Radford University
Graduate Catalog
for 1999-2000
NURSING
Janet Hardy Boettcher, Director
Graduate Faculty
Carol Ballard, Margaret Bassett, Ellen Birx, Janet Boettcher, Kimberly Carter,
Karma S. Castleberry, Sharla Cooper, Judith Cox, Mary Hope Gibson, Karolyn
W. Givens, Marcella Griggs, Janet McDaniel, Sarah Strauss, Virginia Weisz
Director of Roanoke Program
Marcella Griggs
GRADUATE PROGRAM
The graduate program in Nursing offers courses leading to the Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) and/or preparation to sit for professional certification in selected areas. The program is designed to provide advanced knowledge in nursing theory, research and practice.Three clinical concentrations are available: Home Health Care, Advanced Adult Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner.
The Home Health Care clinical specialization emphasizes advanced nursing practice roles in the management of health promotion, protection and restoration. A lifespan perspective enables the nurse to provide holistic therapeutic nursing interventions with clients of all ages. The Advanced Adult Health Nursing clinical specialization emphasizes advanced nursing practice roles in the holistic management of health promotion, protection and restoration of clients and families with complex needs. Students will participate in practica in a variety of acute and chronic health care settings designed to meet course objectives and the individual learning needs of the student.
Course work in Home Health Care and Advanced Adult Nursing may be completed in three academic semesters of full-time study. Students are advised that selecting the thesis option may take at least one additional semester. Part-time study also is available.
The Family Nurse Practitioner program educates nurses who, upon completion, are qualified to provide primary health care in homes, clinics, ambulatory care facilities, long-term care facilities, and other health care institutions. Graduates are prepared to seek national nurse practitioner certification and to practice collaboratively or independently in rural and urban under-served areas. Students entering the Family Nurse Practitioner program may be accepted into the concentration as full-time or part-time students. For Master's students course work and clinical requirements can be completed in two academic years (including one summer session after the first year). Post-Master's students can complete their course of study in one calendar year.
Students in all concentrations who do not complete a thesis must take a written comprehensive examination. For students completing a thesis, the oral defense of the thesis serves as the comprehensive examination. The student should present the "Report of Final Comprehensive Examination" form to the committee at the time of the examination/thesis defense. Forms are available in the Graduate College office. For additional information, please refer to the section, Final Comprehensive Examination.
Financial aid for tuition and/or fees may be available to qualified students
in the form of traineeships, stipends and graduate assistantships.
(For more information, follow the link above to the department's
Home Page.)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Application for admission may be made at any time, and admission is continuous.
Note: Additional materials will need to be submitted for admission into the FNP concentration with a deadline of December 15 (see below).
Applicants must:
- meet all requirements of the Graduate College (see Application to the Graduate College)
- complete the application to the Graduate College, including three recommendation forms from former employers or nursing faculty
- provide official scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
- have graduated from a nationally accredited baccalaureate program in nursing
- have a cumulative minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in the undergraduate nursing major
- meet major undergraduate course prerequisites (undergraduate statistics, health assessment, nursing research, and gerontological nursing)
- have a current license to practice as a registered nurse in Virginia
- provide a resume that includes education and professional practice history; must be able to document a minimum of one year of full time, or the equivalent of 12 months of nursing practice within the past three years
- be available for interview, preferably in person, but by phone if at a distance
Admission is competitive and is granted to those applicants who demonstrate academic ability and the likelihood of success in graduate study. Criteria used for admission include the applicant's undergraduate grade point average, both cumulative and in the nursing major, GRE or MAT score, letters of recommendation, and professional practice history.
Prior to enrollment in the program, applicants are expected to have achieved, by experience and education, basic skills in written and oral communication and computer usage.
ADMISSION INTO THE FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CONCENTRATION
Admission into the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration is competitive for the limited number of positions available each year, with decisions made by the FNP Admissions Committee. Applications are called for on or abut October 15 with a deadline for submission to the Graduate College on or about December 15. Applicants will be notified the first week in March of decisions for admission into the next academic year class. The following materials for admission into the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration, which are to be sent to the Family Nurse Practitioner Admission Committee, are in addition to those identified above and include:
- A letter from the applicant describing career goals and how the FNP credential will assist in meeting those goals; potential for practice in a rural area.
- Resume, with description of professional practice positions.
- Three letters of reference from professional contacts that address the applicant's potential as a primary care provider.
- Interview by the FNP Admission Committee.
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Program Requirements - 34-48 hrs.
Required Courses - 15 hrs.
NURS 620. Theoretical Foundations in Nursing. - 3
NURS 628. Advanced Pathophysiology. - 3
NURS 629. Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan. - 3
NURS 651. Role Preparation in Nursing. - 3
NURS 650. Nursing Research. - 3
HOME HEALTH CONCENTRATION - 19 hrs.
NURS 624. Home Health Nursing I. - 5
NURS 626. Home Health Nursing II. - 5
NURS 640. Nursing Administration. - 3
NURS 698. Directed Study - (3,3)
or
NURS 699. Thesis. - (6)
or
Electives - 6
ADVANCED ADULT NURSING CONCENTRATION - 19 hrs.
NURS 630. Advanced Adult Nursing I. - 5
NURS 632. Advanced Adult Nursing II. - 5
NURS 640. Nursing Administration. - 3
NURS 698. Directed Study. - (3,3)
or
NURS 699. Thesis. - (6)
or
Electives - 6
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CONCENTRATION - 33 hrs.
NURS 631. Pharmacotherapeutics for Primary Health Care Providers. - 3
NURS 633. Advanced Nursing Practice in Rural Families and Communities. -
3
NURS 634. Advanced Family Nursing I: Women's Health. - 5
NURS 635. Advanced Family Nursing II: Children's Health. - 5
NURS 636: Advanced Family Nursing III: Acute Illness Across the Lifespan.
- 5
NURS 637: Advanced Family Nursing IV: Chronic Illness Across the Lifespan.
- 5
NURS 638: FNP Preceptorship. - 7
POST-MASTER'S FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER - 33 HRS.
This three semester, 33 credit hour track is designed for nurses who have
previously earned a Master's in Nursing from an accredited program. An applicant
for this certificate must have completed a three credit graduate level pathophysiology
course, and a minimum of a three credit hour graduate level health assessment
course within five years previous to application. In addition, the applicant
must have completed courses comparable to N620: Theoretical Foundations
in Nursing, N651: Role Preparation in Nursing, and N650: Advanced Nursing
Research. A minimum total of 24 credit hours must be completed at Radford
University in order to earn the certificate from this institution. Application
follows the same procedures as application into the FNP concentration.
NURS 631. Pharmacotherapeutics for Primary Care Providers - 3
NURS 633. Advanced Nursing Practice in Rural Families and Communities -
3
NURS 634. Advanced Family Nursing I: Women's Health - 5
NURS 635. Advanced Family Nursing II: Children's Health - 5
NURS 636. Advanced Family Nursing III: Acute Illness - 5
NURS 637. Advanced Family Nursing IV; Chronic Illness - 5
NURS 638. Preceptorship - 7
CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING
The School of Nursing also offers a certificate in Gerontological Nursing designed to prepare nurses who have graduated from a baccalaureate or masters nursing program for leadership roles in gerontological nursing practice. Students completing Level I Course work with a 3.0 GPA or above may be eligible for admission to the Masters Program in Nursing. All certification course work may be applied to the masters program of study.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Admissions requirements for Level I include:
a. B.S. in nursing and active R.N. licensure in Virginia
b. History of work experience for minimum of two years in agencies that
provide health care for a majority of persons (51 percent or greater) who
are 65 years of age or older.
c. Undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or above.
Admissions requirements for Level II include:
a. Masters in Nursing or currently enrolled in Masters in nursing program.
b. Active R.N. licensure in Virginia.
c. History of work experience for minimum of two years in agencies that
provide health care for a majority of persons (51 percent or greater) who
are 65 years of age or older.
d. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
Certificate in Gerontological Nursing - 15 hrs.
Students pursuing the certificate program in Gerontological Nursing must
complete a minimum of 15 semester hours.
NURS 622. Gerontological Nursing. - 3
NURS 628. Advanced Pathophysiology. - 3
NURS 629. Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan. - 3
NURS 640. Nursing Administration. - 3
NURS 642. Practicum in Gerontological Nursing. - 3
Note: Currently enrolled masters students take the courses as outlined above
in addition to the other required courses for the Masters in Nursing. Post-masters
students take courses based upon evaluation of previous graduate course
work related to the required courses outlined above. All students must take
NURS 642: Practicum in Gerontological Nursing, regardless of previous course
work.
NURSING COURSES
NURS 590. Special Topics in Advanced Nursing. (3)
Three hours seminar.
Topics will vary. Provides students an opportunity to examine topics of
special interest in advanced
practice nursing beyond the subjects covered in the current course offerings.
NURS 620. Theoretical Foundations in Nursing. (3)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Examines development of nursing theory and its uses in nursing practice
and research. Includes the study and critique of nursing theories and theories
from related disciplines. Explores philosophical issues related to contemporary
nursing theory.
NURS 622. Gerontological Nursing. (3)
Two hours seminar; three hours practicum.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing; undergraduate course in gerontological
nursing or equivalent.
Analysis of health care systems with focus on health promotion, protection,
and restoration of older adults. Clinical emphasis on holistic client assessment,
family systems and multi disciplinary health care planning along the continuum
of care. Practicum provides opportunities to translate theory into advanced
gerontological nursing practice in a variety of environments.
NURS 624. Home Health Nursing I. (5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisite: N620, 628, 629, 651; undergraduate course in gerontological
nursing or equivalent.
Introduction to advanced practice in home health nursing. Content addresses
the evolution continuity between the hospital and home, and providing holistic
health nursing care for clients within a family context. Practicum is individualized
and may involve experiences in acute care, outpatient, community and/or
home settings.
NURS 626. Home Health Nursing II. ( 5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisite: N624, 650.
Focuses on the implementation of advanced nursing practice roles in home
health care. Content addresses quality improvement, critical analysis of
home health care issues and provision of culturally sensitive holistic care
for clients. Practicum facilitates development of advanced nursing practice
in the home and home health agency settings.
NURS 628. Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Three hours seminar
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
This course is designed for the study of physiological alterations underlying
disease entities and relating knowledge to interpret changes in normal function
that result in symptoms indicative of illness. Students will examine current
research in pathophysiology. The course provides the student with an essential
theoretical basis for advanced nursing practice.
NURS 629. Advanced Health Assessment. (3)
Two hours seminar; two hours laboratory
Prerequisite: Admission to Graduate Program in Nursing, or permission
of Coordinator of Graduate Program.
This course is designed to provide the ad-vanced practice nurse (CNS or
FNP) with advanced knowledge and skills related to health assessment. The
focus is on acquiring, evaluating and refining health assessment data as
the basis for the development of an accurate nursing and medical problem
list. Selected common normal variances as well as abnormalities characteristic
of diverse cultures, ethnic backgrounds and age groups will be emphasized
throughout the course. The laboratory component of the course will provide
students with the opportunity to practice skills of advanced health assessment.
NURS 630. Advanced Adult Nursing I. (5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisites : N620, 628, 629, 651, undergraduate course in gerontological
nursing.
Introduction to advanced practice in adult nursing. Emphasis is on advanced
nursing management of clients/families with selected holistic needs; policy
issues related to health promotion, protection and restoration; and ethical-legal
issues related to health care delivery. Practicum is individualized and
may involve acute care specialty units, medical-surgical units or outpatient
settings. Advanced nursing practice roles are emphasized. Current research
findings and advancement in nursing theory and practice also determine course
content.
NURS 631. Pharmacotherapeutics for Primary Health Care Providers.
(3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
This course focuses on the nurse practitioner's role in managing health
and illness by pharmaceutical, as well as alternative approaches to treating
human suffering. Emphasis will be on the understanding of pharmacology,
the natural history of the illness for which drugs are prescribed, and a
thorough understanding of the motivations of clients in seeking prescriptions
and adhering to medical regimens.
NURS 632. Advanced Adult Nursing II. (5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisite: NURS 630, 650.
Focus on the implementation of advanced nursing practice roles in adult
nursing. Content addresses total quality management/quality improvement;
issues related to health promotion, protection, and restoration; advanced
nursing management of clients/families with selected complex holistic needs;
political issues; and economics of acute and chronic care facilities. Practicum
is individualized and emphasizes the roles of clinician, consultant, manager
and researcher.
NURS 633. Advanced Nursing Practice in Rural Families and Communities.
(3)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
This course will focus on the advanced practice nurse's role in health promotion
and illness prevention through understanding family dynamics, applying principles
of epidemiology, and community assessment for families and aggregates in
rural communities.
NURS 634. Advanced Family Nursing I: Women's Health (5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisites: Admission into the FNP concentration; N620, N628, N629,
N631 (or concurrent) N651.
This course is designed to prepare the student with the knowledge and skills
to practice in a rural setting to deliver primary health care to women.
The student will develop clinical judgement in history and physical assessment
as well as decision making in the management of common health problems.
The focus includes health promotion, health protection, problem identification
and management, and client/family counseling.
NURS 635. Advanced Family Nursing II: Children's Health. (5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisites: Admission into the FNP concentration, N620, N628, N629,
N631 (or concurrent) N651.
This course provides the nurse practitioner opportunities to develop knowledge
and skills needed to deliver primary health care to children in rural and
urban settings. Classroom and clinical activities emphasize the application
of problem identification and management, health promotion, and client/family
counseling. Growth and development, health status and environmental interactions
are explored. Nursing strategies are designed which promote health, prevent
illness, and provide an avenue for intervention in situational health crises.
NURS 636. Advanced Family Nursing III: Acute Illness Across the Lifespan
(5)
Three hours seminar; six hours clinical.
Prerequisites: Admission into the FNP concentration, N620, N628, N629,
N631 (or concurrent), N651.
This course is designed to prepare the student to practice advanced nursing
skills with rural community based families experiencing acute conditions.
Emphasis is on analyzing, synthesizing, and applying current family and
health care theories, research, and practice related to individuals and
families across the lifespan. The focus includes risk assessment, wellness
promotion, health protection, health restoration, management of acute conditions,
coordination of services, collaboration with other providers, and appropriate
referral.
NURS 637. Advanced Family Nursing IV: Chronic Illness Across the Lifespan
(5)
Three hours seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisites: Admission into the FNP concentration; N620, N628, N629,
N631 (or concurrent), N651.
This course is designed to prepare the student to practice advanced nursing
skills in rural and urban community-based clients and families experiencing
chronic conditions. Emphasis is on analyzing, synthesizing, and applying
current family and health care theories, research, and practice related
to individuals and families across the lifespan. The focus includes wellness
promotion, health protection, management and maintenance of chronic conditions,
restoration and rehabilitation, coordination of services, collaborative
care with other providers, and appropriate referral.
NURS 638. Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship. (7)
One hour seminar; 18 hours practicum.
Prerequisites: N634, N635, N636, and N637.
This clinically intensive course provides the family nurse practitioner
student the opportunity to apply relevant theories, concepts, and research
findings to clinical care. Emphasis is on developing clinical competence
required in delivering primary health care.
NURS 640. Nursing Administration. (3)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
This course is designed to help students examine theories, principles, and
applications of roles, characteristics and functions related to nursing
administration. The focus is on delivery of high-quality and cost-effective
care in a fiscally constrained health care delivery system.
NURS 642. Practicum in Gerontological Nursing. (3)
One hour seminar; six hours practicum.
Prerequisites: N622, N628, N629
This clinically intensive course provides the student enrolled in the Certificate
in Ger-ontological Nursing program the opportunity to apply theories, concepts,
and research findings to clinical care of the older adult. Emphasis is on
developing clinical competence required for certification in gerontological
nursing.
NURS 650. Advanced Nursing Research. (3)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisite: N620, undergraduate nursing research.
In-depth examination of the components of the research process and interrelationships
among these components in the study of nursing problems. Emphasis is placed
on the use of theories, conceptual models, and the state of the discipline
as a basis for research.
NURS 651. Role Preparation in Nursing. (3)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
Examines specific advanced clinical practice roles and requisite skills
for role assumption within the health care system. Explores professional
nursing issues related to health care policy, ethical decision-making and
leadership.
NURS 697. Independent Practicum. (1-3)
Variable 1-3 credits (45, 90, or 135 practicum hours)
Prerequisite: Completion of minimum of one clinical course in the student's
program of study and approval of supervising faculty and adviser.
This course is designed to provide experience for the graduate student who
elects to pursue additional practice in a selected area. The content of
the practicum will be defined by the student in consultation with the faculty
member supervising the practicum.
NURS 698. Directed Study. (1-4)
Prerequisite: N650; approval of the student's adviser and directed
study adviser.
Provides the opportunity to pursue a research topic relevant to advanced
nursing practice.
See Directed Study.
NURS 699. Research and Thesis. (1-6)
Hours and credits to be arranged with the approval of the student's thesis
adviser, adviser and the dean of the Graduate College.
See Thesis.
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