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The University of Maine School of Nursing developed its first graduate program in 1992 and the initial group of graduate students received their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in May 1994. For the first years, the MSN program focused on preparing the nurse for the advanced professional role of family nurse practitioner (FNP). Later, in response to the diverse graduate education needs of Maine nurses, our graduate program expanded to prepare nurses for professional roles such as nurse educator, nurse administrator, or other professional roles. Following landmark changes from The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the graduate program was revised in 2023 and 2024 to support graduate nursing education in the 21 st century. These changes highlight the importance of graduate prepared nurses as leaders in healthcare. This spurred the degree name change to the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership (MSNL) for non-Family Nurse Practitioner students and programs of study. Graduate program faculty are expert practitioners and leaders in a number of different specialties and are eager to assist students to individualized programs of study. Students may select a flexible program of study, either full-time or part-time.

The School of Nursing offers a variety of program plans for graduate study:

Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP):

The family nurse practitioner is prepared to provide healthcare to individuals and families across the lifespan (newborns, infants, children, adolescents, adults, pregnant and postpartum women and older adults).  Primary care includes health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and the evaluation and management of common acute and chronic health problems.  The focus of care includes individuals within families and the family unit; however the family chooses to define itself.  Family nurse practitioners demonstrate a commitment to family-centered care in the context of communities.

The program of study may be tailored for full-time or part-time study. Course formats are a mix of online and classroom instruction. Clinical experiences are arranged to meet program outcomes and to accommodate the needs of the student. The Graduate Program Coordinator and the student’s academic advisor will help plan a program of study and timeframe that meets the academic and clinical requirements. The combined credit requirement would be approximately 49-51. The MSN-FNP curriculum meets the 2022 Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs published by the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education.

MSN-FNP graduates are eligible to take national certification examinations for Family Nurse Practitioners which are offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (http://www.aanpcert.org/index). The University of Maine MSN-FNP program graduates have performed well on the national certification examinations.

Nurse Educator (MSNL):

The MSN Nurse Educator track is 36-38 credits, and prepares nurses for teaching roles in academic settings and in professional development services of health care agencies. The program of study includes “core” graduate nursing courses which are required of all graduate nursing students, such as advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology. Nursing education courses address curriculum development, teaching-learning methods, simulation, and assessment and evaluation of learning outcomes in nursing education. Required courses also include graduate level nursing scholarship, evidence-based practice, quality and safety, leadership, and population health,research, theory development in nursing, bioethics and health policy, all of which enhance the nurse’s expertise in their area of nursing practice. The student’s clinical experience in nursing education and the graduate capstone provides opportunities to apply all prior learning to the new role of nurse educator and to their area of nursing practice.

A full- time student can complete this online program of study in approximately two calendar years, or part- time study (3 to 4 years) is available with our online courses.  Faculty guidance is an integral part of each portion of the student’s program of study.

Graduates who complete this program meet the educational criteria for the National League for Nursing Nurse Educator Novice certification examination.

 

Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS):  Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS):  The CAS offers a clinically focused program of study to registered nurses who already possess a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctorate of Nursing Practice. The CAS prepares the graduate prepared nurse as a family nurse practitioner. Students in the CAS program must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours (500 and 600 level courses) within The University of Maine.

A full-time student can expect to complete MSN degree requirements in 2-3 years. All work for the CAS or the MSN must be completed within a 6 year period.

 

The master’s degree program in nursing and the post graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Maine School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791

 

Graduate Faculty:

Katherine Darling, Ph.D., (University of California: San Francisco, CA) Assistant Professor of Health Sciences

Valerie Herbert, DNP, RN (University of Kansas) Associate Professor of Nursing

Colleen Marzilli, PhD, DNP, MBA, APRN, Med/Surg-BC, CCM, PHNA-BC, CNE, NEA-BC, FNP-BC, FNAP, (The University of Texas at Tyler) Professor of Nursing

Jordan Porter, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC (Vanderbilt University) Lecturer, Associate Graduate Faculty

Eva Quirion, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC (University of Phoenix) Lecturer, Associate Graduate Faculty

Kathryn Robinson, Ph.D., MHA/Ed., RN (Northeastern University) Associate Director, Assistant Professor of Nursing

Amanda Savage, DNP, M.Ed., RN (University of St. Augustine) Assistant Professor of Nursing

Sean Sibley, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, NP-C (University of Maine) Family Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator, Clinical Assistant Clinical Faculty

Kelley Strout, Ph.D., RN (Northeastern University) Director, Associate Professor of Nursing

Mary Tedesco-Schneck, Ph.D., PNP-BC, (University of Maine) Associate Professor of Nursing