Greetings,

As a currently enrolled Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree student with a specialty in Nursing Informatics, there are several important changes outlined below that may impact your course plan and degree progression. These changes impact both the MSN informatics curriculum and course offering schedule.

Please contact the graduate program advisor to discuss progression planning or if you wish to change your MSN specialty. If you are planning to change your program, it is imperative that you reach out to the advisor for clarification prior to registration. Failure to do so will impede your successful progression through the program and you will be responsible for your course selection and plan. View instructions on making an academic advisement appointment. Questions may also be emailed to gradnursing@tesc.edu.

The new curriculum will commence in July 2013. Starting with the July 2015 term only courses in the new nursing curriculum will be offered. Students who have not completed their current curricular requirements by that time will be required to take courses in the new curriculum to complete their degree.

Curriculum
Effective July 1, 2013 there will be a number of curriculum changes affecting the graduate nursing programs. Changes are being made to update the curriculum and to comply with new national accreditation standards of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

• NUR-500: Seminar in Clinical Competence will no longer be a core course. Students who have completed NUR-500 may apply this course as an elective.
• Nursing Informatics Specialty Courses will remain the same.
• There will be 9 credits of graduate electives required in the program. Although not required, students may take courses from other specialty graduate courses or the new direct care core courses to fulfill the elective credits. The direct care courses are: NUR-516: Advanced Physical Assessment, NUR-640: Advanced Pathophysiology and NUR-650: Advanced Pharmacology. Standard graduate electives that are currently offered on a rotating basis will continue to be offered in the same manner.

Course Offerings

• Nursing Informatics Practicums (NUR-721 and NUR-731) will not be offered in the July 2013 term.
• Pending sufficient enrollment, Nursing Informatics Practicums will be offered on a sequential basis starting in the October 2013 term. The following course schedule will begin in the October 2013 term:
  • October 2013 and April 2014 Terms: NUR-721: Seminar and Practicum I
  • January 2014 and July 2014 Terms: NUR-731: Seminar and Practicum II
• The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing will still require that Intent to Register Forms be submitted 6 months prior to the start of the Practicum. View the current Practicum Packet.
• The offering of specialty courses NUR-631, NUR-701, and NUR-711, will rotate each term depending on the needs of our students and enrollment in the courses. Students should check the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing web pages to determine which informatics courses are running each term.
• For April 2013, NUR-701: Nursing Informatics: Databases and Knowledge Management will not be offered.

Regarding these changes, I would like to stress the importance of contacting your graduate advisor and scheduling an appointment to ensure your continued success. Failure to do so may result in additional required courses and delayed graduation. If you have any questions about this e-mail or the changes to the MSN requirements, please contact your graduate advisor.

You can also send us any questions you have to gradnursing@tesc.edu.

Thank you,

Filomela A. Marshall, EdD, RN, CNE
Dean, W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing