About This Program

The Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Pediatric Acute Care) prepares students for advanced practice, education, management, and research endeavors to address a changing health care landscape.  Both full-time and part-time study options are available as well as online and classroom-based programs.

Competencies

1. Upon completion, students will demonstrates competence in an advanced nursing role.
2. Upon completion, students will participate in scholarly endeavors to advanced nursing knowledge.
3. Upon completion, students will provide leadership in professional nursing and interdisciplinary health care.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree must meet the general requirements for graduate admissions as well as the requirements detailed below.

All graduate nursing students must have an unencumbered Registered Nursing License as designated by the Board of Nursing (BON) for clinical courses. It is imperative that any student whose license becomes encumbered by the BON must immediately notify their department chair. The complete policy regarding encumbered RN license is available on the Department of Graduate Nursing website under Clinical Requirements. 

Unconditional Admission

For unconditional admission to the MSN, applicants must have:

•  A GPA of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 hours of courses in the bachelor's degree program (as calculated by UTA Admissions).
• Two years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse (RN). International students must have two years of clinical experience in a healthcare system in the United States (or equivalent). 
• Two years of clinical RN experience within the area of concentration in an acute care setting within the previous 5 years is required. 
• BSN from ACEN or CCNE Accredited Program (evaluated by the Associate Dean or designee).
• A C or better in undergraduate statistics.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification.

Probationary Admission

When admitted on probation, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first two semesters of enrollment in the graduate program. Probationary students are admitted for part-time study only.

If a person does not meet probationary admission requirements, he or she may request review by a Committee of the Graduate Nursing Faculty. The Committee may request completion of coursework and/or additional information to support the individual's petition for admission.

UTA offers probationary admission to the MSN for applicants who have:

• A GPA between 2.8 and 2.99 on the last 60 hours of courses in the bachelor's degree program (as calculated by UTA Admissions).
• GRE scores of at least 430 or 149 Verbal; 430 or 141 Quantitative; 3.5 Analytical Writing; and 430 Analytical.

Provisional Admission

An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.

Deferred Status

Deferred decision is granted when a file is incomplete or when a denial decision is not appropriate.

Denial of Admission

An applicant will be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of admission criteria listed in the MSN Admission Table.

Admission Policy for Individuals Ineligible to Continue Graduate Study

Applicants who are on academic probation or who are ineligible to continue graduate study at another university are ineligible for admission.  However, applicants may submit a petition to be reviewed by a Committee of the Graduate Nursing Faculty.

The committee will make a decision regarding admission based on the following:

• GPA on the last 60 hours of BSN, graduate GPA, GRE scores (if applicable), and English language score (if applicable);
• Official transcripts from BSN and all universities attended following completion of BSN;
• A narrative statement from the potential student providing a rationale for their ineligibility in the previous graduate program;
• A letter of reference from a graduate faculty in the previous program; and
• A plan for successful study at UT Arlington.

The admission committee reserves the right to ask for additional materials as needed. The committee will make its recommendation regarding admission to the Associate Dean or their designee of the Graduate Nursing Programs.

Curriculum

A degree plan is developed for the student upon admission to the MSN Program. Students are required to have any changes in degree plan approved by a Graduate Academic Advisor prior to registration. A minimum of 34 semester hours, thesis or non-thesis option, is required for the degree. Elective coursework that supports the selected nursing study area must be approved by a Graduate Academic Advisor prior to registration. Students electing the thesis option do not have elective course requirements.

MSN students must complete hours in required courses, nursing specialty area, functional role, and elective(s) depending on specific plan.

MSN Core Courses
NURS 5327	EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND THEORIES FOR NURSING	3
NURS 5366	PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH IN NURSING	3
NURS 5367	EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE	3
Specialization in NP Pediatric Acute Care
NURS 5315	ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY	3
NURS 5220	ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC REASONING	2
NURS 5130	PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT LAB	1
NURS 5334	ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS	3
NURS 5465	PRIMARY PEDIATRIC CARE	4
NURS 5467	PEDIATRIC COMPLEX CARE	4
NURS 5466	PEDIATRIC ACUTE CARE	4
NURS 5373	PEDIATRIC ACUTE CARE CLINICAL PRACTICE 1	3
NURS 5374	PEDIATRIC ACUTE CARE CLINICAL PRACTICE 2	3
NURS 5680	PEDIATRIC ACUTE CARE NP ADVANCED PRACTICUM	6
Functional Role
NURS 5350	ROLE OF THE NURSE IN ADVANCED PRACTICE	3
Total Hours		45

Advising Resources

Graduate nursing students will be assigned a degree plan once admitted to the program. They are encouraged to make phone, in-person, or virtual appointments as needed to discuss their academic progression.

Location:

554 Pickard Hall

Email:

msnadvising@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-2776

Web:

Graduate Nursing Advising Information