UTMB’s School of Nursing has a reputation for producing exemplary graduates who excel clinically and professionally. And as the demand for nurses in the health care system continues to grow, UTMB is in a prime position to help meet that demand. In fact, its efforts have been recognized by BestColleges.com, which recently named the School of Nursing as the top online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in the nation.
The recognition was based on the school’s assessment of students, student opinion of the school and student success once enrolled. Schools that excelled in all areas ranked the highest in their respective categories.
BestColleges.com praised UTMB’s School of Nursing for equipping students with the ability to develop collaborative relationships with colleagues from nursing and other disciplines, preparing them for leadership roles in health care. The site also noted that UTMB’s nursing graduates are prepared to contribute to the improvement of health care and influence health care policy through practice and research.
“This ranking is further evidence of the more than 20 years’ experience we have garnered in online nursing education and a testament to the hard work, dedication and excellence our faculty and students display,” Pamela G. Watson, ScD, dean of UTMB’s School of Nursing, said. “UTMB was the first in Texas to educate master’s degree-prepared nurse practitioners. We are proud of this legacy and honored to be recognized.”
The Master of Science in Nursing program offers six specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Executive Nurse Leader (ENL) and Nurse Educator (NE).
An online master’s in nursing degree provides an opportunity for nurses to get the education needed to advance their career while continuing to earn an income. Graduates of an online MSN program can work as nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse anesthetists.
Generally, those who pursue an MSN already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The advanced degree enables students to develop expertise in one area. Specifically, the MSN program is for students who have assessed personal career goals and matched them to individual, community and industry needs.
All programs are offered online, and they share seven core courses: Foundations of Theory and Research, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Informatics/Quality Improvement, Public Policy, Advanced Health Assessment and Innovations in Community Health Practice. (The ENL track excludes Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Advanced Health Assessment.)
The School of Nursing was established in 1890 as the John Sealy Training School for Nurses. It was the first school of nursing west of the Mississippi and one of the fi rst in the country to join a university when it became part of the medical branch. Today, it graduates more than 500 students annually and is the largest of UTMB's four schools.