Clinical Nurse Specialist Option

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) option
enables the student to acquire advanced knowledge of health care for individuals, families and aggregate populations and to develop the skills needed to engage in a specific advanced practice nursing role. On admission, students select a specific program of study that will prepare the graduate for recognition and/or certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in that designated health care area. The following specialties may be selected within the CNS option: Adult Health; Community Health; Gerontology; Nursing Administration; or Clinical Trials Research. Students may also elect to include courses in their program of study that support sub-specialty practice, e.g. cardiac care, diabetes care or other specialized areas of practice.

Sample Degree Plans

(For full-time Study: meet with advisor to plan part-time study)

Adult Health Specialty (minimum 34-37* credits)
(Dependent on non-thesis[3] / thesis [6] option)
Fall (Semester I)
N502 Phys Assessment (3)
N503 Pathophysiology (3)
N510 Nursing Theory (3)
N518 CNS I (4)




Total: 13 credits
Spring (Semester II)
N501 Issues (3)
N512 Nurs Research (3)
N519 CNS II (4)
N594 Scholarly Paper (2)
or
N600 Thesis (4)


Total: 12-14 credits
Fall (Semester III)
N521 CNS Practicum (8)
N594 Scholarly Paper (1)
or
N600 Thesis (2)




Total: 9-10 credits
Clinical Trials Research (minimum 40* credits)
(Dependent on non-thesis[3] / thesis [6] option)
Fall (Semester I)
N503 Pathophysiology (3)
N518 CNS I (4)
HES 520 Biostatistics I (3)




Total: 10 Credits

Fall (Semester III)
N510 Nursing Theory (3)
HES 530 Clinical Trials (3)
IBIOS 510 Ethics (1)
N594 Scholarly Paper (2)
or
N600 Thesis (3)

Total: 9-10 credits
Spring (Semester II)
N501 Issues (3)
N512 Nurs Research (3)
N519 CNS II (4)
N594 Scholarly Paper (1)
or
N600 Thesis (2)

Total: 11-12 credits

Spring (Semester IV)
N521 CNS Practicum (8)
HES 531 Clinical Trials (2)
N600 Thesis (1) [if thesis option selected]




Total: 10-11 credits
Community Health Specialty (minimum 37-40* credits)
(Dependent on non-thesis[3] / thesis [6] option)
Fall (Semester I)
N508 Population-based         nursing (3)
N510 Nursing Theory (3)
N518 CNS I (4)
Elective (3)


Total: 13 Credits
Spring (Semester II)
N501 Issues (3)
N512 Nurs Research (3)
N519 CNS II (4)
N594 Scholarly Paper (2)
or
N600 Thesis (4)

Total: 12-14 credits
Fall (Semester III)
N521 CNS Practicum (8)
N594 Scholarly Paper (1)
or
N600 Thesis (2)
Community Hlth Elective (3)


Total: 12-13credits
Nursing Administration Specialty (minimum 37-40* credits)
(Dependent on non-thesis[3] / thesis [6] option)
Fall (Semester I)
N510 Nursing Theory (3)
N518 CNS I (4)
Admin. Elective (3)
Admin. Elective (3)



Total: 13 credits
Spring (Semester II)
N501 Issues (3)
N512 Nurs Research (3)
N519 CNS II (4)
N594 Scholarly Paper (2)
or
N600 Thesis (4)

Total: 12-14 credits
Fall (Semester III)
N521 CNS Practicum (8)
N594 Scholarly Paper (1)
or
N600 Thesis (2)
Admin. Elective (3)


Total: 12-13 credits
Gerontology Specialty (minimum 38-41* credits)
(Dependent on non-thesis[3] / thesis [6] option)
Fall (Semester I)
N510 Nursing Theory (3)
N518 CNS I (4)
BIO 409 Biology of Aging (3)

Total: 10 credits
Spring (Semester II)
N501 Issues (3)
N512 Nursing Research (3)
N519 CNS II (4)

Total: 10 credits
Fall (Semester III)
N521 CNS Practicum (4)
N594 Scholarly Paper (1)
or
N600 Thesis (4)
SOC 435 Sociology of Aging (3)
HDFS 590 Colloquium (1)

Total: 9-10 credits
Spring (Semester IV)
N521 CNS Practicum (4)
N594 Scholarly Paper (2)
or
N600 Thesis (4)
HDFS/PSY 445 Devel through Adulthood (3)


Total: 9-11 credits

Note: Boldface type in this example illustrates courses in the minor in Gerontology. Oher minors or intensives (10 credits of concentrated study) may also be developed in other specialities.

*Note: Student electing to complete a thesis instead of a scholarly paper will need to complete N600 (6 credits), adding an additional 3 credits to the program of study.