Program Advisors: Klein, Madler (Graduate Program Director), Messmer, Pfenning, Reemts (Division Chair)

Mission  

Grounded in the Benedictine tradition, we provide academic and nursing practice opportunities that prepare students for leadership in advanced practice and education in health care across a variety of settings along the continuum of care. Graduates will qualify to apply for national certification and/or doctoral study  

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)  

The demand for nursing leaders prepared to meet the challenges of providing health care today is well established. At the University of Mary, graduate students have opportunities for varied learning experiences designed to develop expertise in advanced practice, education and management. The curriculum is intended to provide learning opportunities in high-quality clinical services, cutting edge education pedagogy, and magnet status nursing institutions. The University of Mary nursing graduate demonstrates the University Mission to prepare servant leaders.  

We believe that students desiring to be leaders who are competent, autonomous practitioners, and ethical decision makers are best served by faculty who facilitate reflective thinking and critical inquiry and by information that makes sense within the context in which it is learned.  

The University of Mary offers three specialty tracks of the MSN: Nurse Administrator, Diploma/ADN to MSN: Nurse Administrator, MSN: Nurse Educator, and, MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner.  

Program Formats  

The Nurse Educator program is offered in two formats:  

  
1. An on-site accelerated format in selected cities.  
2. An online accelerated format. Students participating in either format will be required to participate in a practical experience within a clinical setting.

Distinctive Features   

• Graduate within 15-18 months with an MSN degree  
• Comprehensive curriculum founded in specialty standards.  
• Servant leadership, evidence based practice and practica frame student experiences.  
• Small class size facilitates collaborative learning.  
• The University of Mary philosophy of a student centered learning environment.  
• GRE not required.

University of Mary nursing graduate program is approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791.  

Graduate Degree Requirements  

The Master of Science in Nursing degree must be conferred within seven years of completion of the earliest graduate course used in the course of study. Up to one-third of the total graduate credits required for the course of study may be Master's Program in Nursing transferred from another accredited institution. To achieve the master's degree, the student must complete the selected course of study.  

Satisfactory Academic Progress  

Graduate nursing students are expected to maintain higher than a "C+" letter grade for courses comprising the program of study. Should students fall below this expectation they will be placed on academic probation and be required to meet with the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs for determination of further action. Please refer to the Graduate Nursing Handbook for additional details.  

Application/Admission Requirement  

Individuals holding a nursing diploma or associate degree from an accredited institution are eligible to apply to the Diploma/ADN to MSN: Nurse Administrator program of study. Persons with a bachelor degree in nursing from an accredited institution are eligible to apply to the Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, or Family Nurse Practitioner programs of study.  

Requirements listed below must be met before admission to graduate nursing study:   

• Evidence of current, unencumbered RN licensure  
• Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale  
• Completed graduate application (including application fee)  
• Professional goals essay  
• Official transcripts (including degree granting institution and transcripts of any graduate courses completed)  
• Current resume  
• Two letters of professional reference  
• Evidence of required immunizations  
• Background check through Certified BackgroundŽ and Release of Information of Criminal Background Report

Nurse Educator Specialty  

The nurse educator program of study prepares nurses for leadership roles in practice and educational settings emphasizing curricular designs, teaching strategies, and assessment measures proven to be successful in traditional and online nursing and health education programs.  

This program provides the student with the opportunity to identify and partner with a nursing program and an experienced nurse educator to participate in direct classroom and nursing practice instruction.  

Nurse Educator Program Outcomes

• Demonstrates servant leadership  
• Implements curricular revision using appropriate educational principles  
• Utilizes Benedictine values in building an effective learning climate  
• Implements evidence based teaching/learning principles  
• Analyzes and designs measurement and evaluation methods  
• Demonstrates competency required to pursue doctoral education  
• Implements competent holistic nursing at an advanced level  
• Collaborates with others to improve the quality of nursing practice and healthcare

Nurse Educator Course Requirements Core Courses  

NUR 501 Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Nursing Practice
NUR 551 Critique and Design of Research
NUR 648 Health Care Law and Policy
PHI 582 Biomedical Ethics

Nurse Educator Specialty Courses  

NUR 521 Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurse Educators
NUR 565 Statistics
NUR 566 Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators
NUR 575 Decision Making and Information Management
NUR 581 Curriculum Development in Higher Education
NUR 605 Teaching Strategies
NUR 616 Measurement and Evaluation
NUR 650 Seminar in Higher Education
NUR 700 Thesis
NUR 701 Thesis Continuation

Total: 41 semester credits

M.S.N. Nurse Educator