Academics
Graduate Nursing Program of Study
The School of Nursing has one Master of Science Nursing Program with two discrete concentrations, one Certificate of Advanced Study, and one Certificate: (1) MS-Nursing Leadership-Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration, (2) MS-Nursing Leadership –Nursing Education Concentration, (3) Certificate of Advanced Study-Family Nurse Practitioner, and (4) Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education. A full-time student can expect to complete MSN degree requirements in two to three years. All work for the CAS or the MSN must be completed within a six year period.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING LEADERSHIP – FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CONCENTRATION (MSN-FNP)
The family nurse practitioner is prepared to provide primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan (newborns, infants, children, adolescents, adults, pregnant and postpartum women, and older adults). Primary care includes health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and the evaluation and management of common acute and chronic health problems. The focus of care includes individuals within families and the family unit, however the family chooses to define itself. Family nurse practitioners demonstrate a commitment to family-centered care in the context of communities.
The MS-Nursing-FNP program of study may be tailored for full- or part-time study. Course formats are a mixture of on-campus and distance technology. Clinical experiences are an integral part of the FNP curriculum and are arranged to meet program outcomes and student needs. The Graduate Program Coordinator and Family Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator will help the student develop a program of study that meets academic and clinical requirements. The combined credit requirement for the MS- Nursing-FNP is 49-51. The MS-Nursing-FNP curriculum meets the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education 2022 criteria for evaluation of nurse practitioner programs.
MS-Nursing-FNP graduates are eligible to take national certification examinations for Family Nurse Practitioners offered by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) (nursingworld.org/our-
certifications/family-nurse-practitioner/) and by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (aanpcert.org/).
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING LEADERSHIP -NURSING EDUCATION CONCENTRATION (MSN-NE)
MSN-NE program is designed for the experienced nurse who wishes to have advanced knowledge in nursing combined with preparation to teach and evaluate learning in the academic or clinical setting. Course content in the education specialization includes curriculum development, didactic and clinical teaching methods, evaluation in nursing education, and population-focused care. Students in the MSN NE concentration meet the didactic and clinical requirements of accreditation by taking separate courses in Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology, and completion of experiential nursing education practicums and a Capstone course.
The MSN-NE program of study may be tailored for full-or part-time study. Course formats are online with practicums being arranged to meet program outcomes and to accommodate the needs of the student; there are two required on-campus days for the NUR 531 Advanced Health Assessment Lab. The Graduate Program Coordinator and the student’s academic advisor will help plan a program of study and timeframe that meets the academic and practicum requirements. The combined credit requirement would be approximately 35. MSN-NE graduates are eligible to take the applicable National League for Nursing Nurse Educator Certification-Novice exam (nln.org/awardsrecognition/certification-for-nurse-educators-overview).
CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED STUDY (CAS-FNP)
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS): The CAS offers a clinically focused program of study to registered nurses who already possess a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctorate of Nursing Practice. The CAS prepares the graduate prepared nurse as a family nurse practitioner. Students in the CAS program must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours (500 and 600 level courses) within The University of Maine.
A full-time student can expect to complete MSN degree requirements in 2 years. All work for the CAS or the MSN must be completed within a 6 year period.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN NURSING EDUCATION
The School of Nursing offers a post-baccalaureate 11-credit certificate in nursing education. This certificate is fully online. Courses may be applied to the MSN-NE program of study.
The master’s degree program in nursing and the post graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Maine School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791
University of Maine School of Nursing Master of Science-Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration Sample Full-time Program of Study AY 2024-25 (fall admission) (Part-time options available)
Year One- Fall Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 507: Advanced Pathophysiology# | 3 | 0 |
| NUR 644: Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare# | 3 | 0 |
Year One – Spring Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 561: Population Health for a Global Society | 3 | |
| NUR 508: Advanced Pharmacology# | 3 | 0 |
Year One – Summer Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
| NUR 503: Advanced Health Appraisal and Health Assessment-lecture ## | 3 | 80 |
| NUR 531: Advanced Health Appraisal and Health Assessment-lab^ | 1 | |
| NUR 532: Advanced Health Appraisal and Health Assessment-clinical | 1 |
Year One totals: 17 credit hours, 80 clinical hours
Year Two – Fall Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 565: Resilience and Wellness for Advanced Nursing Practice# | 1 | 0 |
| NUR 521: FNP Management of Reproductive, Gender, and Women’s Health^ | 2 | 0 |
| NUR 522: FNP Management of Reproductive, Gender, and Women’s Health (Clinical) | 2 | 150 |
| Elective* | 3 | 0 |
Year Two – Spring Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 560: Advanced Nursing Scholarship# | 2 | 0 |
| NUR 520: FNP Management of Neonate to Adolescent^ | 3 | 150 |
| NUR 524 FNP Management of Neonate to Adolescent (Clinical) | 2 | 150 |
Year Two – Summer Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
| NUR 563 EBP for Advanced Nursing Practice# | 2 | |
| NUR 562: Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety# | 2 |
Year Two totals: 19 credit hours, 450 clinical hours
Year Three – Fall Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 697: Scholarly Capstone# | 1 | 0 |
| NUR 522: FNP Care of Adults 1^ | 3 | 0 |
| NUR 526: FNP Care of Adults 1 (Clinical) | 2 | 150 |
Year Three – Spring Semester
| Course | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 506 Professional Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing## | 2 | 0 |
| NUR 523: FNP Care of Adults 2^ | 3 | 0 |
| UR 527 FNP Care of Adults 1 (Clinical) | 3 | 224 |
Year Three totals: 14 credit hours, 374 clinical hours
KEY:
#Online
##Online-Live meetings
^ On-campus meetings
*Elective may be taken any term n coordination with academic advisor
University of Maine School of Nursing Master of Science-Nursing-Nursing Education Concentration Sample Full-time Program of Study AY 2024-25 (fall admission) (Part-time Options Available)
Year One – Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *#NUR 507: Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 644 Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare# | 3 |
Year One – Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| NUR 560 Advanced Nursing Scholarship# | 2 |
| NUR 561 Population Health for a Global Society# | 3 |
| NUR 508 Advanced Pharmacology# | 3 |
Year One – Summer Semester
| Course | Credits | Practicum Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 563 EBP for Advanced Nursing Practice# | 2 | 0 |
| NUR 562 Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety# | 2 | 0 |
Year One totals: 18 credit hours
Year Two – Fall Semester
| Course | Credits | Practicum Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 565 Resilience and Wellness for Advanced Nursing Practice# | 1 | |
| NUR 566 Innovations in Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education# | 3 | |
| NUR 566 Innovations in Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education (Practicum) | 1 | 75 |
| NUR 697 Scholarly Capstone# | 1 |
Year Two – Spring Semester
| Course | Credits | Practicum Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 568 Innovations in Clinical, Simulation and Laboratory Instruction# | 2 | 0 |
| NUR 569 Innovations in Clinical, Simulation and Laboratory Instruction (Practicum) | 2 | 150 |
| NUR 570 Nursing Program Design and Evaluation# | 3 |
Year Two – Summer Semester
| Course | Credits | Practicum Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 503: Advanced Health Assessment-(lecture)## | 3 | 0 |
| NUR 531: Advanced Health Assessment (lab)^ | 1 | 20 |
Year Two totals: 18 credit hours; 245 practicum hours
KEY:
#Online
##Online-Live meetings
^ On-campus meetings
Academic Advising
Students accepted into the School of Nursing Graduate Program are advised by their respective Graduate Program Coordinator. Students should meet with the graduate program coordinator and/or their academic advisor each semester either in person or electronically to update their program of study and ensure that they are meeting academic progression standards. Students will not be registered for courses until all academic holds are removed, this includes the student financial responsibility statement that must be completed each semester.
Program Requirements
The following technical standards of general abilities must be independently met, with or without
accommodations:
- Observation
- Communication
- Motor
- Intellectual-conceptual, integrative and quantitative
- Behavioral and social attributes
- Program-specific requirements
1. OBSERVATION
A student must make accurate visual observations, both at a distance and close at hand. In addition, a student must have adequate vision and sensory modalities, including the sense of hearing and smell, to observe a patient accurately, perceive non-verbal communication, perform nursing assessments, interventions, and medication administration, and complete documentation and maintain accurate records.
2. COMMUNICATION
A student must have effective communication skills, including sufficient hearing and intelligible speech and understanding of non-verbal communication with fellow students, faculty, patients, family members, and healthcare professionals. In addition, the student must be able to speak, read, write and comprehend the English language to communicate effectively with students, faculty, clients, family members, and healthcare professionals.
3. MOTOR
A student must have motor skills to perform skills, including client assessment, palpation, percussion and auscultation, and other techniques used during health assessments. A student must have gross and fine motor skills to perform patient treatments, medication preparation and delivery, and routine and emergency skills within their professional nursing scope. The student must have the physical ability and stamina to stand and walk for prolonged periods, including climbing stairs, and have the physical ability to lift, transfer, and move patients.
4. INTELLECTUAL–CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE, AND QUANTITATIVE
A student must have intellectual, conceptual, and quantitative abilities to:
- Access, assess, and interpret medical documentation
- Retain and recall
- Exhibit cognitive abilities in assessment, interpretation, and incorporation of new information
- Comprehend the complexity of relationships, incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and other ancillary professionals to provide sound judgment
- Incorporate nursing and medical literature to create both short and long-term goals
- Problem-solve to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize both objective and subjective data
5. BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES
A student must possess the emotional health and maturity required for intellectual ability and exercise sound judgment. The student must maintain a mature, sensitive rapport and establish effective relationships with patients and their families, students, faculty, staff and other professionals in all circumstances, which may at times be highly stressful. Students must possess the physical and emotional health to make sound judgments appropriately and promptly and be able to function effectively in times of physical and mental stress. These attributes are displayed through compassion, sensitivity, concern for others, and professional integrity. In addition, the student must be able to adapt to a changing environment, display flexibility, and accept integrated constructive criticism.