Master of Science in Nursing
Program Information 2015-16
History of the School
Ohio University has had a school of nursing since the middle 1960s. The first program offered was an associate degree in nursing and was taught on the Zanesville campus. The associate degree program is now available on three Ohio University campuses (Zanesville, Chillicothe, and Southern) and currently serves approximately 800 students.
The RN to BSN program came into existence in 1975 and while officially housed on the Athens main campus faculty members have been available on all of Ohio University’s regional campuses. This program is now totally online and structured in five-week modules and serves approximately 5,000 students.
The pre-licensure BSN program admitted the first interested students in the fall of 2009, and the first class will graduate in May of 2013. This program is available to students on the Athens, Chillicothe, Southern, and Zanesville campuses.
The MSN program was approved in 2004 and started admitting students in the fall of 2005. The program has grown from a first class of 12 to a current enrollment of 300-plus. The majority of the students are enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program and these FNP graduates have a 93% pass rate on the national certification exam.
The MSN Program
The MSN program offers two options for obtaining the MSN:
Blended Course Platform: This program includes both web-based and campus-based components throughout each course. Students will complete some coursework and exams online and meet periodically (2-5 times) throughout the term on the Athens campus with faculty and fellow students.
Online Course Platform: This program is an online program in which students will complete coursework and exams in an online learning environment. Some synchronous class “meetings” may be expected via web-based technology. All online students are required to meet on the Athens campus for an Orientation at the beginning of the program. Family Nurse Practitioner track majors meet on campus two additional times, for a Campus Intensive prior to beginning Clinical courses mid-program, and also for a Capstone Experience in the final semester. Nurse Educator track majors meet on campus one time additional to Orientation, which is at the end of the program for their Capstone Experience.
Admission Requirements
Completion of appropriate graduate application Payment of application fee
(non-refundable)
Submission of official copies of all college transcripts Specified health status requirements
Clean FBI/BCI background checks
Minimum GPA of 3.2. Those with GPA less than 3.5 (3.2 to 3.49) must provide documentation of taking the GRE and earned score.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
Written goal statement response to “Why I want to be a nurse educator/family nurse practitioner” with 3-5 page limit, APA 6th edition style, required to cite the AACN MSN Essentials document.
Access to this document may be found at the following URL:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/MastersEssentials11.pdf Resume or CV to include at minimum:
- Past educational experience - Last 5 years work experience - License and certifications
- Relevant community/professional service
Three (3) letters of references-at least one must be an RN/APRN and at least one must be Master’s or Doctoral level of preparation.
Evidence of current unencumbered U.S. RN licensure in Ohio, Kentucky, or West Virginia.
Evidence of the equivalent of 2 years full time experience working as an RN within the past 5 years
Track Options
Family Nurse Practitioner. A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is a Registered Nurse in advanced practice who serves as a primary health care provider. FNPs work with patients throughout their lives, diagnosing illness, conducting exams, and prescribing medication. In this program, learn ways to improve health care for the whole family as you further address the unique challenges of patient care for the family unit. Study family assessment and intervention. Focus on nursing care for children and adults across their lifespan. Position yourself to improve the quality of health care in under-served populations and care for patients with health disparities. Further examine the role of the family nurse practitioner and your impact on progressing health services.
The MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum focuses on evidence-based instructional strategies and teaching techniques as well as role development of the FNP. The curriculum is offered part-time and includes:
• 41 credit hours (6 semesters to complete)
• 650 Clinical Hours
• 3 on-campus intensives (one at the beginning, one mid-way through, and one at the end of the program)
Nurse Educator. A Nurse Educator is a Registered Nurse with advanced education that is also a teacher, such as a faculty member at a school of nursing. Most work as nurses for a period of time before dedicating their careers (part-time or full-time) to educating future nurses. In this program, learn to serve in the essential role as teacher, trainer, mentor, and role model for nursing students. Position yourself to expertly pass on your clinical expertise to the next generation.
The MSN-Nurse Educator program curriculum focuses on evidence-based instructional strategies and teaching techniques as well as role development of the nurse educator. The curriculum is offered part-time and includes:
• 35 credit hours (6 semesters to complete)
• 200 hours of Teaching Experience
• 2 on-campus intensives (one at the beginning and one at the end of the program)
Course Descriptions
NRSE 6010, Theoretical Basis of Practice, 3 Credit hours, Examines social, political, and historical factors that impact the delivery of healthcare and the development of nursing discipline. Emphasizes the review and application of selected concepts, models, and selected theories relevant to the healthcare system and nursing.
NRSE 6021, Assessment and Intervention for Families, 3 Credit hours, This course focuses on analysis of theories relevant to the development and functioning of the family. The course includes identification of healthcare needs across the lifespan of family members. Emphasis will be placed on assessment, intervention, and evaluation of family-centered care through exploration of evidence-based strategies to enhance, maintain, and restore family health.
NRSE 6120, Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on evidence-based practice and translation of the evidence into practice. Content prepares professional nurses to initiate evidence-based practice models in their practice and to increase use of information management and patient care technologies in specified clinical areas.
NRSE 6210, Advanced Pathophysiology in Nursing Practice, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on analysis of concepts of physiology and pathophysiology and relationship to nursing interventions across lifespan of humans at the advanced practice level.
NRSE 6220, Advanced Health Appraisal, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on the use of health assessment data to identify health status of clients by graduate students in the educator and administrator option. The data will be used to document assessment findings and to differentiate between normal and abnormal assessment data. Emphasizes the performance of complete health histories and physical examinations on adult and pediatric clients.
NRSE 6221, Heath Appraisal for Nurse Practitioners, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on advanced physical assessment skills for nurse
practitioner students that moves from the normal to the abnormal and uses a body systems approach. Comprehensive health history coupled with physical examination skills provide a foundation for the in-depth assessment of clients.
NRSE 6230, Advanced Pharmacology, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on pharmacotherapeutics across the lifespan with emphasis on clinical decision making by advanced practice nurses. Laws governing prescriptive authority and privileges of advanced practice nurses are addressed.
NRSE 6610, Curriculum Development in Nursing, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on theory and strategies of curriculum design. Emphasizes application of principles to design of pre-licensure nursing curriculum.
NRSE 6620, Teaching Strategies in Nursing, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on philosophical and practical issues for delivering educational content in service, clinical, or classroom settings. Emphasizes knowledge and skills to prepare educators for nursing schools, professional continuing education programs, staff development and design of patient education materials.
NRSE 6630, Academic Nursing, 3 Credit hours, Focuses on enhancing understanding of the academic faculty role with an emphasis on program evaluations responsibilities.
NRSE 6805, Analysis of Evidence-based Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 Credit hours, The course focuses on critical appraisal of research and analysis of literature to inform evidence-based practice. The course examines with use of standardized analysis instruments and diagrams to develop a clinically relevant question. This course includes discussion on how to synthesize evidence- based literature of a capstone scholarly project.
NRSE 6820, Advanced Maternal and Child Care, 6 Credit hours, This course provides nurse practitioner student with the knowledge base and clinical experiences in advanced nursing assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation related to the psychological and psycho-social health, development and well-being of children, adolescents and reproductive women.
NRSE 6821, Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults, 8 Credit hours, This course focuses on advanced nursing knowledge, skills, and experiences related to adult/older adult health issues required by nurse practitioners. Attention is given to assessment, diagnosis, and interventions relevant to developmental, physical, and psycho-social health issues of adults/older adults.
NRSE 6822, Family Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care Practice, 7 Credit hours, This course focuses on application of advanced assessment, diagnostic, and intervention skills in a clinical practice environment for nurse practitioners. Emphasis is placed on
achieving clinical competence in the advanced practice nursing role with individuals and their families across lifespan and developing the role of the nurse practitioner in collaboration with other health care practitioners.
NRSE 6928, Nursing Educator Practicum, 4 Credit hours, Focuses on faculty and preceptor guided experiences in curriculum development, teaching, and program evaluation in an academic setting.
NRSE 6933, Capstone Experience for Nurse Practitioners, 2 Credit hours, This course emphasizes student self-evaluation of meeting specific program outcomes and professional competencies through portfolio development. Nurse Practitioner students also complete
a comprehensive final program that includes concepts from all program courses pertaining to population foci of the student NP Track Option and is based on national certification body. Students complete an integrated care simulation exam with standardized patient.
NRSE 6934, Capstone Experience for Nurse Educators, 2 Credit hours, This course emphasizes student self-evaluation of meeting specific program outcomes and professional competencies through portfolio development. Students also complete a comprehensive exam that includes concepts from all program courses and is based on national certification body competencies. Students develop and deliver a nursing education presentation to peers and faculty.
Sample Program of Study for Family Nurse Practitioner
YEAR 1
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3
NRSE 6010 Theoretical Basis for Practice (3 ch)
On-Campus Orientation required.
NRSE 6021 Assessment and Intervention in Family Care
(3 ch)
NRSE 6805 Analyzing EBP for APN (3ch)
NRSE 6210, Advanced Pathophysiology (3ch)
NRSE 6230, Advanced Pharmacology (3ch)
NRSE 6221, Health Appraisal for NPs (3ch)
On-Campus Intensive required.
YEAR 2
Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6
NRSE 6820, Advanced Maternal and Child Care
(6ch)
NRSE 6821, Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults
(8 ch)
NRSE 6822, FNP in Practice (7 ch)
NRSE 6933, Capstone Experience (2ch) On-Campus Comprehensive Intensive required.
Total Credit Hours= 41
Sample Program of Study for Nurse Educator
YEAR 1
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3
NRSE 6010
Theoretical Basis for Practice (3 ch) On-campus Orientation required.
NRSE 6021
Assessment and Intervention in Family Care
(3 ch)
NRSE 6805 Analyzing EBP for APN (3ch)
NRSE 6210
Advanced Pathophysiology (3ch)
NRSE 6220
Advanced Health Appraisal (3ch)
NRSE 6230
Advanced Pharmacology (3ch)
YEAR 2
Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6
NRSE 6630 Academic Role (3 ch)
NRSE 6620
Teaching Strategies (3 ch)
NRSE 6928
Teaching Experience (4 ch)
NRSE 6610
Curriculum Development (3ch)
NRSE 6934
Capstone Experience (2ch)
On-campus Comprehensive Intensive required.
Total Credit Hours= 33
