The Nursing MS program offers small classes, close contact with a diverse faculty and easy access. Successful completion of a minimum of 37 to 39 credits (depending on option and matriculation year) is necessary to achieve the master’s degree. Six (6) of these credits may be taken at UMass Dartmouth prior to matriculation. A total of six (6) credits may be transferred from another graduate program following appropriate review and approval.
The Nursing MS program prepares graduates for a nursing leadership role in either Adult Health or Community Health Nursing, and also in the functional area of educator or manager. Many courses are scheduled to permit part-time study. The Nursing MS program prepares the nurse leader who:
1. Synthesizes specialized and diverse knowledge for application in nursing practice.
2. Applies principles of organization and system leadership to promote high quality and safe patient care to individuals, families, groups and populations.
3. Applies quality principles within an organization.
4. Uses evidence to guide nursing practice, address patient problems and disseminate results.
5. Interprets information from a variety of healthcare technologies to integrate and coordinate care.
6. Influences health system and health policy to shape care delivery to individuals, families, groups and populations across the lifespan.
7. Engage in inter-professional collaboration to promote health, guide clients through the illness experience and improve the health system.
8. Applies the principles of culturally appropriate care to plan, deliver, manage and evaluate healthcare to individuals, families, groups and populations.
9. Influences healthcare outcomes through nursing practice by integrating advanced scientific, clinical and systems knowledge.
Selection of a Clinical Option
Each student specifies one clinical option at the time of admission. Transfers to other options may be made on a space available basis if the student meets additional criteria specific to the other option. Changing options may result in loss of credits applicable to final degree.
Clinical Practicum
Clinical practica are essential components of MS level graduate nursing education and offer the best opportunity to apply new knowledge and specialized skills in each advanced nursing practice option.
Clinical experiences vary according to the focus of each option. Typically, there will be 12 hours of clinical each week in the practicum experiences.
Clinical placements are determined by agency/preceptor availability and student learning needs. It should be noted that appropriate clinical preceptors are typically only available during weekdays (although some exceptions do occur).
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