Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The Master of Science in Nursing program is designed to prepare nurses for specialization in Adult Health Nursing or Family Health Nursing and provides functional role preparation as a nurse in advanced clinical practice (NP or CNS), education, or administration. The core curriculum is designed to develop and increase students' competencies in theory analysis and evaluation; concept clarification and development; research and refined skills in clinical inquiry; health assessment; leadership; and analysis of contemporary issues. Building on the core curriculum, students apply new knowledge and skills in the clinical setting.

The program provides functional role preparation as a nurse in advanced clinical practice, education, or administration. Specific nursing courses required for the area of specialization focus on the functional dimensions of the role, its theory and expectations, and strategies for implementation.

The student may choose preparation in one of three functional areas:

• Advanced Clinical Practice preparation is the application of specialization knowledge and skills in the clinical setting. Courses enable students to integrate knowledge for primary care and diverse clinical practice roles with education, research, management, leadership and consultation. Students completing advanced clinical practice role preparation and one of the specialization areas are eligible for adult or family nurse practitioner certification exams or the Medical Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist certification examination.
• Educator preparation is application of specialization knowledge and skills in the role of nursing faculty. Students completing a specialization and educator role preparation are prepared for entry level positions as nurse educators.
• Nurse Administrator preparation is the application of specialization knowledge and skills in nursing administration at the middle management level, in a variety of health care settings. Concepts and theories related to management and leadership are applied within organizational structures.
  
• Additional Information on Master of Science in Nursing Fact Sheet.

The nursing graduate programs at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh are in the process of planning a collaborative Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. An entitlement was recently granted by the Board of Regents that allows the campuses to begin planning a doctoral degree. The board will later have to approve the DNP program. More information regarding the potential DNP program will be posted in the future.

For prospective graduate students, to learn more about the Nursing Graduate Program options available in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UW-Eau Claire, contact:
Dr. Rosemary Jadack, Nursing Rm 217
Phone: (715) 836-5004

For admitted nursing graduate students, please direct your questions to Dr. Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher, Interim Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Dr. Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher
Phone: (715) 836-4977