College of Allied Health & Nursing School of Nursing 360 Wissink Hall 507-389-6826 or 800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY) Fax: 507-389-6516 Website: Nursing
Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) offers three graduate programs:
The FNP and CNS Programs are designed to prepare professional nurses for advanced practice and lead to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The MS NE Program is designed to prepare professional nurses for advanced nursing practice as educators in academic or clinical settings. Post–master's nursing degree certificates are also available in all three programs.
The graduate programs build upon and extend the body of knowledge and competencies of baccalaureate education in nursing. Graduate study in the School of Nursing educates nurses by creating an academic environment that fosters scholarship, critical thinking, and creativity. Graduate courses include theoretical and clinical experiences that provide the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills necessary to assume the role of an advanced practice nurse or a nurse educator. Graduates are also prepared for doctoral study.
Graduate Faculty has expertise in various nursing specialties and engages in clinical practice and/or research projects.
The potential applicant requests an application packet from the administrative assistant for the Graduate Programs in Nursing. Completed applications are due in to the Graduate Programs Office in the School of Nursing by January 15th for the Spring admission cycle, and by September 15th for the Fall admission cycle. Applicants submit materials simultaneously to both the College of Graduate Studies and Research and to the School of Nursing.
An interview may also be required as part of the application process. Applicants are notified of the admission decision by March 15th (Spring application cycle) or by November 15th (Fall cycle).
The MSN curriculum is designed to build upon and extend the body of knowledge and competencies of baccalaureate education in nursing. The overall purpose of the master's program is to provide high quality graduate education for advanced practice nursing. The curriculum focuses on the systematic integration of knowledge, theory, and skills for advanced practice nursing with families and for leadership in health care systems and the nursing profession.
The graduate curricular model is comprised of three components: 1) nursing science; 2) advanced practice; and 3) supportive fields. Full time and part time study is possible in all programs.
^ Courses which are available to non–degree seeking students.
All students complete the graduate thesis (NURS 699) and a final clinical in all programs as measures of Curriculum Outcome achievement.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
All students must complete a graduate program within six years of taking the first course that applies to the nursing science major Students may progress either full time (8–11 credits per semester) or part time (2–7 credits per semester). Full time students may complete their program of study in four semesters and two summers. Completion of a graduate nursing program in two calendar years requires intensive study and may not be feasible for some students.
Nursing science core courses are open to non–degree seeking students on a space available basis by permission of the professor and the Graduate Programs Coordinator. Interested students apply for non–degree status through the College of Graduate Studies and Research. After obtaining non–degree seeking status, a graduate student must contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator of the School of Nursing before registering for a class.
Guidelines provided by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the American Nurses' Association Credentialing Center (ANCC), have been utilized in program development. The Graduate programs are accredited by CCNE.
Minnesota State University, Mankato offers numerous sources of financial assistance. Graduate assistantships provide part–time, academically–related employment to eligible graduate students. These carry stipends up to $9,000, with maximum of nine credits per semester of resident graduate tuition, and resident rates for nonresident students. Federal Nurse Education Traineeships are available to students who commit to completing at least 6 credits each semester of the academic year. The award amount is determined by the amount of funding received annually. Other funding is available through national, state and local public and private sources.
A maximum of ten semester hours of graduate credit, all of which must be related to the program (with a grade of "B" or better), may be transferred from other appropriately accredited colleges or universities. With adequate pre–planning, a maximum of 16 semester hours of appropriate graduate credit may be transferred from other Minnesota State Universities (Bemidji, Metropolitan, Moorhead, Southwest, St. Cloud, Winona) and applied to a program at MSU.
The Nurse Educator (NE) Master's program and Post–Master's Certificate program is dedicated to developing nurse educators who advance nursing clinical practice, education and research in academic and practice settings. Graduates are eligible for national certification as academic nurse educators through the National League for Nursing. The MS is the minimum degree of preparation appropriate for the clinical nursing faculty member in academic and practice settings.
Total Credits: 51 (360 clinical hours)
*Courses marked with an asterisk are included in the Post–Master's Nursing Certificate Program: Nurse Educator. Students completing this certificate option will have completed the following graduate courses in their original nursing master's program or the equivalent prior to admission or during the course of study at Minnesota State Mankato:
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) program and Post–Master's Certificate program prepares nurses to effectively influence the health outcomes of patients and clients, the practice of nursing personnel, and patient care processes and client population outcomes in the health care organization or network.
Total Credits: 47–49 (600 clinical hours)
The Post–Master's Nursing Certificate: Clinical Nurse Specialist program provides nurses that already have a master's degree in another area of nursing the opportunity to complete courses necessary to seek national certification and practice as a clinical nurse specialist.
*Courses marked with an asterisk above are included in the post–master's certificate program. Students successfully completing the Post–Master's Nursing CNS Certificate are expected to have completed the following graduate courses in their original nursing master's program or the equivalent prior to admission or during their course of study at Minnesota State Mankato:
A graduate level statistics course plus
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program and Post–Master's Certificate program are dedicated to developing FNPs who advance nursing clinical practice, education and research in practice settings. Graduates are eligible for national certification as family nurse practitioners and are prepared to practice in acute care and community settings with a focus on primary care of individuals across the life span and their families.
Total Credits: 53 (600 clinical hours)
The Post–Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program provides nurses that already have master's degree preparation in another area of nursing the opportunity to complete courses necessary to seek national certification and practice as a family nurse practitioner.
*Courses marked with an asterisk above are included in the certificate program. Students completing the Post–Master's Nursing FNP Certificate program are also expected to have completed the following graduate courses in their original nursing master's program or the equivalent prior to admission or during their course of study at Minnesota State Mankato:
A graduate level statistics course plus
The DNP is offered as a collaborative program through a Consortium of four universities: Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Winona State University; and Metropolitan State University. This program is for nurses with a master's degree in nursing who wish to gain the advanced clinical, organizational, economic, and leadership competencies necessary in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.
Graduates of Minnesota State University, Mankato's DNP program will be able to influence health care by:
Candidates for the DNP program hold a master's degree in nursing. They may currently serve in advanced nursing positions including those of nurse executive, nurse informatician, nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist and nurse practitioner.
Applicants will indicate their preference for one of the four Consortium universities to be their "home institution". Efforts will be made to place students at their first–choice university. Students from all four universities will progress together as a cohort.
The DNP curriculum is structured around the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education. Course content builds upon the master's degree and consists of a minimum of 36 credits. Five semesters of doctoral didactic and clinical coursework culminates in completion of an evidence–based clinical capstone project. Throughout the course sequence, students will work with clinical experts and graduate faculty with expertise in applied research. A variety of teaching and learning approaches, primarily distance–learning modalities, are used.
NURS 552 (3) Advanced Health Assessment
This course offers theoretical and simulated clinical practice to develop advanced skills in health and physical assessment throughout the life span. Students complete a client data base and identify nursing problems necessary in making clinical judgments and planning and caring for the health care needs of individual clients.
NURS 553 (3) Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing
Analysis of core decision making–processes used by advance practice nurses to select drugs and clinical case management concepts involved in monitoring persons using prescribed drugs are addressed. Principles of altered pharmacodynamics, legal, economic and ethical considerations for nurse prescribers are explored.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: Basic understanding of pathophysiology, physical assessment, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics
NURS 554 (3) Advanced Pathophysiology
This course provides a foundation in advanced physiology and pathophysiology at the cellular, organic and systemic level. This foundation serves as a basis for clinical assessment and management by advanced practice nurses. Key concepts and integration of function among systems are emphasized. The impact of psychosocial variables on physiologic function is explored.
NURS 590 (1–3) Workshop
Workshop(s) with various topics and titles.
NURS 601 (3) Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
Theoretical formulations that inform nursing practice are examined and evaluated. Paradigmatic perspectives and their relationships with models of practice are explored. Selected concepts and middle–range theories are analyzed and their implications for practice are discussed.
NURS 602 (2) Ethical Dimensions of Nursing
The ethics of caring, social justice, and advocacy within the nurse–client relationship are evaluated. Emphasis is on inquiry into ethical ways of knowing and practicing in nursing. Ethical issues in contemporary nursing are analyzed.
NURS 603 (3) Advanced Practice Roles
Core aspects of advanced practice nursing are investigated. Emphasis is on analyzing the competencies, roles and issues facing advanced practice nurses. Students explore negotiation of advanced practice roles within practice and academic milieus.
NURS 604 (3) Knowledge Development in Nursing
The role of research and its application, utilization and integration in nursing practice is examined. Research approaches, designs and methods are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on development of analytic skills for reading and applying research in advanced practice roles.
Prerequisite: NURS 601; graduate–level statistics course
NURS 605 (2) Health Policy & Nursing
The purpose of this course is for students to appreciate the impact of public policy and legislation on health care systems and the leadership role of advanced practice nurses in shaping health policy and legislation supportive of health in the United States of America.
NURS 606 (2) Social Space of Nursing
The influences of social, economic, political, cultural, organizational and interpersonal milieus on nursing are examined.
Prerequisite: NURS 601 or permission of instructor
NURS 610 (2) Foundation & Philosophy of Holism & Healing
NURS 611 (2) Integrative Health I: Mind, Body, Spirit
NURS 612 (2) Integrative Health II: Mind, Body, Spirit
NURS 613 (2) Integrative Health Domain: Mind
NURS 614 (2) Integrative Health Domain: Body
NURS 615 (2) Integrative Health Domain: Spirit
NURS 620 (3) Processes Influencing the Human Health Experience
Middle–range theories that describe and explain the development of health–related behaviors are analyzed. Focus is on how multiple environments influence the development of health–related perceptions and behaviors of individuals, families and groups.
Prerequisite: NURS 601; Co–requisite: NURS 604, 640, or permission of instructor
NURS 621 (3) Human Health Experiences
Affective, cognitive, physical, and social experiences of persons, families, and groups are explored. Focus is on middle–range theories that describe and explain common phenomena of concern to nursing.
Prerequisite: NURS 620 or permission of instructor
NURS 622 (3) Nursing Actions
Middle–range theories that prescribe nursing actions to facilitate health throughout the life span are analyzed. Emphasis is on intervention models and modalities used with persons, families, and groups.
Prerequisite: NURS 621 or permission of instructor
NURS 631 (2–5) Advanced Practice: Clinical Teaching
Provides a focus on educational needs of nursing students as well as family clients. Classroom and clinical teaching experiences provide mentored practice in development and application of learning assessments, teaching strategies, and evaluation measures.
Prerequisite: core courses, NURS 603, or permission of faculty
NURS 632 (2–5) Advanced Practice: Clinical Management
Students have the opportunity to focus on leadership/management issues and strategies related to clinical practice, as well as cost–effective delivery of client care in today's and tomorrow's health care system. Students will establish a mentor relationship with an experienced nurse manager or administrator.
Prerequisite: one or two leadership/management courses of the student's choice, NURS 603, permission of faculty
NURS 636 (3) Teaching in a Practice Discipline I
The practice of teaching in the context of nursing education is analyzed, with a focus on teaching–learning pedagogies, curriculum development and evaluation.
Prerequisite: NURS 621 or permission of instructor
NURS 637 (3) Practicum in Didactic Teaching
Guided experience in the practice of teaching nursing in structured settings. Focus is on implementation of effective, innovative, learner–centered pedagogies and on cultivation of the educator role in field experiences and seminars. (180 hours: 15 hours seminar + 120 clinical hours)
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 636
NURS 638 (3) Teaching in a Practice Discipline II
Course emphasis is on approaches to teaching and learning, assessment, and evaluation of students in the clinical setting. Roles and responsibilities of nurse educators within a clinical setting are examined.
NURS 639 (3) Practicum in Clinical Teaching
Guided experience in the practice of teaching nursing in clinical settings. Teaching strategies appropriate to clinical content, teacher attributes and desired learner outcomes are emphasized in field experiences and seminars.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 638
NURS 640 (2) Family Nursing
Family nursing models and middle–range theories are analyzed and their implications for practice models are discussed. Approaches to assessment of family as context and family as a unit of care are analyzed. Family–nurse interpersonal processes are explored.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 601 or permission of instructor
NURS 641 (2) Adult and Older Adult Health I
Focuses on health promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health for adults and older adults. Emphasizes development of diagnostic, prescriptive, and management skills related to selected health problems to facilitate clinical decision making and delivery of advanced practice nursing.
NURS 642 (2) Older Adult Health Adult and Older Adult Health II
Theoretical concepts, assessments and intervention strategies related to health of culturally diverse children, adolescents and their families are critiqued. Health promotion/protection and nursing management of acute and selected chronic health problems of the child and the adolescent will be considered.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: 552, 603, 620, 641, or professor consent
NURS 643 (2) Reproductive Health
Theoretical concepts, assessments and intervention strategies related to women's health critiqued; health promotion/protection and management of selected acute and chronic reproductive health issues of culturally diverse person addressed; reproductive health care delivery system, ethics, health policy, and research issues explored.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 603, 606, 620, 641, 642 or professor consent
NURS 644 (2) Older Adult Health
Focuses on promoting, maintaining, and restoring the health of older adults across various health care settings. Emphasizes development of clinical expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and management of pathophysiologic and family alterations common to the older adult population.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: Nursing science component, 552, 603, 606, or professor consent
NURS 645 (4) Advanced Practice I
Students contract with a master's prepared certified family or specialty nurse practitioner or family practice physician, who serves as a mentor/preceptor during the clinical experience.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 552, N553, 641 and current CPR certification or professor consent
NURS 646 (4) Advanced Practice II
Students contract with a master's prepared certified family or specialty nurse practitioner or family practice or specialty physician, who serves as a mentor/preceptor during the clinical experience.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 641, 642, 643, 645 or professor consent
NURS 647 (4) Advanced Practice III
Students contract with a master's prepared certified family nurse practitioner or family practice physician, who serves as a mentor/preceptor during the clinical experience.
Prerequisite: NURS 641, 642, 643, 645, 646; Co–requisite: NURS 644 or professor consent
NURS 648 (3) Advanced Practice II CNS
Competencies expected of the clinical nurse specialist are presented. Professional attributes, leadership, collaboration, and consultation within the nursing personnel sphere of influences are addressed and experiences using these skills are included in the 200 hour clinical accompanying this course.
Prerequisite: NURS 552, 603, 606, 640, and current CPR certification or professor consent
NURS 649 (3) Advanced Practice III CNS
Development of CNS competencies continues in this course with particular focus on the skills necessary for advanced nursing practice within the organization/network sphere of influence. The 200–hour clinical is designed to use these skills in facilitation of system change.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 552, 603, 606, 640, and current CPR certification or professor consent
NURS 650 (1) The Reflective Clinician
NURS 651 (2) Health Promotion and Illness Prevention: Nursing
The course is designed for post–baccalaureate nurses seeking a health promotion–disease prevention emphasis in their nursing practice. Concept of health is explored. Theories and models of disease prevention and health promotion are described, analyzed and applied to research and nursing practice. Elective.
NURS 654 (2) Chronic Illness: Nursing Interventions
This course is designed of post–baccalaureate nurses in all settings who desire advanced nursing care knowledge in order to work with individuals and families with chronic illness. Topics explored are chronic illness, inherent stressors, current research, nursing management, program, organizations, policy, and care delivery issues. Elective.
NURS 660 (3) Organizational and Systems Leadership
Organizational and systems leadership skills critical for improvement of clinical care and health care outcomes are evaluated. The focus is on legal and business realities of leading health care systems, including individual organizations and large systems.
NURS 661 (3) Advanced Practice CNS I
Clinical experience contracted with a clinical nurse specialist who serves as a mentor/preceptor. The focus of the 100–hour clinical is the client/patient sphere of influence.
Prerequisite or Co–requisite: NURS 552, 553, 554, 603, 640 and current CPR certification or professor consent
NURS 677 (1–5) Individual Study
Course provides students with opportunity to investigate a problem or question related to an area of nursing practice. Students work with a nursing faculty advisor in writing the project and preparing to disseminate results of the project.
NURS 699 (1–4) Thesis
Course provides students with the opportunity to focus on a research problem that is related to their area of nursing practice. Students work with a nursing faculty advisor (committee chairperson) in developing the thesis proposal, writing the thesis, and preparing to disseminate the results of the study. With the advisor's approval*, the thesis is submitted for oral defense as part of the requirements for the MSN or MSN degree.
NURS 700 (4) Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Practice
This course focuses on theoretical perspectives and foundations for inquiry in the discipline. The structure of nursing knowledge (phenomena, concepts, and theories) will be evaluated for its relationship to practice. The interrelationship of theory, research, and practice will be analyzed.
NURS 701 (4) Applied Biostatistics
The goals of this course are to develop statistical skills necessary to evaluate critically biomedical research using advanced quantitative methods, to identify appropriate techniques for interpretation of results of independent research, and for presentation of results to improve clinical practice.
NURS 702 (4) Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Advanced Nursing
This course focuses on the conduct of clinical scholarship. Content includes transformational research approaches and evidence–based practice processes, including epidemiological methods. Evaluation methods of clinical practice change outcomes on individuals, groups, populations, and systems are addressed.
NURS 704 (4) Clinical Prevention and Population Health
The conceptual foundations of culturally sensitive clinical prevention and population health in advanced nursing practice will be evaluated. A global perspective to clinical prevention and population health that bridges illness and preventive care models will be investigated and designed.
NURS 706 (4) Organizational and Systems Leadership
Organizational and systems leadership skills critical for culturally sensitive nursing practice to improve health care and outcomes are enhanced. Focus is on transformational leadership, measurement of outcomes, data driven decision–making, and the business realities of leading within health care.
NURS 728 (4) Gender Specific Health Care: Theory, Research, and Practice
This course focuses on the theoretical and research based differences between men and women's physiological function and experience of the same diseases within the context of culturally defined gender roles. Examination of large databases will build on existing knowledge.
NURS 740 (3) Clinical Scholarship I
This clinical seminar focuses on collaboration of interprofessional teams and the roles of advanced practice nurses within this collaboration. Development of a framework for identifying, implementing, and evaluating a collaborative effort is emphasized.
Prerequisite: NURS 700 and 702, HLTH 702
NURS 750 (3) Clinical Scholarship II
Develop, implement, and evaluate culturally–sensitive approaches to improve health status/access patterns and/or address gaps in care of populations within a community of focus whether locally, nationally, or globally.
Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, , 704, 740, HLTH 702
NURS 760 (3) Clinical Scholarship III
This course focuses on development of consultative and leadership strategies for use in implementing a clinical practice approach to a clinical nursing practice problem. The inter–professional context along with various information technologies and information systems will be considered.
Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 704, 740, 750, HLTH 702
NURS 770 (3) Clinical Scholarship IV: Capstone
This seminar and practicum focuses on accountability for advancing the nursing profession and contributing to the developing body of nursing practice knowledge. Addresses advocacy at all levels of policy implementation. Culminates in a successful oral defense of the capstone project.
Prerequisite: NURS 700, 702, 704, 706, 740, 750, 760
NURS 798 (1) Continuing Registration
This course allows continuing enrollment in the Consortium DNP program to complete the capstone project. It continues registration after completion of all other course requirements and may not be used to meet any other program or graduation requirement.
