Former MS Specialties

Adult and Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)

Overview

This master's specialty offered through the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health was established in 1974. The specialty maintains broad interprofessional support and is currently ranked eighth in the nation. Students are prepared as advanced practice nurses in adult and gerontology care, with expertise in the diagnosis and management of common acute illnesses, disease prevention, and management of stable chronic illnesses across the lifespan.

The curriculum emphasizes coursework, case study analysis, and clinical experiences. Students work with faculty, nurse practitioners, and physician preceptors in a variety of primary care clinical practicum sites including college health services, health maintenance organizations, community clinics, long-term care, assisted living, continuing care retirement communities, occupational health settings, and private practices throughout the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area.

Graduates of the Adult and Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty are employed in a variety of clinical settings and independent practices and are eligible for certification as adult and gerontological nurse practitioners by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Web-based courses may be available.

Sample Plans of Study

Adult and Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Sample Plan of Full-Time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 605	Comprehensive Adult Health Assessment (Clinical Hours: 40)	3
NURS 687	Comprehensive Health Assessment of the Older Adult (Clinical Hours: 45)	1
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NURS 723	Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
	Semester Total	14
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 777	Diagnosis and Management of Adults Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 768	Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan (Clinical Hours: 225)	5
NPHY 614	Physiology of Aging	2
	Semester Total	11
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 788	Complex Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan (Clinical Hours: 180)	4
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
	Semester Total	7
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 659	Organizational and Professional Dimensions  of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 789	Advanced Diagnosis and Management of Adults Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 794	Advanced Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan (Clinical Hours: 225)	5
NURS 795	Clinical Syndrome Management of Older Adults (Clinical Hours: 90)	2
	Semester Total	14
Total Credits		46
Clinical Hours		805

Adult and Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Sample Plan of Part-Time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 723	Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
	Semester Total	6
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 701	Science and Research fpr Advanced Practice Nursing	4
NPHY 614	Physiology of Aging	2
	Semester Total	6
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
	Semester Total	3
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 659	Organizational and Professional Dimensions  of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 605	Comprehensive Adult Health Assessment  (Lab/Clinical Practicum: 8 hr/week)	3
NURS 687	Comprehensive Health Assessment of the Older Adult (Clinical Practicum: 40 hr/semester)	1
	Semester Total	7
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 777	Diagnosis & Management of Adults Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 768	Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan (Clinical Practicum: 225 hr/semester)	5
	Semester Total	9
Sixth Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 788	Complex Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan (Clinical Practicum: 180 hr/semester)	4
	Semester Total	4
Seventh Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 789	Advanced Diagnosis & Management of Adults Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 794	Advanced Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan (Clinical Practicum: 225 hr/semester)	5
NURS 795	Clinical Syndrome Management of Older Adults (Clinical Practicum: 90 hr/semester)	2
	Semester Total	11
Total Credits		46

Adult and Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Plan of Study

Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 777	Diagnosis and Management of Adults Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 768	Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan  (Clinical Practicum: 225 hr/semester)	3-5
	Semester Total	7-9
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 788	Complex Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan  (Clinical Practicum: 180 hr/semester)	1-4
	Semester Total	1-4
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 789	Advanced Diagnosis and Management of Adults Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 794	Advanced Clinical Practicum for Adults Across the Lifespan  (Clinical Practicum: 225 hr/semester)	3-5
NURS 795	Clinical Syndrome Management of Older Adults  (Clinical Practicum: 90 hr/semester)	2
	Semester Total	9-11
Total Credits		17-24
The following courses may also be required depending on previous degree and education:
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 723	Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics	3
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Practice Nursing	4
NURS 605	Comprehensive Adult Health Assessment (Lab/Clinical Practicum: 8 hr/week)	3
NURS 687	Comprehensive Health Assessment of the Older Adult (Clinical Practicum: 40 hr/semester)	1
NURS 659	Organizational & Professional Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
NPHY 614	Physiology of Aging	2

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Overview

This master's specialty prepares advanced practice nurses to work as primary health care providers for individuals of all ages and their families. With over 800 clinical hours, students develop expertise in the management of care for individuals across the life span, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention, as well as diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases. Graduates of this specialty are eligible for certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Web-based courses may be available. Full-time, part-time, and post-master's (non-degree) options are available.

Sample Plan of Full-Time Study

Fall  (Semester I)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 660	Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan	4
NURS 630	FP I: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention	2
NURS 631	FP I: Practicum: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Clinical Hours: 45)	1
	Total	10
Spring  (Semester II)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NURS 723	Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
NURS 632	FP II: Clinical Management of Common  Health Care Problems	3
NURS 633	FP II: Practicum – Clinical Management of Common  Health Care Problems (Clinical Hours: 180)	4
	Total	14
Summer (Semester III)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
NURS 703	Specialty Topics in Family Practice (Clinical Hours: 45)	2
	Total	5
Fall (Semester IV)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 640	FP III: Management of Complex Health Care Problems	2
NURS 644	FP III: Practicum: Management of Complex Health Care Problems (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
NURS 659	Organizational and Professional Dimensions of  Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 755	Families in Crisis	2
	Total	10
Spring (Semester V)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 731	FP IV: Integrative Management of  Primary Health Care Problems	2
NURS 741	FP IV: Practicum: Integrative Management of  Primary Health Care Problems (Clinical Hours: 315)	7
	Total	9
Total Credits		48
Clinical Hours		720

Note: FP = Family Practice

Post-Master's Option Sample Plan of Full-Time Study*

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 630	FP I: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention	2
NURS 631	FP I: Practicum – Health Promotion and Disease Prevention	2
NURS 660	Advanced Health Assessment: Family	4
	Total	11
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 723	Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
NURS 632	FP II: Clinical Management of Common Health Care Problems	3
NURS 633	FP II: Practicum – Clinical Management of Common Health Care Problems	5
	Total	11
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 640	FPIII: Management of Complex Health Care Problems	2
	Total	2
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 644	FPIII: Practicum:  Clinical Management of Complex Health Care Problems	3
NURS 755	Families in Crisis: Theory and Intervention	2
	Total	5
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 731	FP IV: Integrative Management of Primary Health Care Problems	2
NURS 741	FP IV: Practicum – Integrative Management of Primary Health Care Problems	7
	Total	9
Total Credits		38

*The plan may vary in relation to an individual student’s background in terms of previous coursework.

 

Nurse Anesthesia (NA)

Overview

This full-time, 28-month specialty prepares students to provide anesthesia services to a diverse diagnostic and surgical population. The curriculum is offered in a multidisciplinary framework and is front-loaded with the majority of the didactic instruction being completed during the first two semesters. In the third semester, students begin their clinical education in Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area hospitals and return to the University for classes one day a week. The curriculum includes content in physiology, pathophysiology, chemistry, physics, and pharmacology. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination offered by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Web-based courses may be available.

Sample Plan of Full-Time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 613	Principles of Anesthesia Nursing I	3
NURS 616	Chemistry of Anesthesia Nursing	2
NURS 605	Comprehensive Health Assessment of Adults	3
NRSG 603	Introduction to Pharmacology for NA	3
	Total	14
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 620	Pathophysiology Alterations in the Critically Ill	2
NURS 614	Principles of Anesthesia Nursing II	3
NURS 617	Technology and Physics of Anesthesia Nursing	3
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NURS 604	Advanced Pharmacology for NA	3
	Total	15
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 637	Anesthesia Nursing Practicum I	3
NURS 654	Principles of Anesthesia Nursing III	3
	Total	6
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 657	Anesthesia Nursing Practicum II	5
NURS 615	Regional Anesthesia and Practicum	3
NURS 642	Professional Aspects of Anesthesia Nursing	1
	Total	9
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
NURS 672	Principles of Anesthesia Nursing IV	3
NURS 673	Anesthesia Nursing Practicum III	5
	Total	11
Sixth Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 670	Anesthesia Nursing Seminar I	2
NURS 674	Anesthesia Nursing Practicum IV	3
	Total	5
Seventh Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 659	Organizations and Professional Dimensions of  Nursing Practice	3
NURS 675	Anesthesia Nursing Seminar II	4
NURS 676	Anesthesia Nursing Practicum V	5
	Total	12
Total Credits		72

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

Overview

Students in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty must choose either the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care or the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care option.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care Option

This master's specialty option prepares nurse clinicians to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of acute care services. Graduates of the pediatric acute care curriculum have the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide quality, comprehensive care to acutely, critically, and chronically ill children and their families. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board Acute Care Exam. Web-based courses may be available. Full-time, part-time, and post-master’s options are available. Nurse practitioners educated in primary care and certified nurse practitioners are eligible to apply as post-master’s students. All students must be Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certified.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care Option

This master's specialty option prepares nurse clinicians to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of primary care services. The pediatric primary care curriculum focuses on prevention and management of common acute and chronic pediatric illness and the promotion and maintenance of healthy children and their families. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board’s exams. Web-based courses may be available. Full-time, part-time, and post-master’s options are available. Nurse practitioners educated in acute care and certified nurse practitioners are eligible to apply as post-master’s students.

Sample Plans of Full-time Study

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care Option Sample Plan of Full-Time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Practice Nursing	4
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 611	Pediatric Assessment in Advanced Practice Nursing (Clinical Hours: 45)	3
NURS 626	Primary Health Care of the Newborn and Neonate	2
	Total	12
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 709	Management of the Well Child and Adolescent in the Primary Care Setting	4
NURS 713	Common Health Problems of Children I	2
NRSG 716	Primary Care Clinical I (Clinical Hours; 135)	3
NURS 743	Neonatal and Pediatric Pharmacology	3
	Total	12
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 643	Advanced Nursing of Children I: Diagnostic Reasoning	2
NRSG 624	Advanced Nursing of Children I: Clinical Practicum (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
	Total	5
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 730	Pediatric Acute Care II: Management and Evaluation	2
NRSG 731	Pediatric Acute Care II: Clinical Practicum (Clinical Hours: 180)	4
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
	Total	9
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 645	Advanced Nursing of Children II: Clinical (Clinical Hours: 225)	5
NURS 646	Advanced Practice Roles Seminar	2
NURS 659	Organizational and Professional Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
	Total	10
Total Credits		48
Clinical Hours		720

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care Option Sample Plan of Full-Time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Practice Nursing	4
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 611	Pediatric Assessment in Advanced Practice Nursing (Clinical Hours: 45)	3
NURS 626	Primary Health Care of the Newborn and Neonate	2
NURS 648	Newborn Clinical (Clinical Hours: 45)	1
	Total	13
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 709	Management of the Well Child and Adolescent in the Primary Care Setting	4
NURS 713	Common Health Problems of Children I	2
NRSG 716	Primary Care Clinical I (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
NURS 743	Neonatal and Pediatric Pharmacology	3
	Total	12
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 721	Primary Care Issues and the Child with a Chronic Illness or Special Care Needs	2
NRSG 722	Primary Care Clinical II: Primary Care Issues and the Child with a Chronic Illness or Special Care Needs (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
	Total	5
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 732	Advanced Issues in Adolescent Care (Clinical Hours: 45)	1
NURS 714	Common Health Problems of Children II	2
NRSG 733	Primary Care Clinical III  (Clinical Hours: 90)	2
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
	Total	8
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 715	Advanced Primary Care of Children (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
NRSG 646	Advanced Practice Seminar	2
NURS 659	Organizational and Professional Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
	Total	8
Total Credits		46

Post-Master's Option (non-degree) Acute Care Sample Plan of Part-time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 611	Pediatric Assessment in Advanced Practice Nursing	3
	Total	6
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 709	Management of the Well Child and Adolescent in the Primary Care Setting	4
NURS 713	Common Health Problems of Children I	2
NRSG 716	Primary Care Clinical I	3
NURS 743	Neonatal and Pediatric Pharmacology	3
	Total	12
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 643	Advanced Nursing of Children I: Diagnostic Reasoning	2
NRSG 624	Advanced Nursing of Children I: Clinical (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
	Total	5
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NRSG 730	Pediatric Acute Care II: Management and Evaluation	3
NRSG 731	Pediatric Acute Care II: Clinical Practicum (Clinical Hours: 180)	4
	Total	7
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 645	Advanced Nursing of Children II	5
NURS 646	Advanced Practice Roles Seminar	2
	Total	7
Total Credits		37

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Focus (PMHNP)

Overview

The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) master’s specialty prepares nurse practitioners to enter the workplace with the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to implement the full scope of practice of a licensed independent nurse practitioner (NP).  The curriculum builds upon four core PMHNP competencies: advanced health assessment (physical and psychosocial); diagnosis (diagnosis of mental disorders, pathophysiology, and neurophysiology); psychotherapy (individual, group, and family); and medication management (pharmacology and psychopharmacology). Other courses develop competencies in health care systems, best-practice research utilization and translation, and health care quality improvement.

Clinical opportunities for sub-specialization related to high-risk populations, e.g., geriatric, children and adolescents, severe and persistent mental disorders, and persons with substance use disorders, are available by pairing students with faculty specialists and preceptors. UMSON’s location in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C.-Annapolis triangle provides a rich and varied selection of clinical sites. Graduates are prepared to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Family) certification examination. Full-time, part-time, and post-master's (non-degree) options are available.

Fall 2013 Update

Adult psychiatric nurse practitioners seeking eligibility for the Family Psychiatric Nurse Certification Exam must:

1. Apply to the specialty for fall 2013 before the posted deadline and be admitted. This cohort of students will be the last admitted to the Post-MS program in this specialty.
2. After being admitted, complete an individualized gap analysis with the faculty advisor and specialty director. All coursework must be evident in academic transcripts with a lifespan approach.
3. Currently have an active Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center

Coursework is individualized but must include;

• NURS 660   Advanced Physical Assessment Through the Lifespan (4 credits)
• NPHY 612   Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 credits)
• NURS 752   Neurophysiology of Mental Disorders (2 credits)
• NURS 751   Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
• NURS 754   Seminar in Psychopharmacology for Child and Adolescent (1 credit)
• NURS 740   Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Internship (4 credits)

A minimum of 250 supervised clinical hours for the diagnosis and treatment of required populations will be obtained in NURS 740 as arranged with assigned academic advisor.  Some students may require additional hours for completion of the competencies in the specialty.

Sample Plan of Full-Time Study

First Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NPHY 612	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
NURS 660	Advanced Health Assessment across the Lifespan (Clinical Hours: 90)	4
NRSG 668	Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders across the Lifespan	3
NRSG 669	Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Practicum (Clinical Hours: 90)	2
	Total	12
Second Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 701	Science and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NURS 752	Neurophysiology of Mental Disorders	2
NRSG 765	Development and Psychopathology: Issues Through the Lifespan  in Advanced Practice Nursing	2
NURS 664	Therapeutic Interventions across the Lifespan in Mental Health Nursing	2
NURS 665	Therapeutic Interventions across the Lifespan in Mental Health  Nursing Practicum (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
	Total	13
Third Semester (Summer)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 622	Systems and Populations in Health Care	3
	Total	3
Fourth Semester (Fall)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 723	Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
NURS 751	Psychopharmacology	3
NURS 754	Seminar in Psychopharmacology for Child and Adolescent	1
NURS 655	Conceptual Foundations in Family Therapy	2
NURS 656	Conceptual Foundations of Family Therapy: Practicum (Clinical Hours: 135)	3
	Total	12
Fifth Semester (Spring)
Course	Title	Credits
NURS 659	Organizational and Professional Dimensions of Advanced Nursing  Practice	3
NURS 740	Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health  Nursing Internship (Clinical Hours: 180)	4
	Total	7
Total Credits		47
Total Clinical Hours		630

Adult & Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist: Trauma/Critical Care/Emergency Nursing (AGNP/CNS)

Overview

This specialty prepares nurse clinicians to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of acute care services. The specialty incorporates coursework, laboratory, and clinical experiences in a variety of acute care settings. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Graduates are also eligible to take the Adult-Gerontology Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist certification examination offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Web-based courses may be available. Full-time, part-time, and post-master's (non-degree) options are available.

Sample Plans of Study

Sample Plan of Full-Time Study (Fall Start)

Sample Plan of Full-Time Study (Spring Start)

Sample Plan of Part-Time Study (Fall Start)

Sample Plan of Part-Time Study (Spring Start)