80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, Texas 78520 | 956-882-8200

CURRICULUM

MSN Organizing Framework

The MSN faculty have utilized the ANA Standards of Professional Performance, within a holistic framework , that flows from the nursing department philosophy and the MSN program mission, philosophy, goals, vision, and program outcomes to develop the organizing framework.

Program Concepts

  • Therapeutic Communication and Interventions
  • Critical Thinking
  • Environment/Community
  • Leadership Roles
  • Evidence-Based Professional Nursing Practice
  • Research
  • Performance Appraisal/Reflective Practice
  • Collaboration/Collegiality
  • Resource Utilization
  • Integrity and Ethical /Legal Principles
  • Information Literacy
  • Cultural diversity
  • Person Centered Quality of Care
  • Evidence-Based Education
  • Nursing Process
  • Health Promotion
  • Holism/Human Caring

Educational Options and Competencies

Nursing Education Option

The nursing education option is developed to prepare nurses at the master’s degree level for educational leadership in teaching traditional and non-traditional nursing programs to meet the needs of a diverse student population.  It has been developed to meet professional standards and guidelines of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

The graduate  nursing education option area of study provides students with a foundation of knowledge and experiences in the following areas:

  • principles of nursing education and conceptual models of nursing
  • organization and administration of educational programs
  • strategies to work with culturally diverse nursing education groups
  • development and evaluation of nursing education  programs
  • applied nursing education research

The graduates will be able to:

  • participate as a leader in the development and administration of nursing education programs
  • utilize a variety of teaching strategies and educational resources to facilitate learning in the classroom and clinical areas
  • participate knowledgeably in the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing curricula and nursing programs
  • analyze the issues and trends in higher education, and specifically in education, and their impact on the development of nursing education

Nursing Administration Option

The nursing administration option is developed to prepare nurses at the master’s degree level for nursing administration for leadership in traditional and non-traditional health care settings to meet the needs of a changing health care system.  It has been developed to meet professional standards and guidelines of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

The graduate nursing administration option area of study provides students with a foundation of knowledge and experiences in the following areas:

  • principles of nursing administration and conceptual models of nursing
  • organization and administration of nursing organizations and departments
  • strategies to work with culturally diverse nursing groups
  • development and evaluation of nursing administration
  • applied nursing administration research

The graduates will be able to:

  • identify nursing administration’s role in strategic planning, resource management and development of supportive practice environment for staff
  • promote the inclusion of a culturally diverse staff and provide culturally sensitive client care
  • apply nursing and organizational theories and strategies to enhance the delivery of quality, cost-effective nursing care to clients
  • promote an evidence based practice, nursing and interdisciplinary research and educational opportunities for staff

Prerequisite

An undergraduate Statistics course is a prerequisite to taking graduate level nursing courses.

Transition to Graduate Nursing Program

Registered nurses who have an earned Baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing may qualify for application to the MSN program by completing the Transition to Graduate Nursing course.

NURS 5600   Transition to Graduate Nursing

Course Sequencing

Nursing courses are offered in the semester sequence as outlined in the required curriculum.

MSN Foundation/Core Courses:

Prior to Fall 2009

NURS 6322   Moral and Ethical Issues in Nursing
NURS 6333   Research in Nursing 
NURS 6353   Community-Based Public Health Nursing Interventions

                            OR

NURS 6354   Advanced Community Nursing
NURS 6351   Nursing Leadership in a Changing World
NURS 7300   Capstone

                           OR

NURS 7301   Nursing Thesis I and
NURS 7302   Nursing Thesis II

Total Credit Hours: 18

Fall 2009 and Later

NURS 6322   Moral and Ethical Issues in Nursing
NURS 6323   Theories and Conceptual Foundations of Nursing Practice
NURS 6333   Research in Nursing 

NURS 6354   Advanced Community Nursing
NURS 6351   Nursing Leadership in a Changing World
NURS 7300   Capstone

                           OR

NURS 7301   Nursing Thesis I and
NURS 7302   Nursing Thesis II

Total Credit Hours: 18

Nursing Education Option:

Prior to Fall 2009

NURS 6363   Curriculum Development in Nursing
NURS 6464   Teaching Roles and Strategies
NURS 6365   Educational Evaluation in Nursing

Total Credit Hours:  19

Fall 2009 and Later


NURS 6362   Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Education
NURS 6363   Curriculum Development in Nursing
NURS 6464   Teaching Roles and Strategies
NURS 6365   Educational Evaluation in Nursing
NURS 6366   Instructional Design and Online Teaching in Nursing

Total Credit Hours:  16

Nursing Administration Option:

Prior to Fall 2009

NURS 6370   Nursing Administration Concepts and Theory
NURS 6371   Health Care Change, Negotiation, and Conflict
                  Management
NURS 6372    Health Care Finance

Total Credit Hours:  18

Fall 2009 and Later

Nursing Administration Option:

NURS 6334   Evidense-Based Nursing Practice
NURS 6374   Clinical Leadership in Nursing

                   AND

Nursing Administration Pathway:

NURS 6370   Nursing Administration Concepts and Theory
NURS 6371   Health Care Change, Negotiation, and Conflict Management
NURS 6372   Health Care Finance

                   OR

Clinical Nursing Leadership Pathway:

NURS 6383   Advanced Pathophysiology
NURS 6384   Advanced Health Assessment
NURS 6385   Advanced Pharmocotherapeutics 

Total Credit Hours:   15

Nursing Education Certificate:

The Nursing Education Certificate is offered to BSN or Graduate prepared registered nurses.   A three course sequence is offered online.  This program targets BSN graduates seeking a teaching certificate to enhance teaching skills and post-masters nurses seeking a teaching career.  The nursing education certificate prepares nurses for educational leadership in teaching traditional and non-traditional nursing programs to meet the needs of a diverse student population.

NURS 6363    Curriculum Development Nursing
NURS 6464    Teaching Roles and Strategies
NURS 6365    Educational Evaluation in Nursing

Nursing Administration Certificate:

The nursing administration certificate was developed to prepare nurses for nursing administration and leadership in traditional and non-traditional health care setting to meet the needs of a changing health care system.  It has been developed to meet professional standards and guidelines of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, and the American Association of College of Nursing.

NURS 6370  Nursing Administration Concepts and Theory
NURS 6471  Health Care Change, Negotiation and Conflict Management
NURS 6372  Health Care Finance

Click here for Graduate Course Descriptions.
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