Director of Graduate Nursing
Layna Himmelberg, Ed.D., MSN, CNE
PH 402.552.2776  TF 800.647.5500
himmelberg@clarksoncollege.edu

Introduction

Clarkson College offers an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree that provides five specialties to meet specific professional goals of graduate students. These online options include: Nursing Healthcare Administration, Nursing Education, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. 

Nurse practitioner students must pass a certification examiniation in order to practice. At present, there are two (2) certifying bodies: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

ANCC certifies Family NPs, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NPs, and Psychiatric-Mental Health NPs. AANP certifies Family NPs.

In order to complete a MSN at Clarkson College, students must successfully complete 39 to 51 graduate semester hours. Each of the options has a different set of credit hour requirements; however, they all require coursework to be taken from nursing core and the specific option. Up to nine semester hours of current graduate-level courses may be transferred from another accredited institution with the approval of the director of the Graduate Nursing program.

Program Specific Competency Goals

Upon completion of the MSN requirements for Nursing Healthcare Administration, Nursing Education, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner and the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, the graduate will be able to demonstrate:

  • Demonstrate the ability to engage in effective and caring communication with diverse individuals and groups to educate, inform, collaborate and reflect. (Communication)**
  • Apply complex and evidence-based nursing knowledge and experience to analyze and evaluate strategies and outcomes in health care and educational settings to inform decision making and/or problem solving. (Critical Thinking)**
  • Promote the nursing profession by recognizing and engaging in competent, accountable, ethical and holistic practice; caring and collaborative relationships; respectful interactions with diverse individuals and groups; and quality- and safety-based decision making. (Professionalism)**
  • Utilize and evaluate health care information technology systems and processes for communication, decision making, management and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance health care delivery. (Technology)**
  • Demonstrate the awareness of the unique characteristics inherent in all individuals, by appreciating similarities and differences and advocating for caring holistic nursing approaches. (Diversity)**

 **Categories denoted in the parentheses represent relationship to the Clarkson College student success skills, which are our institutional student learning outcomes, and include Communication, Technology, Critical Thinking, Diversity and Professionalism

Admission Policies

Enrollment in Clarkson College degree programs is limited through a selective admissions process. Admission policies and procedures are available from: the Enrollment and Advising office, College website or Academic Policies & Procedures section (AD-1).

Curriculum Requirements

The Clarkson College MSN program requires completion of:

  • Major Courses All Options= 19 semester hours
  • Major Specialty-Option Courses (selecting one of the concentrations) = 20 to 32 semester hours

Program requires Health and Safety – View Health and Safety Information

Specialty Option Courses

Each of the five specialty options has a set of courses required for completion of the MSN. All courses identified for each of the options must be completed.

Required Courses for Master of Science in Nursing

Major Courses for All Options
Courses Semester Hours
GR 798 - Essentials of Scholarly Writing 1
GR 847 - Applied Statistics 3
◊ NS 803 (NRS 803) - Healthcare Delivery Systems and Managed Care 2
NS 805 (NRS 805) - Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing 2
NS 807 (NRS 807) - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles 3
◊ NS 808 (NRS 808) - Nursing Law and Ethics 3
NS 812 (NRS 812) - Research Design and Methods 3
NS 813 (NRS 813) - Research Design and Methods II 2
IPE 301 - Interprofessional Education 0
Total Semester Hours 19
Major Courses in Nursing Healthcare Administration

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become nursing health care administrators (i.e., executives or managers). The curriculum encompasses systems, leadership and organization information, including theoretical models and concepts that are relevant to the role of nursing health care administrator. Learners will review and evaluate several health care settings and identify strategies to manage those areas. This program option prepares the learner to engage in evidence-based, data-driven decision making while pursuing high quality health care that is safe, affordable and results in positive outcomes.

Courses Semester Hours
MB 800 (HCA 800) - Ethics in Leadership 2
MB 808 (HCA 808) - Healthcare Leadership 3
MB 826 (HCA 826) - Healthcare Strategic Management 3
MB 828 (HCA 828) - Financial Management in Healthcare 3
MB 833 (HCA 833) - Healthcare Quality and Risk Management 3
MB 836 (HCA 836) - Healthcare Project Management 3
NS 898 (NRS 898) - Nursing Healthcare Leadership Practicum 3
MB 837 (HCA 837) - Leading Change OR
MB 846 (HCA 846) - Fundamentals of Informatics
3
3
Total Semester Hours 23
Major Courses in Nursing Education

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become academic or clinical nurse educators. The evidence-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to acquire information about teaching and learning theories and strategies, curriculum or program development, and evaluation or assessment strategies while fostering an ethical perspective. These learners will also encounter technologies being used to deliver nursing education content and experiences, from classroom technologies to skills lab and simulation technologies. The nurse educator assumes the role of mentor, coach, guide and expert, nurturing student nurses and/or providing continuing professional development to registered or licensed practical nurses.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 806 (NRS 806) - Theories of Learning for the Nurse Educator 3
◊ NS 822 (NRS 822) - Curriculum Development for the Nurse Educator 3
NS 823 (NRS 823) - Evaluation Strategies for the Nurse Educator 3
NS 826 (NRS 826) - Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment Overview for Nurse Educators 3
NS 827 (NRS 827) - Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Nurse Educator 3
NS 890 (NRS 890) - Nurse Educator Transition to Practice 2
NS 894 (NRS 894) - Nursing Education Practicum 3
Total Semester Hours 20
Major Courses in Family Nurse Practitioner*

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care of the individual and family in primary care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, as well as recognized and evidence-based care standards to deliver family-centered care. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) assumes the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 832 (NRS 832) - Primary Healthcare I 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 840 (NRS 840) - Primary Care of Children and Adolescent 3
NS 842 (NRS 842) - Primary Care of Women 3
NS 844 (NRS 844) - Primary Healthcare II 3
NS 852 (NRS 852) - Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
Total Semester Hours 30

*The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time. 

Major Courses in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner*

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care to adult and gerontological patients in acute care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, and will assume the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 861 (NRS 861) - Introduction to Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 862 (NRS 862) - Applying Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 863 (NRS 863) - Complex Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 864 (NRS 864) - Advanced Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 854 (NRS 854) - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
Total Semester Hours 30

*The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progession through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Major Courses for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner*

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care for patients in mental and/or behavioral health settings. The learner will engage in identifying key concepts and theories related to psychiatric-mental health nursing, strategies for communicating clearly with patients, and evidence-based treatment options or plans that meet the unique needs of each patient. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner takes on the roles of educator, communicator and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 855 (NRS 855) - Pharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 2
NS 856 (NRS 856) - Introduction to Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 857 (NRS 857) - Application of Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 858 (NRS 858) - Complex Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 859 (NRS 859) - Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 860 (NRS 860) - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
Total Semester Hours 32

*The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course maybe be taken at a time.

Last updated: 06/29/2023