Nursing - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) - MS

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A Plan of Study is available on the Master of Science in Nursing website.

Nursing Program Description

Grounded in an environment of scholarship, the mission of the WSU Department of Nursing is to educate knowledgeable caring, ethical, creative, and accountable nurse leaders who provide person- and relationship-centered care for individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a diverse society. This mission is based on the beliefs that:

a caring, diverse and respectful community provides the best environment for students to learn how to care for themselves and others
optimal learning to care for self and others occurs in a caring, diverse and respectful community
faculty and students are accountable for maintaining and modeling professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct
recognizing and valuing human diversity is essential to person- and relationship-centered care
individuals have different ways of knowing and learning about the world
creativity and innovation contribute to continuous quality improvement and sustainability
an enriched learning environment is the responsibility of faculty, staff and students
effective nurse leaders engage in continuous professional development and lifelong learning

Graduates of the MS programs are prepared for a variety of advanced nursing roles (e.g. nurse educators, nurse leaders, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists). These graduates also have the foundation for continued graduate studies (i.e. DNP or PhD). Graduates of the DNP program are prepared for the highest level of clinical nursing practice.

Nursing science core courses, taken by all graduate students, build on students’ baccalaureate nursing knowledge to integrate scientific underpinnings for practice, understand nursing information management and decision making, and advocate for health promotion. Students develop evidence-based knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care while demonstrating leadership and professionalism. Courses within the selected programs of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, or Nursing Leadership provide specialized knowledge and practice opportunities in each advanced nursing role. A unique feature of this program is the targeted emphasis on the nurse’s use of advanced knowledge and skills of health promotion with individuals and families in diverse populations to address health care needs within complex environments.

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (52 S.H.)

Students in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program are prepared for the multi-faceted role of clinical nurse specialist with the adult/gerontology population. Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist students will demonstrate direct care (including prescriptive authority), consultation, systems leadership, collaboration, coaching, and research competencies and influence direct patient/client care, the practice of other nurses and nursing personnel, and healthcare systems/organization outcomes. Graduates with the MS degree are prepared for eligibility for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist certification exam.

Nursing Science Core Courses (MS)

NURS 600 - Scientific and Ethical Foundations (4 S.H.)
STAT 601 - Statistical Methods for Health Care Research (3 S.H.)
NURS 604 - Health Policy and Quality Health Care Delivery (3 S.H.)
NURS 606 - Nursing Information Management & Decision Making (3 S.H.)
NURS 608 - Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 S.H.)
NURS 612 - Advanced Health Promotion for Families (3 S.H.)
NURS 613 - Advanced Health Promotion for Families Clinical (1 S.H.)
NURS 614 - Evidence-Based Practice (3 S.H.)
NURS 615 - Scholarly Inquiry Paper/Thesis (1-2 S.H.)

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS)

NURS 616 - Molecular, Genetic and Immune Mechanisms in Disease (3 S.H.)
NURS 617 - Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3 S.H.)
NURS 618 - Advanced Pathophysiology (2 S.H.)
NURS 619 - Advanced Health Assessment (3 S.H.)
NURS 620 - Adult/Gerontology CNS Role Foundations Seminar (1-2 S.H.)
NURS 624 - Adult-Gerontology CNS Role Development Seminar (1-3 S.H.)
NURS 625 - Adult-Gerontology CNS Role Development Clinical (1-4 S.H.)
NURS 630 - Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Synthesis Seminar (3 S.H.)
NURS 631 - Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Synthesis Clinical (4 S.H.)

Total Credits: 52 S.H.

Clinical hours: (1 clinical credit = 60 hours of contact time)

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist: 600 Total Clinical Hours