Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing program allows the registered nurse to continue their education to become an advanced practice nurse and specialize in one of two concentration areas: adult/gerontology or family nurse practitioner. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at the University of Tampa are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 745, Washington, DC 2001, 202-887-6791.

The Department of Nursing offers programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree levels. For more information, contact the Department of Nursing at (813) 253-6223 or see www.ut.edu/nursing.

Please be aware that successful completion of the MSN program does not confer automatic licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. MSN graduates must successfully complete a national certification examination to be eligible for advanced practice licensure in the State of Florida.

Department of Nursing Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Department of Nursing is to offer programs of study in nursing science at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral level that prepare graduates as generalists in professional nursing and as nurse practitioners to function at the most advanced level of nursing practice. Through clinically relevant teaching, learning, and active application of research, students are prepared to practice competently as providers and managers of care, and members of the profession in a complex, diverse and evolving healthcare environment.

The Department of Nursing shares the commitment of the College of Natural and Health Sciences and the University to teaching, research, and service; preparing each student as a life-long learner and as a health professional providing quality, safe, evidence based and compassionate health care to the citizens of Florida, the nation, and the global community.

Faculty

Associate Professor Botwinski, Director/Chair Department of Nursing; Assistant Professor Wolf, MSN Program Directors; Associate Professor White, Interim BSN Program Director; Associate Professor Parsons, DNP Program Director; Associate Professor Berg; Assistant Professors Bryant, D'Alesandro, Delacroix, Sassatelli; Umberger; Professor of Instruction I Culp, Director of Nursing Skills and Simulation Lab, Royal; Lecturer I Cole, Franks, Lewis, Llerena, Pedroff, Snow.

Admission Standards

Admission to the MSN program is competitive. Every student admitted to the MSN program must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. At least one year of direct patient care experience within the past five years must be demonstrated.

General Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an institution that is nationally accredited by ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA.
Current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Florida.
Completed application with $40 nonrefundable fee.
Official college transcripts.
Résumé.
Personal statement.
Two letters of reference (forms are attached to the application, available at www.ut.edu/msn).
Completion of an undergraduate statistics course, an undergraduate nursing research course and an undergraduate nursing leadership course. Only courses with a grade of "B" or better will be accepted. Students must repeat the course for grades below "B" prior to starting the graduate level courses.
Optional: GRE score of 300 and 4.0 in analytical writing.

Note: No credits taken more than seven years prior to application will be accepted for transfer credit.

Students can be admitted under two categories based on the criteria listed below. Grade point averages are based on the last 60 credit hours of coursework.

Full Admission

For full admission, applicants must have achieved the following:

Bachelor’s degree in nursing
Florida RN license
Minimum 3.0 GPA

Pre-MSN Admission*

For pre-MSN admission, applicants must have achieved the following:

A bachelor’s degree in an area other than nursing
Florida RN license
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Four required nursing prerequisites

*Students who have bachelor’s degrees in an area other than nursing are admitted as pre-MSN students and are required to take and complete NUR 322, NUR 415, NUR 432 and NUR 422 prior to starting the graduate-level curriculum. They must also have completed an undergraduate statistics course. Only grades of "B" or better will be accepted. Students may complete pre-MSN courses at another university with the program director's permission provided the Course Approval Form has been completed. Students will be re-evaluated for admission once the pre-MSN courses are completed.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students with a BSN and a valid Florida nursing license may be permitted to take up to two graduate-level nursing courses at the discretion of the program director. Non-degree seeking students are permitted to take classes only on a space-available basis, with priority registration going to current degree seeking MSN students. Those interested must apply to the University as a non-degree seeking student. Being granted permission to take classes as a non-degree seeking student does not assure admission into the MSN program. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for University or federal financial aid. International students are not eligible for non-degree seeking student status.

Post-Master’s Certificate Admission

A student with a previously earned MSN may apply for admission to the post-master’s certificate program to complete requirements for the adult/gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) or family nurse practitioner (FNP) certificate. Students will be individually evaluated to determine required coursework. There must be evidence from the previous master’s program of courses fulfilling UT requirements. Courses taken more than seven years prior to admission will not be applied toward a post-master’s certificate.

Advising

Each student will be assigned to a nurse practitioner (NP) nursing faculty member for advising purposes pertaining to course planning, academic performance, practicum placement and professional guidance. For matters related to registration, withdrawal and other academic issues, students should contact their advisor in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

Student Organizations

In addition to student organizations at The University of Tampa, nursing students have access to several professional and honorary organizations. MSN students are also encouraged to join the Tampa Bay Advanced Practice Nursing Council (TBAPNC). The Delta Beta Chapter-at-Large of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing was founded in 1980 at the University of South Florida and re-chartered in 2000 to include The University of Tampa. Delta Beta sponsors an annual research program, provides opportunities for scholarships and research grants and promotes scholarly work in the community.

Nursing Student Handbook

More information about the MSN program can be found in the Department of Nursing MSN Student Handbookwhich can be found on the MSN Student Blackboard site. Policies and procedures in the handbook may exceed those outlined in this catalog. See the handbook for further details.

Program and Course Requirements

Satisfactory completion of the MSN curriculum requires a minimum of 42 (adult/gerontology nurse practitioner) or 49 (family nurse practitioner) credit hours of graduate work.

MSN students must obtain a grade of “B” or higher in NUR 618, NUR 618L, NUR 645 and NUR 655 in order to progress in the program. If a student receives a grade below B in any of these four progression barrier courses it is considered a course failure and:

The course must be repeated the next semester (or next time it is offered).
The original grade will not be removed from the student’s academic record and both course grades will be reflected on the transcript.
Student must meet with MSN director for counseling and re-design a course plan for remainder of program.
When the course is repeated – the course must be taken alone (no other course can be taken with the repeated progression barrier course).
In addition, if the student has any remaining progression barrier courses (NUR 618/618L, 645 or 655) left to take - that course must be taken alone.
No academic withdrawal is allowed with the repeated course – if the student academically withdraws, the student will be academically dismissed and ineligible to return.
If the student would receive another grade below B in any future course (that will be their second) and they will be academically dismissed from program and ineligible to return.

MSN/post-MSN students cannot earn more than one grade below a “B.” If they do, they can repeat up to one course, but the original grade will not be removed from their academic record. A second grade below “B,” regardless of grades in repeated courses, will result in academic dismissal. Students may withdraw from one course for academic reasons. Withdrawal from a second course for academic reasons will result in dismissal. Students who receive a grade less than a "B" in a practicum course will be required to repeat that course. No grade below “C” will be accepted toward a graduate degree or certificate completion.

A student is allowed seven years from the time graduate work begins, whether at UT or elsewhere, in which to complete the degree. Under certain circumstances, the student, with approval from the director, may retake outdated courses.

Degree Requirements

Core nursing courses (applies to both concentrations):

NUR 600	Scholarly and Professional Communication in Nursing	3
NUR 601	Professional Issues and the Nurse Practitioner	3
NUR 618	Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning	3
NUR 618L	Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Lab	1
NUR 620	Knowledge Generation and Validation in Advanced Practice	3
NUR 645	Clinical Pharmacology	3
NUR 647	Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Families and Communities	3
NUR 655	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
Total Credit Hours:		22

NUR 600 may be waived for students who receive a GRE score of 300 and 4.0 or higher on the analytical writing section of the GRE.

Concentration options: Family Nurse Practitioner concentration courses:

NUR 675	Practicum in Adult Primary Care I	4
NUR 676	Practicum in Older Adult Primary Care	4
NUR 677	Healthcare Management of the Adult Client	3
NUR 680	Healthcare Management of the Older Adult	3
NUR 682	Healthcare Management of Women	2
NUR 685	Practicum in Infants, Children and Adolescent Primary Care	4
NUR 686	Practicum in Women's Primary Care	4
NUR 687	Healthcare Management of Infants, Children and Adolescents	3
Total Credit Hours:		27

NUR 675, 676, 685, 686: These courses each require a minimum of 224 hours of supervised practicum practice in a designated facility.

Concentration options: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner concentration courses:

NUR 675	Practicum in Adult Primary Care I	4
NUR 676	Practicum in Older Adult Primary Care	4
NUR 677	Healthcare Management of the Adult Client	3
NUR 680	Healthcare Management of the Older Adult	3
NUR 682	Healthcare Management of Women	2
NUR 686	Practicum in Women's Primary Care	4
Total Credit Hours:		20

NUR 675, NUR 676, NUR 686: These courses each require a minimum of 224 hours of supervised practicum practice in a designated facility.

Total Credit Hours: 42-49

PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES

Practicum experiences are required in all concentrations for the graduate nursing program. For the purpose of the FNP and AGNP practicums, primary care sites are identified as ambulatory sites that see patients with acute and chronic illness. These include family and/or internal medicine practices that do primary care, free clinics, health clinics, public health or rural health clinics. Opportunities in specialty care practice are also available. The NP Practicum/Preceptor Liaison and the NP faculty nursing advisors help facilitate the process of obtaining preceptors. Students should expect to travel to practicum sites and practicum sites may be within an 80 mile radius of the University. Orientation to practicum experiences and responsibilities will be provided in the semester prior to starting practicum courses.