The purpose of the graduate program of the Division of Nursing is to prepare baccalaureate educated nurses to be advanced practice nurses. The area of concentration is Family Nurse Practitioner. In the graduate program advanced nursing knowledge is both acquired and generated through the integration of knowledge from the sciences, humanities, nursing theory and research. Prior experience and future professional goals are considered in designing individualized learning experiences with graduate students. Students are provided opportunities to implement their roles and assume leadership in a variety of traditional and nontraditional settings utilizing the resources of the health care system. In addition to collegial relationships with peers and nursing faculty, the graduate program fosters collaborative activities with other disciplines.

1. Synthesize knowledge from theories and research, and evaluate its relevance for application within a selected area of nursing practice for populations across the lifespan. (HU Goal 1; DON Goal 2)

2. Influence comprehensive health care delivery to culturally diverse groups based on theoretical framework using advanced knowledge and skills inclusive of environmental and community characteristics and life stage development.
(HU Goals 2&4; DON Goal 2)

3. Implement leadership strategies that influence changes in nursing and health care in response to local, national, and global health disparities (HU Goal 2; DON Goal 2)

4. Collaborate with other disciplines to provide holistic health care to prevent illness and to promote and maintain optimum health for culturally diverse populations (HU Goal 1; DON Goal 3).

5. Evaluate existing health conditions and their relationship to local, state, national and international health policies within a broad economic, socio-cultural and geopolitical environment (HU Goal 4; DON Goals 3&5).

6. Generate nursing knowledge through the design, implementation and dissemination of nursing research.
(HU Goals 1-3; DON added goal).

7. Demonstrate primary skill in grant writing and seeking external funding for research or program support.

8. Integrate and define the scope of advanced nursing practice through involvement with legislative, regulatory, ethical, and professional standards.

9. Synthesize technological communication to enhance health care delivery.

10. Synthesize the advocacy roles as an integral part of advanced nursing practice.

Upon satisfactory completion of the Master’s program the graduate is eligible to receive the Master of Science in Nursing degree from Howard University Division of Nursing. The graduate of the Primary Family Health Nursing Program is eligible to apply to the American Nurses Association for examination for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

The graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree consists of four semesters and requires a minimum of 46 credits. It consists of four components including:
1) Graduate Nursing Core; 2) Advanced Practice Nursing Core; 3) Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Core; 4) Electives.

The graduate nursing core courses consist of 19 credits of course work with specific content which is pertinent to understanding the conceptual framework of the graduate program, and is basic for the development of skills needed to implement leadership strategies which prescribe, decide, and influence changes in nursing and health care in response to a dynamic society. The graduate nursing core courses -- Theoretical Foundation for Advanced Practice Nursing; Interdisciplinary Health Care Ethics; Health Care Policy, Cultural Diversity and Social Issues; Nursing Research: Theory and Practice; Research Practicum or Thesis -- are required of all students and are sequenced in a manner to maximize their foundational intent.

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