School of Nursing

Graduate Program Coordinator: TBA.
HPA 220, (407) 823-2744.
E-mail: gradnurs@mail.ucf.edu

Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs are designed to build upon the student’s baccalaureate nursing education and professional experience. The goals of the programs are to prepare advanced nurse practitioners and nursing leaders and managers to assume leadership positions in a variety of health care settings. Students are admitted to the programs in fall and spring semesters. The Master of Science program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

This program will prepare the student to:

• Analyze theories as they apply to the profession, health care system, and political systems.
• Analyze social, economic, ethical, legal, and political issues influencing nursing practice and health care delivery.
• Synthesize advanced knowledge from the sciences, the humanities, and nursing theories to support advanced nursing practice.
• Participate in research and disseminate research findings.
• Use nursing research findings to improve nursing practice.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills in planning, evaluating, and changing the delivery of health care.
• Develop and implement leadership, management, and teaching strategies for the improvement of health care.
• Collaborate with others to improve the quality of professional nursing practice and the health care system.
• Assume responsibility for improving the delivery of health care and influencing health policy.
• Practice in an advanced nursing role. (Graduates of the programs are eligible to sit for certification examinations in the specialty. Nurse practitioner graduates are eligible for licensure as an ARNP in Florida.)

Application Deadlines

Nursing (post-baccalaureate and certificate students)
Deadlines may be extended to the university date if space is available.

Fall admission	June 1
Spring admission	October 15

Admission

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by the NLNAC (National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission) or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education)
• An overall grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for upper-division undergraduate work (usually the last 60 attempted semester hours) and a combined GRE score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative exams; OR, an overall grade point average of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) for upper-division undergraduate work (usually the last 60 attempted semester hours) and a combined GRE score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative exams
• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in Florida
• One year (or equivalent) experience as a Registered Nurse
• Completion of an undergraduate course in statistics
• Completion of an undergraduate course in health assessment (If health assessment content was integrated into other nursing course work, written documentation must be obtained from the school or college of nursing.)
• A personal statement describing interest in the field and career goals
• A resume (no longer than 2 pages)
• Three references; at least one should be from a former faculty member
• Score of 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or passing score on CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools; for international students only)

Admission to the program is competitive, based on evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, and the match of UCF’s programs with career goals. The School of Nursing accepts the most qualified students. Since enrollment is limited, not all students who apply may be accepted, even if minimum requirements are met.

Students may take classes as a non-degree-seeking, post-baccalaureate student on a space-available basis. Deadlines for application for this status are earlier than those posted by the university. Students must designate on their application that they are applying to the School of Nursing in order to facilitate processing of files. Students will be notified in writing from the School of Nursing regarding acceptance as a non-degree-seeking student. Students who are accepted will be issued override forms for available courses. Successful completion of post-baccalaureate courses does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Admission to graduate programs is based on minimum State of Florida Board of Regents criteria but may include higher GPA or GRE standards or other factors such as work or internship experience, community service, research interests of prospective student, letters of recommendation, or personal interviews.

Transfer of Courses

• Courses may be transferred into the plan of study according to UCF policies. Courses must be comparable to those taught in the School of Nursing.
• A grade of at least a “B” is required to transfer credit.
• Students must obtain a petition from the School of Nursing and submit the completed petition to the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee in order to transfer courses.

Progression

• Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the plan of study in order to progress.
• Students who receive more than two C’s in their plan of study will be dismissed from the program.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses for All Students—14-17 Semester Hours
NGR 5744 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing I (1 hour)
NGR 5746 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing II (1 hour)
NGR 5745 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing III (1 hour)
NGR 5800 Nursing Theory/Research I (4 hours)
NGR 5801 Nursing Research II/Statistics (4 hours)
NGR 6971/6813 Thesis or Research Scholarly Work (3-6 hours)

Requirements for Nurse Practitioner Track—46 Semester Hours
NGR 5003 Advanced Health Assessment, Health Promotion and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 hours)
NGR 5141 Pathophysiology (3 hours)
NGR 6192 Pharmacology (3 hours)
NGR 6240 Advanced Practice Nursing: Primary Care for Adults and Communities (6 hours)
NGR 6334 Advanced Practice Nursing: Children, Adolescents, and Families (FNP) OR
NGR 6242 Advanced Practice Nursing: Care of Adults with Complex Problems (Adult NP) (6 hours)
NGR 6941 Advanced Practice Practicum (6 hours)
Elective (0-3 hours)
Required Courses (listed above) (14-17 hours)

Requirements for Nursing Leadership and Management Track—41 Semester Hours
NGR XXXX Health Care Informatics (3 hours)
NGR 5720 Organizational Dynamics (3 hours)
NGR 6722 Financial Management and Resource Development (3 hours)
NGR 6723 Nursing Leadership and Management I (4 hours)
NGR 6724 Nursing Leadership and Management II (5 hours)
Electives (6-9 hours)
Required courses (listed above) (14-17 hours)

Requirements for Clinical Nurse Specialist Track—46 Semester Hours
NGR XXXX Health Care Informatics (3 hours)
NGR 5003 Advanced Health Assessment, Promotion, and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 hours)
NGR 5141 Pathophysiological Bases for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 hours)
NGR 5720 Organizational Dynamics (3 hours)
NGR 6192 Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing (3 hours)
NGR 7622 Financial Management and Resource Development (3 hours)
NGR XXXX Clinical Nurse Specialist I (3 hours)
NGR XXXX Clinical Nurse Specialist I Practicum (2 hours)
NGR XXXX Clinical Nurse Specialist II (2 hours)
NGR XXXX Clinical Nurse Specialist II Practicum (2 hours)
Elective (0-3 hours)
Required courses (listed above) (14-17 hours)

RN to MSN Track

Available for all tracks in the graduate program: Nursing Leadership and Management, Family Nurse Practitioneer, Adult Nurse Practitioner, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Up to 15 credit hours can be applied toward meeting requirements of both BSN and MSN programs.

Admission Requirements—Limited Access

• Graduate of a state-approved or accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program
• Licensure as an RN in the state of Florida
• Completion of UCF general education requirements or AA degree from a state of Florida school, including CLAST
• Completion of prerequisites for the RN-BSN (undergraduate statistics)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Letter of intent to pursue accelerated master’s
• Three references from people who can judge abilities for graduate school
• Resume
• Interview with School of Nursing to assess interest, motivation, and ability to succeed in graduate school

Interim Requirements

• Completion of the GRE by the end of the second semester in the program

Admission Requirements for Graduate Nursing Phase

• Completion of requirements/credits for the baccalaureate degree in nursing, including health assessment course
• Completion of all UCF School of Nursing course work to date with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Must meet university requirements for undergraduate degree completion (refer to the UCF undergraduate catalog)
• One year of clinical experience as an RN prior to the first graduate clinical course
• A minimum combined GRE score of 1000 on the verbal/quantitative exams
• Updated resume
• Three references

RN to MSN Program of Study

Courses Shared BSN/MSN

• An individualized plan of study is developed for each student admitted to the RN to MSN option.
• Students may take NGR 5800 Nursing Theory/Research I instead of NUR 3165 Nursing Research, if they have taken NUR 4836. The credits for this course are applied to both the BSN and MSN programs.
• Students pursuing the MSN in the Nursing Leadership and Management Track may take the following courses:

  NUR 4838L Directed Practice in Nursing Administration (for NUR 4954L Directed Nursing Practice)
  NGR 5720 Organizational Dynamics (for NUR 4827 Leadership and Management Principles)
  NGR XXXX Health Care Informatics (for nursing elective)
  NGR/HSA XXXX—Graduate elective in area of concentration (e.g., nursing, health services administration for nursing elective)

• Students pursuing the MSN in the Family/Adult Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist tracks may take the following courses:

  NGR 5003C/L Advanced Health Assessment, Health Promotion and Diagnostic Reasoning (for NUR 4954L Directed Nursing Practice and undergraduate nursing elective)
  NGR 5141 Pathophysiology (for undergraduate nursing elective)
  NGR/HSA XXXX—Graduate elective in area of concentration (e.g., nursing, health services administration)

Courses taken toward MSN
Students will follow the degree requirements of the selected MSN track. The baccalaureate degree will be awarded when program requirements for the BSN are met and students have completed a minimum of 120 hours of credit. Students will then be reclassified as graduate students. The MSN will be awarded on completion of the total program of study. Students who do not meet ongoing program requirements or decide not to continue in the program may withdraw from the RN-MSN track and complete course work for the BSN degree.

Nurse Practitioner to MSN Track

There are two options in the NP to MSN track. Option 1 is for RNs who already have completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Option 2 is for those RNs who do not have a baccalaureate degree in nursing.

Option 1—Active RN/ARNP license in Florida with baccalaureate degree in nursing

• Documentation of completion of a certificate program for nurse practitioners.
• Other requirements are the same as the Master of Science in Nursing program.

Degree Requirements
NP to MSN students with a BSN must complete a minimum of 31 semester hours of graduate-level course work. Either a thesis or research scholarly work is required.

Required Courses
NGR 5744 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing I (1 hour)
NGR 5746 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing II (1 hour)
NGR 5745 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing III (1 hour)
NGR 5800 Nursing Theory/Research I (4 hours)
NGR 5801 Nursing Research II/Statistics (4 hours)
NGR 6813 Research Scholarly Work (3 hours) OR
NGR 6971 Thesis (3-6 hours)
NGR 5141 Pathophysiology (3 hours)
NGR 6192 Pharmacology (3 hours) May be waived for elective credits if recent (within last 3 years) pharmacology course taken.
NGR 5003C Advanced Health Assessment, Health Promotion, and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 hours)
NGR 6941 Advanced Practice Practicum (3 hours)
Graduate Elective (0-3 hours)

Option 2—Active RN/ARNP license in Florida without baccalaureate degree in nursing

• Documentation of completion of acertificate program for nurse practitioners.
• Other requirements are the same as the RN to MSN track.

Degree Requirements
NP to MSN students without a BSN must complete requirements for both the BSN and MSN. Twelve to fifteen credits will be applied toward meeting requirements of both degrees. Either a thesis or research scholarly work is required.

Courses taken toward BSN
NUR 3809 Transitional Concepts in Nursing I (3 hours)
NUR 4636 Community as the Coninuum of Care (3 hours)
NUR 4636L Clinical Practice in the Community (2 hours)
NUR 4837 Healthcare Issues, Policy, and Economics (3 hours)
NUR 4836 Professional Development Seminar (3 hours)
NUR 4827 Leadership and Management Principles (3 hours)
Validated credit from previous RN and NP courses (28 hours)

Courses shared BSN/MSN
NGR 5800 Nursing Theory/Research I (4 hours)
NGR 5003C Advanced Health Assessment, Health Promotion, and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 hours)
NGR 5141 Pathophysiology (3 hours)
NGR Elective (3 hours)

Courses taken toward MSN
NGR 5744 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing I (1 hour)
NGR 5746 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing II (1 hour)
NGR 5745 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing III (1 hour)
NGR 5801 Nursing Research II/Statistics (4 hours)
NGR 6813 Research Scholarly Work (3 hours) OR
NGR 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
NGR 6192 Pharmacology (3 hours) May be waived for elective credits if recent (within last 3 years) pharmacology course taken.
NGR 6941 Advanced Practice Practicum (3 hours)
Graduate Elective (0-3 hours)

Post-Master’s Certificate in Family or Adult Nurse Practitioner

Prerequisites or Co-requisites

NGR 5003 Advanced Health Assessment, Health Promotion, and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 hours)
NGR 5141 Pathophysiology (3 hours)
NGR 6192 Pharmacology (3 hours)

Admission Requirements

• A master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by NLNAC (National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission) or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education)
• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in Florida
• One year (or equivalent) experience as a Registered Nurse
• Completion of undergraduate health assessment course

Admission to the program is competitive on a space available basis.

Application Process

• Nondegree application from Graduate Studies
• Official transcript of BSN degree
• Official transcripts of graduate course work showing awarding of master’s degree (enclose an official sealed copy with your application)
• Three references from people who can judge abilities for graduate school
• Personal statement describing interest in certificate
• Health Form (Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to fill out another form for our records.)
• A resume (no longer than 2 pages)
• Copy of RN License

Program of Study—18 Semester Hours

Additional Information

Graduate Certificate in Nursing and Health Professional Education

Admission Requirements

Application Process

• Nondegree application from Graduate Studies
• Official transcripts showing awardding of baccalaureate degree (enclose anofficial sealed copy with your application)
• Health Form
• A resume (no longer than two pages)

Required Courses—12-15 Semester Hours

Additional requirement based on learning goals
Students must take at least one of the following courses but may take both courses.

NGR 5XXX Clinical Teaching Strategies for Health Professional Education (3 hours)
NGR 5XXX Health Care Informatics (3 hours)

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