 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
School of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing: Nurse Practitioner track Overview and Program Description
Overview and Program Description In a rapidly growing profession, nurse practitioners provide high quality health care services with a unique balance of nursing and medical care. The goal of the program is to prepare registered nurses as advanced practice nurses to fulfill the role of a competent, caring practitioner responsible for managing the health care of adults or children in the primary care setting. Nurse practitioners are licensed independent practitioners who can conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries such as infections, manage chronic health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, order and interpret lab services and X-rays, prescribe pharmacologic therapy and nonpharmacologic interventions. In addition, nurse practitioners focus on providing health promotion, disease prevention and immunizations. The Adult Nurse Practitioner Program prepares advanced practice nurses as primary care providers to manage the health of individuals from adolescence through old age. The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program prepares advanced practice nurses as primary care providers to manage the health of individuals from the time they’re newborns through age 21.
The curriculum combines core courses with nurse practitioner didactic and clinical courses in the adult or pediatric specialization. Designed for working professionals, our programs offer evening classes with full and part-time options. The programs meet the nurse practitioner guidelines of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Advanced Nursing Practice: Curriculum Guidelines and Program Standards for Nurse Practitioner Education and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In addition, the programs are congruent with the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs, (National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education 2002). Finally, the curriculum has incorporated the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Competencies in Specialty Areas: Adult, Family, Gerontological, Pediatric and Women’s Health (NONPF/AACN, 2002), using the section specific to either adult or pediatric practice. Upon completion of course requirements, graduates of the adult nurse practitioner master's and post-master's programs are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Nurse Practitioner and American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam. Graduates of the pediatric nurse practitioner master's and post-master's programs are eligible to sit for the (ANCC) Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). A majority of master’s program students continue to work while they pursue their degree. Students assume an active role in choosing a site for clinical performance. Clinical simulation technology is utilized for advanced physical assessment including SimMan™ and SimBaby™. The simulators are designed to replicate a patient, imitating human functions like breathing, talking and generating a heartbeat. The goal of the nurse practitioner program is to prepare primary care providers to work in a variety of clinical settings including private practices, clinics, community health centers, hospitals and businesses, managed care organizations and governmental agencies. You will develop advanced nursing practice expertise necessary for the management of individuals and their families across the wellness-illness continuum. Career Opportunities Demand for nurse practitioners is growing rapidly. Advanced practice nurses can expect annual salaries ranging from $80,000 to $90,000, depending on geographic location, area of practice and previous experience. According to the 2009 survey data from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the average full-time base salary for all specialties of full-time nurse practitioners is $81,060. Nurse practitioners provide health care in many different settings such as: private nurse practitioner-owned practices, private physician-owned practices, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, retail-based clinics, schools and colleges, emergency and urgent care facilities. The growing trends in health care reform will provide nurse practitioners with exciting opportunities to provide health care.
For more information contact the Graduate Admissions Office: Michele Vitelli, 1-800-205-5900 or graduate@gmc.edu |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
