Graduate Program Outcomes

The expected aggregate outcomes for graduates of the MSN curriculum are as follows:

1. Translate & integrate advanced theoretical, empirical & ethical knowledge to improve health outcomes across diverse setting.
2. Demonstrate essential core competencies of critical thinking and sound clinical decision making.
3. Promote a professional environment that includes accountability and high level communication skills, when involved in peer review, advocacy, reporting of errors, and professional writing.
4. Use effective communication strategies to develop, participate, and lead interprofessional teams and partnerships.
5. Demonstrate a strong ethical foundation in advance nursing practice, such as professional practice, leadership, education, and scholarly activities.
6. Utilize strategies that promote organizational effectiveness, fiscal responsibility, and quality and safety that is grounded in research evidence.
7. Examine the effect of legal and regulatory processes, and healthcare policy on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, and outcomes.
8. Analyze current and emerging technologies to support safe practice environment, and to optimize patient safety, cost-effectiveness and health outcomes.
9. Assume educational and leadership roles that contribute to health promotion and disease prevention incorporating cultural diversity and global perspectives in health care delivery.
10. Engage in lifelong learning and mentor and coach members of the healthcare team, including new and experienced nurses.

The goal of the master's degree program is to prepare nurses for advanced practice leaders in nursing education and nursing administration. The education program includes both didactic work and select preceptored experiences in their specific track. Each student completes the graduate-nursing core including advanced nursing practice roles, nursing theory and health care policy, research, evidence-based practice and statistics, and ethics. The advanced practice core also includes advanced pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacology with content and experiences relevant to the advanced practice area of study. Specific clinical content includes health care technology, diagnostic evaluation, health supervision and clinical decision-making. The UWF nursing master's degree program is scheduled for its first accreditation evaluation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in fall 2013. The college is a member of the Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing of the Southern Regional Board and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.