University twice per term (first and last days). Active-duty military nurses and their dependents are exempt from the requirement to attend classes in Charlottesville and may access these class meetings via a web-camera.
Students completing the health systems management track will have completed course work necessary for Certification in Nursing Administration, Advanced or Certification in Nursing Administration. The practice requirements for this Certification are met through paid employment as a nurse manager or nurse executive for 24 months of the last 5 years. Thus graduates will need to gain this experience prior to certification.
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