Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

Faculty

Denise Pope, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer
Dr. Intima Alrimawai, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Denyse Barkley, Ph.D., RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Carrie O’Reilly, Ph.D, RN, Director of Clinical Simulation and Laboratory Operations; Associate Professor of Nursing

Description

Nursing leadership necessitates advanced degrees.  Trinity’s Master of Science in Nursing offers two pathways: Nursing Education and Nursing Administration. MSN students will analyze and synthesize information to participate in collaborative planning across settings. Nursing Administration and Nursing Education students take both a participant and a lead role in formal seminars, and conduct a content specific project based on research. The degree program requires thirty-six (36) credits for the Nurse Administration pathway and thirty-nine (39) credits for the Nurse Education pathway and may be completed on either a part-time or full-time basis.

Students in the Nurse Education track learn teaching strategies through: a) scholarly papers based on requirements in the syllabus. b) team work in the classroom, c) seminars, d) classroom and practicum presentations, e) use of technology to enhance presentations, f) interviews with health care executives and middle managers, and g) the inclusion of expert lecturers in the classroom.  Students in the Administration track use a wide variety of communication techniques, re-engineer complex health delivery problems, apply general systems theory, and apply congruency theory to health care delivery programs.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Nursing offers two pathways: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The degree program requires thirty-six (36) credits for the Nurse Administration pathway and thirty-nine (39) credits for the Nurse Education pathway and may be completed on either a part-time or full-time basis.

Nursing Administration Curriculum Plan

Courses can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.

NURS 515 Advanced Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
NURS 625 Administrative Theory in Nursing II
NURS 562
NURS 605 Administrative Theory in Nursing I
NURS 645 Practicum in Nursing Administration
SNHP 501
SNHP 530 Quantitative Research and Biostatistics
SNHP 601
SNHP 630 Qualitative and Outcomes Research and Biostatistics
ADMN 607 Accounting and Finance for Evaluation and Control
HADV 621 Health Advocacy: Access and Navigation

Nursing Education Curriculum Plan

Courses can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.

NURS 515 Advanced Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
SNHP 620 Curriculum Development and Evaluation
NURS 562
SNHP 501
SNHP 530 Quantitative Research and Biostatistics
SNHP 600 Instructional Strategies for Effective Teaching
SNHP 601
SNHP 630 Qualitative and Outcomes Research and Biostatistics
SNHP 640 Teaching and Clinical Practicum
SNHP 651 Ethics
HADV 621 Health Advocacy: Access and Navigation
NURS 650 Adv Clin Prac Spec for Nurse Educator

MPH/MSN Dual Degree Program

The dual MSN/MPH degree plan allows for nine credits to overlap the two curricula and three more MSN credits will meet the MPH elective.  Twelve total MSN credits count toward the MPH degree. Students will complete the degree requirements for the MSN and MPH programs. See MPH Curriculum.

Program Policies

Program Presentations and Assessments
Students in the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Program are required to earn a minimum grade of B or passing on all required end-of-program presentations and assessments. Students who do not demonstrate mastery will register to repeat SNHP 640 Teaching and Clinical Practicum or NURS 645 Practicum in Nursing Administration.

Experiential Learning Policy (TELL): 
Graduate students who can demonstrate by submission of a portfolio that they have already acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies taught in a Trinity graduate program course may receive credit for that course. A maximum of six (6) credits can be considered and cannot be used for the Practicum course. All cases involving experiential learning credit will be considered on an individual basis by the student’s academic advisor, Chief Nursing Officer, and the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Grades in Graduate Courses:
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate. No student who has more than 3 credits below a “B” on his/her transcript may graduate and receive a degree.

Pass/No Pass:
Graduate students may not take courses on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Transfer Policy:
Students may transfer up to six (6) graduate credits from other appropriately accredited institutions of higher learning toward the degree with approval from the program director. See course catalog academic policies for specific requirements and approval protocol.

Accreditation

The master’s degree program in nursing at Trinity is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Course Descriptions

ADMN 607 Accounting and Finance for Evaluation and Control
HADV 621 Health Advocacy: Access and Navigation
NURS 515 Advanced Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
NURS 562
NURS 605 Administrative Theory in Nursing I
NURS 625 Administrative Theory in Nursing II
NURS 645 Practicum in Nursing Administration
NURS 650 Adv Clin Prac Spec for Nurse Educator
SNHP 501
SNHP 530 Quantitative Research and Biostatistics
SNHP 600 Instructional Strategies for Effective Teaching
SNHP 601
SNHP 620 Curriculum Development and Evaluation
SNHP 630 Qualitative and Outcomes Research and Biostatistics
SNHP 640 Teaching and Clinical Practicum
SNHP 651 Ethics