Academic Programs

fact sheet

Director: Ruth Shoemaker, MSN, MBA, RN
Phone: 814-871-5363

Overview

Graduate study in the Villa Maria School of Nursing integrates nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing research. It is designed so that the professional nurse can respond to the challenge of unresolved problems in nursing and in the health care systems by understanding the problems and by contributing to knowledge of better nursing care through practice and scientific inquiry.

The program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and holds preliminary approval by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The options or concentrations now available for pursuing the Master's degree are: Nursing Administration, Family Nurse Practitioner, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Nurse Anesthetist. Opportunities also exist for students to develop functional role preparation in administration and education. A combined MSN/MBA is available.

Purpose

Master's education in nursing presupposes basic professional preparation in nursing. Graduate education is characterized by commitment to advancement of nursing theory, practice and research. It stimulates the testing of ideas from nursing and related disciplines to resolve nursing problems, and to improve nursing practice; it fosters the ability to conduct and use research; it promotes depth of knowledge in a selected area; it generates the ability to solve nursing problems skillfully and knowledgeably as the basis for intellectual leadership in nursing; and it prepares the student for emerging and expanding roles in nursing and for evaluating new roles in nursing. The graduate is prepared to improve nursing care and to advance nursing knowledge through the systematic investigation of nursing problems and the use of the research process.

Philosophy

The philosophy and conceptual framework are consistent with the mission of the university and uses various theoretical models of Nursing to guide the Master's program options. In addition, the faculty have developed the following statements in their beliefs regarding graduate education:

There is a substantial body of nursing knowledge in clinical areas of nursing
which builds upon and is an expansion of the content included in the
Baccalaureate program.

Mastery of this advanced knowledge in any one of the clinical areas of
nursing is essential for expert independent functioning in a specific area of
nursing.

The specialized content in nursing includes both theory and practice. Some
of the theory has already been identified and ways have been found to apply
it to nursing practice, but much of it is yet to be generated and validated.

Nurses who are effective leaders have, in addition to competence in a
specific clinical area, a grasp of the current issues in nursing and of the
dynamics of the society. They regard themselves as change agents and are
not overwhelmed by change, but exploit change in order to promote better
nursing care.
 

Program Outcomes

At the conclusion of the program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Nursing, the student:

1. Synthesizes theory and research from nursing, the biopsychosocial sciences, and humanities to provide advanced nursing care to clients of diverse cultures;

2. Is proficient in the utilization of research findings including collaboration in nursing projects and provision of clinical expertise for research;

3. Implements the advanced practice roles of teacher, researcher, advocate, clinician, consultant, collaborator, and manager of systems;

4. Provides leadership to influence change in health care practice at local, regional, and/or national levels;

5. Articulates the differentiated advanced practice nurse roles of nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, and nurse administrator to other health professionals, policy makers, and consumers;

6. Refines and implements a program for continued professional growth;

7. Acquires a foundation for doctoral study.

Part-Time Opportunities

Opportunities for part-time study in the Master's Program are available. The majors, depending on specialty, require 42 to 48 credits. Course offerings are scheduled three semesters per year (fall, spring and summer); evening course scheduling is offered to accommodate full-time working students.

Admission Requirements

Professional nurses who have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing from an NLNAC accredited program are eligible to apply for admission to graduate study.

Applicants must:

Be a graduate of an NLN approved baccalaureate program.

Submit an application for admission.

Provide official transcripts of all academic work including an introductory
statistics course.

Submit competitive scores from the Graduate Record Examination or Miller
Analogy Test. (GMAT for MSN/MBA.)

Provide three letters of recommendation.

Give evidence of the fulfillment of legal requirements for the practice of
nursing in the United States.

Be admitted to Gannon University.

Be admitted to the Villa Maria School of Nursing.
 

Financial Aid

The Villa Maria School of Nursing has been awarded Advanced Nurse Traineeships. As funds permit, available awards are made by the Department of Nursing to eligible students.

Many local health care agencies offer tuition reimbursement to enable employees to pursue graduate education.

Students can apply for guaranteed student loans from a bank of their choice; they may apply for a maximum of $7,500 per academic year.

 

  
 
 

109 University Square • Erie, Pennsylvania 16541-0001
1-800 GANNON-U (1-800-426-6668) or 814-871-7000
Web site Powered by ActiveCampus™ Software by LiquidMatrix