University of Nevada

Nursing Programs Offered

BSN Programs
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Post-master's certificate
DNP Programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner - Post-master's certificate
MSN Programs
Nursing Science - Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
RN Programs

BSN Program Details

The baccalaureate program in nursing has a twofold purpose: to prepare competent nurses who will meet the needs of society and to develop the potential for leadership in nursing graduates. These purposes constitute the beliefs of the nursing faculty and are in alignment with the mission and goals of the university.

The nursing profession has an explicit responsibility to society to work in ways to positively influence the safety, health, and welfare of the public. This requires the development of students who are grounded in professional values, ethical behaviors and concepts of patient-centered care. A patient-centered care approach assures that every situation encountered in nursing practice is viewed, reflected on, and acted upon while keeping the patient at the center. This occurs because the nurse recognizes the importance of individual mind-body-spirit connections to relationships with families, groups, and communities in the acquisition of health, wellness, safety, and dignity in a variety of environmental settings. Inherent to patient-centered care is the development of competent nurses who use critical thinking, and are skilled in assessment, evidence-based interventions, and ongoing evaluation techniques. It is also imperative that nurses understand and incorporate a continual dialogue and collaboration with patients, families, groups, communities, and health care professionals in providing effective, comprehensive care.

As the first level of professional nursing practice, the baccalaureate graduate embraces a leadership role through advocacy and professional development. Advocacy begins at the bedside and extends to organizational and community settings. The development of leadership skills calls for nurses who can embrace and deliver change processes while honoring the best traditions and practices that already exist. BSN graduates will also exhibit professional leadership through continued lifelong learning and sharing knowledge and expertise as a means of developing others.

In order to prepare competent nurse leaders, faculty embrace behaviors such as role modeling and mentoring to develop an environment of learning that respects diversity, life experience, and individual attributes and abilities. Students and faculty have a mutual responsibility to create and foster an environment which is intellectually stimulating and respectful. Students are responsible for learning and faculty are responsible for delivering an innovative program that is aimed at assisting students to achieve program outcomes.

MSN Program Details

The Master of Science in Nursing program has a twofold purpose; to build upon the baccalaureate foundation in the preparation of advanced clinicians and educators in nursing and to provide a foundation for doctoral study by promoting scholarly inquiry. These purposes are consistent with the mission and goals of the university and the School of Nursing.

Faculty believe that students at the graduate level bring a rich background of formal education, nursing practice and life experience to the masters program. These qualities are essential in cultivating a collegial environment in which mutual teaching and learning occurs between students and faculty. Students at the master ’ s level are responsible for learning through active inquiry in the areas of theory, research and practice. Through critical self reflection, students work to develop goals and objectives that will meet course outcomes and personal learning needs. Faculty serve as facilitators, coaches and mentors as students assume more independence in their learning.

The program endeavors to meet the needs of both nurses and the community. For nurses, the program provides the opportunity to pursue academic, advanced study in an area of personal interest. For the community, the program prepares advanced practice nurses who will serve the health needs of those in both urban and rural settings, and nurse educators who will educate future nursing care providers.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Details

The University of Nevada DNP program prepares graduates for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles to serve the health care needs of the people of Nevada, the nation, and the professional community. DNP graduates are equipped to assume a wide range of leadership roles in both direct and indirect health care settings. DNP graduates may function as specialists in their advanced practice clinical roles, nursing faculty, or as healthcare executives, program and policy analysts.

At the conclusion of the University of Nevada DNP program, graduates will:

-Provide advanced nursing care to improve patient and population health care outcomes in various direct and indirect settings.
-Take leadership roles in the analysis, delivery and management of nursing care and health care systems.
-Provide evidence-based practice through the application of analytical methods, information systems technology, and clinical research.
-Collaborate with interprofessional teams to meet the healthcare needs of culturally and ethnically diverse individuals and populations.
-Act as change agent, leader, and advocate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care policy as it affects populations and the nursing profession.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is designed to be a terminal practice degree for clinically practicing nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and nursing leaders in health care organizations. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has suggested that the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice be moved from the master's degree to the doctorate level by the year 2015.The Institute of Medicine's 2002 report on Health Professions Education recommended strategies for restructuring all clinical education in the health professions to be consistent with the principles of 21st century health systems. These recommendations stressed that health science students and all working professionals develop and maintain proficiency in 5 core areas: delivering patient-centered care, working as part of interdisciplinary teams, practicing evidence-based medicine, focusing on quality improvement, and using information technology.